tez162003 Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Right, first off, im fairly new to the forum, had my350z a couple of weeks so thought id better do my detailing asap, as i hate driving around in an uncleaned car (other peoples dirt etc on sterring wheel etc) If you have crap internet speed, click away now, this may take some time... As for me, i do all the detailing myself, i was in the process of setting up a little company, but decided not too as i didnt really have the time. plus as much as i like a mint car, i actually find detailing rather boring and tedious after a while. The car: 2004 Nissan 350z GT in Gunmetal Owned: 2 weeks Before we start: horrid numberplates The car way fairly clean tbh, but i knew i could make it a whole lot better! Firstly i started by pressure washing the car to remove as much loose dirt as possible, (helps to avoid adding further swirls inthe paintwork) I then had to use the pressure washers own function for spraying washing fluid on the car as my snow lance fitting went missing... Next step was to spray the bottom half of the car with degresser, to help remove any stuck on dirt. The car was then rinsed again, and washed using the 2 bucket method and 2 washmitts. (random picture of a washmitt...) In the process of this, i also went around all the badges with Meguires APC and a meguires slide lock brush. This was to aggitate and remove all the dirt and grime in the areas that always get missed while washing. The car was then rinsed, and dried using Microfibre towels and Meguires Last Touch (straight) Next was the clay, as my cleaning supplies are alittle thin on the ground i had to settle for a mild meguires clay, (i tend to use sonus personally) clay lube was Meguires last touch (50/50) After which the car was looking pretty clean Now time for the proper stuff. Out came the 3m 3434 tape: Started off with a Meguires finishing pad and Menzerna Finishing Compound, this as i expected was a tad to mild for the correction i wanted, i would have been okay if doing 2 or 3 passes, but i didnt have the time and tbh i couldnt be bothered, i was wanting to do this fairly quickly. Ended up on a 3m pad and Menzerna Intensive Polish I ended up using 3 pads on this car, mainly because i it was a small pad on a big car. (the pads were fine, i just kept wanting to get a mint fresh pad out every so offen and not using the ones that were loaded with polish from several previous panels) Few machining pics: getting there: The proper amount of polish that should be used less is more... After the polishing it was time to crack out my favourite combo to date! The dodo juice variety First up was the Lime Prime applied with a German Applicator Up next was the Supernatural. Love this wax! and is up there with the best of them but for a fraction of the price of most! Then i went round some of the odds and sods, door gaps done with meguires APC and variety of brushes. Next up was the interior, again Meguires APC diluted to 4:1 this was the dirt off the door bottom plastic bit of 1 door trim.... Same was done for most interiors, got to love APC! dirt off the steering wheel.. yuk. Interior gone over with variety of brushes to remove hard to reach areas and remove dust. Next up the seats were gone over with Sonus Leather cleaner and Leather conditioner. Mats were hoovered and cleaned.. again with... you guessed it APC, well theres a little difference! Next up. Wheels: Meguires Wheel Brightener, EZ Brush and a variety of other brushes and some microfibre cloths Then finally a quick go over with Last Touch (straight) and removed all the excess polishes and waxes. Sorry about the lack of proper shots like 50/50's etc, i never have been good at getting them on camera, let alone on silver. I'll try do all that sort of stuff next time So now for a whole bunch of finished pictures: new number plates while i was at it forgot to mention, exhaust polished up with Megs Metal Polish gotta love how Nissan think all 350z drivers play golf.. The next photoshoot location Final few pics, thanks for your patience. Hopefully you made it this far, if so i hope there were a few pics you liked. Let me know what you think. Thanks Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 You do know the World Cup's on don't you!!?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tez162003 Posted June 13, 2010 Author Share Posted June 13, 2010 yeah. lol. i was done in time yesterday to watch engleand, and done and dusted including pictures today in time for the F1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruddles Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Excellent work dude! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasSoerensen Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 Nice cleaning job, but are you sure you are not a little mental. Next week it will be super dirty again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted June 13, 2010 Share Posted June 13, 2010 some excellent work, about to attempt something similiar on mine soon. just waiting on a load of stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMIE MOY Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 very good job mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xStric9x Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Good job and some nice pics bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-macd Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Brilliant job, the car looks great! Wish I had the patience for doing this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK350Z Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Top job, well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanageDave Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Brilliant job Terry, if you are in the swanage area anytime and you need something to do mine needs a good detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narcotix Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 That's a great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 You do know the World Cup's on don't you!!?!?!? Ah ha!! That's why my bloody tiler hasn't turned up Beautiful work on that GM; makes my efforts on mine look poor, but some great tips there I'll use myself and have left me inspired. Bradders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MITZ@CougarStore Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Nice work, end results are superb... