Another Candy White Golf 5Gti - Detailed by Lawrence

[lawrenceSA]

The owner of this car purchased it from someone who clearly saw it as an appliance to get them from A to B and never really gave it any love. He has been replacing parts as needed and generally fixing it up and making it presentable again and so it was booked in for a full detail.

The only time prior to the car arriving on Friday night I had seen this car was a few months ago for (during my lunch break at the corner garage, with no proper lighting, PTG etc etc) whereafter it was booked in for a full detail, and my initial impressions back then was that is was rather 'tatty' and would need some love, but I underestimated just how much love it would actually need - this detail was definitely up there with some of the longest (in terms of man-hours invested) I have done, but seeing the owner's reaction when he fetched it last night made it all worth it.

So let's get into it....

As usual we start with the dirtiest part of the car....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3446_zpsd5e2c6f6.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3435_zps1f02b627.jpg

Process and products:
-Remove lug nut covers
-HP rinse arches, tires and wheels.
-Clean arches with APC and Mothers Fenderwell Brush
-HP rinse
-Clean tires with Meguiars All Wheel and Tire Cleaner and a Mothers Tire brush
-HP rinse
-Repeat tire cleaning
-HP rinse
-Wash wheels and brake calipers with VP Bilberry Wheel Cleaner @ 1:6, Daytona and Daytona Jnr brushes and Valet Pro Boars Hair Brushes
-HP rinse
-Dry
-Remove tar using Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover
-Spray with APC and HP Rinse
-Dry
-Remove bonded and embedded ferrous contaminants on wheels and brake calipers with Valet Pro Dragon's Breath Daytona and Daytona Jnr brushes and Valet Pro Boars Hair Brushes
-HP Rinse + flood rinse
-Then when foaming the car, I hit the wheels too, and rinsed and dried them along with the car
-Later the tires would be coated with Gyeon Tire and the wheels sealed with Menzerna Powerlock and the arches dressed using Shield Sheen

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3832_zpsb2d588a3.jpg

Now to move onto the next dirtiest part of the car.... the engine bay, which I don't think had ever been cleaned in the 250k+ km's

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3479_zps2400e1fd.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3484_zps84a7ae12.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3486_zps8aeea5a7.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3492_zps11391a5a.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3500_zpse327799f.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3503_zpse57158ea.jpg

Process and products:
-HP rinse loose dirt off
-Clean with APC and various brushes
-Polish painted surfaces using Teroson Heavy Cut XP by hand
-Clean/Polish/Protect (AIO) using AF Tripple
-Plastics dressed with Shield Sheen

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3803_zps0006d27b.jpg

Then it was on to the door shuts, boot shut and inside the fuel flap

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3428_zpsf1943fbc.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3431_zps913ce013.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3459_zps775b1f5d.jpg

Process and products:
-HP rinse
-Cleaned using APC and various brushes
-HP rinsed
-Clayed
-Polished painted surfaces using Teroson Heavy Cut XP by hand
-Clean/Polish/Protect (AIO) using AF Tripple

The horrendous staining, particularly in the boot shut, was an absolute bear to remove, and I simply could not invest any additional time trying to perfect it.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3751_zps5ba5ee02.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3767_zps2ddff5f9.jpg

Then it was on to the exhaust tips

Process and products:
-Cleaned using APC and various brushes
-Polished and protected using Meguiars NXT All Metal Polish

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3448_zps6aa2f3e3.jpg

50/50

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3641_zps49a7546c.jpg

Now with most of the major dirt out the way, it was time to wash the car. First, let's see what the paint looks like...

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3560_zps16ae8dce.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3574_zps1b970e58.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3585_zps3d987911.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3600_zps25a8627a.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3606_zps3c4ca187.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3614_zps61dcc7fb.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3626_zps48816670.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3651_zps554c6591.jpg

The tail lights didn't escape the damage either

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3622_zps28d87175.jpg

Process and products:
-HP rinse
-Applied Valet Pro Citrus Pre-wash via a spray bottle, left to dwell
-HP rinse
-Applied Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II via a MTM Hydro, left to dwell
-HP rinse
-2BM wash using lambswool wash mitts and Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II
-HP rinse
-Flood Rinse
-Dried using ONR and WW drying towels

At this point I could already see some of the white starting to come back into the paint. The next 3 steps to decontaminate the paint however would make a significant difference. Decontamination obviously matters on any car, but for me, white cars benefit the most visually from this step and so it it is really important to not rush through the claying step, which was done after the tar and iron were chemically removed.

