Winter Protection Detail - RenaultSport Megane R26 with Swissvax Crystal Rock

[RussZS]

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


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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:


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Then rinsed...


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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


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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:


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Then rinsed ready for hand washing:


IMG_1898 by RussZS, on Flickr

Next hand washed with Auto Finesse Lather and a CarPro mitt:


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IMG_1910 by RussZS, on Flickr

IronX was next:


IMG_1913 by RussZS, on Flickr


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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


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Getting there...


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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:


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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


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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

[RussZS]

Crystal Rock was left for 15 minutes or so, then removed:


IMG_2002 by RussZS, on Flickr

Now, the afters... in the 'flesh' the car looked stunning.  I used to have one of these cars, so know the paint incredibly well, and the CR achieved a glow and wetness I could never quite get myself, we were all deeply impressed.  However, it was overcast and getting dark quickly, so some of the afters are somewhat disappointing IMO, but we are going to add futher pics taken on a brighter day during the next week or so...


IMG_2021 by RussZS, on Flickr


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Thanks for reading :)


DSC01020 by RussZS, on Flickr

Russ.

[Tfsi_Mike]

Wow, lots of pics.  Great work Russ 

Been busy! Lol *off to read fiesta detail lol

[S800BRN]

Cracking work as always!! Do like R26s. Can't believe how cheap you can get them now!

[Greeners]

Looks superb under the lights Russ! 

[rob172cup]

looks brilliant, have bit of a soft spot for the renault sports

[rich83]

Good work Russ. A hot hatch fitted with proper brakes! 

How do you find that AF glass cleaner... I've bought some this week, but not used it yet.

[RussZS]

Good work Russ. A hot hatch fitted with proper brakes! 

How do you find that AF glass cleaner... I've bought some this week, but not used it yet.

It's the best I've used tbh Rich, and I've used a few!  A few of the 'polishes' will do a better job of deeper cleaning, but for a 'spray cleaner' it's about the best there is out there.

Thanks all :)

I have some nice cars coming up including a couple of GTR's, a C63 AMG, V8 M3 and some very rare ones... oh and a fair few Golf's!!

[JoeDarKa]

Looks great, would love some of the stuff you use!

[n_d_fox]

Very nice work Russ... lovely finish achieved.

Looks like Tesco carpark in Walsall in the afters 

You've certainly been putting the hours in recently which is nice to see for you. Well done on that side of things mate.

Crystal Rock too... lovely... things must be going well 

Nige