Race Valeting

It helps if the car is reasonably clean but still gets thoroughly washed again anyway so no its not a essential. Paul

The paint readings were on average 120-140 and the bonnet and and certain panels had been painted so were a fair bit higher 200+ Paul

Today I had booked in a 2004 Carbon Black BMW M3, the car suffered from the usual swirls and rds and also a nice bodyshop repair with lots of scratching under the clear. I wanted the car for 2 days so I could take a bit more time as the usual hard BMW paintwork, but unfortunatly the owner couldn't spare the car as it was needed tomorrow so I had to work some magic in 1 day. I arrived there this morning at 7:30 to be greated by a nice looking pretty clean car and some lovely dark grey clouds :doublesho Firsty the wheels were soaked with some Bilberry and the tyres/arches with megs suger de-greaser, this was left for a few mins and then agitated with a selection of brushes and then rinsed. Next up was some citrus degreaser applied to the lowers and left for a few mins then rinsed. Next up apc applied to grill, badges handles etc and agitated with my swissvax style brushes then rinsed, the car was then foamed using a g101 mix to help strip any previous protection this was left to dwell for a few mins and then rinsed. The car was then washed using some Zaino shampoo and a z sponge this was all done during a brief down poor glad I packed the waterproofs this morning.... The car was clayed using zaino clay Before: after: (it was pretty clean and not much contamination) Next up another quick wash and then dry using miracle drying towel. Then time to start machining, out came the Makita and a elite car care cutting pad and some menz ip and menz ff as today was a single stage correction due to the time. Befores: I didn't have time to take any pics during as It kept raining so was ducking in and out of the rain. Once all the polishing was finished the car was given a rinse off to remove the excess dust etc, then dried again using the miracle. The car was then given a IPA wipedown and then out with the swissvax best of show, this was applied to the whole car via a LC soft applicator pad, the wax was left to cure while I dressed the tyres with megs endurance and the exhausts were polished using megs nxt. the exterior plastics and wheels were sealed using zaino clear seal. Then last theing was to buffed of the BOS and admire the finish, pretty It was so cloudy and couldn't get any decent after sun pics, but the owner who was delighted is going to email me some across when he gets chance to get some. Time to enjoy the afters as I started to rain again: a few brinkmann shots as a lack of sun: and finally some arty shots: Left there at just gone 7 so in total 11.5hrs start to finish which is pretty good going by any standards due to the hard paint. Thanks to Andy if your reading and hoping be doing the wifes black Leon Cupra r sometime soon. Thanks for reading all comments welcome as usual. Paul

Today I had booked in a 97/98 Audi S8 for a correction detail and ome touch ups. The car was dropped off at the unit lunchtime and by the time i'd dropped the owner back and got back to start was around 2pm. The car was rolled outside and washed using the usual methods, then clayed using zaino, the paintwork was very clean and hardly any contaminations at all just some swirls and RDS and some scuffs/stone chips which were touched in. Just a couple of teaser pics for tonight as im shattered and didn't leave the unit till 10:30pm tonight, be back there again at 7 to get started and finish her off. Heres the scuff which is being touched in: There was quite alot of defects like this, looks like its from a dirty pad. And this is how she was looking when I called it a night: Thanks for looking and full write up coming tomorrow once i've finished, but thought i'd show a few teasers...... Today I carried on with the correction work, Befores: And this is that scuff and the back bumper after its first bit of paint, this was applied via a tooth pick building up the layers until just proud, then rubbed down using Abralon 2000/4000 pads by hand. This is it polished and then the lacquer applied this time by cotton stock to getting a better coverage, this was then rubbed down again using the 2000/4000 and then polished again. and this is it all finished and after the Dodo Purple Haze wax applied Once all the correction was done, the car was then wiped down using IPA, Next up was the 1st coat of Dodo PH applied by applicator and left to cure for 15 mins before buffing. Next up all the rubber and plastic trim was dressed using raceglaze colour enhance dressing, next up was to clean/dress the arches and wheels and polish using Z aio and then seal using Zaino CS, tyres were dressed using megs endurance 2 coats. Final touches the exhaust polished using megs nxt and the glass cleaned. Now time to roll outside for some finished shots: The rolled back inside for the night and a few nice reflection shots taken: The car will be getting another coat of PH in the morning and a spritz with some z8 before the owner collects at lunchtime. Total time is 19 hrs Paul

