Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Been hoping to do this for quite a while now for various reasons  and this week I finally had the opportunity to clean this up.
The owner is extremely fussy about how his car's are maintained, and in the past has used 2 of the UK's leading detailers to work on it, this time it was my turn! Nothing too fancy, the brief was to leave it looking like a black sheet of glass, however it's booked in for a lot of paintwork this week at the bodyshop, so didn't stretch to full correction, just a quick pass with the PC.
No before shots as it wasn't that dirty anyway, plus I got there and wanted to just crack on so I had plenty of time to work methodically in order to leave a decent finish.
When I first arrived, nobody was in so I didn't have access to power, so had to do the bits I could. First up, the engine bay - just a quick wipe over with G101 and plastic dressed with AS Vinyl & Rubber protectant left:
I then started on the wheels which looked like this:
But after a spritz with G101 and worked with various brushes and MF's left:
(Tyres were also scrubbed with G101 during the wash stage, tyres then dressed with 2 coats of AS Finish)
By this time somebody had arrived home so I was able to plug in and get cracking. First up the pre rinse with BH Autofoam:
All shuts, badges, vents, grilles etc worked with a Vikan vent brush whilst the foam was dwellling, then all thoroughly rinsed off with the Kranzle.
It was then washed using the TBM with a wash mitt and Dodo Sour Power.
Due to the vehicle being so well maintained, there was no need to clay the paintwork, just wipe off a few stubborn tar spots lower down with AS Tardis.
This was all then rinsed off and dried using Elite ultra plush towels and a weak solution of AS tango which I find a great drying aid and adds a great gloss.
I then set about experimenting with a few pad and polish combo's. I'd already taken paint readings all over which showed there was a fair amount of paint on all the panels, but some slight "danger" areas on the bonnet and lower halves of the car (~60 microns) which I made a mental note to avoid.
I eventually settled on Megs 80 on a Megs polishing pad - Lime prime was tried first but just didn't seem to bring out the flake quite as well which surprised me as I usually have awesome results with LP!
Here's a typical 50/50 (left polished, right not):
The paint was ridiculously soft - to the point where even just buffing was marring the paintwork. I eventually had to resort to buffing with another Elite ultra plush drying towel which was just about ok.
Once polished, I then glazed the paintwork with an Elite finishing pad and Poorboys Black Hole to add a bit more gloss and to fill in the few remaining RDS.
I then applied a coat of Dodo Supernatural, whilst I left this to cure, I set about a quick interior hoover and dust down:
The car recently had a several thousand pound retrim by Khan, with these rather special seats:
So soft and comfy!!
I then returned to the exterior to buff off the wax, polish the glass (AS Silverscreen), seal the wheels (PB wheel sealant), dress the tyres (AS Finish), polish the exhausts (Fine wire wool and autosol) I then went about the car for the final time with Dodo Red Mist for the extra bling factor and to remove any remaining product smears.
By this time, the metallic flake was popping rather well:
Now for a few after shots:
Thanks for looking.
Constructive criticism and comments welcome as per usual :thumb:
Cheers,
Rich
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Nath
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
User status: Offline
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 Awesome
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Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
User status: Offline
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 Nice job Rich, what a lovely motor!
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
User status: Offline
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Stunning
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BluKoo
Member
Registered: 8th Apr 02
Location: Stonehaven (Scotland)
User status: Offline
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Nice job.
I don't think i've seen a DB9 with those wheels and lights before. I'm assuming its fairly new.
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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 
He's had some DBS bits fitted - iirc the mirrors and rear lights, and the exhaust is a performance one too. Wheels I'm not sure if they're standard or DBS or what! I don't know how old it is tbh...
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Liam B
Member
Registered: 2nd Mar 09
Location: Herefordshire
User status: Offline
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My boss has a Vantage, shame he doesn't keep it in such nice condition as this though 
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BluKoo
Member
Registered: 8th Apr 02
Location: Stonehaven (Scotland)
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by BluKoo
I don't think i've seen a DB9 with those wheels and lights before...
quote:
Originally posted by Rich H
Wheels I'm not sure if they're standard or DBS or what!
I just realised, of the DB9s my brother did last week had those same wheels, so the must be the standard ones on the newer models.
