2012 Dodge Challenger + Menzerna Color Lock Makeover

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

2012 Dodge Challenger + Menzerna Color Lock Makeover



Here's the after walk-around-video...

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Autogeek's Show Car Garage!
Tonight we're going to do an extreme makeover on a black 2012 Dodge Challenger and after we perfect the paint we're going to apply the new Menzerna Color Lock.


Here's the LSP we'll use, the brand new Menzerna Color Lock

Menzerna in the house!
And I have a pretty good arsenal of Menzerna compounds and polishes on had and ready to go to work...

The Challenger has arrived!
Okay Ken and his Challenger have arrived, hard to get great shots with the sun so low in the sky but here's what I took outside...

First, interesting self-portrait, now sure where I took this?

Swirls and Scratches Under Florescent Lights
Here's inside, paint looks a lot worse, more scratches under the florescent lights...

The Baggie Test

And we did the Baggie Test and the paint definitely needs to be clayed...

Have a new car? Check out this article...


How To Detail Your Brand New Car by Mike Phillips

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

First things first.... Ken washed his Challenger the day before but there was light dust on it so we wiped it down using Menzerna Pant Refresh...


Tim aka 57BORNTORUN misting on Menzerna Paint Refresh...

Paul aka Sailfish wiping the paint clean...

Claying the paint
No pictures of claying but we used Pinnacle Ultra Fine Poly Clay with Pinnacle Clay Lube.


Test Spot
Next up we did some testing and I had Robert and Paul compare the Lake Country Ultra Microfiber Pads on identical tools, the Flex 3401.

The difference was that one polisher had the THICK LC Ultra Microfiber Pad and the other polisher had the THIN Ultra Microfiber Pad.

If you want to know which one works best I'll let you post the question and I'll let Robert and Paul tell you their opinioins...

After some testing we buffed out the car using Menzerna SI 1500 with Lake Country Ultra Microfiber Pads on both the Flex 3401 and the Griot's DA Polisher and then followed that using Lake Country 5.5" white foam polishing pads with Menzerna SF 4000 and then sealed the paint using Menzerna Color Lock machine applied using Lake Country 5.5" Blue Finishing Pads on Griot's DA Polishers.


Here's Robert testing out the thick LC Ultra MF Pads and Paul testing out the thin LC Ultra MF Pads

Robert is very good behind any polisher and always focuses on using good technique...

Look at the THICK foam core for this MF Pad...

Below is the thin MF pad as the foam core is much thinner than the thicker version...

NOTE: The linting is normal when breaking in a new LC Ultra Microfiber Pad

Then I had both guys switch keeping all other variables the same except the thickness and thinness of the foam backing of the pads.

Robert with the thin pad...

Paul with the thick pad...

Hands-on Learning at Autogeek
Here's Ken working by machine for the first time. This is one of the benefits to coming to Autogeek is you get hands-on learning...

Here's Paul tackling the roof...

Here's Paul using a 4 1/4" thick LC Ultra Microfiber Pad on the front lip of the car...

The thicker foam core conforms easily to curved panesl...

Time to polish!
After removing the swirls, scratches and water spots using microfiber pads and Menzerna SI 1500 we switched over to foam polishing pads and Menzerna SF 4000

Hard Paint
Everyone agreed the clear coat paint on this 2012 Challenger was hard clear coat paint system...

Here's Ken testing out the Flex 3401 with Lake Country 6.5" Foam Flat Pad...

Here's Robert using a Griot's DA Polisher with a Lake Country 5.5" Foam Flat pad...

Intense focused polishing... that's the norm for Robert...

Tim keeping all the panels wiped clean after they are machine polished...

And here's how we knock cars out in 2-3 hours... it's called Man Power
(with machine power)

Here's Ken machine applying the Menzerna Color Lock using a Meguiar's G110v2 DA Polisher...

Menzerna Color Lock Carnauba Wax

 

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Is this going to be live broadcast?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...


Dry to a haze
Okay, here's the Challenger completely coated with Menzerna Color Lock. The directions state to allow the wax to dry to a haze.

C. L. that's stands for Color Lock

This is me breaking open a coating of wax...

Shiny and clear 100% pure black paint...

Can you see what I'm talking about now?

Here's Tim carefully removing the Color Lock...

Paul and Ken carefully removing the Menzerna Color Lock...

Like to wear two gloves and use two towels...

This is always the fun part...

Topical Articles

Here's a few related articles on the topic of microfiber towels, gloves and techniquess...

How to break open a coating of wax and remove it by creeping out...

Increase Your Grip Strength with Microfiber Gloves

I love the glove...

How to correctly fold and use a Microfiber Towel

The 4 minimum categories of wiping cloths

How many microfiber polishing cloths do I need to detail my car?

The Final Wipe – Tips for creating a streak-free, show car finish



:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...


And now for the beauty shots...

The Overhead Hood Shot...

The low down front grill shot...

And here's the A-Team

From left to right...

Ken, Tim, Robert & Paul

:xyxthumbs:

 

[axel06]

magic mike will make it all better

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

On Autogeek.net

Menzerna Color Lock Carnauba Wax

Menzerna Compounds & Polishes

Lake Country Thick Core Ultra Microfiber Pads

Lake Country Flat Pads

Flex 3401 Forced Rotation DA Polisher

Griot's Garage DA Polisher

Super Soft Deluxe Green Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges - 3 Pack

Microfiber Gloves 6 Pairs

Pinnacle Ultra Poly Detailing Clay

Pinnacle Clay Lube

Thank you!

Thanks to all the guys that helped to create a show car finish on Ken's 2012 Challenger and thank you Ken for trusting Autogeek with your pride and joy!

 

[axel06]

the flex 3401 will take them right out mikes the man!!!!!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Is this going to be live broadcast?

Not tonight, Yancy has all his equipment ready to travel or already shipped out to Lincoln, Nebraska for the wetsand, cut and buff project...

When these are live broadcasts you'll see the graphic for it included in the first post. Thanks for asking the question though as I'm sure others had the same question...



:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

the flex 3401 will take them right out mikes the man!!!!!

We're going to use Flex 3401's and the new Griot's DA Polisher...



:buffing:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Done!


Ken just drove home in his incredibly black Challenger and boy did it come out sweet!

The new Menzerna Color Lock wax worked great too!


I'll post some picture tomorrow of the process and the after shots but for now it's time to shut down Autogeek's Show Car Garage!


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Dougw4355]

Awesome Job Mike


I concur..I have been using the new Menzerna color lock wax on my customers car and Im highly impressed with its ease of use and amazing and clarity

 

[ProDetail]

Any pics of the finish?

 

[Ken Kolinski]

I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to Mike and the guy's for their time and a great job on my car it looks fantastic.That Menzerna we used did wonders for that black paint.:dblthumb2:

 

[57BORNTORUN]

We just finished the car. NIGHT and DAY is all I can say.:dblthumb2:

 

[Sailfish]

Ken, I just want to say you have a great new finish on that ride, I really enjoyed the evening. Tom, Robert and Mike I had a great time, my flight is booked for Lincoln on Thursday and I am looking forward to working with Mike, Yancy and the rest of the crew in Lincoln. I also get to visit my youngest daughter who is a student at UNL. It is truly a great week! BTW the water was the best I have had in a long time.

Paul

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's a couple teaser shots, I have a meeting to attend and then I'll post the rest to the first page...

:xyxthumbs:

 

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Amazing as always. The color pop is incredibly. The black color is so deep and rich looking. Tremendous job.

 

[ProDetail]

Wow... Thats all I can say... Wow

 

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

What kind of pads did you guys use?