1st write-up. Explore This! '06 Full Reconditioning

[LMAutoDetailing]

This will be my first write-up under my new account. I wanted to post a detail that had a noticeable difference before and after. This vehicle was purchased by our client from a friend who used it previously as a family vehicle. It was from up north and had what appeared to be hard water/snow damage from sitting outside with no protection. My client wanted it restored to good condition and would be using it to drive to work rather than his 2008 V8 VW Toureg. The goal here was interior/exterior restoration, not 100% paint correction. This job was me working solo.
Detail process:

Exterior Wash:
DP Auto Bathe Wash
Grit Guard
Scratch-Free Mit
Meg’s Wheel Brightener
Citrus Degreaser
Various brushes
Chamois/Waffle Weave Dry

Exterior Detail:
All trim/emblems taped off
Meg’s clay bar entire vehicle
Meg’s LT Spray Detailer
Meg’s Ultimate Compound
LC Orange Smart Pads 5.5”
Griot’s Professional Orbital Polisher
Collinite 845 Insulator Wax
Meg’s #40 on exterior trim
Meg’s Water Based Dressing on tires/plastics
Sticker removed from back window

Interior Detail:
Thorough vacuuming & all crevices cleaned
Meg’s APC on panels/seats
Meg’s APC+ & brushes on carpets
Meg’s Leather Cleaner/Conditioner
Meg’s #40 on panels/dash/cockpit
APC & #40 on rubber floor mats
Meg’s Glass Cleaner

Time for pictures!

Exterior BEFORE:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1432.jpg

Exterior BEFORE:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1434.jpg

Exterior BEFORE:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1436.jpg

Interior BEFORE:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1438.jpg

Leather BEFORE: whole interior looked dirty like this before.
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1439.jpg

Hood BEFORE under halogen lights (you can really see the neglect now):
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1463.jpg

Hood BEFORE under halogen lights:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1465.jpg

Clay barring. Definitely contaminated:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1473.jpg

Exterior prepped for polishing with masking tape:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1475.jpg
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1477.jpg

Passenger Side after MUC w/ Griot’s on orange pad. 50/50 under halogens:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1481.jpg

Passenger Side after MUC w/ Griot’s on orange pad. 50/50 in the sun:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1488.jpg

Passenger Side after MUC w/ Griot’s on orange pad. 50/50 in the sun:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1493.jpg

50/50 right on the sun:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1494.jpg



After hood all polished out with MUC. Still some residue to the right. Under halogens:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1503.jpg

The work horse:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1515.jpg

AFTERS:

AFTER Polishing & Topped with Collinite 845
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1517.jpg

AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1519.jpg

AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1521.jpg

AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1523EDIT.jpg


AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1533.jpg

INTERIOR AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1454.jpg

INTERIOR AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1456.jpg

INTERIOR AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1531.jpg

INTERIOR AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1535.jpg

INTERIOR AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1537.jpg

HOOD SHOT AFTER:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1526.jpg

FINALS:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1543BLACKOUT.jpg
FINALS:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1541.jpg

FINALS:
http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m636/LMAutoDetailing/2006%20Ford%20Explorer%20Full%20Restoration/IMG_1539.jpg

Overall I was extremely pleased with the results. About 16 hours total went into this detail. The work was done on 2 separate days, interior one day, exterior on another. Client was definitely pleased as well. Thanks for checking out my work!!

[Rayaz]

Nice work and a really good job of taping off the truck. Mine never turns out that neat.

[Al Deville]

Very Nice, if you don't mind me asking how much did you charge for a 2 day detail. Did you do this at your house or the customers.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Very well done! Quality work, quality pics, and a quality write-up. :props:

[dchristo]

huuuuuuuge difference, it looks great now

[LuxuryMobile]

Killer work Brett. That paint was real oxidized for a newer vehicle. Also great turn around on those leather seats, their were a mess.

Looks real nice now and will be protected for a while with a coat of 845 on it.

[BobbyG]

Tremendous amount of work and a fine attention to every aspect of this restoration. Your writeup, description, and photography are clear and concise....

Very nicely done throughout!! :props:

[Mobile detail]

Very Nice, if you don't mind me asking how much did you charge for a 2 day detail. Did you do this at your house or the customers.
:iagree: Seems like a lot of work. Great Job!

[LMAutoDetailing]

Nice work and a really good job of taping off the truck. Mine never turns out that neat.
Thanks man. Yeah taping is definitely not as easy as a lot of these professionals make it look.


Very Nice, if you don't mind me asking how much did you charge for a 2 day detail. Did you do this at your house or the customers.

The work was done at the customer's house, who does not live far from me. I will PM you regarding pricing on this job.


Very well done! Quality work, quality pics, and a quality write-up. :props:


huuuuuuuge difference, it looks great now


Killer work Brett. That paint was real oxidized for a newer vehicle. Also great turn around on those leather seats, their were a mess.

Looks real nice now and will be protected for a while with a coat of 845 on it.


Tremendous amount of work and a fine attention to every aspect of this restoration. Your writeup, description, and photography are clear and concise....

Very nicely done throughout!! :props:


:iagree: Seems like a lot of work. Great Job!

^^Thank you all so much for your immediate feedback. It was a lot of work for a great and valuable client to me. Everyone's kind words are very much appreciated.^^

[ziggo99]

Fantastic work there. A nice clean Explorer of that generation I really love. Probably because that was my first real detail.