Today I had booked in ready for the 'French Car Show' & 'World Renault Series' On arrival at the new unit this morning at just gone 8:15am and this is what I was met with, a truley well cared for example that was pretty clean on arrival just evident of some light swirling. Firstly the wheels were cleaned using apc and a selection of brushes, the tyres and arches also cleaned using g101. The car was then foam with a apc mix to help strip the old protection prior to polishing, this was left for a few mins then rinsed. Then washed 2bm with a Z y m o l sponge and some Zaino wash, the car was then rinsed and the run inside the unit to clay and dry. Clayed using zaino clay and megs lt as lube, the clay hardly removed any contaminants which shows how clean the car was. A quick rinse and dry off using miracle towels and lt. Now time to get the halogens out and brinkmann and have a look at the condition of paint. All the badges and sticker had to be taped up prior to polishing and plenty of them too.... Now out came the makita and my first combo tester Megs polishing pad and some swissvax cleaner fluid, this was used to try on the bonnet worked ok but needed something with some more cut to try and remove some of the RDS, so the next combo a elite cutting pad and some menz ip & menz ff. The paintwork was then given a IPA wipedown to remove the oils and then out with the Swissvax Best of Show. This was applied to the whole car inc boot & door shuts, this was left to cure while I dressed the tyres with megs endurance gel and then polished the exhaust with megs nxt and the glass cleaned. The wax was then buffed and then time for some final pics.... The car was then taken outside for the finale shots with direct sunlight... some 12 hrs later. It was a joy to detail and so much better now in the new unit and not having to work out in the heat and get burnt again. Off to Salisbury tomorrow to detail another show car for the Performance Vauxhall Show. Thanks for reading, all comments welcome as usual. Paul:thumb:

The Kosovan's new 3000 grit sponge after 80 cars and the same water.... Thanks

This morning I had this black Corsa VXR dropped off for a few days to correct the paintwork ready for Performance Vauxhall next weekend. So I had to shoot out and do my maintanance on a RR so didn't get home until 2:30 and then got cracking with this. KOSOVAN CAR WASH :doublesho:wall: Firstly heres the befores: be warned some severe overspray with tape lines.... Overspray anyone......... The wheels were firstly cleaned using g101 and a selection of brushes, tyres and arches also clean with G101. Next up the car was rinsed to remove any loose dirt, then a APC foam to remove any old protection this was left to dwell for a few mins then rinsed. This was followed by a wash with zaino an a z sponge panel at a time then dried, next up claying this was a major part of today work to try and remove the overspray 3hrs claying thw whole car and over an hour on just the bonnet. slowly cutting through the overspray: Then I started polishing the bonnet trying to find a good combo settled for a elite car care coolfoam finishing pad and 1 blob of menz ip and 3 blobs of menz ff, this seemed to be working a treat. some more pics of the defects first: And now for some final finished pics with the corsa wearing 2 coats of Zaino z2 pro topped with a z8 wipedown. The tyres and arches dressed using megs endurance, the engine bay and plastics dressed with 303 protectant, and windows cleaned and exhaust polished using 00 grade wire wool and megs nxt metal polish, wheels sealed with Zaino clear seal. Then the owner turned up as I was finishing dressing the plastics so not many afters but the owner is getting some pro pics taken so hopefullt get a few emailed over to me. My necks burnt to a crisp but I think the last 2 days have been worth it.

