2012 Dodge Challenger + Menzerna Color Lock Makeover

[Mike Phillips]

2012 Dodge Challenger + Menzerna Color Lock Makeover (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-autogeek-s-car-week/58125-2012-dodge-challenger-menzerna-color-lock-makeover.html)



Here's the after walk-around-video...

NOTE: Internet Explorer will not display videos in the forum world so switch to a new browser.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW5gMh59nmE




Autogeek's Show Car Garage!
Tonight we're going to do an extreme makeover on a black 2012 Dodge Challenger and after we perfect the paint we're going to apply the new Menzerna Color Lock.


Here's the LSP we'll use, the brand new Menzerna Color Lock

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_002.jpg


Menzerna in the house!
And I have a pretty good arsenal of Menzerna compounds and polishes on had and ready to go to work...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_001.jpg


The Challenger has arrived!
Okay Ken and his Challenger have arrived, hard to get great shots with the sun so low in the sky but here's what I took outside...

First, interesting self-portrait, now sure where I took this?

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_003.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_004.jpg

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http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_008.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_009.jpg


Swirls and Scratches Under Florescent Lights
Here's inside, paint looks a lot worse, more scratches under the florescent lights...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_011.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_012.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_013.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_014.jpg



The Baggie Test

And we did the Baggie Test and the paint definitely needs to be clayed...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_015.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_016.jpg


Have a new car? Check out this article...


How To Detail Your Brand New Car by Mike Phillips (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/54451-how-detail-your-brand-new-car-mike-phillips.html)




:)

[Mike Phillips]

First things first.... Ken washed his Challenger the day before but there was light dust on it so we wiped it down using Menzerna Pant Refresh...


Tim aka 57BORNTORUN misting on Menzerna Paint Refresh...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_017.jpg


Paul aka Sailfish wiping the paint clean...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_018.jpg


Claying the paint
No pictures of claying but we used Pinnacle Ultra Fine Poly Clay with Pinnacle Clay Lube.


Test Spot
Next up we did some testing and I had Robert and Paul compare the Lake Country Ultra Microfiber Pads on identical tools, the Flex 3401.

The difference was that one polisher had the THICK LC Ultra Microfiber Pad and the other polisher had the THIN Ultra Microfiber Pad.

If you want to know which one works best I'll let you post the question and I'll let Robert and Paul tell you their opinioins...

After some testing we buffed out the car using Menzerna SI 1500 with Lake Country Ultra Microfiber Pads on both the Flex 3401 and the Griot's DA Polisher and then followed that using Lake Country 5.5" white foam polishing pads with Menzerna SF 4000 and then sealed the paint using Menzerna Color Lock machine applied using Lake Country 5.5" Blue Finishing Pads on Griot's DA Polishers.


Here's Robert testing out the thick LC Ultra MF Pads and Paul testing out the thin LC Ultra MF Pads

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_019.jpg


Robert is very good behind any polisher and always focuses on using good technique...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_020.jpg


Look at the THICK foam core for this MF Pad...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_021.jpg



Below is the thin MF pad as the foam core is much thinner than the thicker version...

NOTE: The linting is normal when breaking in a new LC Ultra Microfiber Pad

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_022.jpg


Then I had both guys switch keeping all other variables the same except the thickness and thinness of the foam backing of the pads.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_023.jpg


Robert with the thin pad...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_024.jpg

Paul with the thick pad...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_025.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_026.jpg



Hands-on Learning at Autogeek
Here's Ken working by machine for the first time. This is one of the benefits to coming to Autogeek is you get hands-on learning...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_027.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_028.jpg


Here's Paul tackling the roof...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_029.jpg



Here's Paul using a 4 1/4" thick LC Ultra Microfiber Pad on the front lip of the car...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_030.jpg


The thicker foam core conforms easily to curved panesl...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_031.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_032.jpg



Time to polish!
After removing the swirls, scratches and water spots using microfiber pads and Menzerna SI 1500 we switched over to foam polishing pads and Menzerna SF 4000

Hard Paint
Everyone agreed the clear coat paint on this 2012 Challenger was hard clear coat paint system...


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_033.jpg


Here's Ken testing out the Flex 3401 with Lake Country 6.5" Foam Flat Pad...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_034.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_035.jpg



Here's Robert using a Griot's DA Polisher with a Lake Country 5.5" Foam Flat pad...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_036.jpg


Intense focused polishing... that's the norm for Robert...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_037.jpg


Tim keeping all the panels wiped clean after they are machine polished...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_038.jpg


And here's how we knock cars out in 2-3 hours... it's called Man Power
(with machine power)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_039.jpg


Here's Ken machine applying the Menzerna Color Lock using a Meguiar's G110v2 DA Polisher...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_040.jpg


Menzerna Color Lock Carnauba Wax

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_041.jpg


:)

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Is this going to be live broadcast?

