2013 VW Fox - Heavy decontamination, detailed and Coated with Pinnacle Black Label

Tato

Tato

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Dear friends,

This weekend I had the pleasure to work on this 2013 VW Fox.

It's a daily driver and sits outside 24 / 7. Customer went after me looking into adding some protection to it.

While inspecting the car using a swirl finder light, I've explained to customer the importance of removing above surface contaminants and improving the finish before adding protection to it. Being it a daily driver and not garaged, I've offered my best try to renew the finish using the least abrasive polishing possible. Then, we agreed:

Decontamination, 1-step refinement polish and coating to all surfaces.

However, to ensure a high standard at the end I've added engine / under the hood detail, glasswork and full interior.

Let's take a look:

Arrived:
fox13-1.png


fox13-2.png


fox13-3.png


Fried bugs for lunch, anyone?
fox13-4.png


It's still hard to 'Feel' the contamination in the first pictures, but don't worry, you'll see in a few. Paint was feeling like #40grit sand paper, picky, and tacky.
fox13-5.png


If you are like me you'll enjoy knowing at first hand everything went out fine. BEFORE:
fox13-6a.png


After:
fox13-6b.png


Before:
fox13-6c.png


After:
fox13-6d.png


...but to get there, we know it takes a lot of efforts. Some Gardening was also part of the job!
fox13-7.png


Think about tacky...
fox13-8.png


The wipers were glued to the glass!
fox13-9b.png


fox13-9a.png


Same thing here, but no wipers to be glued:
fox13-10a.png


Heavy film present on windshield,
fox13-10b.png


and there are wipers - glued!
fox13-10c.png


Nature is not always the only cause, mankind also contributes to above surface contamination
fox13-11.png


Who searches always find something!
This is a literally translated Brazilian proverb... and so true.

Another mankind damage to the car, incorrect polishing procedure causing holograms
fox13-12.png


This was looking like deep sanding marks un-removed, but can also be the same guy passing his polisher to 'improve minor flaws'.
fox13-13.png


Wheel work:
Before:
fox13-17.png


After:
fox13-18.png


Engine work:
Before:
fox13-19.png


fox13-20.png


After:
fox13-21.png


fox13-22.png


At the end, all metal coated, plastic protected using 303 Aerospace Protectant.
fox13-23.png


Interior

Not many pictures, but I can assure every nook and cranny was worked. Thorough vacuum, Steamer cleaning, dedicated cleaning (fabric, carpet, upholstery), and every plastic part protected using 303. Doorjambs were then coated.

fox13-16.png


fox13-15.png


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Unfortunately you can't feel the awesome smell, like brand New!
fox13-25.png


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Paint Polishing

To prepare the car for polishing I did what I call HyperWash (Meguiar's HyperWash + CG Bug Tar Wash mixture), followed by Iron-x, tar-x, 3M tar remover (spots), Spotless (mainly glass) and followed by nanoskin claying the entire surface.

After this extensive procedure paint was very smooth and totally transformed, but I still had stains and haziness on the clear coat that now were showing like a sore thumb. Let's go after them! :buffing::buffing:

Some Before,
fox13-28.png


Many droppings were already etched into the clear coat. My work was towards minimizing their appearance without sacrificing too much paint and to get rid of the most superficial ones, all this while providing an even, haze free finish.
fox13-29.png


fox13-31.png


Bugs were successfully removed, but still some work to do on the finish (notice under light).
fox13-30.png


Those defects in the finish needed a step up to FG400 (by hand) because the finishing polish approach wasn't enough.
fox13-32.png


Apart from many spots worked by hand (MF Applicator + Menzerna SF4000), all the polishing work was performed using Rupes 21 Polisher with a 5" plate, Lake Country White Hybrid Pads 6.5" and Menzerna SF4000.

Got rid easily of the holograms while finishing even and clear, in one step:
fox13-33.png


Before:
fox13-14.png


After:
fox13-34.png


And so on... working on a time constraint I couldn't capture many 'during' pictures.
fox13-35a.png


No more glue, picky or tacky feeling, just glass, smooth and reflective as... Glass!
fox13-36.png


Clear Glass is an important safety issue regarding any vehicle. I'm pretty sure owner will notice a slight difference in visibility while driving his car...
fox13-37.png


Finished Work

After the polishing procedure, car was erased and washed again to guarantee a clean surface for coating to adhere. Pinnacle Black Label line of coatings were applied on wheel, glass, paint, and trim.

Hope you enjoy!