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jamez_zz
Member
Registered: 9th Nov 06
Location: Hullywood
User status: Offline
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Arent they the V8 vantage Wheels? Looks spot on mate.
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Gareth F
Member
Registered: 16th Jan 08
Location: Location Location
User status: Offline
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Once again Rich youve done a great job
Hows the scratch repair work coming along? 
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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jamez_zz - No idea mate, I'm under the impression they're the standard ones, as is Murray who's brother works on them virtually every month lol.
Gareth - Thanks mate - erm, tbh haven't had much chance to brush up on that of recent as have taken on 2 new trade customers and a few other regulars which has left me rushing around here there and everywhere - am booked up 5 or 6 days a week solid for the next month nearly now
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davcohen
Member
Registered: 1st Nov 03
Location: North London
User status: Offline
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thing im most impressed by is the fact you managed to pop the bonnet and clean the engine without anyone even being there.
how much for this aston martin master key lol
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by davcohen
thing im most impressed by is the fact you managed to pop the bonnet and clean the engine without anyone even being there.
how much for this aston martin master key lol
i thought that was strange too 
brilliant job rich one of these came down my road the other day to turn around, the sound they make is wank worthy
if i ever get enough money to let someone detail my car i'll definitely be coming to you
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Gez G
Member
Registered: 12th May 04
Location: Glasgow
User status: Offline
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Looks good, im dreading soft paint though.
Got a Project Khan Bentley Continental GT Booked in next week and it needs a good few hours of work.
Did you get to drive it?
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Daveskater
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Rich H
Admit it Rich, that was taken just after you got there, after you came all over it 
Looks amazing though, the flake in the paint looks
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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fir3vip3r
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 06
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire
User status: Offline
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was the owner satisfied?
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Thanks for all the replies!
Dave - Erm, no tbh!
Davcohen - I had the key, but I'm not obliged to say how I got hold of it Nowt dodgy, just not very secure!
Gez - Soft paint is a bastard, but you just have to work slowly and methodically  And no I didn't get to drive it, and nor would I want to as it's not worth the risk tbh. I did start it though to close the windows as it didn't have enough oomph in the battery to close them without the engine running!!!
Ben - Cheers mate
Fireviper - Yeh think so, haven't seen him tbh but I got paid!
[Edited on 25-04-2009 by Rich H]
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DannyB
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Feb 08
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by fir3vip3r
was the owner satisfied?
I beleive that costs extra.
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Graeme
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Jul 04
Location: Northampton
User status: Offline
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why did he have this done when its going to the bodshop as they are not gone be best pleased wth it all waxed up etc and it will only get dirty again and have some swirls back in it?
looks good though had a few of them in at work and they are nice ut just a fw small things that let it down imo.
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Corsa_Scotty
Member
Registered: 8th Aug 07
Location: Scottish Borders
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by DannyB
quote:
Originally posted by fir3vip3r
was the owner satisfied?
I beleive that costs extra.
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Rich H
Member
Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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He booked the bodyshop after I had done it - why? God knows. I'm annoyed in some ways as was waste of premium wax etc!
It's going in for a near on full respray - bumpers, skirts etc as there are a lot of stonechips and a few scuffs. There are also spots on burn through which the "leading detailers" kindly left on the car as well - something I was astonished at, and also astonished that he didn't care about them
I think I may be going back to fully detail it after it's return from the bodyshop, as it's bound to be buffer trailed and in need of a good wax.
TBH, the build quality of the thing was atrocious, but the paintwork and the sounds etc make up for that
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Graeme
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Jul 04
Location: Northampton
User status: Offline
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just a shame the key doesnt feal like a quality car key, some may say pathetic but i found that a bit of a crap key.
will look nice with a full respray anyway.
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Iain M
Member
Registered: 18th Aug 05
Location: Wigan - Drives 272bhp corsa ZLET
User status: Offline
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awesome, now pack your van up and come do mine.
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davcohen
Member
Registered: 1st Nov 03
Location: North London
User status: Offline
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like your reply to my comment above lol
either way the sound these make just from them starting up is one of the best
either way looks great in your photos
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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
Graeme - Yeh it was a bit flimsy and iirc the remote alarm / central locking bit is identical to Jag X Types etc  Looked a bit pikey anyway!
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