Envy Valeting

^As has been said before, its not generally that we are having less rainfall but it is allowed to leak etc and not get fixed. Also its that the population has increased over the years and the last time the country invested in reservoir building was in the 1970's! Nothing against population increases (I've done my bit ha ha!) but we need to match that with infrastructure.

Yes, tell me about it! Oddly enough I've done my research and most water companies have a policy in that myself as a business am allowed to use "your" water at "your" house in the course of my business but "you" as the home owner are not. Obviously thats a relief to me as that could be my work stopped there and then! We also dont have a ban down here, so potentially I could fill the water tank in my van and take it with me, but then there is the weight of it=loads more fuel and I already spend too much on that for the business The cost of that is not funny. LPG next time for sure.

Have you checked out southern waters website as we dont have a hosepipe ban! http://www.southernwater.co.uk/HomeAndL ... 510429=0_0 didnt see this bit of the website before!! The bit i looked at just said 'Southern Water----hosepipe ban' you've just made my day mate I want to know if those who do have a ban can claim back some of their bill, they have paid for a service that the company has failed to provide, i wonder what the legal standing would be? Cool! Nice to make someones day that early in the day

Have you checked out southern waters website as we dont have a hosepipe ban! http://www.southernwater.co.uk/HomeAndL ... 510429=0_0

Looking good Paul! I did a Merc there 2-3 weeks ago

Yeah we get that here too Immy! There is a great Gary Larson cartoon with a bird looking down at a man washing his car, and the birds eye view is of a target on the roof of the car!

I saw something interesting on Paul's drive last night Congrats mate!

A Mercedes Benz 612HP Black Edition Actros truck! The SLR McLaren might be a rarity in the exotic-car world, but the Mercedes-Benz Actros Black Edition is bigger, more powerful and even rarer still. Of the 60,000 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks rolled out over the course of 2006, only 250 examples of the Black Edition were built. The truck's 15.9-liter turbocharged V8 delivers 611 hp and a whopping 1,991 pound-feet of torque at only 1,080 rpm. At the same time, owners of the Actros Black Edition are unlikely to be worried about the way this $290,000 truck looks while parked outside Europe's hottest nightclubs. Even though it's a special edition and meant to be an attention-getting flagship for long-haul trucking companies, the Actros Black Edition does not slack off on the job. A towing capacity of 21,780 pounds and a fuel capacity of a bladder-busting (for the driver, that is) 317 gallons mean this prettified Actros isn't just for posing. I was invited to join Jake to work on this beauty. Jake had already done day 1 on the cab, and we teamed up for day 2 to carry out the exterior! Process was pretty standard following the wash, clay, cleanse and seal regime of the protection detail but on a grand scale! Jeffs Werkstatt products were used for longevity/durability. Amazing how many cubby holes and storage compartments it had that needed cleaning! Enjoy the pics from the day, any questions ask away. Big eh! Thanks for looking Tim

Looking great there

Thanks Immy:)

The Zed show's will be coming up soon enough Ian! I may have to tweak it a little as its staying on the ground more than I personally would like after its been rinsed off. Sure, cleans well enough but after I have squirted I like to clean up

A big package Seriously though, more work on a Beemer due to the paint hardness. Less of a job (money) on a Zed.

Many thanks Thankyou Cheers Paul Thanks Jim Thanks Toby. I tend to use a liquid product from my local Autosmart guys called Highstyle and apply from a small bottle via the sort of "scourer backed" style soft pad you'd use to wash up with. Works well, controllable and costs FA really compared to a branded one.

