Honda Accord Optimumized

[seech]

Its been a while since I posted any new details. Been busy but finally got a chance over the holidays...

Just got a shipment of products in from the US from Dr. G of Optimum Polymer Technologies including the latest Optimum Hyper Polish and Optimum Hyper Compound. As usual, the best way to test out any new products is to try it out on the softest and hardest to finish black paint...

It just so happened that he owner of the black Honda Accord which I did 9 months ago asked me to look into some issues which he was having with the interior and exterior of his car. The original post can be found here:
ProDetailing: Honda Accord - Detailer Installed Swirls and Holograms Correction (http://prodetailing.blogspot.com/2009/12/honda-accord-detailer-installed-swirls_19.html)

This was the state of the car when it arrrived:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CGD2xAhI/AAAAAAAAB28/ePQxYkulcGI/s800/2010_08310046.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CHxv0i5I/AAAAAAAAB3A/f1sPBuIal5w/s800/2010_08310048.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CKhMY2XI/AAAAAAAAB3M/XWeNBGeMTOM/s800/2010_08310054.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CyZD26BI/AAAAAAAAB5k/YvLvteFu27c/s800/2010_08310051.JPG

The problem the owner was having was with water marks in the black paint which were impossible to remove by washing alone.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CIs-6KZI/AAAAAAAAB3E/7NgiLeEtGoI/s800/2010_08310052.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CJiK8XnI/AAAAAAAAB3I/YOwYamDr8Q8/s800/2010_08310050.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CNLHPs_I/AAAAAAAAB3U/MV8lCxPYJGg/s800/2010_08310056.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CO05ETkI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/sfu8h53FBd4/s800/2010_08310057.JPG

There were also some scratches on the rear boot lid.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CMpC08lI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/luQEboRBo_s/s800/2010_08310055.JPG

The owner also requested that the interior be detailed, especially the leather seats.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CPqW7PWI/AAAAAAAAB3c/LP-ynDlgax0/s800/2010_08310059.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CQel8zCI/AAAAAAAAB3g/hkiGBwGaRNI/s800/2010_08310060.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CRDgFP4I/AAAAAAAAB3k/0DQ1pYaQN2g/s800/2010_08310062.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CR019eJI/AAAAAAAAB3o/Dc6BvmDnDNc/s800/2010_08310063.JPG

First up, steam cleaning of the carpets.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CSkCuqDI/AAAAAAAAB3s/wJVm4Khc6tI/s800/2010_08310066.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CTbP0JlI/AAAAAAAAB3w/NDPR8z1AOIY/s800/2010_08310067.JPG

50/50 of the leather seats.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CUM8DwtI/AAAAAAAAB30/l4My4PitWb4/s800/2010_08310070.JPG

Steaming in progress.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CUwhrFDI/AAAAAAAAB34/BV73Wj0zOZU/s800/2010_08310071.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CWKz7QsI/AAAAAAAAB38/-C8ya7rw6KQ/s800/2010_08310073.JPG

For more stubborn stains, Optimum Power Clean was applied before steaming.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CXM-m3RI/AAAAAAAAB4A/vLNdw3sJDzs/s800/2010_08310074.JPG

New checkered pattern for Honda leather seats...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CYdEwGdI/AAAAAAAAB4E/OnJA3wApf5w/s800/2010_08310075.JPG

There were some spots on the side bolster which look like they have been touched up before and I didn't want to risk cleaning that location. The owner was informed of this when he came to pick up the car.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CZo_qBDI/AAAAAAAAB4I/2nTHikOqOgs/s800/2010_08310078.JPG

After steam cleaning, the seats were dressed with Optimum Protectant Plus. Compared with other leather conditioners, the OPP is very, very easy to apply with great results.

Some afters...
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CbMzKrII/AAAAAAAAB4Q/lcHnRP2ipAE/s800/2010_08310148.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3Cbwq_7ZI/AAAAAAAAB4U/QuC-htXQD4A/s800/2010_08310149.JPG

The wheels were cleaned with Optimum Power Clean, Optimum No Rinse and Optimum Opti-Seal. Tires dressed with Optimum Tire Shine.

