Tato
New member
- Nov 27, 2013
- 2,157
- 0
Dear AGO friends,
Today I'll be sharing one of the latest works performed at my 'old home-based detailing business' before moving to my new Detailing Studio.
If I had to pick a single car brand to work with, Mercedes would be on top of my list: their cars are not only beautiful but very well constructed in every detail, their paint is a pleasure to work with (for my taste), and all those factors positively converges to a successful results achievement. In Portuguese we'd say it 'Answers very well' to careful detailing approaches.
I'll try to be brief on text part and let the pictures do the talk. I'll also do my best to share details of my process, however, feel free to ask if you need further information on any subject.
Here it is, arranged for a full detail + coating. Unfortunately (IMO) customer neglected it more than necessary before bringing it to my garage for new car prep, but like many say, better doing something 'sooner rather than later'...
It's convertible features are really cool but I'll not enter in much details on this subject: there was a lot to be done other than playing transformers with my customer's car!
Damage to rear bumper not only scratched it but detached and bent it. Other than polishing and touch-up approaches, I had to slowly re-shape it by hand using some of my 'Physical Therapist' skills.
It was done few times every 30 minutes or so till I reach the original position. I'm very patient and persistent, but I only reached the desired results right after giving up the task. Uff!, relieved.
More on details, before:
Back to the subject, I've agreed with customer on a full detail + coating, but we decided I'd do something (nothing huge) to the bumper scratch. Let's see it again:
Here it is during the initial phase of 'repair':
Touch-ups are never a perfect solution, but I was honest when I said to customer defects would be barely noticeable from 1 meter away. Here it is touched up with color, then clear coat:
I had an entire neglected car to work with on a time constraint, so I decided not to sand over the edge being repaired, to avoid increasing the damage and also to avoid the 'endless loop' of putting on touch up and removing touch up, over and over.
I looked from a meter away and stopped, enough for that task in that occasion - called it a day and moved on.
Outside observation also demonstrated my conservative approach wasn't the worst decision:
Passenger's rearview mirror, scratched:
Polished:
Honesty shot: (some defects can be too deep for removal)
Driver's side had minor contaminants which worked out simpler and faster.
Before:
After:
Emblems - A Passion of mine.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Sun adding depth:
Small details, huge transformations: I have enough pictures to write a complete thread about only the Mercedes rear logo,
Before:
After:
Windshield, wipers, Before1:
Before2:
After:
Engine wasn't dirty compared to rest of car,
But it always looks better detailed, clean:
Door Jambs, Passenger's Side:
Driver's Side:
After:
Door Sill, before:
After Cleanup:
After Polishing:
Interior
My coworker gave me only a pair of pictures from interior saying it was all she had. Well, hats off to my wife's synthesis capacity and pristine work performed. Before:
After:
---
Wheels, passenger side, Before:
After:
Driver's side, Before:
Close-up:
After:
Feel the Grit:
Harsh, contaminated, gross:
No more:
Driver's side Before:
After:
Outside picture, After:
Studio picture, After:
General view, After:
Today I'll be sharing one of the latest works performed at my 'old home-based detailing business' before moving to my new Detailing Studio.
If I had to pick a single car brand to work with, Mercedes would be on top of my list: their cars are not only beautiful but very well constructed in every detail, their paint is a pleasure to work with (for my taste), and all those factors positively converges to a successful results achievement. In Portuguese we'd say it 'Answers very well' to careful detailing approaches.
I'll try to be brief on text part and let the pictures do the talk. I'll also do my best to share details of my process, however, feel free to ask if you need further information on any subject.
Here it is, arranged for a full detail + coating. Unfortunately (IMO) customer neglected it more than necessary before bringing it to my garage for new car prep, but like many say, better doing something 'sooner rather than later'...
It's convertible features are really cool but I'll not enter in much details on this subject: there was a lot to be done other than playing transformers with my customer's car!
Damage to rear bumper not only scratched it but detached and bent it. Other than polishing and touch-up approaches, I had to slowly re-shape it by hand using some of my 'Physical Therapist' skills.
It was done few times every 30 minutes or so till I reach the original position. I'm very patient and persistent, but I only reached the desired results right after giving up the task. Uff!, relieved.
More on details, before:
Back to the subject, I've agreed with customer on a full detail + coating, but we decided I'd do something (nothing huge) to the bumper scratch. Let's see it again:
Here it is during the initial phase of 'repair':
Touch-ups are never a perfect solution, but I was honest when I said to customer defects would be barely noticeable from 1 meter away. Here it is touched up with color, then clear coat:
I had an entire neglected car to work with on a time constraint, so I decided not to sand over the edge being repaired, to avoid increasing the damage and also to avoid the 'endless loop' of putting on touch up and removing touch up, over and over.
I looked from a meter away and stopped, enough for that task in that occasion - called it a day and moved on.
Outside observation also demonstrated my conservative approach wasn't the worst decision:
Passenger's rearview mirror, scratched:
Polished:
Honesty shot: (some defects can be too deep for removal)
Driver's side had minor contaminants which worked out simpler and faster.
Before:
After:
Emblems - A Passion of mine.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Sun adding depth:
Small details, huge transformations: I have enough pictures to write a complete thread about only the Mercedes rear logo,
Before:
After:
Windshield, wipers, Before1:
Before2:
After:
Engine wasn't dirty compared to rest of car,
But it always looks better detailed, clean:
Door Jambs, Passenger's Side:
Driver's Side:
After:
Door Sill, before:
After Cleanup:
After Polishing:
Interior
My coworker gave me only a pair of pictures from interior saying it was all she had. Well, hats off to my wife's synthesis capacity and pristine work performed. Before:
After:
---
Wheels, passenger side, Before:
After:
Driver's side, Before:
Close-up:
After:
Feel the Grit:
Harsh, contaminated, gross:
No more:
Driver's side Before:
After:
Outside picture, After:
Studio picture, After:
General view, After:
rops:
J/k apart, call me anytime if you aren't sure regarding my "portunglish" directions. 
