Results of a day of detailing
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
Results of a day of detailing
Well after the building of my garage is finally complete I decided to lock myself away for the day and get on with detailing the Z, including the engine bay. Enjoyed every minute and the results are below.
Everything was done using Meguiars products.
Meguairs gold shampoo
Meguiars Clay
Meguiars step 1,2 3
Meguairs Engine Cleaner
Meguiars Engine Dressing
Meguiars Tyre Dressing
All purchased from Monza Car Care
Everything was done using Meguiars products.
Meguairs gold shampoo
Meguiars Clay
Meguiars step 1,2 3
Meguairs Engine Cleaner
Meguiars Engine Dressing
Meguiars Tyre Dressing
All purchased from Monza Car Care
Last edited by 3.0 Lakes Lee on Sun 08 Nov, 2009 19:46, edited 2 times in total.
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Wow, I seriously love this car. Looks absolutely spotless! good job
also what did you use for the engine bay to get the end shine? I used Autoglym rubber/vinyl protector which looked great at the time but is a complete dirt magnet so my bay looks filthy now!
also what did you use for the engine bay to get the end shine? I used Autoglym rubber/vinyl protector which looked great at the time but is a complete dirt magnet so my bay looks filthy now!
Progress Thread:http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 32&t=36117
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- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
Just updated products in original thread
Cheers
Lee
Cheers
Lee
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- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
Cover the electrics, swill the engine with water, apply Meguars engine cleaner, agitate dirty areas and then wash off, let dry and then I made sure I hadnt missed anywhere. Apply Engine dressing and then buff off, which leaves a totally dry non taccy engine bay.
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- Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
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So love your Z house, nice job on the car too.
If you like gaming with mature minded players visit our retirement home http://www.oap-clan.co.uk/
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
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Re: Results of a day of detailing
The car looks great Lee. a real credit to you.
Either your Zed wasn't very dirty in the first place or you did a 16 hour day with all your mates helping!
When I (occasionally) clean the engine bay, it takes me about two days of hard graft with a box of j-cloths and a can of WD40, (no 'Carry On...' gags thanks!) so...
With a hose pipe or something?
It sounds like a very 'brave' act to me!
Great result though.
A.
How the hell did you do all that in just one day?3.0 Lakes Lee wrote:....I decided to lock myself away for the day...
Either your Zed wasn't very dirty in the first place or you did a 16 hour day with all your mates helping!
When I (occasionally) clean the engine bay, it takes me about two days of hard graft with a box of j-cloths and a can of WD40, (no 'Carry On...' gags thanks!) so...
Can you be more specific? I'd never be confident that I'd covered everything.3.0 Lakes Lee wrote:Cover the electrics
Again, do you mean that literally?3.0 Lakes Lee wrote:...swill the engine with water...
With a hose pipe or something?
It sounds like a very 'brave' act to me!
Great result though.
A.
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
My car is generally "clean" as it does less than 2k a year. So I had a good base to start from and yes it took me the day to achieve the results you see, I worked my socks off though and was knackered at the end of it.
Meguiars instructional video on how to clean the engine bay is here
http://monzacarcare.com/products/?categ ... rch%20term
I used a fine gentle waterspray and a lot of common sense and also covered the alternator and any other obvious exposed electrics before using any water, as long as your careful you will be fine.
There was a lot of gentle elbow grease in the engine bay using small brushes and lint free cloths, i would say the engine bay took a bout 3 - 4 hours.
Lee
Meguiars instructional video on how to clean the engine bay is here
http://monzacarcare.com/products/?categ ... rch%20term
I used a fine gentle waterspray and a lot of common sense and also covered the alternator and any other obvious exposed electrics before using any water, as long as your careful you will be fine.
There was a lot of gentle elbow grease in the engine bay using small brushes and lint free cloths, i would say the engine bay took a bout 3 - 4 hours.
Lee
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Looks fabulous, definitely a job well done!
Did you get any photos that captured the full car, with the bonnet/boot closed?
I checked out the Monza site and found some great products, especially within the tools section... tyre gel applicator, soft brushes etc etc... I began compiling an order but at checkout I realised I was into three digits; I think I'll revise the basket contents tonight and try not to get carried away!
P.S. I note bicycles in the reflections, are you an avid rider?
Did you get any photos that captured the full car, with the bonnet/boot closed?
I checked out the Monza site and found some great products, especially within the tools section... tyre gel applicator, soft brushes etc etc... I began compiling an order but at checkout I realised I was into three digits; I think I'll revise the basket contents tonight and try not to get carried away!
P.S. I note bicycles in the reflections, are you an avid rider?
