2013 Pajero TR4: Full detail + Pinnacle Black Label Coatings

[Tato]

Dear Friends, this week I had the pleasure to work on this 2013 Mitsubishi Pajero TR4.

I got some pictures of this work for my personal archive, however I've noticed customer had great interest in seeing the defects whenever I was trying to show her.

Based on that, I decided placing some pics of the work here so she can follow, and I appreciate your comments as well.

Let the pics do the talking:

Arrived. According to customer, it was dirty...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj01.png

Removed the spare tire to allow better access to the trunk
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj02a.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80695)

More from the trunk
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj02b.png

White paint is more prone to show stains that may occur by contaminants and dirt
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj04.png

Dark transfers are also more noticeable
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj05.png

Front close-up
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj03.png

Front-side
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj06.png

Hood section
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj07.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80701)

Surface Prep

During a complete thorough wash, I was noticing many of the stains remaining untouchable...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj08.png

This picture scary me (!)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj09.png

Washing was proving not enough to get rid of this resistant dirt film.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj10.png

After wash, car was decontaminated using Iron-X and Nanoskin fine clay mitt. No pictures of the process, sorry, but it was fundamental to start giving a smooth foundation to what was going to happen.

Paint Inspection

I've started re-evaluating the paint in order to choose my polishing approach.

Here is what I was dealing with:

Swirls, haze, waterspots, car looked like not being factory finished accordingly. Unfortunately, from what I'm seeing recently, white paint accepts anything from dealerships...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj12a.png

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj12a2.png

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj12b.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80708)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj12b2.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80709)

Polishing: The Test Spot

After evaluating paint condition, I've chose a spot on the roof to start testing my polishing approach.

Before:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj12c.png

After:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj12d.png


After dealing many setups, starting from white pad and SF4000. I was needing too much pressure, speed and too many passes with this kind approach, I soon decided using Rupes 21 + Meg's MF Finishing discs paired with FG400 for 3-4 passes at speed 3.

This option was removing almost 95% of defects while leaving a very fine, controllable haze. That haze was further removed using the Flex 3401, white hybrid pads and Menzerna SF4000 to a near flawless finish.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj01a2.png

Just after the test spot, I've polished trick areas of the roof by hand and finished it down reproducing by machine my test spot results:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj13.png

Even after thorough washing and decontamination, may stains still persisted:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj14d.png

Opened:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj14e.png

My Mistake

Whenever you will do a full engine detailing on a very dirty bay, take a BEFORE picture so you can brag about your results later. Even though customer knew the condition (I've showed her during inspection), you'll be 'forced' to believe me, it was nasty! At least, it was not like shown in the after picture bellow:

Got advantage of the moment to do an engine bay detail, which consisted basically in engine bay cleaning (degreasers, tar removers, polished metal painted by hand, brushes, waterless, blower, vacuum, and protected plastics by 303 Aerospace after all and painted parts were coated with PBL surface coating).
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj14f.png

More on paint polishing

Before:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj15.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80716)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj16.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80717)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj17.png

After:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj18.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80719)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj19.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80720)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj20.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80721)

Promoting the change

Left side, hazed and swirled:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj21a.png

Right side done, left side still hazy...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj21b.png

All done,
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj21c.png

Told ya!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj21d.png

No more haze:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj21e.png

Overall view:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj22.png

Another Angle
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/paj23.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80727)

Hood Polishing

Here you can notice the detail just above Mitsubishi logo was already polished, while the hood was left last.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj24.png

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj25.png

After, clear, and defect free:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj26.png

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Paj27.png (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/80729)

Coating and finals
Car was coated at night for overnight curing. Here are the last few shots I got while finishing the job.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj28.png

When you see tire gel back there in the pictures, it means we are near the end.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj29.png

I've used CG New car shine dressing.... Looks great!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj31.png

Driver's side, overall view:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj30.png

Interior was also full detailed and protected (no pics included), but customer will be following the thread and she knows everything was done accordingly. Careful door jamb detail, Leather care, upholstery and carpet, interior roof, steam cleaning of everything, just to list a few things that were done.


Everything in place, ready to sleep for pickup at morning:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Paj32.png



------------

In summary, I've enjoyed a lot working on this car because it presented great potential for improvement.

Even the car being white, treating it like any other color (getting rid of defects and finishing properly) gave the extra pop we all look for while detailing. Pinnacle Black Label Coatings gave the final touch, and the end results were enough to achieve customer's expectancies.

Hope you enjoy watching,

Please, feel free to add comments, questions, suggestions, critics... always, always welcome.

Thank you very much in advance,

Kind Regards.

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beautiful work on that Pajero Rafael! That white looks incredible now!

No detail was left untouched and your dedication shows your workmanship. Keep it up.

[Polished Detail]

Wow great job on that white paint, your customer should be extremely proud and thankful for your attention to detail. Keep up the good work! My only question would be what type of stains were they, and what level of maintenance is the customer looking to practice from here on in?

[Klasse Act]

When I saw TR4 I was thinking the British sports car icon, LOL! That's a pretty sweet lookin' ride, we don't get that here, looks kinda like the little Land Rover they used to make.

Great job on white, its soooo hard to make it pop but you did it!

[java]

Great work as always. The white color has a nice shine and reflections to it.

[Tato]

Beautiful work on that Pajero Rafael! That white looks incredible now!

No detail was left untouched and your dedication shows your workmanship. Keep it up.

Thank you for comments Mike, it great when you do heavy work while enjoying it!


Wow great job on that white paint, your customer should be extremely proud and thankful for your attention to detail. Keep up the good work! My only question would be what type of stains were they, and what level of maintenance is the customer looking to practice from here on in?

Customer noticed it turned out really nice from what I started with. About stains, every color is susceptible to them but white paint shows more, that's it. Environmental exposure without care and protection.

One of the greatest things I've learned about working on white paint comes from Mike Phillips, on this thread:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/22982-lesson-white-paint-teaches-us.html

I repeat this phrase - 'Lesson White Paint Teaches Us' - many times while working on white ahhaha

Thanks for comments.


When I saw TR4 I was thinking the British sports car icon, LOL! That's a pretty sweet lookin' ride, we don't get that here, looks kinda like the little Land Rover they used to make.

Great job on white, its soooo hard to make it pop but you did it!

Thank you very much, it's a pleasure hearing from you. This is an interesting model for city and also very brave off-road vehicle.



Great work as always. The white color has a nice shine and reflections to it.

Thank you, I enjoy white cars, working on white, and the clean look they can achieve when properly cared for.

Kind Regards.

[Mikertt]

Absolutely beautiful work again. White is such a hard color to work with because it is so hard to see the scratches! I've polished out three white cars so far and I do not enjoy it, haha. I coated two out of the three I have done and as you have said, even white colors can improve with a polish and coating. Two coatings on the white cars I have done are on a Honda Jazz and Honda City here in Thailand. Also let me know if any of your customers have had the waterspotting issue on the hood that I mentioned a few weeks ago.

Cheers,
Mike
:props:

[Tato]

Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your experience, you're right.

Yes... the Waterspots are an issue here, I'm becoming Ph.D. in CarPro Spotless application ahhahah

Let me know,

Kind Regards.