Mazda CX9 Opti-coat

[SeaJay's]

This was a new client to me. He was given my name and information by Buddy (Audi X2) which is greatly appreciated!

After a couple discussions about his options for coatings we set up an appointment to do a polish and opti-coat 2.0.

This is a brand new 2011 model which is a lease. The client picked it up about a week before our set appointment. Since it was a new car I was hoping that the paint would be in decent condition. Turns out the dealer really did a number on this with lots of RIDS and swirls.

Products Used

Optimum No Rinse for wash and clay lube
Pinnacle Poly clay
IPA Mix
Pinnacle Black Onyx Tire Gel
Stoner's Invisible Glass
Painters Tape
Menzerna Super Finish
Opti-coat 2.0
P21s Metal Polish

Equipment Used

Two Bucket Wash - ONR
Various MFs
PC 7424
Orange LC Pad
White LC Pad
Halogen Lights
Brinkman LED Swirl Finder light
Various Applicator pads


I'm going to apologize ahead of time for my pictures. I have been having a terrible time lately trying to capture pictures in a garage with poor lighting. I'm reading through the for dummies book on the camera now, so let's hope these can improve some.

So, the vehicle upon arrival - Should note that it was a cloudy rainy day

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8026.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8027.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8028.jpg

After a quick ONR wash the paint looked in decent shape...obviously the LSP that the dealer applied was still there.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8029.jpg


After a full claying and an IPA wipe down the true defects came out

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8037.jpg


I had a really hard time capturing the defects...again user error with the camera I'm sure. Out of the 100+ pictures I took I ended up with the ones in this thread...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/Before-2.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/Before-3.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/Before-4.jpg


I played around with a couple products/pad combos and quickly realized that this car really needed a multi-step correction. So, after calling the client up to explain his options based on time I had with the vehicle and that it was a lease, we decided a one step and the opti-coat was good enough.

I ended up using Menzera Super Finish on an orange LC pad. Which gave me a good cut and it finished off without any issues.

Couple 50/50's

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/5050-1.jpg

The white flecks on the left hand side are lint from my MFs...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/5050-2.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/5050-3.jpg

And some after polishing..again awful pictures

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/After-1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/After-2.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8134.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8138.jpg

The car then got 2 IPA wipe downs due to Super Finish is extremely oily. Once that was finished I applied the opti-coat 2.0 to the whole vehicle and the rims. The windshield was not coated.

Due to it was dark and raining out after the Opti-coat application had finished drying (approx 1 1/2 hours) the after pictures are bad.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8145.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8141.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e147/JPerrydore/Mazda%20CX9%20Opti%20coat/IMG_8142.jpg


Over all I was pretty satisfied with this job. I'm not pleased at all with the awful pictures I got, but I promised Buddy I'd do a write up on the job! I'm a man of my word.

Thanks for reading!

[mjlinane]

The pics are quite good!! Just remember photography literally means "writing with light". Most photo problems are lighting related. Also need to remember, the dynamic range of cameras is far less than our eyes.

Good job on the car, too.

[SeaJay's]

The pics are quite good!! Just remember photography literally means "writing with light". Most photo problems are lighting related. Also need to remember, the dynamic range of cameras is far less than our eyes.

Good job on the car, too.

Good info there. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to using a real camera. I've always used your standard point and shoot. But the Canon Rebel my gf bought takes much better pictures...when I can get it to work. lol

[mjlinane]

np. A few tips:

1) Use "sneaker zoom" as much as possible. Yes, you can always crop out later but you are literally throwing away information.
2) Most DSLRs are factory set to shoot a but flat, assuming you will "digital darkroom" them later. If you are not, look through the menus for a picture setting labelled something like "Vivid"
3) Invest in a good tripod (and maybe a monopod). Your settings are very dark and the only way to get those to come out is with long exposure. You need a tripod for that.
4) I leave my camera in A (Aperture) mode most of the time because I want to control depth of field. F9-F11 keeps most things in focus if you're reasonably close. Does negatively affect shutter times though.
5) Autofocus is looking for hard edges. If you don't have one (you'll hear the lens moving in an out), find one the same distance away, half press the shutter button to engage AF & hold, move to your subject and press the rest of the way.

[SkateForGirl]

Nice job. I love clean black cars.

[Audi X2]

Awesome Jason!

Thank you for doing the write-up and taking great care of my friend.
Hopefully this will lead to more business for you as well.

[Black Car]

Great Job and great write up. You weren't kidding about the dealership doing a number on the paint.

[SonOfOC]

Your pictures are not bad and can improve by simply cropping.
Great job by the way!

[SeaJay's]

Awesome Jason!

Thank you for doing the write-up and taking great care of my friend.
Hopefully this will lead to more business for you as well.

No problem! He wants to get his wife's car cleaned up before their lease is up on that. I should be hearing from him this week sometime. Thanks again for the referral! :props:

[triplejumper18]

How is the Opti Coat holding up on the black CX-9? My wife's black CX-9 paint looks similar to your client's because it's her car and not mine, so it doesn't see the love that my car gets. I kind of feel like correcting the paint and applying Opti Coat but since it doesn't get pampered like my car I don't want to go through the all the trouble in case Opti Coat ends up swirling and scratching down the road.

[Desert Detail & More]

Which technique did you use to apply the opticoat?

[SeaJay's]

How is the Opti Coat holding up on the black CX-9? My wife's black CX-9 paint looks similar to your client's because it's her car and not mine, so it doesn't see the love that my car gets. I kind of feel like correcting the paint and applying Opti Coat but since it doesn't get pampered like my car I don't want to go through the all the trouble in case Opti Coat ends up swirling and scratching down the road.

Opti-coat can swirl and scratch similar to your standard clear coat. But it's definitely more scratch resistant than the Mazda clear.

I haven't seen the vehicle since the opti-coat was applied. Part of the reasoning for the opti-coat was the customer doesn't maintain his vehicles very well. So, having the opti-coat was to help with his own maintenance and help keep the scratches under some control since it's a lease.

[SeaJay's]

Which technique did you use to apply the opticoat?

I used the syringe and the applicator that came in the kit. I primed the pad with an X, then a few drops per panel.

I applied in long strokes, all in one direction, then followed with it in the other direction. Let flash for approx 5 minutes and then removed the high spots.

[Desert Detail & More]

I used the syringe and the applicator that came in the kit. I primed the pad with an X, then a few drops per panel.

I applied in long strokes, all in one direction, then followed with it in the other direction. Let flash for approx 5 minutes and then removed the high spots.
I've been using the same method, but put the applicator in a latex glove, and wrap the glove with a blue scotts shop towel. just getting ideas for better methods.