Beaten and Battered 2010 Nissan Altima Tons of pictures

[tersplat]

So, I had a friend go on leave, and he left his car with me for the week. I worked on it through the weekend, putting in a few hours per day, and finished it up last night with a quick cleanup of the interior plastics, and front carpets.

Some of the products used were:
2 bucket Method with Grit Guards
BlackFire Wet Diamond Shampoo
Lake Country microfiber wash mitts
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner
Speed Master Wheel brushes
Black Magic Ultimate Tire Shine Gel
Nanoskin Handy Towel
Nanoskin Glide as lube
Nanoskin Microbuff Black pads
Nanoskin Formula 67 polish
Nanoskin Speed Cut compound
Lake Country Hydro-Tech 3" Cyan and Tangerine Pads
Nanoskin Microfiber Towels
Nanoskin Rain Prep
Nanoskin Rain Glass Sealant
Nanoskin Black Awesome
Meguiars Carpet and Upholstery Brush
Sonax Matte Dashboard Cleaner
Stoners Invisible Glass
DetailersPro Poli-Coat Sealant
AutoGeek Blue Wax Removal Microfiber Towels
Porter Cable 7424XP w/ 5" LC BP
Griots Garage 3"

His car wasn't terribly filthy, but the paint was in terrible shape with TONS of swirls, and it looked like he had been clearing snow off of it all winter with a garden rake(he claims that this was not the case, lol)

I was going to write a long, drawn out article on every step that I did, but I'll sum it up instead. I used the Nanoskin 5" Microbuff cutting pads and Speed Cut to pull out all of the deep scratches, and cutting pads with Formula 67 to do the rest of the car. I am not getting paid to do this, so 1 step gave me good enough results to not do a second stage polish.

Here are the pictures.

Before
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0408.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0408.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0407.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0407.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0396.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0396.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0411.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0411.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0406.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0406.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0394.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0394.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0393.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0393.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0387.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0387.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0384.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0384.jpg.html)



After washing and some 50/50 shots

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0392.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0392.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0400.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0400.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0402-1.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0402-1.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0385.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0385.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0384.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0384.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0398.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0398.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0388.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0388.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0383.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0383.jpg.html)



http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0380.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0380.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_03752.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_03752.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0375.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0375.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0374.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0374.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0373-1.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0373-1.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_03732.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_03732.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/20140314_190112.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/20140314_190112.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0373-1.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/Detailing%20pictures/DSC_0373-1.jpg.html)



And After

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0377.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0377.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0409.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0409.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0405.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0405.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0404.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0404.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0407.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0407.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0408.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0408.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0406.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0406.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0403.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0403.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0401.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0401.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0402.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0402.jpg.html)

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0399.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0399.jpg.html)









Here's My favorite part, there was a group of scratches on the hood. I was not able to completely fix them, the largest one went in to the primer, but I was able to improve them.

Before


http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0382.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0382.jpg.html)

After

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0373.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0373.jpg.html)
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee252/tersplat/DSC_0372.jpg (http://s231.photobucket.com/user/tersplat/media/DSC_0372.jpg.html)

This was a fun, and satisfying project, and I think my friend will be very happy when I pick him up from the airport tomorrow in it. Thank you for taking the time to look through this.

[Just02896]

Great work! Your friend should be more than happy!

[jamesboyy]

Wow that Nissan was beaten very badly but you healed it, and brought it back to life nice save

[billboard2001]

A freshly detailed car pickup from the airport? Yeah I'd be happy too! Nice work

[primo spaghetti]

looks great!

[Hitman21]

Nice job!!! That paint was hammered! Looks like a typical DD up here in New England... I'm sure your friend will be happy!


Ian

[PreludeVTEC01]

What a great turn around!! Well done! Lovely color!!

[tersplat]

Thanks guys, I am not from this area, so scratches like it had are not something I'm used to, and will never get used to lol. I really wish I would have had a rotary doing this job, I think it would have been a good car to learn on, and definitely would have sped up the process.

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beaten and battered is right! Holy cow!

Nice turnaround!

[MitchLiving]

Look like it was put into a blender… Great work!

[DaVinciAutoSpa]

Really great job. You made that look outstanding. Those scratches are almost non-existent. I'm impressed.

How do you like the nano skin products?

[tersplat]

Thank you, I was kinda surprised that I was able to get it looking as nice as I did with just 1ish steps(other than on the deep scratches where I did 2 steps) I think that is due to the Microbuff Cutting pads cutting and finishing ability all in one, I tried using a Lake Country Orange pad, but it wouldn't come close to the cutting ability of the MF ones.

About the NanoSkin protucts, once I've used them on a few more cars, I'll be able to review them fully, but for now I'll say this:

Microbuff system-works great, but my cutting pads are falling apart, 3 of 4 are now useless, polishes don't dust very much unless used on foam pads, then they dust VERY badly

Nanoceramic sealant, expensive for a sealant(~$6 per ounce), VERY easy to apply and buff off, not fussy about whether applied in straight lines or circles, I'm testing it on my car for longevity, beads and sheets beautifully, not very slick, I am liking DP sealant MUCH more, and probably won't buy any more NanoCeramic

Glide- great clay or autoscrub lube, flashes very fast and leaves behind spots that are VERY tough to get out if you let it dry on the surface, I wouldn't use it outside, only in a garage, the wind seems to make it dry much faster

Shock- love it, I buy it by the gallon, and it's fairly cheap that way, similar prices to OTS QD's in price. VERY slick for a quick detailer, and beads VERY well. I'm testing this by itself on my wife's Cobalt for longevity, hers is outside 24/7.

Rain Prep- I'm pretty sure it is just ammonia, very strong smell, you have to be careful around black plastics with it, which makes it tough to use since most windshields are surrounded by black plastic, at least on the bottom. Seems to work about as well as Stoners IG, but I like the Invisible Glass more, currently testing on my car to see if the NS Rain cares which one the glass is cleaned with.

Rain- It hasn't rained yet, but I misted the windshield, and it all rolled off by the time I was maintaining 30mph. Follow the instructions, though, make sure to, after the initial spray and spread, to wipe most of it off with a dry side of the towel or it leaves behind a residue that is pretty difficult to buff off. So far, I like it, but time will tell.

Black Awesome- I only used it in the engine bay where it cleaned the dust off all of the plastics VERY well, and left a nice, matte finish at a 2.5:1 dilution. It definitely looks nice when applied, and I will definitely buy it again.

I hope that helps. I'm going to try and do more testing. I like using things that are not the norm, and since they are pretty reasonably priced, I was able to get most of their product lineup with a few exceptions.

[tersplat]

Well to say he was happy with the work would be an understatement. He had no idea that the paint was as bad as it was, until I showed him this thread. Seeing his reaction was well worth all the time and effort that was put into refinishing his Altima.