RCZ1
Active Member
So now that Pearl has been refitted, it was my chance to give her the full works and get her ready for winter.
A total of 10 hours spent, over 3 days :!:
Friday:
I cleaned the new leather and then protected it with leather protector as well as the "fake" leather dash and doors.
The interior was hoovered
All the interior brightwork was polished with Werkstat Prime Polish.
Saturday:
Wheels:
Started with the wheels as usual.
First they were power-washed down.
Then using my 2 bucket method - green containing water and shampoo (Chemical Guys Wash and Gloss),
purple for rinsing, the alloys were cleaned using a variety of wheel brushes for spokes, rear of wheels, wheel arches, tyres, etc
Once all 4 wheels cleaned - power washed down
Next onto the snowfoam.
1 inch of snowfoam put into the foam bottle, topped with a couple of drops of shampoo (same as above)
then topped with luke warm water.
Attached to power washer and the fun begins ..... !
The thicker the snow foam the better it works, I've found. It looks almost like shaving foam.
Here's some pics
Whilst the snowfoam is dwelling (usually for 5 minutes) I work around the car with a little detailing brush, cleaning
the front grill, the badges front and back, the door shuts and the petrol cap.
After 5 mins, the snowfoam is rinsed off with the power washer, making sure all suds are removed.
Next its on to washing the car. I was using my new wash mitt for the first time, the Dodo Supernatural WAsh Mitt (otherwise known as the cat !)
It drinks water this thing but with it being bigger than normal wash mitts, it cleans the car quicker - which is always a good thing !
Using the two bucket method again (different buckets to those used to wash the wheels). Green containg water and shampoo (same shampoo as above) and red for rinsing. Wash one panel at a time
Rinse
Wash another panel and so on
Now, its time to rinse with an open ended hose. You get less standing water on the car, making drying quicker and easier.
A selection of drying towels to do the job and also some Chemical Guys Synthetic Detailer to aid drying and get rid of any water marks.
Oh, and stop any of those dreaded water marks from the wing mirrors, I used my hairdryer to dry them out. Hey Presto :!:
My next stage is usually to get rid of any tar deposits however as I've only driven the car 100 miles, there was no evidence of any so on to the next stage.
This is a new product to me but one I felt that I needed to try especially on a new car and because its white. Iron X is used to drag out any contaminants / iron filings /etc that a car picks up but are very hard to see with the naked eye. If left, they end up rusting into the paintwork, causing problems later on. Claying will not remove them. This just takes the top of them, but the rest is left inbedded in the paintwork.
So you spray Iron X onto the paintwork, wait 2-3 minutes and then wait for it to turn red - purple. The spots you see below are the iron filings which have turned colour but were naked to the eye before the Iron X was applied. These are wiped with a cloth and then the paintwork rinsed. This was done all around the car. In actual fact there wasn't much - probably due to the fact that the RCZ hadn't been sat around for months on end in a compound or next to a railway line.
Spraying on:
Iron filing / contaminants
After the Iron X, I planned to clay, but because the Iron X found so little contamination and after running my fingers over the paintwork, it already felt very smooth, so I decided that claying wasn't necessary this time. Probably a job for next Spring.
Now at this stage, my hubby went off to do some shopping, so I don't have any pics of the next couple of stages as time was getting on and it gets dark early these days !
Windows:
I set to work on the windows to apply the new rain repellent that I had recently bought, which lasts for 2 years or 20K miles approximately. First I used Werkstat Prime Polish to deep clean the glass all round. Then I applied the Gtechniq G1. One coat to the side windows and wing mirrows, 3 coats to the windscreen and rear window, leaving 10 minutes between each coat. The residue is then buffed off with a microfibre cloth.
Polishing:
I polished the car, with a new polish that I'd recently ordered. Its shown to be very good by hand and contains abrasives so corrects paintwork defects ie swirls, scratches rather than filling them like SRP, for example.
The Polish is Gtechniq P1 and was applied with a hand polishing pad to all the paintwork - NOT the roof or the arches. I did a panel at a time, left for a few minutes, then buffed off. Really user friendly.