June/July Promotional Offer THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THE MODS, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING PROMOTION FOR JUNE/JULY. Race Valeting will be offering a special reduced pricing on Details throughout June/July to celebrate the opening of their new Detailing Studio on booking made from today 22/05/2009. I will be offering a 25% discount on all stage 1 & stage 2 details 'YES A 25% DISCOUNT' off the following http://racevaleting.co.uk/page4.htm The discount will only apply to details that are to be carried out from the new premises. Deposits of £50 to be paid on booking to hold the date slots. E.G. 2 day correction £50x2 £100 deposit for the 2 days. Please contact me to take advantage of this special 1 time offer I would like to thank everybody that has supported me while i've been on the forum, now my turn to return the favour. Onwards and Upwards for the rest of 2009. Regards Paul @ Race Valeting

My thoughts are with you all at this such sad time. Paul

Thanks Martin I must say in the wrong hands they are weapons of mass destruction lol. Paul

Its a rotary mate, your better off with a meguiars g220 or a porter cable. Have you used a machine polisher before??? Paul

Yesterday was a long day for me, up at 5am and leaving for Hastings at 5:30 arrived at just gone 7 to see 1 of my previous clients who had just traded his Milano red Type R for a Brand New Black Type R-GT. Firstly apoligies as my camera battery died on me, the little 1 had turned my camera on in the bag and when I got it out to use it it was dead :censored: Firstly the owner had taken a few before shots and had the warerhouse nice and setup for me with lights and power etc. Heres a few of the defects swirls/RIDS/holograms/trails what didn't it have: some nasty scratches on the bonnet Firsty the car was clayed using Zaino clay (hardly anything came off) as the car was cleaned before hand for me to save a little time:thumb: It was a training day/correction all turned into 1 as the owner had never clayed a car or used a machine neither so I thought best to teach him while I was working and with it being a honda and the butter paint that it is he will be able to correct any marring/defects in future. The car was then taken outside again and washed and then dried and moved back into the warehouse for correction to take place. I firstly started off with the makita and a red elite car care finishing pad and some swissvax cleaner fluid, this was tested on the bonnet which took a few hits to remove some of the deeper RIDS but the paintwork was SOOOO soft. I then set Nigel up with the PC and a megs finishing pad with some megs 83/80, he took to the machine like a natural and helped me throughtout the day doing bits and pieces. Thanks Nigel :thumb: Once all the car had been corrected I gave it a IPA wipedown then went to put a glaze on the bonnet via machine and it marked the paintwork again, so out correcting again and then IPA'd and left out the glaze and straight for the 1st coat of Zaino Z2 pro, this was applied to the whole car and then buffed as gentle as possible not to mark the paint again, followed by a z6 wipedown and then 2nd coat, repeated again for the 3rd and final coat. I then sealed the wheel with some fk1000p and the trims were sealed using Zaino Z-CS, the glass was cleaned using megs and then rainx applied, finally the tyres were dressed using Zaino. I have just had these pictures emailed to me, sorry these only 2 afters, but he is going to take some more at the weekend for me. So after 12.5 hrs work these are the afters, And the Honda Dealership are paying for the correction due to the owner kicking up a fuss about the state of the car Finally walked in the day last night @ 10pm after driving in the pooring rain all the way home. And to say I slept well was a under statement. More pics coming when I get some more folks. Thanks for looking. Paul

You should fine it a great step up from the porter cable, It is so much quieter and smoother to use. Just treat it with respect and you won't go far wrong. Atb Paul

Thanks, I only work on my own, much better that way. May take a while longer but atleast I know the end results is how I want it. Paul

