Arctic White Golf 3 Gti - Detailed by Lawrence

[lawrenceSA]

This is one of my favorite local MK3's - a lot of subtle changes that really work well. The car has however received a full re-spray and unfortunately the finish left a lot to be desired - not particularly noticeable from a distance but up close it was a different story.

The usual surface dirt was present

Here we get to see some orange peel

This in itself is not particularly uncommon, however what is, is how varied the orange peel was over the car. As you can see in the pic below, there is a lot of it toward the window side of the bonnet, but then as you move toward the front bumper the body shop has sanded the paint a lot more

Another example - in the reflection of the arch of my garage entrance you can see half with orange peel and half without

As if this was not bad enough, some very deep sanding marks were left behind.

And of course the obligatory swirls and buffer trails

A few of the raised edges took a hammering

The trim was also in need of some love

As did the wheels

Process/products used:

Arches: Rinsed with a HP washer, sprayed with Cyclo APC via a foaming trigger head and allowed to dwell and then agitated with a Mothers Fender Well Brush. This was followed with another HP Rinse. The arches would later be dressed with Glossworx Extreme Tyre Shine

Tires: Cleaned with Mothers Mothers FX Wheel Cleaner and a Mothers Tire Brush and later dressed with Autofinesse Gloss Tire Dressing

Wheels and brake calipers: Rinsed with a HP washer then cleaned using Cyclo APC and a Daytona Jnr and a Valet Pro Boar Hairs brush and dried. The wheels were then thoroughly sprayed with Valet Pro Dragons Breath which was agitated after being allowed to dwell for a few minutes, using the same brushes, and then thoroughly rinsed and dried them. Valet Pro Citrus Tar & Glue Remover was used to remove any tar spots. The wheels were then foamed using Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam when the rest of the car was being washed - this would ensure there were no remaining residue on the surface - then they were clayed and sealed with Menzerna Powerlock.

Door shuts, boot shut, window rubbers, fuel flap, badges etc: Cleaned using Cyclo APC with Valet Pro brushed and then HP Rinsed. Autofinesse Tripple was then used to further clean these areas and leave behind some protection.

Wash: Pre-foamed using Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam via foam cannon followed by a 2BM wash with Lambswool wash mitts and Glossworx Shampoo.

Dry: ONR at QD strength with WW Drying towels and compressed air

Decontamination: A baggie test was conducted revealing a 'normal'amount of contamination. A 3-stage decontamination comprising Valet Pro Dragon's Breath, Valet Pro Citrus Tar Remover and Autoglym Fine Grade Clay with ONR as lube.

Correction: Menzerna FG400 / Lake Country Orange. The black wing was further refined using Menzerna SF4000 / Lake Country Grey finishing pad

Taping up

Despite washing and decontaminating the paint, polishing further improved the look by removing the layer of ingrained dirt

Protection: Collinite 845 [Autofinesse Tripple used on Door Jambs and under Bonnet]

Glass : Sample Fine Grade Clay / ONR at clay lube strength / Glossworx Glass Cleaner / Streak Free Microfiber Glass Cleaning Cloths / Insta Finish Bead Off

Door rubbers, plastic trim : Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner / Optimum Optibond Tire Gel

Interior: Blown out with compressed air / Vacuum / Autofinesse Spritz / BMW Leather Cleaner / Glossworx Leather Conditioner

Engine Bay: Blown out with compressed air / Wiped down with MF Towel and Cyclo APC / Dressed using Glossworx Extreme Tire Shine / Autofinesse Tripple on all painted areas

Exhaust tips: Cyclo CM30 APC / Various brushes / Meguiars NXT Metal Polish

Exterior Trim: Dressed using Optimum Optibond

Onto some after pics

In the garage still

And out in the sun, which was setting rather quickly

Total time spent = 30 hours

As always thanks for looking and any questions or comments are welcome.

:hi:

 

[jamesboyy]

Breath taking amazing work on that Golf though it look like you spent more than 30 hours on that paintwork

 

[281]

Excellent work as usual Lawrence, I imagine white paint is hard to work on because it's hard to see the defect.

 

[rmagnus]

Looks great but 30 hours on a DD. Too much for me but you did outstanding work.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beautiful work on the MK3 VW Lawrence! That classic really shines now with your level of attention.

I love the subtle look of this VW.

 

[lawrenceSA]

Breath taking amazing work on that Golf though it look like you spent more than 30 hours on that paintwork

Thanks very much

Excellent work as usual Lawrence, I imagine white paint is hard to work on because it's hard to see the defect.

Thanks. I don't know so much about being difficult to see the defects on white paint. Sure it is not as easy as darker colors, but it is certainly easier than silver. I think one of the key things is trying to look at the defects in different lighting. The sun is great (but sometimes a pair of sunglasses helps to cut out the glare whilst still leaving the below surfaced defects visible) and I also use an LED Torch, overhead florescents and the twin halogens.

Looks great but 30 hours on a DD. Too much for me but you did outstanding work.

Well 30 hours is what the car needed to get it up to the level the owner was looking for, and he was willing to pay for it. Also, this isn't a daily driver - more of a weekend toy and it is often at car shows (more for sound competitions, but maybe now for a show n shine type event too) - From what I can remember it is a '93 model with around 60k miles on it.

I also only ever do 1 car per weekend and so (money aside) if I spend 10 hours or 30 hours on a car, it doesn't really impact on anything else.... I really prefer taking my time as this is more of a hobby that pays for itself than an all out business. I imagine (and me be wrong) that the pressures of 'production type detailing' would eventually detract from the passion I have for this art form.

Beautiful work on the MK3 VW Lawrence! That classic really shines now with your level of attention.

I love the subtle look of this VW.

Thanks Mike. Yes the OEM+ type styling certainly appeals more to me than some of the over the top modifications (read massive wings etc) we get to see here all too often. Also a lot of work has gone into it in places you don't really see. The 1.8t motor transplant for example could simply have been finished off the easy way with, with an aftermarket management system, however the owner spent the better part of a year getting every last thing to run off the OEM ECU, something the VW motorsport technical team told him would never be possible.

 

[FASTFRED]

I think it looks awesome ! :xyxthumbs:

 

[sproketser]

Great job as usual & How To . Keep these poeted mate !

 

[lawrenceSA]

I think it looks awesome ! :xyxthumbs:

Great job as usual & How To . Keep these poeted mate !

Thank you both very much

 

[XJL]

Great work! How did you manage to clear up the scratches on the wheels?

 

[lawrenceSA]

Great work! How did you manage to clear up the scratches on the wheels?

Thank you

I didn't attempt to polish out the scratches on the wheels. They are a set off an Audi TT that have been machine polished to give the same look as the OEM Golf 6 Gti wheel and I did not want to be messing with that finish.