Applying Sealant:
Next up, I've read many threads on car detailing forums, arguments for and against waxes v sealants. Some people have been suggesting that a wax attracts dirt to a car whereas a sealant keeps a car looking cleaner for longer. Sealants still have protective properties in the same way that waxes do. Furthermore, I'd been reading for months, how this particular sealant always works well
on white cars and brings out the flake in metallic / pearlescent paints.
So, I decided that I would go down the sealant route this time. If its going to keep my white car looking cleaner for longer in the winter, then all the better. I've also used this previously on my hubby's old car and can vouch for the fact that it really does enhance the flake.
Sealant used on the paintwork was Werkstat Trigger. Spray it on the car or micro fibre cloth and wipe it across each panel at a time. I then use a clean microfibre cloth to buff. I applied 3 layers, leaving half an hour between each coat for it to cure.
Sealing wheels and dressing tyres:
In between each coat of sealant, I then applied a sealant to the alloys. The wheel sealant used was Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine. This does exactly what it says on the bottle. It seals the wheels as well as giving a great shine and lasts approx 3 months between applications. All 4 wheels are sealed, then I return to the first one to buff and on to the next and so on.
The tyres were dressed with my current favourite - Autosmart Highstyle. Applied with a brush and left for half an hour then lightly wipe down with an old cloth to stop sling.
Polishing Roof Arches:
I decided to apply the Werkstat Prime Polish to the roof arches. This is not an aggresive polish, more of a cleaner - a very good one ! It brought the arches up very nicely. I also applied it to the roof. I'd noticed there were a few light swirls on the roof so decided to use the same polish on the roof as its not too aggresive. It removed the swirls and added a nice shine.
Unfortunately, the light had gone at this time so I had to call it a day. Some further things to be done Sunday morning.
Sunday morning:
Applied G-Techniq C2 - a sealant to the roof. This is a new product and boasts 8 months protection. Applied with a foam pad, left for 15 minutes and then buffed off.
Lastly, after the 3 coats of Werkstat Trigger applied to the paintwork yesterday, I topped this up with a coat of Werkstat Gloss. This adds a lovely wet shine.
Finished shots :
People often say that its difficult to capture reflections on white cars but I think you'll see, we have a few here :thumbup:
Thanks for looking :thumbup:
A total of 10 hours spent, over 3 days :!:
Friday:
I cleaned the new leather and then protected it with leather protector as well as the "fake" leather dash and doors.
The interior was hoovered
All the interior brightwork was polished with Werkstat Prime Polish.
Saturday:
Wheels:
Started with the wheels as usual.
First they were power-washed down.
Then using my 2 bucket method - green containing water and shampoo (Chemical Guys Wash and Gloss),
purple for rinsing, the alloys were cleaned using a variety of wheel brushes for spokes, rear of wheels, wheel arches, tyres, etc
Once all 4 wheels cleaned - power washed down
Next onto the snowfoam.
1 inch of snowfoam put into the foam bottle, topped with a couple of drops of shampoo (same as above)
then topped with luke warm water.
Attached to power washer and the fun begins ..... !
The thicker the snow foam the better it works, I've found. It looks almost like shaving foam.
Here's some pics
Whilst the snowfoam is dwelling (usually for 5 minutes) I work around the car with a little detailing brush, cleaning
the front grill, the badges front and back, the door shuts and the petrol cap.
After 5 mins, the snowfoam is rinsed off with the power washer, making sure all suds are removed.
Next its on to washing the car. I was using my new wash mitt for the first time, the Dodo Supernatural WAsh Mitt (otherwise known as the cat !)
It drinks water this thing but with it being bigger than normal wash mitts, it cleans the car quicker - which is always a good thing !
Using the two bucket method again (different buckets to those used to wash the wheels). Green containg water and shampoo (same shampoo as above) and red for rinsing. Wash one panel at a time
Rinse
Wash another panel and so on
Now, its time to rinse with an open ended hose. You get less standing water on the car, making drying quicker and easier.
A selection of drying towels to do the job and also some Chemical Guys Synthetic Detailer to aid drying and get rid of any water marks.
Oh, and stop any of those dreaded water marks from the wing mirrors, I used my hairdryer to dry them out. Hey Presto :!:
My next stage is usually to get rid of any tar deposits however as I've only driven the car 100 miles, there was no evidence of any so on to the next stage.