Many thanks chaps... I do travel further afield folks, pm me if interested. Paul

Today was another clean up on a Jaguar XJ8 as it was being put up for sale due to not being used since last sept. I got told that the car had a bit of blossom on it from the tree in the garden :censored: This is what the car looked like on arrival: First job was to spray the wheels with as smart wheels and the arches and tyres with g101, the engine was spayed with some megs super de-greaser and the door/boot shuts sprayed with g101 and cleaned using my swissvax style brushes. Next up was to give the car a pre wash, this was done using citrus de-greaser to help remove the baked on blossom. The car was then foamed using hyper wash and all the badges,trim,seals etc cleaned using swissvax style brush and rinse. Then washed using zaino shampoo and a z sponge. The car was then dried using dodo supernatural drying towel and some time to dry. Next up was to polish the car using some zaino AIO by hand, the whole car was done and then buffed, next up was the first layer of z2 with zfx applied using a red lake country app, this was left to cure for 20 mins while I dressed the tyres and arches with as smart shine, also the engine was dressed using this too. Next the door shuts were dressed using tango, followed by the cars 2nd layer of z2 again applied the same. Next up was to start the interior, fully hoovered, dash and plastic wipe down with g101, the leather was cleaned using a weak apc mix and a soft nail brush and then conditioned using gliptone. The carpets and mats cleaned with g101 and a stiff brush and hoovered. Finally all the glass was cleaned using megs and my glass cloths. Last bits was polish the exhaust using megs nxt metal polish and 00 grade wire wool, and a final wipedown with some zaino z8. 6 1/2 hrs later this was the outcome. Finally before: After: Before: After: Before: After: Before: After: Thanks for looking and all comments welcome as usual. Paul

It was the first time i've used AIO Stew and was pretty impressed really tbh, Yeah I would try black hole if its really bad to mask some of the swirls up, might need a couple of layers of it depending how bad it is. Once you've done it get some pics up mate would love to see how you get on. Paul

Today was clean up job prior to selling the Range Rover, it had been stood for over a year since I did it last time so was a bit grubby and a few cobwebs etc. This is how it looked on arrival: So firstly tackled the wheels giving them a good soak with some AS Smart wheels and left for a few mins then agitaed with a selection of brushes, the tyres and arches were cleaned using some AS G101. Next up the car was foamed using some megs hyper wash via the lance, this was left to dwell for 10 mins while I used my swissvax style brush to clean all the seals and bedges etc, then all rinsed. Next up was a 2bm wash using some zaino shampoo and a z sponge, this was then rinsed using filtered water. I then applied some Zaino AIO by hand via a foam megs app, this was applied to the whole car and then buffed off using eurow buffing towels. Next up was the first coat of z2 pro with 2 drops of ZFX this again applied to the whole vehicle and then buffed. Next up gave the door/boot shuts a quick wipe over with some last touch, the car hadn't been driven so wasn't bad on the iterior at all just a quick hoover out and wipe down of dash and leather. Next up was the 2nd layer of z2 this was then buffed, next up was the windows which were cleaned using megs and my glass cloths. Finally all the tyres and plastics were dressed using AS highstyle. A quick wipe down with some z8 and hay presto job done. 6 hrs later and we now have this: And yes the car is very swirly as this 1 has never had a full correction, did find the AIO to reduce the marks by a fair bit though even by hand. Finally before: after: Before: After: And last but not least mummy and daddy Thanks for looking Paul

They were reduced but the sanding marks were underneath the clear so nothing could be done about those.