Before:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CctvqtVI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/mow_VYkmzj0/s800/2010_08310047.JPG

After:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CdmRAPdI/AAAAAAAAB4c/AD2y41_bm_s/s800/2010_08310142.JPG

[seech]

On with the exterior... as usual my preferred choice of car wash, Optimum No Rinse.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CeVjL_TI/AAAAAAAAB4g/M6lli2BzgEE/s800/2010_08310079.JPG

50/50 of the hood after ONR. Clean and glossy but as expected, the water marks are still present.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3Ce1iUMoI/AAAAAAAAB4k/8R-_7aliWt4/s800/2010_08310085.JPG

Finished ONR the entire hood.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3Cfv6jmpI/AAAAAAAAB4o/o6FRA9sJ3Rs/s800/2010_08310087.JPG

Taped off for a 50/50.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3ChCbAI-I/AAAAAAAAB4s/mXa5585_4N0/s800/2010_08310090.JPG

Closeup of the water marks.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CiJHBNXI/AAAAAAAAB4w/iWlEsfDgDTk/s800/2010_08310091.JPG

The new Optimum Hyper Polish and Optimum Hyper Compound.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3Cjq0DH0I/AAAAAAAAB40/Tv7ozjx652M/s800/2010_08310092.JPG

As always, the least aggressive product was tried first, the Optimum Hyper Polish with a Meguiar's polishing pad on a Makita 9227 rotary.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CksEv3vI/AAAAAAAAB44/3V4yrOwqado/s800/2010_08310093.JPG

Optimum Hyper Polish- First impressions were very good. Very little product was used as only a few of the spray bottle were required to prime the pad. The product has a nice consistency to it with very minimal splatter and absolutely no dusting. The polish has a buttery feel to it with a very long work time and was easy to remove. Good stuff.

Big improvement with the gloss and most of the water marks have been removed. Most, but not all...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CksEv3vI/AAAAAAAAB44/3V4yrOwqado/s800/2010_08310093.JPG

Time to step it up a notch with the Optimum Hyper Compound and a Meguiar's foam cutting pad.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CmSSuutI/AAAAAAAAB5A/lwWxeaGxUW4/s800/2010_08310096.JPG

Much better...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CnW32G0I/AAAAAAAAB5E/RQc6Mfe9oE8/s800/2010_08310099.JPG

50/50.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CoS0ieoI/AAAAAAAAB5I/IncbpuUbDHk/s800/2010_08310102.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CpY4FW4I/AAAAAAAAB5M/2gfq0Zb-740/s800/2010_08310101.JPG

Optimum Hyper Compound- A bit thicker in consistency than the OHP and hence a little more difficult to spray but still quite impressive, combining aggressive cutting power and a decent finish. Again, minimal splatter and dusting with a long work time.

The rest of the car was completed with OHC/Rotary followed by OHP/ROB and sealed with Optimum Opti-Seal followed by Optimum Car Wax.

It started to rain halfway though the detail which allowed for some nice water beading shots...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CqR1GMNI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/6S79PKYJjFQ/s800/2010_08310106.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3Cr3JSLeI/AAAAAAAAB5U/q-ioGPSdYB4/s800/2010_08310107.JPG

Some afters, after drying...
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CvIAcN_I/AAAAAAAAB5c/bQtWkA_nmiE/s800/2010_08310131.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3CxHrxk3I/AAAAAAAAB5g/qui2XVbEoxA/s800/2010_08310127.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C09za7eI/AAAAAAAAB5s/MBmgNlUYIwk/s800/2010_08310167.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C2alWXcI/AAAAAAAAB5w/1YgYN53TBFM/s800/2010_08310120.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C3psmKmI/AAAAAAAAB50/N_4Y7Cyylwo/s800/2010_08310140.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C4h7oITI/AAAAAAAAB54/EiVZ210Qws4/s800/2010_08310113.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C5S8iuBI/AAAAAAAAB58/oMjcjMbetPg/s800/2010_08310138.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C60fcnUI/AAAAAAAAB6A/fYlpePKzaEk/s800/2010_08310125.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C877FMFI/AAAAAAAAB6E/9aRS-FkCH94/s800/2010_08310162.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3C-JfbihI/AAAAAAAAB6I/JNGkRNJYQq0/s800/2010_08310133.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3DA6-SmkI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/PvYPahqJUPc/s800/2010_08310170.JPG

I do like this shot.... looks like glass.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3DC-OmV_I/AAAAAAAAB6U/3YEY77vyQH8/s800/2010_08310173.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3DEaKlWmI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/0FFWZCFQV5M/s800/2010_08310175.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3DFk2l0II/AAAAAAAAB6c/EbfGbp5Mngk/s800/2010_08310157.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3DGS0hg-I/AAAAAAAAB6g/B8SLxijhJNQ/s800/2010_08310152.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KgHZeGuxwBw/TI3DHvAPWpI/AAAAAAAAB6k/YuxhPDJ8Bps/s800/2010_08310179.JPG

In order to minimize the recurrence of the water marks, the owner was advised to carry out an ONR wash and to protect the paint with OCW regularly.

Thanks for looking. Comments and feedback are most welcome.

[Pie]

Great work!

Those new optimum polishes are impressive.

[mccoytb]

Love the 50/50 of the seats and hood. Looks amazing may have to look into the optimum line my self!