This is a new product to me but one I felt that I needed to try especially on a new car and because its white. Iron X is used to drag out any contaminants / iron filings /etc that a car picks up but are very hard to see with the naked eye. If left, they end up rusting into the paintwork, causing problems later on. Claying will not remove them. This just takes the top of them, but the rest is left inbedded in the paintwork.
So you spray Iron X onto the paintwork, wait 2-3 minutes and then wait for it to turn red - purple. The spots you see below are the iron filings which have turned colour but were naked to the eye before the Iron X was applied. These are wiped with a cloth and then the paintwork rinsed. This was done all around the car. In actual fact there wasn't much - probably due to the fact that the RCZ hadn't been sat around for months on end in a compound or next to a railway line.
Spraying on:
Iron filing / contaminants
After the Iron X, I planned to clay, but because the Iron X found so little contamination and after running my fingers over the paintwork, it already felt very smooth, so I decided that claying wasn't necessary this time. Probably a job for next Spring.
Now at this stage, my hubby went off to do some shopping, so I don't have any pics of the next couple of stages as time was getting on and it gets dark early these days !
Windows:
I set to work on the windows to apply the new rain repellent that I had recently bought, which lasts for 2 years or 20K miles approximately. First I used Werkstat Prime Polish to deep clean the glass all round. Then I applied the Gtechniq G1. One coat to the side windows and wing mirrows, 3 coats to the windscreen and rear window, leaving 10 minutes between each coat. The residue is then buffed off with a microfibre cloth.
Polishing:
I polished the car, with a new polish that I'd recently ordered. Its shown to be very good by hand and contains abrasives so corrects paintwork defects ie swirls, scratches rather than filling them like SRP, for example.
The Polish is Gtechniq P1 and was applied with a hand polishing pad to all the paintwork - NOT the roof or the arches. I did a panel at a time, left for a few minutes, then buffed off. Really user friendly.
Applying Sealant:
Next up, I've read many threads on car detailing forums, arguments for and against waxes v sealants. Some people have been suggesting that a wax attracts dirt to a car whereas a sealant keeps a car looking cleaner for longer. Sealants still have protective properties in the same way that waxes do. Furthermore, I'd been reading for months, how this particular sealant always works well
on white cars and brings out the flake in metallic / pearlescent paints.
So, I decided that I would go down the sealant route this time. If its going to keep my white car looking cleaner for longer in the winter, then all the better. I've also used this previously on my hubby's old car and can vouch for the fact that it really does enhance the flake.
Sealant used on the paintwork was Werkstat Trigger. Spray it on the car or micro fibre cloth and wipe it across each panel at a time. I then use a clean microfibre cloth to buff. I applied 3 layers, leaving half an hour between each coat for it to cure.
Sealing wheels and dressing tyres:
In between each coat of sealant, I then applied a sealant to the alloys. The wheel sealant used was Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine. This does exactly what it says on the bottle. It seals the wheels as well as giving a great shine and lasts approx 3 months between applications. All 4 wheels are sealed, then I return to the first one to buff and on to the next and so on.
The tyres were dressed with my current favourite - Autosmart Highstyle. Applied with a brush and left for half an hour then lightly wipe down with an old cloth to stop sling.
Polishing Roof Arches:
I decided to apply the Werkstat Prime Polish to the roof arches. This is not an aggresive polish, more of a cleaner - a very good one ! It brought the arches up very nicely. I also applied it to the roof. I'd noticed there were a few light swirls on the roof so decided to use the same polish on the roof as its not too aggresive. It removed the swirls and added a nice shine.
Unfortunately, the light had gone at this time so I had to call it a day. Some further things to be done Sunday morning.
Sunday morning:
Applied G-Techniq C2 - a sealant to the roof. This is a new product and boasts 8 months protection. Applied with a foam pad, left for 15 minutes and then buffed off.
Lastly, after the 3 coats of Werkstat Trigger applied to the paintwork yesterday, I topped this up with a coat of Werkstat Gloss. This adds a lovely wet shine.
Finished shots :
People often say that its difficult to capture reflections on white cars but I think you'll see, we have a few here :thumbup:
Thanks for looking :thumbup:
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