It's certainly getting colder out there, and foggier, it was insanely foggy here last night and it was still lingering quite heavily this morning. Today's car was a Megane R26 in Silver - a carbon copy of my own previous car - in for some decontamination and some protection for Winter. I knew this car and paint very well, so knew exactly what I was to expect.
Following a quick Makkys breakfast (I really need to start using my gym membership!), we started about 9:15am. Gray very kindly agreed to take photos of the process with his DSLR camera, so please excuse the large volume of photos on this write up. It was great having a tog for the day!
IMG_1751 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1752 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1755 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1754 by
RussZS, on Flickr
As always, wheels first.
I decided to test out a new product I'd picked up recently - Scholl's Rim7 Wheel Gel, which seems to have quite a following on here and seems impressive if you read the product description.
Take one dirty wheel:
IMG_1757 by
RussZS, on Flickr
A bottle of Rim7:
IMG_1759 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Sprayed liberally on to the wheel:
IMG_1760 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Then left to dwell for 5 minutes whilst it works its magic:
IMG_1764 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1768 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1771 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Then rinsed...
IMG_1773 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1775 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Very impressive stuff indeed, but there will still brake dust deposits left in the corners by each spoke and the rear of the wheels needed further work, so I decided to continue with Smart Wheels (old formula)
IMG_1776 by
RussZS, on Flickr
EZ Detail Brush on spokes and rear of wheel:
IMG_1779 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Swissvax Wheel Brush on the face of the wheel:
IMG_1784 by
RussZS, on Flickr
and calipers:
IMG_1787 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1788 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Tyres with G101:
IMG_1789 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Arches too:
IMG_1791 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Then rinsed.
At this point, there was still a lot of embedded brake dust, so I used IronX on the wheels, left to dwell for 15 mins then removed:
IMG_1819 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1821 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1825 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Tardis was also used to remove the small tar spots and a further application of IronX. They weren't perfect afterwards, but near 90% sorted.
Next, we decided not to use Snow Foam as it was very cold, and clearing the residue is problematic on my driveway, so we dealt with the lower panels and build up on the boot with Auto Finesse's Citrus Power:
IMG_1841 by
RussZS, on Flickr
I decided to test it degreasing abilities on the lower half of the passenger door:
IMG_1843 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1848 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Perhaps not the best pic, but there was a very clear line to be seen where CP was used and where it wasn't
IMG_1849 by
RussZS, on Flickr
I continued around the car:
IMG_1846 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Petrol cap with CP too:
IMG_1861 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Next I worked G101 on the shuts and sills with Swissvax Detail brush:
IMG_1874 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1880 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1882 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1885 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1887 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1878 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Then rinsed ready for hand washing:
IMG_1898 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Next hand washed with Auto Finesse Lather and a CarPro mitt:
IMG_1908 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1910 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IronX was next:
IMG_1913 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1915 by
RussZS, on Flickr
The rear number plate was removed and I attempted to remove the glue residue with Tardis, but it really struggled, so yesterdays star, the Auto Finesse T&G was used again on this very thick glue residue:
IMG_1926 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1935 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Getting there...
IMG_1942 by
RussZS, on Flickr
All gone!
IMG_1944 by
RussZS, on Flickr
T&G is VERY impressive stuff... I need some more of it now though!
The car was looking better already! Now, although the paint was feeling a lot smoother already, I decided to clay to remove anything remaining, so I used Auto Finesse Glide as lube with Bilt Hamber's new Medium Clay:
IMG_1950 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Not much, but certainly worthwhile:
IMG_1952 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1954 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1959 by
RussZS, on Flickr
The car was then rinsed and pat dried with an Uber Drying Towel:
IMG_1960 by
RussZS, on Flickr
At this point we were ready to apply the protection. The plan for today was to apply ZAIO and Z2 but the temps were very low and there was a LOT of moisture in the air, plus Gray seemed quite keen on some Crystal Rock...
So, out came the Swissvax Cleaner Fluid:
IMG_1962 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1963 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1964 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1965 by
RussZS, on Flickr
I'd not used CF for a while, but I found it a pleasure to work with, and it lifted a fair bit from the paint:
IMG_1974 by
RussZS, on Flickr
It was looking sharper already...
IMG_1975 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Wax next... :devil:
IMG_1984 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1985 by
RussZS, on Flickr
What an absolute pleasure this was to use. Such a great smell, spreads with absolute ease and removes without any effort AT ALL. It's a perfect wax in every way, feels very special and no issues with use at all. Very happy with my investment.
Tyres were dressed with Pneu...
IMG_1987 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1988 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1989 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Glass with...
IMG_1994 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_1997 by
RussZS, on Flickr
Trim via:
IMG_2005 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_2007 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_2008 by
RussZS, on Flickr
IMG_2011 by
RussZS, on Flickr