This detail was a returning customer he had the 406 coupe last year. After selling the Pug he then bought a Impreza which was a stop gap car and now has a 52 plate BMW 330CI manual in black with full sat nav etc, pretty rare spec and manual too. Anyway this was booked in for a full correction, engine bay and interior detail as the car was rather swirled and looking a bit tired to say the least. This was the car on arrival friday evening. The wheels had just been refurbed by The wheel specialists based in Fareham, they had done a very good job as these are pretty technical wheels with all the spokes etc. Now these engine bay befores: Right started @ 9am saturday morning with cleaning the wheels with some warm water and some dodo b2bm shampoo with my swissvax style brushes and a ez detail brush, no wheel cleaner was needed due to the wheels only just been refurbed. Next up was to wash all the door/boot shuts with some g101 and my swissvax style brushes, the engine bay was soaked in megs super de-greaser and then agitated with swissvax styles brushes and then rinsed at low pressure using the kranzle. The car was then pre-soaked using citrus de-greaser and then rinsed then foamed and left to dwell for 5 mins before rinsing followed by a 2bm wash with a wash schmitt and zymo l sponge then rinsed using 0ppm water. Now it was ready for claying using dodo grey clay. Before: after the front wing and door: Spent over an hour just claying removing as much contamination as possible. Now time to inspect the paintwork. First bit the jumped out was a poorly repaired passenger door rear quarter. You can clearly see from the OP and the sanding marks underneath the clear that this was either a bad bodyshop repair or a bad smart repair. The car was also suffering from severe swirling/scrapes. another bodged repair at a deep scratch, looks pretty bad and like they've gone through the clear but no so just very poor machining. So had my work cut out with this 1, so started with a test patch on the bonnet fc+ on an elitecarcare cutting pad this was working pretty well some areas needing 2 hits though. The whole car was machined using this combo then refined using menz FF on a elitecarcare red finishing pad, this was finishing down nicely but still need a little bit more so after a quick IPA wipedown the car was the cleansed using Swissvax cleaner fluid which was working lovely. The the car was dusted off ready for waxing, this was when the Swissvax BOS came out and was applied to the whole car via a sonus sfx applicator and left to cure for 30 mins. While this was curing I polished the exhausts using megs nxt metal polish and 00 grade wire wool, the tyres were dressed using zaino z16 2x coats for extra gloss, the arches dressed using AS smart shine. Now time to buff off the wax, this was leaving a lovely deep wet finish. The the inside was hoovered and the dash wiped down with some einzsett premium cockpit and the leather cleaned/conditioned using sonus, the interior/exterer glass cleaned using megs and my glass cloths. Rainx was then applied to the exterior windows for water repellant. Wheels were sealed using poorboys wheel sealant. And finally after leaving it 3 hrs a coat of Dodo red mist was added and buffed using eurow buffing towels. The last bit was the engine bay dressed using Zaino z16 on the plastics. Finishing touches were near wheel badges and stickes applied :thumb: Now for the final pics ENJOY: Engine bay: And finally before: After: Before: After: Before: After: Total time taken was 16 hrs for the exterior correction/engine bay and interior. Thanks for looking and all comments welcome as usual. Regards Paul :thumb:

No what you mean, the owner has only just bought the car and wanted it looking its best as it did look pretty bad. Its all about pride I suppose. Paul

Not good, typical bloody dealers. Don't you put a sign in the car when it goes in for services etc. Looking forward to seeing the pics. Paul

Thanks Martin, Yeah been really busy lately with the show season here to everyone wants them spotless. I take it you've had the Z detailed then Martin? Rgds Paul

Hi Folks, Sorry for no write ups lately been really busy with little jobs and not had time to do any write ups. This was booked in for a full correction and some FK1000P so its nice and easy to maintain, the owner has only just bought the car and was shocked at the state of it. On arrival the car pretty clean just badly swirled as it had been washed prior to dropping off. First was was the wheels were cleaned using some bilberry, and a selection of brushes, the tar was then cleaned off the inners using Tardis. The arches and shuts cleaned using g101 and pressure rinsed off. The car was then washed using fairy to strip off the dealership protection, next up the car was clayed using dodo grey. Before: After: The car was then rinsed off again using DI water and dried using a miracle towel and LT. Now time to inspect the paintwork :censored: Heavy swirling,marring. Measurements were then taken which were the healthy readings of 130+ Started off with the bonnet and some menz ip 3.02 on a elite car care orange cutting pad. This was working magic with just 1 hit and finishing down nicely too, the whole car apart from the bumpers was corrected and then refined using red elite car care pad and a mix of megs 80 speed glaze and some megs 7 show car glaze which was then applied and buffed leaving a super slick finish. 50/50's Corrected but need to be refined Heres a few shots upto now, still have the bumpers to correct/refine and then to apply the fk1000p tomorrow. Total time today was 8 hrs and pretty please too with the progress so far... Tyres were quickly dressed using megs endurance for some pics. Wheels will be having 2 coats of fk1000p tomorrow too. More pics and fully finished shots coming tomorrow. NOW THE FINISHED PICS AFTER 1 COAT OF FK1000P AND TOPPED OFF WITH SOME ZAINO Z8: ENJOY And finally some before and afters: Thanks for reading and all comments welcome as usual. Paul

Not quite as good as the sungun but 1/10 of the cost. I use the brinkmann on all my details and has never let me down yet. Paul