[Mike Phillips]

Continued...


Dry to a haze
Okay, here's the Challenger completely coated with Menzerna Color Lock. The directions state to allow the wax to dry to a haze.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_042.jpg


C. L. that's stands for Color Lock

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_043.jpg



This is me breaking open a coating of wax...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_044.jpg


Shiny and clear 100% pure black paint...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_045.jpg


Can you see what I'm talking about now?

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_045c.jpg


Here's Tim carefully removing the Color Lock...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_046.jpg


Paul and Ken carefully removing the Menzerna Color Lock...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_047.jpg


Like to wear two gloves and use two towels...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_048.jpg


This is always the fun part...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_049.jpg



Topical Articles

Here's a few related articles on the topic of microfiber towels, gloves and techniquess...

How to break open a coating of wax and remove it by creeping out... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/28204-how-break-open-coating-wax-remove-creeping-out.html)

Increase Your Grip Strength with Microfiber Gloves (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/33009-increase-your-grip-strength-microfiber-gloves.html)

I love the glove... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/25571-i-love-glove.html)

How to correctly fold and use a Microfiber Towel (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/29230-how-correctly-fold-use-microfiber-towel.html)

The 4 minimum categories of wiping cloths (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/21944-4-minimum-categories-wiping-cloths.html)

How many microfiber polishing cloths do I need to detail my car? (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/23084-how-many-microfiber-polishing-cloths-do-i-need-detail-my-car.html)

The Final Wipe – Tips for creating a streak-free, show car finish (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/19956-final-wipe.html)



:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

Continued...


And now for the beauty shots...


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_050.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_051.jpg

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http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_058.jpg



The Overhead Hood Shot...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_059.jpg


The low down front grill shot...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_060.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_050.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_061.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_062.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_063.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_064.jpg



And here's the A-Team

From left to right...

Ken, Tim, Robert & Paul

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_066.jpg



:xyxthumbs:

[axel06]

magic mike will make it all better

[Mike Phillips]

On Autogeek.net

Menzerna Color Lock Carnauba Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-color-lock-carnauba-wax.html)

Menzerna Compounds & Polishes (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-of-germany.html)

Lake Country Thick Core Ultra Microfiber Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/microfiber-rotary-buffing-pads.html)

Lake Country Flat Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-flat-pads.html)

Flex 3401 Forced Rotation DA Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/flex-orbital-polisher.html)

Griot's Garage DA Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/new-griots-polisher.html)

Super Soft Deluxe Green Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges (http://www.autogeek.net/green-rolled-edge-towels-3.html) - 3 Pack

Microfiber Gloves 6 Pairs (http://www.autogeek.net/micglovinbul.html)

Pinnacle Ultra Poly Detailing Clay (http://www.autogeek.net/ultra-fine-poly-clay.html)

Pinnacle Clay Lube (http://www.autogeek.net/pinclaylub.html)



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1526/2012_Challenger_Makeover_065.jpg



Thank you!

Thanks to all the guys that helped to create a show car finish on Ken's 2012 Challenger and thank you Ken for trusting Autogeek with your pride and joy!


:)

[axel06]

the flex 3401 will take them right out mikes the man!!!!!

[Mike Phillips]

Is this going to be live broadcast?



Not tonight, Yancy has all his equipment ready to travel or already shipped out to Lincoln, Nebraska for the wetsand, cut and buff project...

When these are live broadcasts you'll see the graphic for it included in the first post. Thanks for asking the question though as I'm sure others had the same question...



:dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

the flex 3401 will take them right out mikes the man!!!!!


We're going to use Flex 3401's and the new Griot's DA Polisher...



:buffing:

[Mike Phillips]

Done!


Ken just drove home in his incredibly black Challenger and boy did it come out sweet!

The new Menzerna Color Lock wax worked great too!


I'll post some picture tomorrow of the process and the after shots but for now it's time to shut down Autogeek's Show Car Garage!


:xyxthumbs:

[Dougw4355]

Awesome Job Mike


I concur..I have been using the new Menzerna color lock wax on my customers car and Im highly impressed with its ease of use and amazing and clarity

[ProDetail]

Any pics of the finish?

[Ken Kolinski]

I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to Mike and the guy's for their time and a great job on my car it looks fantastic.That Menzerna we used did wonders for that black paint.:dblthumb2:

[57BORNTORUN]

We just finished the car. NIGHT and DAY is all I can say.:dblthumb2: