Audi A6 Detail

[BobbyG]

For the most part we all enjoy automotive detailing either as a hobby or as a profession whether part-time or full-time. Every once in a while I get to work on something that is exciting………at least to me!

Monday I had the opportunity to detail a 2013 Audi A6. Audi really hit a homerun with the current design combining style, performance, and elegance all rolled into one amazing package they called the A6.

The Audi A6 possesses the finest in interior luxury. The A6 uses soft quality leather throughout and the seats feel like they were designed just for me. Amenities abound throughout and there’s ample legroom for taller drivers. The seats adjust in every conceivable position making the interior one of the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced.

From the drivers perspective everything one could hope for is there at your fingertips. The contrast in colors is easy in the eyes and makes owning this car that much more rewardable.

The Interior

The interior was lightly soiled and while it received a thorough cleaning I felt concentrating the majority of my efforts on the exterior would result in a home run for certain.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/Audi_a6_52.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80026)


Products Used

Wash - Duragloss #901
Clay - Meguiar's
1-Step - Blackfire Total Polish & Seal
Sealant - Blackfire Crystal Paint Sealant
Tire Cleaner - Meguiar's Super Degreaser
Wheel Cleaner - IronX
Tire Treatment - CarPro PERL
Wheel Protectant - Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0
Trim Protectant - CarPro DLux
All Purpose Cleaner - Optimum Power Clean
Glass Cleaner - Meguiar's Glass Cleaner
Glass Treatment - Aquapel
Interior Protectant - Meguiar's M40


The cars owner, Linda, loves this car and wanted me to really restore its true beauty. Linda loves the wheels but over the past year they've become soiled by nothing more than driving it and with a car like this who wouldn't want to drive it!

Drive it like you stole it is my motto! :props:

I took a series of before photos and although the lines of the A6 are legendary, you can see in the photos below some TLC and the right products are needed to restore it to it's rightful place...

Before

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_01.jpg

Bug Spatter

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_02.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_03.JPG

Wheels

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_04.JPG

Normal Use

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_05.JPG

Drivers Rear Quarter

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_07.JPG

When I can I like working outdoors. I have all the room in the world, fresh air, and the lighting out there is the best!

I always use my blocks so that I can truly address the entire tire.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_13.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_14.JPG

Wheels First

Generally, I'll wash the wheel and tire first THEN use Car-Pro Iron X letting it search and destroy any residual grime and brake dust. Today I spent some additional time going right to the Iron X first and these are my results.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_15.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_16.JPG

CarPro Iron X

Without question, Iron X does work.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_19.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/Audi_A6_20.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/79993)

After some scrubbing with my Daytona brush, I rinsed then sprayed the wheel again with Iron X and look what happened....more grime and debris! :eek:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_21.JPG

Barrels

Initially, I thought the wheel barrels were powder coated black in an attempt to "hide" the brake dust but a little scrubbing told me they were silver like the rest of the wheel.

Quite a difference as you can see!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_22.JPG

Thoroughly Cleaned

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_24.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_23.JPG

For the rest of the wheels I scrubbed them using Meguiar's Super Degreaser. I can't give enough kudos to this product as it's never failed me even on the toughest of grease, grime, and tires.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_28.JPG

I spray it on, scrub the wheel and tire with the appropriate brushes then rinse. Whether it's needed, I dry the wheel then apply the Iron X.

My thought is it's a waste of time and product using it on a completely soiled wheel. I want Iron X to address the grime and dust I missed or couldn't see.....and it does so with surgical precision!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_30.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_29.JPG

Foam Gun

I like to soak the finish using my foam gun. I use Pinnacles XMT Gel Shampoo and water in my gun. On the 2nd hole it produces an ample froth covering the car.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_32.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_33.JPG

Wash

I always wash by hand. I really like Duragloss #901 combined with a Gold Plush Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt it allows me to clean the finish without scratching. I settled in this combination some time ago and when something works I like to stick with it.