Leave the Garage
fox13-38a.png


fox13-38b.png


Hit the Road
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Ready to leave.
fox13-46.png



Although minor flaws still exists, I'm glad I could improve such neglected car using 'just' a fine polishing approach, while the real deal was to remove all above surface contamination in a (timely but) safe manner!

Thank you very much for watching,

Comments, critics, suggestions, questions?! Please, always, always welcome.

Kind Regards.
 
Great job. I have a neighbor whose car is covered in tree sap. I am looking for a product to recommend to clean it. What do you think of the CG Bug Tar Wash?
 
AZ Mike said:
Great job. I have a neighbor whose car is covered in tree sap. I am looking for a product to recommend to clean it. What do you think of the CG Bug Tar Wash?
Click to expand...

Thank you. Bug Tar Wash acts well helping to loosen mainly bugs, but a lot of above surface contaminants as well, makes washing and further claying a lot better. It's not a 'miracle product', but I like adding a capful or two to the foam cannon while washing such cars.

For stubborn contamination, dedicated tar / adhesive remover will be needed, at least to some extent. Iron-X Paste, although claimed to be an iron remover, also acts as a 'strong soap' which helps releasing much more than iron deposits.

Just beware to test an inconspicuous place before applying anything over the entire vehicle, and wash on the shade - because those products works better after dwelling for sometime (avoid letting product to dry over surface).

Always try the lesser aggressive approach first, and step up when needed depending on previous results.

You can try the chemical decontamination first, and seal in the end (i.e: Spotless will remove water spots without 'abrading / marring' the finish. This is a huge plus!). If you use mechanical decontamination (clay / nanoskin), it'll be better to follow with at least one-step polish before sealing the job, to get rid of clay marring and promote an even, clear finish.

For maintenance wash CG Bug Tar also plays a role and makes wonders to clean coated finishes.

Hope that helps,

PeterPistol said:
Nice work!!!!!
Click to expand...

Thank you!

Kind Regards.
 
That's a lot of work

I hope you are charging and profiting as you deserve
 
Thank you. Bug Tar Wash acts well helping to loosen mainly bugs, but a lot of above surface contaminants as well, makes washing and further claying a lot better. It's not a 'miracle product', but I like adding a capful or two to the foam cannon while washing such cars.

For stubborn contamination, dedicated tar / adhesive remover will be needed, at least to some extent. Iron-X Paste, although claimed to be an iron remover, also acts as a 'strong soap' which helps releasing much more than iron deposits.

Just beware to test an inconspicuous place before applying anything over the entire vehicle, and wash on the shade - because those products works better after dwelling for sometime (avoid letting product to dry over surface).

Always try the lesser aggressive approach first, and step up when needed depending on previous results.

You can try the chemical decontamination first, and seal in the end (i.e: Spotless will remove water spots without 'abrading / marring' the finish. This is a huge plus!). If you use mechanical decontamination (clay / nanoskin), it'll be better to follow with at least one-step polish before sealing the job, to get rid of clay marring and promote an even, clear finish.

For maintenance wash CG Bug Tar also plays a role and makes wonders to clean coated finishes.

Hope that helps,


That helps. Thank you for the information.
 
Methinks you simply went out and bought a new car for the customer...

:dblthumb2:
 
You nailed it again my friend! Great work and write up:)
 
Unique cars one of the best perfectionist....Excellent amazing Tato keep it up
 
daimler said:
Wow! That's night and day! How long did the work take?
Click to expand...

Thank you! The customer left the car thursday's afternoon, and the car was worked through saturday night for coating application. Sunday morning the car was delivered.

Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
Incredible work my friend! What an amazing turnaround!

Enjoyed reading through your work over my morning coffee.
Click to expand...

Thank you Mike, it's a pleasure knowing you enjoyed my thread!

chet31 said:
That customer must have been happy. Nice presentation.
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Thank you, customer liked the work and was even kind enough to pay slightly more than charged. That was very kind, and I accepted as a gratitude. Gonna order some milk for the children ahhaha

Kind Regards.
 
Great work! That's an amazing improvement.

I really enjoyed reading and looking at every step of your detail. Thanks for sharing.
 
That's a hell of turnaround, no doubt about it but here's the question, do you have this customer on a montly or quarterly maintenance program?
 
" The wipers were GLUED " ROFL!!!! I would have had a few choice words if I was in your shoes. The before and after were GREAT!

Another one for the Rafael portfolio. The story in picture is great! I am glad you sprung for the new camera. I sure hope you are creating a website for yourself so you can direct your potential customer to all those write ups

Thanks for sharing!
 
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