Process and products:
-Tar removed using Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3511_zps9c14fbd0.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3518_zpsafb38e47.jpg

-Iron removed using Valet Pro Dragon's Breath

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3530_zps60ca7476.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3538_zps638d3afa.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3547_zps366d8e93.jpg

Here is what the same section looked like after I was done with it

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3797_zps7bf87078.jpg

So the first step was to measure the various panels.

The average readings across the whole car were in this region

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3725_zpse9619e3a.jpg

Except for the drivers side rear door

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3726_zpsceb88263.jpg

And the boot

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3728_zps7e85562d.jpg

Then it was time to conduct a few test spots and dial in a combo that would deliver the results I was looking for. The below are after the initial cut using the Flex 3401, Menzerna FG400 and a 5.5" LC Cyan Hydrotech pad.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141018_143946_zpsaa108070.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3655_zps6807be93.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3663_zpsee3d3b35.jpg

Before

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141018_143854_zps62aa49f3.jpg

After
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141018_143905_zps76437eb1.jpg

Not the best pic, but hopefully you can see how much whiter the polished half is

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141018_144058_zps55de7e9e.jpg

This would then be refined using Menzerna SF4000 on a 5.5" LC Cyan Hydrotech pad, and protected using Menzerna Powerlock.

Then inside the door handles was polished out by hand with FG400 and a MF pad.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3765_zpsbf3abfd5.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3766_zps82d8c858.jpg

Then the interior needed to be sorted out.

This was all obviously vacuumed, then the carpets brushed and re-vacuumed.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3783_zpsfa4f3a0c.jpg

Headrests were removed and cleaned using APC, also making it easier to get to the harder to reach areas.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3731_zps668b6bb0.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3734_zpsd44e20a0.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3733_zps153d45b8.jpg

The seats were then cleaned using the same process

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3739_zps6978b4f8.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3742_zpsaca4f6b4.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141019_113059_zpsc0f4858d.jpg

All interior plastics were cleaned with APC then dressed/protected with Autofinesse Spritz. The pedals were then cleaned with APC.

The interior glass was then cleaned using Autoglym Fast Glass. All the exterior glass was first clayed, then polished using Autoglym Glass Polish on a 6" LC White Pad with the Flex 3401. Fast Glass was then used to clean off any remaining polish residue and the windows coated with C-Thru.

Then the door rubbers, window rubbers, exterior plastic trim including the front grille and mirror housings were cleaned with Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner and then Protected using Aerospace 303.

[lawrenceSA]

These were taken toward the end of the detail with the car still in the garage

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3704_zps57dfd32e.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141018_164632_zps5c3b2187.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3689_zpse5a45c21.jpg

It was rather hard to get decent pics afterwards with the car outside - the combo of black wheels, bright white paint and crap lighting made it hard for me to expose properly.... anyway....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141020_130732_zps1b5046ee.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141020_130805_zpsa5f2959b.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141020_130828_zps25b74993.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141020_130838_zps52082093.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/20141020_130859_zpsd853a51d.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3793_zps99fb10f0.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Sam%20Golf%205%20Gti%2019%20Oct%202014/IMG_3816_zps9fdcc345.jpg

Total time spent 40 hours.

As always thanks for looking, and any questions or comments are welcome.

:hi:

[HUMP DIESEL]

You do some incredible turn arounds, and man, were those seats nasty!! Great work!
I always loved the wheels on these.


HUMP

[Zubair]

Very impressive turn around! Wow that Power Lock really does look like an extra coat of clear has been added :dblthumb2:

[noslef]

Great work! You do a lot of VW's. Is it the most popular make there?

[Sicoupe]

Another outstanding job buddy!!:)

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Phenominal work Lawrence! The amount of in depth attention to details clearly show. What an amazing transformation.

Keep up the good work sir. Thanks for sharing.