Clay

Naturally claying the finish was the next step and I was sort of surprised how dirty the paint really was. This was from just the hood. :eek:

Imagine if I went straight to the buffer WITHOUT claying.....:doh:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_34.JPG

Top and middle doors

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_35.JPG

Lower doors and rear quarter

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_36.JPG

Needless to say I no longer have this clay....

Once the paint was clayed it was very smooth. Knowing I'd be polishing the finish I opted to dry each panel using a Cobra Guzzler drying towel. These towels are exceptionally soft and absorbent.

Polishing

I won't bore you with a panel by panel photo showing the machine and pad over and over so I'll touch on them lightly here and move on.

Machines


Flex PE14 rotary + Orange Kompressor
Flex 3401 + White foam
Porter Cable 7424xp + White Foam


Typical results during the buffing phase

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_37.JPG

Final Results

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_39.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_38.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_40.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_41.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_43.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_44.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_45.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_47.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_46.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_49.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_50.JPG


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/2503/medium/Audi_A6_51.JPG

All in all, Linda was very pleased with the results and so was I.....:dblthumb2:

Thank you for looking!

[Zelfiris]

Thanks for sharing! I would've loved to see the paint condition prior to the correction though (any swirls or deep scratches, etc.).

Definitely night and day on the wheels, amazing work! Did you applied Opti-coat to the barrel as well?

[runrun411]

Way to go Bobby. You did that Audi justice. It looks like it just came out of the showroom. Where did you get those blocks?

[CDot]

Very impressed with your work Bobby, great work!

Also, did you build those ramps? Great idea

[allenk4]

Nice work

A6 is a great car

My favorite Audi currently is the RS7

[BobbyG]

Thanks Guys,

Wheels

I applied Opti-Coat to the external surfaces of the wheels. If I were to coat the barrels I'd need to remove the wheels which would have been quite a bit more work...

Ramps

I made the ramps.

A member drove his car up an a pair of 2X4's and the ones I made are a variation of those...

[pointillistic_practitioner]

Awesome job! I love the color of that Audi. PS - the ramp idea is great... I always find myself moving the car back a foot or so to reach that one spot I miss while cleaning (especially b/c my driveway is gravel and if I place the wheel brush down too far it gets dirt on it and spreads it across the whole tire), and then having to do that again while dressing. How did you make the ramps? Did you use a circular saw or something to cut the curves and then sand them down smooth and nail them to the bottom pieces?

[BobbyG]

The ramps are made from 2X4's and 2X8's. The shallow angle was quickly cut freehand on my band-saw then screwed together.....

Total time to make: 30 minutes :props:

[frankprozzoly]

I don't get how you can get all that done in one day. That's awesome. I need a flex. The pc is just way to slow. I'm gonna get one of those in about 3, 4 years. I had a 98 for 10 yrs. Beautiful but the maintenance bill was ugly

[CDot]

The ramps are made from 2X4's and 2X8's. The shallow angle was quickly cut freehand on my band-saw then screwed together.....

Total time to make: 30 minutes :props:

Very cool!

[Mach1USMC]

I don't get how you can get all that done in one day. That's awesome. I need a flex. The pc is just way to slow. I'm gonna get one of those in about 3, 4 years. I had a 98 for 10 yrs. Beautiful but the maintenance bill was ugly

I have an 02 - I feel your pain. GET THE FLEX!! Best DA on the market IMHO. It cuts work time WAY down.

OP- amazing work. The before and afters are a testament to your skill!

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beautiful work Bobby! That clay bar was destroyed!

Thanks for sharing.

[Pureshine]

Great work Bobby :)

[BobbyG]

I don't get how you can get all that done in one day. That's awesome. I need a flex. The pc is just way to slow. I'm gonna get one of those in about 3, 4 years. I had a 98 for 10 yrs. Beautiful but the maintenance bill was ugly

This was a lot of work and took me about 7 hours to complete. I stop for water breaks and naturally lunch but only for a few minutes then back at it. As an example, the wheels and tires took me a minimum of 30 minutes each to clean them...


Thank you for all the comments! :props:

[frankprozzoly]

Can you say how much a job like this costs or is it not advised on this forum. I'm just curious since it was a full days work