A 2 day, 2 stage paint correction detail was carried out on this Carbon black M3 by Envy Valeting last week. 1st one of these in a while, but in the past had rather a lot of them but its always a pleasure to do these OK here we go anyway! I quoted this one when I was down in Poole doing the 1M coupe a few weeks back and I'm glad to say the owner decided to get the work done. The wheels were removed after cleaning and taken to a local place that re-polished and lacquered the faces as there was none present anymore. The wash process (no pics as time was tight) was my usual process of starting with the wheels, APC in door shuts, boot, fuel filler areas and followed by SSF, rinse and the TBM to wash. Rinse and dried ready to clay. The clay of choice was Dodo Gentle grey and was no real surprise! Once clayed the car was taken indoors, wheels removed and taken to be sorted elsewhere. Paint depth readings showed normal, so, some before pics of the victim! Work starts on the rear quarter... Unrefined I quickly settled on the Scholl Concepts S03 gold followed by menz final finish, polishing and refining each panel before moving onto the next.Wiping down in between sets with Eraser and checking work with the Sungun, halogens and brinkmann Middle section polished Rear pillar polished Front wing Starting to clean up now Some finishing touches The interior was detailed and leather treated to Dr Leathers wipes, glass cleaned, tailpipes polished, plastics, tyres dressed etc etc. Wax of choice was the mighty Dodo Supernatural, and here she is all buffed off and ready for the proud owner..... and finally Thanks for looking Tim

Swirl X is a good product for use by hand or machine. Hand is harder but it is surprisingly effective. I would suggest doing the wash, clay stage 1st so as not to make anything worse. Interior wise get an All Purpose Cleaner and some brushes, and be prepared to put in some time.

In that case try a tar remover like suggested above and leave to soak 1st.

I'd try to blast it off with a pressure washer and if possible not touch the car at all. Its worked for me in the past if done soon enough.

Nice one Dan, good job there and I like the words too Glad you like the wax, now get that pot of Zuff on eBay! Its what I did with mine lol. Best wishes Tim ps Scoobs are great cars (I've owned 5 so far )

^Regarding your question about the Ultimate Paste wax Ian, I too thought it can't be that good ie a mainstream product etc but I was wrong. It goes on really easily, buffs off nicely and is really good at repelling water. Durability pretty impressive too for an off the shelf wax. If you do decide to get some, speak to me 1st as I can help Its not expensive btw.

Cheers Jim, I'll ask the owner what he thinks of Zeds lol! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if we all liked the same stuff life'd be dull.You need to hear them running to understand the beauty, especially the silver and blue one. LOUD doesn't even come close Jim

It gives me great pleasure to present these 2 Marcos cars I detailed back in January. I have been waiting for the go-ahead to use the pictures by the owner. Today that happened! Part of a marathon slog for me down in Wiltshire, 9 cars, 3 days and I felt it thats for sure. 3 degrees was also the max temperature without the heaters on! The Marcos LM500 I did 1st but all I have are the after pics so will save them for last. The Mantis GT then...... Sneak a look under the bonnet..(not detailed btw!) Start the process with a snow foaming as per usual Hood agitated with a soft bristled brush Wheels were washed with AS smart wheels, the followed by Autobrite Purple Rain Snow foam rinsed off, and followed by the car being handwashed with the trusty Z sponge and two bucket method and trade formula shampoo. Rinsed, dried and ready to clay. Clay choice Dodo Juice Gentle grey and very effective it was too. Once clayed the car was cleansed with Dodo Juice Lime Prime by DA with a Meguiars Polishing pad. Wax choice was a new one to me, Meguiars Ultimate Paste wax! Whilst the wax cured I cleaned the glass, polished the (very sharp) tailpipes, dressed the tyres and sealed the massive wheels. Once cured the wax was buffed off (very easy on/off) and the final pictures were taken outside. Now, onto the LM 500. Exactly the same process but only after pictures and sadly the weather was not so bright on this day. Great to work on something totally different and many thanks to the owner for allowing me to show you these pics. Been burning a hole in my camera for a while now! Tim

Good work there

I couldn't resist especially as I know Tim is a huge fan too Yup, enjoyed that thanks Dave

^The "proper" ones dont get through much solution. Buy a 5L container of the snow foam, and you add approx 100-200ml of the neat solution and make up to 1L in the lance, and you wont use all of it to foam a car, especially a Zed! I'm glad to hear what you have is working well, if a touch thirsty Foams wise I recommend the Autobrite one, or Meguiars Hyperwash (though not wax friendly)

How did you get? I cant get the pic to work but if its the yellow style one you get when you buy the pressure washer, they are normally only good for "soapy dishwater" effect and not the snow foam/shaving foam look you may seek. If you want a decent foam lance I can help