Richy Rectifies a Range Rover

[richy]

This 2010 Range Rover Sport was booked for a one step exterior polish, Americoat and a complete interior rejuvenation. As my children get older, I am reminded with jobs like this how difficult it can be to clean up after the little ones..


First up on this job was going to be contamination removal. Like the Corolla, I had to use some very aggressive measures to rid the paint of the contamination that was present on every single panel. The paint had a dull look to it and I was looking forward to restoring its "glow".



Here it is as it arrived:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4369.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4369.jpg.html)


Lots of bugs across the front:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4370.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4370.jpg.html)


The trim was faded and in need of some serious help:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4371.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4371.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4372.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4372.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4373.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4373.jpg.html)


This area was beyond help:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4374.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4374.jpg.html)


The wheels on this vehicle did not appear to be anything unusual, one expects a certain degree of brake dust to have bitten in, but these did not end up coming out as well as I would have hoped.


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4375.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4375.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4376.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4376.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4377.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4377.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4378.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4378.jpg.html)


Let's see what the interior was all about:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4379.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4379.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4380.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4380.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4381.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4381.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4382.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4382.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4383.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4383.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4384.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4384.jpg.html)


The paint seemed stained in certain sections. You can be sure I'd be using DG Squeaky Clean on this car!


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4385.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4385.jpg.html)

[richy]

First up was the wheels. I used Tarminator, Megs WB and Zep citrus as well as IronX on them. Nothing would remove all the marks from the wheel. The brake dust had really eaten into the paint. I am trying to find a distributor somewhere relatively close to me to get in some Malco Brake Off. Maybe it could have helped in this case. You can never have too many tools in your toolbox!
The tires were cleaned twice with Zep 505.
The wells were cleaned with LATA.


The first wash was a foaming using DG 901 followed by a hand wash using the same. The next stage was to concentrate on decontamination. I used both IronX paste and IX soap gel and a magic eraser to remove the contamination. I'd say 95% of it was removed using this method. Afterward I brought it in and used Riccardo blue clay to get the remainder. Finally it was contamination free after about 4+ hours! That stage seemed typical for the kind of work that was required to bring this big Rover back to a respectable shape.


The polishing stage was done with Sonax Perfect Finish + B/S orange pad + Flex 3401. That was followed by DG Squeaky Clean + green B/S + 3401. The paint now was defect-free and smooth and had that awesome white "glow" to it. This stage thankfully went easily and quickly. He did not have any touch up paint so I tried a tiny amount of the paint I had from the white Corolla in an out of the way chip. It matched beautifully so I ended up filling a ton of chips and marks to really make the white an unbroken canvas.

Here is the hood after being polished out:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4386.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4386.jpg.html)


A little closer inspection:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4387.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4387.jpg.html)


The windshield was coated with DP glass coating and the rest of the glass was done with Americoat. The paint and wheels were also done with AC. The more I use this coating, the more I like it. Very glossy, very slick surface and extremely easy to use. I knew I'd be done the vehicle at night, so here it is after being coated prior to any tire shine or interior work yet:



http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4388.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4388.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4389.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4389.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4390.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4390.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4391.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4391.jpg.html)


The exterior bottom trim was coated with the DG beta trim coating. I thought it really brought the trim to life!


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4392.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4392.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4393.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4393.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4394.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4394.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4394.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4394.jpg.html)

Better, but not perfect.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4395.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4395.jpg.html)



Now I was feeling really good about the exterior, it was time to concentrate on the interior. I ended up taking 4 hours on it to transform it back to where it needed to be. It is truly a gorgeous interior in this and I really wanted it to get back to how it should look.

The mats and carpets were cleaned with some or all of the following steps:
vacuum
steam
Folex & agitation

The plastic was cleaned with my Autoglym pad and OPC followed by UIGP.

The seats were cleaned and protected with the same steps as the plastic. Here is the passenger front section with 2 before and after shots:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4396.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4396.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4397.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4397.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4398.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4398.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4399.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4399.jpg.html)



Here are the last shots of the interior:


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4400.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4400.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4401.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4401.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4402.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4402.jpg.html)


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t12/rhowitt/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4403.jpg (http://s156.photobucket.com/user/rhowitt/media/Detailing%20shots/Detailing%20shots001/DSC_4403.jpg.html)



Thanks for looking! The owner was ecstatic but alas his ecstasy was to be short lived. He texted me the next day to advise that some young jackass who was texting on his phone rear-ended the Rover! He didn't even have a full day to enjoy it!!! Imagine how pissed off he was...

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Love reading your write-ups. Fantastic job!!

How did you use IX soap gel and magic eraser?

[GreatAvalon]

Excellent job! The trim looks great.

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Excellent transformation Richy!

[604_Snooze]

Hi Richy, did you get this americoat and the DG Trim beta version in Canada?

[zmcgovern45]

Great work, as always!

My next car might have to be white... they look great when they're all cleaned up :)

[Charger12]

Beautiful job,too bad some idiot had to rear end him,and take his enjoyment away.

[richy]

Love reading your write-ups. Fantastic job!!

How did you use IX soap gel and magic eraser?
Thanks Mark! I get these thick ME's from China on Ebay. I take it, soak it with water , wring it out a bit and then lay a bead or 2 of the IX gel along the surface. You've got lots of lubrication with the water and IX gel, so there's no worries about scratching or marring. For really stubborn ones, you can spray the area with IX before and let it dwell for a minute or so. The gel is a much better value IMO. You don't use much at all.


Excellent job! The trim looks great.
Thanks very much!


Excellent transformation Richy!
Thank you and thanks for taking the time to comment!


Hi Richy, did you get this americoat and the DG Trim beta version in Canada?
Um, yes and no. My original bottles I got from Barry and subsequent to that Hamza is now the Canadian distributor.


Great work, as always!

My next car might have to be white... they look great when they're all cleaned up :)

Zach, I hear you on that. If all goes well, my next vehicle will be a white Jeep GC diesel.


Beautiful job,too bad some idiot had to rear end him,and take his enjoyment away.
I know!! I felt terrible when I heard the news!

[sproketser]

Great work as usual Richy ! Always good How Tos for me !

[Pats300zx]

Great work Richy !!!

[10secdream]

Another amazing job Richy. Great writeup and pictures.

[Chase.Detailing]

Beautiful Work Richy!

[Tato]

Nice to see when someone is 'on fire' like you are showing recently! Job after Job, always the greatest care, you're a Real Detailer.

Thanks a lot for sharing those works and all your thoughts underlying them.

Too bad someone hit the Rover, happened to 2 of my customers... few days after detail.

To make things less painful for customer, tell him you'd be re-doing the coating on damaged areas 30-40 days after repair.

He comes for maintenance wash, and leave coated again. That's what I do. This is a moment where they appreciate someone to 'divide the pain' with. The actual detailer is the best person for it, IMO.

Again, thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

[Sicoupe]

Fantastic job my friend! I love those RR:)