[Zubair]

Great work! You do a lot of VW's. Is it the most popular make there?

Vw/Audi, Merc, Bmw are the most popular here, however an increasing trend of cheaper Hyundai/Kia's are seen on our roads but not too much care goes into those, they just seen as transport as opposed to "passion" cars.

[jamesboyy]

Superior work, that Candy white looks like a soft sugar white with all your hardwork

[RobRabbit2.5]

Another excellent job on a dub.

I would like to know what that individual was putting in their cooling system.

It looks like peanut butter but i can't be sure. I do know it looks wrong.

Should have G12++ coolant that is soft pink and not um clay mud red and should be clear and not stain the coolant resevoir bottle.

If you know this person you may want to have them take it to get it looked at before they have a $1k-2k cooling system replacement.

[281]

Awesome job as usual Lawrence, love those 50/50 shots!

[SameGuy]

Great recovery, Lawrence! I'm not sure I could muster up the patience!

[Aaryn NZ]

Stunning!!! :dblthumb2:

Absolutely awesome work there mate! I get excited when I see a new post by you Lawrence, you just know its going to be written well, the photos are going to be great & the workmanship done to an exceptional standard.

That poor GTi! Thank goodness for you i say! Love the black rims, haven't seen that before - are they factory or repainted like that? All the GTi Golfs down here just have the standard alloy face.

Totally understand what you said about being worth it with the clients reaction - when you're x amount of hours into a job like this, your back is hurting, your knees feel twenty years older than your age, the last wipe as you inspect your work & the client turns up with that "OMG" look on there face . . . thats the money shot right there i reckon. Even though you are going to get payed for doing the job - that reaction is IT for me . . . :props:

Thank you for another great post mate! :dblthumb2:

Aaryn NZ.

[lawrenceSA]

You do some incredible turn arounds, and man, were those seats nasty!! Great work!
I always loved the wheels on these.


HUMP

Thanks a lot Hump!!!


Very impressive turn around! Wow that Power Lock really does look like an extra coat of clear has been added :dblthumb2:
Thanks Zubair


Great work! You do a lot of VW's. Is it the most popular make there?
As Zubair mentioned there are a lot of German vehicles over here, however a big part of the reason I get to detail so many VW's / Audi's is my involvement in our local VW club, which I am very active in - spent a few years as the chairman of the club and so have a lot of work coming from the members.


Another outstanding job buddy!!:)
Thanks my friend.


Phenominal work Lawrence! The amount of in depth attention to details clearly show. What an amazing transformation.

Keep up the good work sir. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mike


Superior work, that Candy white looks like a soft sugar white with all your hardwork
Thank you very much


Another excellent job on a dub.

I would like to know what that individual was putting in their cooling system.

It looks like peanut butter but i can't be sure. I do know it looks wrong.

Should have G12++ coolant that is soft pink and not um clay mud red and should be clear and not stain the coolant resevoir bottle.

If you know this person you may want to have them take it to get it looked at before they have a $1k-2k cooling system replacement.
Thanks - will pass the info on to the owner:xyxthumbs:


Awesome job as usual Lawrence, love those 50/50 shots!
Thank you


Great recovery, Lawrence! I'm not sure I could muster up the patience!
Thanks - sometimes on a longer detail like this it can be hard, however the easiest way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, so I just break it up into smaller little tasks that get tackled one at a time - make it seem a lot less daunting.


Stunning!!! :dblthumb2:

Absolutely awesome work there mate! I get excited when I see a new post by you Lawrence, you just know its going to be written well, the photos are going to be great & the workmanship done to an exceptional standard.

That poor GTi! Thank goodness for you i say! Love the black rims, haven't seen that before - are they factory or repainted like that? All the GTi Golfs down here just have the standard alloy face.

Totally understand what you said about being worth it with the clients reaction - when you're x amount of hours into a job like this, your back is hurting, your knees feel twenty years older than your age, the last wipe as you inspect your work & the client turns up with that "OMG" look on there face . . . thats the money shot right there i reckon. Even though you are going to get payed for doing the job - that reaction is IT for me . . . :props:

Thank you for another great post mate! :dblthumb2:

Aaryn NZ.

Thanks Aaryn - truly appreciate the kind words