Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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I was contacted by the owner of these 2 vehicles looking for some decent protection to be applied to the pair and possibly sharpen up the overall condition of the Q7's paintwork in particular.
Both vehicles are well kept with only minimal swirling. The Q7 being a darker colour does show up more defects, so it was agreed a stage 1 protection detail was to be carried out on the 530 and a stage 2 enhance & protect detail on the Q7. LSP of choice for both vehicles would be Zaino.
There is no before and during photos from either day due to the appalling weather on day 1, and the overall workload. These after photos have been kindly sent to me by the owner who allowed us to borrow his DSLR 
Day 1 saw me tackling the 530.
Engine bay with Autosmart G101 and various MF cloths. Later dressed with Aerospace 303 protectant and Autosmart Tango on the metal parts.
Tyres and arches with Autosmart G101. Tyres later dressed with Autosmart Trim Wizard and arches with Autosmart Rubber & Plastic Dressing.
Wheels with Autosmart Smart Wheels, Tardis & Bilt Hamber Clay. Later sealed with Chemical Guys Jetseal.
Paintwork washed with Autosmart Autowash
De-tarred with Autosmart Tardis
Clayed with Bilt Hamber Soft Clay & weak Autosmart Reglaze as lube
Paintwork cleansed with Autoglym Super Resin Polish
Paintwork sealed with 3 x coats of Zaino Z2 Pro with ZFX Accelerator
Final wipe down with Zaino Z8
Glass with Espuma Crystal Blue
Exhausts with Autosol and wire wool
Interior thoroughly hoovered,
Mats / Carpets spot shampooed with Nielsens Nap Low Foam by hand
Leather cleaned with Autosmart Multifresh, conditioned with Zaino Z10
Plastics with Autosmart Multifresh.
Day 2 was going to be a long day, so I draughted in the able assistance of friend and fellow detailer, Tom @ All That Gleams.
Overall procedure on the Q7 very similar, but on a larger scale and machine polishing thrown into the mix!:
Engine bay with Autosmart G101 and various MF cloths. Later dressed with Aerospace 303 protectant and Autosmart Tango on the metal parts.
Tyres and arches with Autosmart G101. Tyres later dressed with Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel and arches with Autosmart Rubber & Plastic Dressing.
Wheels with Autosmart Smart Wheels, Tardis & Bilt Hamber Clay. Later sealed with Chemical Guys Jetseal.
Paintwork washed with Autosmart Autowash
De-tarred with Autosmart Tardis
Clayed with Bilt Hamber Regular Clay & weak Autosmart Reglaze as lube
Paintwork enhanced with 3M Extra fine on 3M Yellow pads via rotary
Paintwork sealed with 3 x coats of Zaino Z2 Pro with ZFX Accelerator
Final wipe down with Zaino Z8
Glass with Espuma Crystal Blue
Exhausts with Autosol and wire wool
Interior thoroughly hoovered,
Mats / Carpets spot shampooed with Nielsens Nap Low Foam by hand
Leather cleaned with Meguiars APC, conditioned with Gliptone
Plastics with Meguiars APC and dressed with Sonus Cockpit detailer
A few after shots on day 2 in the early evening setting sun:
The finish the Zaino left on the 2 cars was unbelievable, I've not used Zaino for a long time and had forgotten just how good it is!
Thanks for looking. Comments, questions and constructive criticism welcome as per usual.
Thanks,
Rich
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Neil Dagens
Member
Registered: 14th Apr 07
Location: Fareham, Hampshire
User status: Offline
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Very nice work mate  Really, really like the q7, that interior looks awesome
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Daveskater
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
User status: Offline
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They look spanking
Nice pics from the D-SLR too! 
Numberwang!
Originally posted by AlunJ
I like you Dave, you are a man of men
Originally Whatapp'd by Neo
Dave's maybe capable of a drive-by cuddle
Look at my pictures
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deano87
Member
Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
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Nice motors and nice work
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noshua
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 08
User status: Offline
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Wondered why my internet didn't lag for a minute or two when I opened the page 
The last picture 
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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I want a Q7 
Very shiney Rich good work as ever
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John G
Member
Registered: 18th Jul 05
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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that last picture is epic! im yet to try any form of Zaino
is that orange peel on the bonnet?
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Cheers guys
Yeh a lot less images than usual due to time constraints and the lack of room in the double garage where I was working for most of the 2 days
The Zaino really does add something extra to the finish - it's going to be something I'll be using again a lot more.
And yup that's orange peel - common on 90% of modern cars these days! Especially the German marques - down to production methods etc.
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John G
Member
Registered: 18th Jul 05
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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you seen the bm thread on DW where he wet sanding the whole bmw? bloody good finishes there all the same, top work matey
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Yeh, but tbh I'd refuse to do that extent of work - you're invalidating manufacturers paint warranties immediately doing that sort of thing! And they do have access to paint thickness gauges
I've been called in by a BMW dealership a few times to reduce orange peel and improve the mess of the paintwork their valeters have made, but I just use heavy compounding and refine it back from there, but that remains approved by warranty 
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John G
Member
Registered: 18th Jul 05
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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learn something new everyday, i never thought that would invalidate warranty! you think if they were that anal, they would improve there paint process seen as there cars are usually best part of 30k+
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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You remove a fairly considerable amount of clearcoat when wetsanding so in their eyes are weakening the finish. Technically they can kick up a fuss about any detailing work being carried out at all if they really want to!
They won't improve their finishing process though - it's down to the fact they use more hardener mixed with the lacquer these days to speed up production and don't do any flatting back / polishing to refine the finish. Some also say it's down to manufacturers using water based paints not too, but I'm not so convinced about that.
[/geekmode]
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RS6
Member
Registered: 5th Nov 03
Location: with MJ
User status: Offline
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Looking good rich good work
the Q7 is the most pointless car on earth why it has to soo big is beyond me!
to hell cleaning that would take a week!
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