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Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Nissan Latio White

An intermediate detail on a 6-month old white Nissan Latio.

Before pictures of the engine bay.

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First I covered up the alternator and any wiring inlets with aluminum foil. Rinsed at high pressure, sprayed on Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner (4:1) and agitate with a paint brush and sponge. Areas that my hand cannot reach into I used a bottle brush. After agitating, the engine bay is rinsed and blow dried using the blow function on my wet/dry vacuum.

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Meguiar’s Hyper Dressing(2:1) is sprayed on and left to soak into the plastics and rubber.

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Then at the end of the detail at night, I wiped off the excess with a dry microfibre cloth and here’s the result.


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After the engine was done, it’s time to clean the wheels, wheel wells and tires. The wheel is fully turned to one side first so I can reach the inside of the wheel well and not just the outer side. Cleaned with Meguiar’s Super Degreaser(4:1)

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The wheels were cleaned with Meguiar’s Wheel Brightener(4:1) and tires cleaned with Super Degreaser(4:1). A bottle brush for the back of the wheel and an old sponge for behind the spokes.

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Then the car is pre-soaked with Meguiar’s Hyper Wash and left to dwell for a while before being rinsed off at high pressure.

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The owner also wanted to remove the chrome stripping. M6000 Wax and Grease remover on a microfiber cloth removed the adhesives with ease(although some patience is required, =P).

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The car is then washed with Meguiar’s Shampoo Plus using the two bucket method and a chenille wash mitt. Osren Tar Remover is sprayed onto the lower panels, left to dwell, and wiped off.

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Clayed using Perma Glass No.2 Clay and diluted Shampoo Plus as lubricant.

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Whole car is rewashed, cracks and crevices blow dried, and everything else dried with a Meguiar’s Water Magnet cloth.

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For the one-step polish, Menzerna 106FF is used with a Meguiar’s W-9006 Finishing pad at 600-900-600 rpms.

Most of the swirls on the paint are fairly light. Here is a before.

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And after a one-step polish.

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Intricate areas and edges hand polished with Optimum Polish. Front rubber mats washed with APC(4:1)

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Meguiar’s #21 Synthetic Sealant applied with a W-9006 Finishing Pad via Random Orbital.

then the following is done:

- Vacuum interior
- Plastics and vinyl wiped down with Meguiar’s Quik Interior detailer.
- Glass cleaned with Meguiar’s detailer line glass cleaner concentrate.
- Door jambs waxed with Meguiar’s #21 Synthetic Sealant
- Pedals cleaned with APC
-Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Detailer applied to exterior front windscreen to help repel water.
-Trim dressed with Meguiar’s #40 Rubber/Vinyl Cleaner & Conditioner
-Tires and wheel wells(plastic) dressed with Meguiar's Hyper Dressing(2:1)
- Wheels waxed with M21

PlastX applied to headlamps and tail-lamps

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Chrome trim polished with Meguiar’s NXT All Metal Polysh

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Two coats of Meguiar’s #16 Professional Paste Wax applied by hand. And the results below, I’m sorry as I finished a bit too late on this one and the owner had to wait for me for almost an hour until I’m done (THANK YOU!) So the pictures aren’t very good, but here they are nonetheless.

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Thanks for looking as always and feel free to ask and comment if there are any questions. =)

7 comments:

Clement 1:40 PM  

Well done, Ken.

A rating of 7.5 of 10 stars. There's still rooms for improvement. Keep up the good work.

Kenneth Tang a.k.a Fishbonezken 1:49 PM  

Thanks Clement,
what should I have done to make it a 10/10?

Clement 2:24 PM  

You want 10/10, continue the Commercial service lah... lots of ppl are hoping that you continue the job)

Seriously, to get 10/10 from a "layman" customer... I would say try detailing on other parts as well... such as Windscreen/ windows. There are also some hidden parts (behind the number plates, doors) could have been dressed as well. Of course it would take more of your time, that's understandable.

Please don't feel bad about the rating. You've met a very high satifactory level already.

Anonymous 6:35 PM  

Kenneth already mention that he cleaned the glasses with Meguiar’s detailer line glass cleaner concentrate; polished intricate areas and edges with Optimum Polish and wax the door jambs with Meguiar’s #21 Synthetic Sealant. It is a 10 star detail.

Awesome job there fishy! Heck, the foot padels were cleaned too. I never clean mine :D

Kenneth Tang a.k.a Fishbonezken 11:50 AM  

Clement,
Thanks! I appreciate your feedback and will keep it in my mind for future details.

slk,
actually clement is the owner, hehe, so I should be thankful for his honesty to help me improve. :)

Zey 4:45 PM  

In my opinion, Kenneth is doing a real good job. It's very obvious that how much of effort he has put in every single assignment, though he might be charging peanuts as compared to commercial detailers out there. What's more amazing is he can even document the steps involved with very informative photos. He might have stopped his commercial detailing service, but I know he's still very into detailing. Let him prioritize other things in his life for the time being and we shall see him back in action shortly. All the best dude!

Kenneth Tang a.k.a Fishbonezken 9:09 PM  

Zey,
I'm touched by your words *sniff* I don't know what to say except for a big THANK YOU.

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