Cleaning an R8

[Andyuk911]

I know Marc who likes to clean cars ... it's his hobby, I kid you not..

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...585#post462585

[Guilty]

I know Marc who likes to clean cars ... it's his hobby, I kid you not..

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...585#post462585

It's my work actually (I sell the products online in The Netherlands). Nice to see him work on the car

[bz888]

That is amazing...Marc has got some serious skills and patience!!

[R8chris]

after this i must admint, allthough I love cars, and I love cleaning them.. this is way to serious for me.. I think I will search for a pro here in switzerland, and hand him my baby for the first wax job...

what do you think Guilty? u know a trustworthy contact here in CH who could be cleaning mine?

[Guilty]

after this i must admint, allthough I love cars, and I love cleaning them.. this is way to serious for me.. I think I will search for a pro here in switzerland, and hand him my baby for the first wax job...

what do you think Guilty? u know a trustworthy contact here in CH who could be cleaning mine?

I know a lot of detailers in The Netherlands, but in CH, no unfortunately not.

To be honest the result is good, but the guy does a lot of things that are quite over the top. And on the other side he forgets some things. I'll point it out later.

[Guilty]

Ok here is my opinion:

Sure there is nothing wrong with the way he detailed that R8. But, some steps are not necessary. But with all he had done in 10 hours? That's relatively quick!

I comment his steps for other R8 owners to save some time, not to nag about his excellent detail (because it is!).


His steps:

1) Foaming, spray off foam
2) Wheels/Callipers with Swissvax Wheelcleaner, Brushes, spray off
3) Wash with sponge and Swissvax CarBath and Two Bucket Method, spray off
4) Claying the car with Swissvax clay
5) Washed again, Two Bucket Method, spray off
6) Showered over with filtered water
7) Spray panels with a Quick Detailer and dry the car
8) Tape up car for polishing
9) Polish the Two imperfections
10) Polish the whole car because of dealer-swirls
11) Swissvax Cleaner Fluid wax-prep, panel-by-panel and buff it off
12) Glazing the wheels
13) Sealing the wheels
14) Wax the car with Swissvax Mystery
15) Sealing the wheels for second time
16) After bonding, removed the wax residu and buff it up
17) Wax the headlights
18) Clean the glass with Meguiar's Glass Cleaner
19) Doing the rest with a detail brush
20) Cleaning the engine bay ( and clean the plastic trim)
21) Waxing the engine bay
22) Clean the front luggage room
23) Clean the exhaust tips
24) Finish the car with Swissvax Quick Detailer with the Microfiber Swissvax Polishcloth


My comments on:

1) Foaming is right for loosing up somewhat attached dirt. It helps preventing swirling your car when washing. But why should you if you are going to polish the whole car (step 10), look at the car at the beginning and make a plan for it?
2) Nice, no comment
3) Two bucket method: nice, no comment. Sponge: I'd rather use a good towel. It holds water longer and it works better with catching dirt (and not swirling your car)
4) Important, but the whole car? No. Look with your eyes and feel with your fingers where it needs to be clayed. It's a new car, step 11 will remove other oxidation already. And not needed when you wax your car straight after you picked him up from the dealer.
5) Skip this. Two bucket methods is overkill here. When you use Quick Detailer with the clay the second wash is not needed, so skip step 5.
6) Skip this. Not needed at all. Step 11 will remove any waterstains. And Step 24 does that aswell
7) Skip the spraying with the Quick Detailer. Step 11 will do just fine.
8) If you really want to polish it, do it. But a new car will not need it. Ask your dealer NOT to prep the car (cleaning and waxing it) because normally a dealer does NOT do a good job. Giving you your brand new R8 with swirls all over and a cheap, bad protecting and short lasting wax layer.
9) Nice, no comment
10) How serious where the swirls, normally step 11 will remove light swirls already.
11) Unmissable step
12) Alternative: Use Swissvax Cleaning fluid
13) Alternative: Use Swissvax Autobahn Wheelwax
14) Mystery is nice, but best on dark colours and expensive. My suggestion is Swissvax Shield. That is a carnauba wax with PTFE (Teflon). Long lasting, very waterrepelling, and easy to clean (very smooth surface)
15) Skip this. The brakedust on the R8 is not that aggressive. Put on a second layer after some weeks.
16) No comment
17) Good one! But try opening up the bonnet next time (to wax the whole headlights!)
18) No comment
19) Maybe needed, maybe not
20) Yes, you must!
21) Be sure to use heatresisting wax. Use Swissvax Autobahn wheelwax for it. Also for the carbon inlays
22) Once in a while
23) Indeed.
24) Skip this. When you applied the Wax the detailer is not needed. The Swissvax Detailer doesn't add anything to the wax. Just buff it up if you want to (but changes are small if you applied the wax well and removed it right)

I'm missing some steps:

1) Tread the plastic exteriourparts with a protector (Swissvax Protecton). It gives the plastic a darker color, it makes it waterrepellend and easier to clean in future
2) Tread alle the exteriour glass with Rain-X. It makes your glass waterrepellent, easier to clean and gives you a better view.
3) Tread interiour leather with a Leather Glaze (Swissvax Glaze). The R8 leather is very delicate and seriously needs a protective layer. It will reduce wear dramatically!

With my steps. Done within 6 hours (just for the first time) the next times just wash the car (1 hour). And after some month just wax the car (3 hours, no polishing, no cleaners etc.)

Every 6 months do the above all over again (except for the machine polishing).

[geffers]

and for those of us who will be using the car daily - just how long will this finish last?

[GR8]

I wish he was my next door neighbour! 10 hours, I thought it would have been about 3 days worth. I now feel that I will be an unworthy owner when the car arrives.(I'll get over it tho')

[Guilty]

and for those of us who will be using the car daily - just how long will this finish last?

Swissvax Shield will stay on for about 3 months.

[R8driver]

Hi Guys

This is my R8 I am amazed this is on the web so soon!

I was very sceptical that Marc could make make that much difference, but the results in the flesh were amazing. To answer you Guilty, Marc did this as a favour, his 10 hours are to be taken into some perspective as the guy he often helps out charges about £1000 for the same job, so I am very Happy!

I had most of the Swissvax products,I have to say purchased on the recommendation of Guilty! Marc also endorsed them so that was lucky.

The finish should last several months and help protect the paintwork ,I just need to clean it and use swissvax quick detail, I can confirm this as the day after this was done I drove to the Loire valley in the pouring rain, hardly any dirt had stuck to the car. Also I had the screen done with Rain X,driving at 160mph with no wipers on in pouring rain was a new experience.

A word of warning, I crossed the channel on the Eurotunnel, well the car just fits between the aisle, I managed to clip both sides catching the rims, only a knick but very frustrating, but worse I took a chunk out of the rear tyre wall, not noticed until the following day (after having done 160mph on an auto route!) luckily I took out Audi tyre insurance with £300 claim limit.

The car is attracting so much attention here it is quite unbelievable, from the guys in the auto route payage asking you to rev it up,to almost all the staff in the hotel coming out to take pictures.

Anyway,I hope you enjoyed Marcs detailed - detail, I just enjoy driving it, the roads here in France are made for it.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...P1000235-1.jpg