TLC Auto Detail - Volvo C30 One Step Correction

[Flannigan]

Hi guys, been a while since I've posted anything here. After going full time this summer, I've just been over run with work, so I haven't had a ton of time to take pictures and do write ups. Anyway, I finally have some spare time so I figured I would get back to doing some write ups.

Here is a 2008 Volvo C30, it hadn't received a true detail in quote some time, and the owner wanted to get it cleaned up and protected before the winter.

Started off with the wheels, tires, and wheel wells. The wheel wells were pretty caked with mud, and the wheel barrels had a good bit of built up brake dust. I used Optimum Power Clean on the tires and wheel wells, and Car Pro IronX on the wheels. Then I dressed the tires and wheels wells with Meguiars HyperDressing.

Before:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/wheelbefore001.jpg

After:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/wheelafter.jpg

After the wheels, tires, and wells were taken care of i moved on to the paint and body. It was fairly dirty when I received it, so I started with a strong foam mixture to try and break up some of the dirt and gunk. While the foam dwelled I used a soft RaceGlaze brush to agitate the trim, body seams, emblems, and fuel filler area.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/dirty001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/dirty002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/foam001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/foam002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/foam003.jpg

Then I rinsed the foam off, and washed the vehicle with Meguiars HyperWash. It was then clayed with Riccardo yellow to remove the surface contaminants, and finally IronX was applied to the body to remove any left over iron particles embedded in the paint. After all this we could see the condition of the paint. Honestly, it wasn't bad at all for a vehicle that hadn't really been detailed too much throughout it's life.

Swirls:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/swirls001.jpg

I decided to use Menzerna SIP on a tangerine HT pad to remove a lot of the swirls, as well as a few scuffs on the paint. Here is how it turned out, about 70% of the swirls removed, and the gloss was amped up a bunch. Full correction was not the goal here, we just wanted to improve the gloss, and remove as many swirls as possible with one step to prepare the car for sale.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/sun001.jpg

After the correction the paint was wiped down with CarPro Eraser, and then Four Star Sealant was used to protect the paint from the elements. Additionally the lower trim was dressed with Sonus Trim and Motor Kote, the glass cleaned with Meguiars Glass Cleaner, and the exhaust tip polished and sealed with Collinite Metal Wax.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/reflec001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/reflec002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/after002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/after001.jpg

Next i spent a bit of time in the interior. Nothing was in terrible shape, so I started by vacuuming the carpet and seats with my Metro Vac N Blo. The dash, console, and door cards were all wiped down with Meguiars Quick Interior Detailer, and the rubber mats were cleaned with Meguiars APC+.

Before:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/interiorbefore001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/interiorbefore002.jpg

After:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/interiorafter001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/interiorafter002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/KaraKearnsVolva/interiorafter003.jpg

So that about does it. This car was by no means a huge challenge, but it was nice to be able to take some time to document everything with pictures again. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to look through this, and I look forward to your feedback!

[pedro_paydro]

:props:looks so so clean. i would eat off it, no worries.

[RMM]

Glad you're back Flannigan!

[Flannigan]

:props:looks so so clean. i would eat off it, no worries.


Glad you're back Flannigan!

Thanks guys! :dblthumb2:

[Wors]

Glad you are able to post write ups again. The C30 turned out great, nice work.

[cartman57]

Never cease to be amazed by the results of before and after pics.
Nice job!

[Bigbull2984]

Hey Dave, glad to see you back!!!

Great work man.

[lawrenceSA]

Hi.

Firstly, thanks for the write up....

You turned it around nicely!

A comment if I may.... I will always iron-x before claying because if you clay first you may spend time/energy/clay trying to remove bonded contaminants that could have been dissolved by the iron-x.

And it's why I de-tar before iron-x - in case some ferrous particles are trapped under the blob of tar.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[pedro_paydro]

No problem man

[Johny B]

Great job.

[Bunky]

Welcome back Dave !