[CJ421]

I spent about 5 hours doing the following detail job. The pictures do not do the shine and depth justice.
BEFORE:



Background: this is my car. I did this same detail job on it when I picked it up with 6 miles on the ODO. My sealant has just about expired (3 mos) so it was time to do it again. I wash the car weekly and the car has literally no scratches/swirls in it, period.

THE WASH/PREP
1. Wet car, spray with P21S Total Auto Wash
2. Rinse car
3. Wash w/ Chemical Guys Citrus Wash
4. Rinse but do not dry
5. Clay car w/ fine grade clay, Dodo Juice Born to be Slippery lube
6. Rinse car
7. Dry w/ microfiber using the blotting method and a blow vac




Comments: P21S is a great way to start, it softens and lifts up dirt on the paint and gets rinsed off before you even start washing.
The Chemical Guys Citrus Wash is an excellent product, I only use it when re-applying sealant because it strips off everything. Typically I use Dodo Juice maintenance shampoo.
Claying the car took no time at all, the sealant I had kept the paint super clean (also thanks to weekly washes).

THE GLAZING/SEALANT
1. Glaze the car using a foam applicator pad using Chemical Guys EZ-Creme
2. Buff off glaze after ample drying time
3. Apply Blackfire Wet Diamond w/ Polycharger sealant
4. Buff off after ample drying time





Now for sealant:



Buffed:



Comments: the glaze gives you a perfectly smooth surface to start applying sealant. It is not necessary but aids the end result. Gives it that extra depth.
The Blackfire Wet Diamond sealant is pristine stuff. Apply a thin coat, then buff off. It leaves the paint looking so slick ... just amazing. Takes 24 hours to cure, and you can apply another coat but I don't.

THE WHEELS
-Wet and spray with SONAX wheel cleaner
-Use shampoo and a detail brush to get inside the wheel and clean all surfaces
-Rinse thoroughly
-Apply Chemical Guys EZ-Creme glaze to surfaces
-Buff off glaze after ample drying time
-Apply Poor Boy's World Wheel Sealant
-Buff off after ample drying time
-Dress tires with Optimum Tire Shine


Comments: SONAX is a great way to start ... you will see the dirt/junk on there oxidize and turn purple. Make sure you have a nice long neck brush to get inside the wheel (cleaning the outside is not good enough).
The glazing step gets rid of any extra dirt on there and leaves you a nice surface to apply the wheel sealant.
The wheel sealant is amazing, lasts about 3 mos, and makes future washes far easier.
Nothing sets off a car like clean wheels.

THE END RESULT...






Special thanks to:
-Greg @ DI for the supplies
-Mike @ Autoaesthetica in Western NY for tips

[noobster]

nice job...

btw..total fail on forgetting to delete your license plate in one of the pictures.

[CJ421]

Thank you. I fixed the picture.

[autoaesthetica]

So delicious. Wheels look amazing C. AMAZING.

[AaronLBeltran]

The pictures do enough justice.

[NiVeDh]

Nice work.

[Park2670]

Amazing. Wish I had the time and motivation.

[Busa1]

Looks great, how long did it take?

[CJ421]

Thank you guys It took about 5 hours over two days, would have been 4.5 in one block. The wheels were the toughest part.

[Detailed Image]

Great job it looks like a huge improvement on one of my favorite colors. It really looks great and I'm thrilled for you! Thank you for posting up this info and sharing with others. As always if anyone else would like recommendations don't hesitate to ask!

Originally Posted by Park2670

Amazing. Wish I had the time and motivation.

If you want help doing the fastest job possible I'd be happy to help. Using a product like the Optimum Opti-Seal & Free Yellow Foam Applicator can help you detail very quickly. After washing and drying you just spread this product really thin and you are DONE! It dries clear so no removal is needed and it will protect for about 3 - 5 months. If you need a detailer in Utah I highly recommend contacting Greg N from Reflections Detailing here http://www.reflections-detailing.com/. Hope this helps!

Greg @ DI

[zybar]

Very nice job!!

Love the paint color as well.

George

[Johndong888]

Looks good! Although I believe you are only hiding the swirls and minor scratches by glazing.

Love that color.

[sbce90]

clean LM Blue is amazing! Nice work.

[CJ421]

I appreciate the compliment!

Originally Posted by Johndong888

Looks good! Although I believe you are only hiding the swirls and minor scratches by glazing.

Love that color.

I don't believe there are any swirls - none that I can see, anyways. I ordered this car and took deliver with 6 miles on the ODO. Stripped it using a citrus wash upon delivery and inspected the paint in sunlight, nothing. I replicated the same detail job here that I did then.

You're correct that glaze fills in any surface scratches and imperfections, it doesn't do jack to get rid of them. I use glaze to provide a base for the sealant. Glaze was an extra step and just added a bit of extra depth, not necessary. But on a car that has some swirls/light surface marring, I'd consider it essential.

I see your car is black - that's got to be a chore to keep clean. Black looks so good when it is super clean though.

[Greg Nichols]

Your car turned out very nice! If I could make a suggestion.......It appears you applied the glaze and sealant pretty thick in the photos. Less is more with these, all that extra is wasted product you just have to remove.

Cheers,
GREG

[Greg Nichols]

Originally Posted by Park2670

Amazing. Wish I had the time and motivation.

basic protection and washing are just like oil changes a necessary job in the maintaining of the car.

Maybe we should put on a clinic in Utah to show the basics?

I'll be at Utah PACE day........

Cheers,
GREG

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by Reflections Detailing

Your car turned out very nice! If I could make a suggestion.......It appears you applied the glaze and sealant pretty thick in the photos. Less is more with these, all that extra is wasted product you just have to remove.

Cheers,
GREG

+1000 looks a little thick especially the BFWD. EZ Creme is a real benfit if not polishing as it preps the surface for the sealant to bond to, Klasse AIO is another good one for that use if youwant to clean your paint but not polish and help a sealant cure.

[ddogg35]

looks good, but your dog doesn't look too impressed

[Fsarc]

Awesome job! LeMans is definitely one of my favorite colors
Looks like LeMans owners think alike. I almost used all the same products as you did with similar oustanding results. Did a lot of my research and buying at Detailed Image- highly recommended. I currently use the Optimum Tire Shine now as well.

My first detail-

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=lemans