Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Evening all,
Been a long evening sifting through insane amounts of photos from todays detail - been experimenting with time lapse photography for the YouTube channel. More on that later!
This E46 M3 convertible hadn't been cleaned since the beginning of December, so was looking pretty sorry for itself after the grim weather we've had. I was asked to tidy it up and make it look a lot more presentable, improve the overall appearance of the paintwork and apply some long lasting protection. We decided a Zaino Detail would be perfect.
Today I enrolled the assistance of Stu who you will see more of over the coming months 
Please note the number plate is on show with the owners permission.
First up, how it looked upon arrival:
Engine bay was first. Degreased with Autosmart G101 and agitated with detailing brushes, rinsed off at medium pressure, Autosmart Rubber & Plastic dressing applied and left, then engine started and left to run. The excess dressing was buffed off later and metal work tidied with Autosmart Tango.
Next up, the fuel cap and doorshuts. Again cleaned with Autosmart G101 and detailing brushes, and rinsed out at low pressure:
Autosmart Hazsafe was applied to the lower half of the car, and an initial soaking of Espuma Revolution the wheels, left to work for a minute or so, then rinsed off at high pressure:
Wheels were then cleaned properly, again with Espuma Revolution. They are going to be polished up when the weather improves, as they are currently suffering from the usual lacquer fail.
Tyres and arches were cleaned with Autosmart G101:
Next the car was foamed with Bilt Hamber Autofoam and left to dwell. Badges and nooks & crannies were cleaned with Meguiars APC and a detailing brush.
The soft top was also foamed, and agitated with a sponge from the Autoglym convertible kit:
Bodywork was rinsed off at high pressure, and the roof with an open hose.
Paintwork then washed via 2 bucket method using a lambswool mitt and Valet Pro Poseidon's carnauba wash:
Rinsed, and dried with Autosmart waffle cloths and the car drier for fiddly water traps:
Decontamination next - tar spots addressed with Autosmart Tardis:
and paintwork then clayed with Bilt Hamber Autoclay soft using weak Autosmart Reglaze as lube:
Exhausts were polished with Autosol and 00 gauge wire wool:
Paintwork was enhanced with Zaino PC Fusion via the DAS 6 Pro:
Rain meant we had to duck inside, so pics decreased. Next up was the interior:
A thorough hoover, all plastics deep cleaned with Meguiars APC, leather cleaned with Dr Leather wipes and conditioned with Zaino:
Paintwork given a Z6 wipe down, before a coat of Z-AIO was applied. Z6 wipe down again, followed by 2 coats of Z5 with 30 minutes to cure between.
Final Z8 wipe down, Glass cleaned with Espuma Crystal Blue, chrome trim and door shuts polished with Carlack NSC tyres dressed with Nielsens Brilliance, and job done:
And my 2nd attempt at a video write up, first attempt at using time lapse. Click through to YouTube for HD!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMZExmWaXT8&hd=1
Thanks for looking,
Rich
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Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
User status: Offline
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http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
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Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
User status: Offline
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I'll say this once. If a top quality painter is happy with the outcome, then that settles it for me. That looks stunning.
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Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
User status: Offline
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I'm over the moon mate. Just wish he could work here everyday 
http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
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Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
User status: Offline
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Then that's it settled. If a top class body man is happy, then it is fucking good. End.
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Tomnova16
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Jan 06
Location: Gerrards Cross Drives: Porsche 911
User status: Offline
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http://www.lemass.co.uk/ for all your automotive/bodyshop needs
Located in Chalfont st Peter
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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thumbs thumbs thumbs
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dan_m1les
Member
Registered: 8th May 06
Location: Burnham, Buckinghamshire
User status: Offline
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What's the cost? Amazing work!
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Ian W
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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Mint 
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mike56gte
Member
Registered: 23rd Jun 09
Location: Fife, scotland Drives: Audi S3
User status: Offline
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awsome results!
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Thanks all, much appreciated!
Rough cost fora Zaino enhancement detail can be found here: http://www.refineddetail.co.uk/zaino_detailing.html
PM me if you'd like a proper quote. CS Members get 10% off too
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AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
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Nice work Rich, love the time lapse
Makes you realise how much effort is put in 
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smcGSI16V
Member
Registered: 26th May 03
Location: Farnborough Drives: Thurlby 888 CDTi No.98
User status: Offline
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Top job Rich.
I might have to invest in this on tha astra.
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Haimsey
Premium Member
Registered: 8th May 05
Location: Nottingham Drives: Corsa B
User status: Offline
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liking the video
Marcy Marc 
White Sport Progress Thread
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shaunmods
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Mar 07
Location: Glascote, Staffordshire
User status: Offline
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What a difference! Shame on you Tom for letting it get that filthy  Looks amazing now though!
One quick question Rich, you know when you use G101 for the engine bay, inner arches etc what dilution ratio do you tend to have it at? 
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John G
Member
Registered: 18th Jul 05
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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This picture just sold refined detail to me and toms car if it was for sale (and i had the money :lol
awesome work as usual rich, just subscribed to your youtube as well, video is really good, great way of showing customers what a full day intails, you can notice the precise workmanship between you and stu (him following you closely pressure washing where youv just two bucket method)
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John G
Member
Registered: 18th Jul 05
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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As for you tom! buy a shitter to transport the dog!!!!! haha
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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I can't see all the photos  stupid iPhone
Looks top drawer as usual mate!!
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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stunning.
the exhaust tips transformation is very nice
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BarnshaW
Member
Registered: 25th Oct 06
User status: Offline
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i liked the vid rich, and shame on you tom for letting it get that bad
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Mattb
Member
Registered: 2nd Feb 03
Location: Under your sisters bed
User status: Offline
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like tom has time to clean his car!!
Epic work as usual rich
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BluKoo
Member
Registered: 8th Apr 02
Location: Stonehaven (Scotland)
User status: Offline
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Good write up and a good video.
I even like the song too. Perfect for something like that.
Whats it called?
PS. Your "HD" video write up seems to contain nothing but pictures. Is that really still classed as HD?
[Edited on 13-02-2011 by BluKoo]
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
User status: Offline
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Just seen this on FB from Tom, love the time lapse video.
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andys sxi
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Jan 06
Location: Chester Drives:Scirocco tdi bluemotion
User status: Offline
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i like that picture john looks lovely init
top job rich
edit just watched that video 10 hours of hard work paid off
[Edited on 13-02-2011 by andys sxi]
April 08 feature car
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Neil Dagens
Member
Registered: 14th Apr 07
Location: Fareham, Hampshire
User status: Offline
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Awesome transformation mate ! The time lapsing is very good too, great way to show the progress!
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