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tez162003 Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 Nice cleaning job, but are you sure you are not a little mental. Next week it will be super dirty again. well now this is done, its a good base to keep it clean on, with that wax on there, cleaning the car will be mage easy as the dirt will literally just rinse off as it wont be able to stick to the paint. its that smooth Thanks everyone for the good comments If anyone is around my way I could be pursauded into helping/ doing aother zed. for a small fee of course lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanageDave Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Nice cleaning job, but are you sure you are not a little mental. Next week it will be super dirty again. well now this is done, its a good base to keep it clean on, with that wax on there, cleaning the car will be mage easy as the dirt will literally just rinse off as it wont be able to stick to the paint. its that smooth Thanks everyone for the good comments If anyone is around my way I could be pursauded into helping/ doing aother zed. for a small fee of course lol where are you Terry? i could do with a hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 cracking job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tez162003 Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 Nice cleaning job, but are you sure you are not a little mental. Next week it will be super dirty again. well now this is done, its a good base to keep it clean on, with that wax on there, cleaning the car will be mage easy as the dirt will literally just rinse off as it wont be able to stick to the paint. its that smooth Thanks everyone for the good comments If anyone is around my way I could be pursauded into helping/ doing aother zed. for a small fee of course lol where are you Terry? i could do with a hand i thought there would be eagle eye'd people on here lol Sat nav sort of tells you were i am I'm based in Silsoe (between Luton and Bedford) about 10 mins from J12 of the M1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanageDave Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Nice cleaning job, but are you sure you are not a little mental. Next week it will be super dirty again. well now this is done, its a good base to keep it clean on, with that wax on there, cleaning the car will be mage easy as the dirt will literally just rinse off as it wont be able to stick to the paint. its that smooth Thanks everyone for the good comments If anyone is around my way I could be pursauded into helping/ doing aother zed. for a small fee of course lol where are you Terry? i could do with a hand i thought there would be eagle eye'd people on here lol Sat nav sort of tells you were i am I'm based in Silsoe (between Luton and Bedford) about 10 mins from J12 of the M1 Bugger too far unless you fancy a weekend by the seaside that is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Terry, nice job....I just discovered Sonus clay a couple of months back- & my first experience of claying the car myself too - was amazed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRiLoGY Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Woah... Awesome Job!! Looks amazing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 350Z Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Good job, mate. Megs Tyre Dress would finish it off nicely. I swear by the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tez162003 Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 I do indeed have megs tyre dressing, i tend not to use it though, i dont think shiney tyres look that nice on these cars, especially with such balloony tyres on the rear. Id rather not draw the attention to them lol now if i had 19s with a slimmer profile then defo Thats why i just cleaned the tyres, bit of 4:1 APC and a harsh brush and a microfibre does the job. look clean without being to ott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrobinson2 Posted June 14, 2010 Share Posted June 14, 2010 Looks top drawer mate. Has inspired me to spend £100+ on meguiars/Dodo Juice products and get our newly acquired GM Z cleaned properly. How long did that take you out of curiosity? edit: I've read and paid more attention to the thread title! Nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tez162003 Posted June 14, 2010 Author Share Posted June 14, 2010 in terms of hours it took about 12. I could have done it far quicker but i was just stopping every so offen as i just wasnt in the mood to do it tbh. I could do a detail like this easily in 8hrs if i could be bothered. But being there was no time limit i took my time. Longest one day detail i have done so far was on a Black Porsche 911 GT3, that was 17.5 hours of work, plus 2 hours travel each way! tired was an understatement lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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