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
Yes the car is covered when in the garage, just some nice linen double sheets, nothing special although I have been looking at the custom fit dust covers
Lee
Lee
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Do you do breakfast as well?3.0 Lakes Lee wrote:just some nice linen double sheets
Car looks fantastic. Black and red does look well on a sports car, but it is a ****er to keep them clean.
I will make sure I have my sunglasses with me when I'm up there in a couple of weeks - if I meet you on the road, I think you'll blind me!
Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
They do have some great products and my garage cupboard seems to have quite a few of them in!yalden wrote:Looks fabulous, definitely a job well done!
Did you get any photos that captured the full car, with the bonnet/boot closed?
I checked out the Monza site and found some great products, especially within the tools section... tyre gel applicator, soft brushes etc etc... I began compiling an order but at checkout I realised I was into three digits; I think I'll revise the basket contents tonight and try not to get carried away!
P.S. I note bicycles in the reflections, are you an avid rider?
The bikes??..............used to race but now just fitness, I have the same bike Lance (Armstrong) rode in this years tour de france, bikes or cars, theres always something to buy for them!!!
Cheers
Lee
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- Joined: Wed 04 Nov, 2009 04:45
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clean car
My G-d! That's a work of art!!!
Lisa
Lisa
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
Thanks guys for all the comments, hope to meet up with some of you next year
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Think you must've been hiding your car in the garage at the weekend so as not to get it dirty. I didn't see any shiney black zeds on the road - come to think of it, I didn't see any zeds! Was out in mine quite a few times as had appointments in Kendal Friday and Saturday and did a bit of shopping in Bowness and Ambleside. Annoyingly the sun shone driving home on Sunday.
Cheers R.
Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
My lovely lady is reseved for dry sunny days rob! the roads are so crappy round the lakes at the mo
Not to mention the 8 ton of walling stone that is blocking my drive and still needs shifting!!
Have you moved up here now Rob?
Not to mention the 8 ton of walling stone that is blocking my drive and still needs shifting!!
Have you moved up here now Rob?
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No, I'm afraid not, but I do come up and stay with my folks quite often - they live about 2 miles outside Kendal. I am Kendal born and bred, but I moved away to go to uni and got a job down here in Cheshire after that. I think the Lakes will always feel like home to me - it is always nice to visit - even in the pouring rain.3.0 Lakes Lee wrote:Have you moved up here now Rob?
Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
errrrrrrrrrrrr?........................noneo1 wrote:wow do you want to do mine
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- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
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- Location: Kendal
Not sure what you mean by paint correction? I have never really thought about it and not sure where the nearest one to me would be.JohnSmith wrote:Lee, have you ever considered getting a professional detailer to carry out some paint correction? It'd really be a superb reflection if you did.
Lee
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Lee, I'm not sure what your car is like in the flesh (as I've not seen it ) but I think what John is implying is that there can be a further "level" of correction to a car whereby the laquer is professionally cut to remove 100% of swirls. This is the only way to get a real mirror finish.
This is really a specialist job and a full correction can cost many hundreds (even £1,000) pounds.
It is something I've toyed with but you have to weigh up the cost/benefit of doing it yourself and getting maybe 80% of the result for relatively little cost other than your own time against the considerable extra cost to get closer to that 100% level of finish.
If you ever get a chance its well worth you going to see Matt at Offyourmarks in Liverpool. (not a million miles from you if you fancy a day trip over to Liverpool, he's 10 min from the city centre and is an experience just to see how the pro's do a detail even if you decide against).
He is well respected (former member on here) and writes in a number of the BMW magazines
This is really a specialist job and a full correction can cost many hundreds (even £1,000) pounds.
It is something I've toyed with but you have to weigh up the cost/benefit of doing it yourself and getting maybe 80% of the result for relatively little cost other than your own time against the considerable extra cost to get closer to that 100% level of finish.
If you ever get a chance its well worth you going to see Matt at Offyourmarks in Liverpool. (not a million miles from you if you fancy a day trip over to Liverpool, he's 10 min from the city centre and is an experience just to see how the pro's do a detail even if you decide against).
He is well respected (former member on here) and writes in a number of the BMW magazines
- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
- Posts: 258
- Location: Kendal
Funnily enough I have just bought one of these with various polishing pads.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT
So i think I will get results that I will be more than happy with.
Cheers
Lee
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT
So i think I will get results that I will be more than happy with.
Cheers
Lee
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- 3.0 Lakes Lee
- Joined: Wed 01 Apr, 2009 08:34
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- Location: Kendal
You are more than welcome to call in jonttt, happy to let you use my "facilities" Im sure my Z wouldnt mind sitting on the driveway for the dayJonttt wrote:
You can practice on yours and I'll bring mine round
Seriously, I'm doing the same thing next spring, of course with the benefit of you brand new garage you can get to work on yours before me
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