It isn’t very often that we get excited by a product but when I got an email asking to detail a new car in white I couldn’t wait to give it a try. More after the finished photo!
When the email came in the brief of the job was simple, make the brand new car look as good as possible and lay down some protection that would be easy to maintain and not need constant topping up to look good.
Regular readers may be aware that the preparation at dealerships often leaves a lot to be desired. Detailing World is awash with horror stories of yard brushes dipped in traffic film remover being used to remove transport wax and film from the exterior of brand new cars.
Thankfully this wasn’t the case today! The dealership were very helpful and accommodating to the customers request to PDI it and leave it. If you ever need a reasonably priced new or used Skoda then the All Electric Skoda Garage in Kings Heath are worth a visit!
Anyway, back to the detailing. The initial inspection was arranged for a few days before we were due to go out and protect the car and it was clear from the start that the car was suffering from areas of damage from iron filing fall out – this is common for cars that have been transported long distances via rail and then sat waiting to move again. The car was clean but felt rough to the touch and the embedded iron filings had started to rust a little bit.
To totally remove the contamination I knew clay alone would not be enough, and have recently been impressed by some of the reviews of a product called Iron Cut by Aquartz. This pH balanced product is used to open up the pores of the paintwork and dissolve the embedded iron filings – the only downside to the product is the smell – but at least we know it is doing the job.
On contact with the iron filings the solution turns purple and reveals some interesting results – I wasn’t prepared for the amount it would reveal and dissolve!
The purple spots are where it is working
As you can see – even if you can’t see the contamination it is still there – an important step!
Next job was to clay the car to remove any remaining contamination (this is still important as the iron cut only really deals with the fall out).
Once the car was clayed it was washed down, dried and ready for some cleanser. Serious Performance Cleanser was used on a finishing pad to remove any marring that may have been inflicted when claying – a common side effect.
Once the car was cleansed we would normally begin layering the protection – but not in this case as the brief was to lay down protection that is easy to top up – and what could be easier than opti-seal?! This product bonds best to freshly polished paint, so out came the IPA for a full car wipedown to remove the layer of cleanser – usually used to help the application of synthetic and carnauba waxes – but not in this car – it had to go! (Opti Seal will strip any existing wax protection when you use it!).
While the first coat was curing we set to work on the interior, the leather was protected and the mats treated with 303 Fabric Protection – an excellent product that repels water and stains. While the mats were drying it was time to lay down some opti seal on the wheels as well as give the engine bay a wipe down with some APC to remove any marks and then top off with 303 aerospace protectant – brilliant for jobs like these.
Wheels being sealed
Interior getting wiped down and protected
engine bay marks to remove…
…and top off with 303
and the finished engine bay
Once the first layer of opti seal had cured on the paintwork it was time to get a second layer on…then a third..and fourth…we managed six layers roughly ten minutes apart – while it is curing you can go around and do the small jobs like cleaning windows and laying down the opti seal in the door shuts etc.
And how it looked after the last layer.
Tags: aquartz, iron cut, octavia, octavia vrs
Out of curiosity, how would you then maintain the protection on this vehicle?
Regular washing and drying is enough to keep it looking excellent and a good quality shampoo that doesn’t strip the protection will help. To top up the protection you can spray on and wipe off, perfect for people that like the car looking good without putting in a lot of effort.
Hi Stephen,
This is my car.
Paul did such a great job that all I have bought to keep it in top condition is Meguiers Gold Wash Shampoo, a wash schmitt, 2 Zaino buckets with grit guards and some Sonus MR towels for drying.
I’ve also got some decent stuff for the alloys (plus the EZ brush).
I may, after 6 months or so, get some Finish Kare QD spray and Sonus buffing towels, but I don’t intend to regularly wax it.
The stuff is delivered today, so she gets her first wash this weekend!
Thanks again Paul for such a top job – two weeks and she still looks good without a wash!