2nd Lapiz Blue Golf 7R - Detailed by Lawrence

[lawrenceSA]

This is a pic from another Lapiz Blue 7R I did a couple of weeks ago.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Lenny%20Golf%207R/IMG_1854_zpsk8njijuc.jpg

Its very similar in age and mileage to this car but look at how fewer swirls are on this car.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2128_zpsrcxwzr5o.jpg

You can see this car is better cared for, which is always a great thing and invariably means less clear coat needs to be removed over the life of the vehicle, leaving it better protected and imo of higher value. It obviously also means it looks better between details which need to be done less often. Prevention really is better then cure....

Anyway... on to the detail

First up I removed the dealer sticker. I sprayed some ONR over the area, let it dwell for a bit, then wiped it clean with a MF towel. I then warmed up the area with a hairdryer and used a plastic razor blade to gently lift a corner of the sticker.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2094_zpstv0scvqv.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2095_zpsebvmdgbx.jpg

And peeled it off leaving behind the glue residue

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2096_zpssflrqudw.jpg

I then sprayed some Valet Pro Citrus Tar Remover onto some cotton discs and placed those against the paint - this allows a longer dwell time, making it much easier to wipe away the residue, reducing the chance of scratches.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2097_zpsnenyy2tr.jpg

And done

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2098_zps6cvwvezl.jpg

As you can see from the first pic, the paint was in pretty good condition considering its approaching 2 years - there was however a set of 2 small chips right near the edge of the one door, which I would touch up with the OEM Touch Up paint supplied by the owner.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2103_zpsj6uttpm7.jpg

So onto the actual detail...

The engine bay wasn't bad and was given a clean using various brushes and mf towels and Carchem APC at 1:5. It was blown dry, the plastics dressed with Autofinesse Dressel and the painted surfaces cleaned/polished/protected using Autofinesse Tripple on a mf applicator pad by hand.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2104_zpsjn2nvaml.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2107_zpseam57xmc.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2109_zpsygenjxul.jpg

No after pics :oops:

I then turned my attention to the wheels, tires, fender wells and brake calipers.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2111_zpsx1ocfb4y.jpg

-HP rinse arches, tires and wheels.
-Clean arches with a Carchem APC at 1:5 using a Mothers Fenderwell Brush and Speedmaster
-HP rinse
-Clean tires with Valet Pro Billbery Wheel Cleaner @ 1:6 and a Mothers Tire brush.
-HP rinse
-Repeat tire cleaning
-HP rinse
-Wash wheels and brake calipers with VP Bilberry Wheel Cleaner @ 1:6, Speedmaster and Speedmaster Jnr brushes and Valet Pro Boars Hair Brushes
-HP rinse
-Dry
-Remove tar using Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover and at the same time I removed the old wheel weight stickers
-Spray with APC and HP Rinse
-Dry
-Remove bonded and embedded ferrous contaminants on wheels and brake calipers with Carchem Revolt, Speedmaster (big and small) brushes and Valet Pro Boars Hair Brushes
-HP Rinse + flood rinse

Then the rain came and so later the process continued on the wheels....
-Dry
-Polished with Menzerna 3-in-1 on a Mothers Power Cone
-Sealed with Menzerna Powerlock
-Tires dressed with 2 coats of Optimum Tire Sheen

I actually quite enjoy washing in the rain, and the inevitable cup of hot coffee that follows once the car is back in the garage :grin:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2113_zpsrxnuhnf0.jpg

Despite the rain having started to fall I still gave the car a decent hp rinse, foamed it using Valet Pro ANSF and let the rain carry the foam and dirt away. Then I foamed half the car, like this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2115_zpsnwmwtvav.jpg

And washed it, top down, with a couple of lambswool wash mitts and Carchem Luxury Shampoo, then repeated on the other side...

I then bought the car into the garage and drank that cup of coffee :lol:

It was then clayed using Shield Heavy Duty Clay.

The bonnet had a nasty bird dropping etching, and you can also see a few scratches...

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2116_zpsdz62zyos.jpg[/url]

Fortunately it came out relatively easily - Menzerna FG400 / Orange Lake Country Hybrid / Flex 3401

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2117_zpsymzeewc2.jpg

The rest of the paint looked pretty much like this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2128_zpsrcxwzr5o.jpg

And was corrected using Menzerna PF2300 / White Lake Country Hybrid / Flex 3401 followed by Menzerna SF4000 / Black Lake Country Hybrid

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2129_zpshktwuvse.jpg

The B-pillars, which always take a hammering, were corrected using Menzerna PF2300 / White Lake Country Hybrid / Flex 3401, with the intention of only improving them, not perfecting them - no use in over-doing them now and suffering later.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2130_zpsogj5awpp.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2135_zps5jw0yltk.jpg

I then used 2 coats of Chemical Guys Pete's 53 for the LSP.

I was asked by the owner to polish this.... here is a 50/50 after the initial first cut using Menzerna Polishing Cream / 4" Orange Lake Country CCS Pad / Shield DA

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2124_zpsnp9qbrip.jpg

Once that initial cut had been completed, it was followed by Mothers Power Metal / 4" White Lake Country CCS Pad / Shield DA. The exhaust tips themselves were then polished using the same process, just by hand instead of by machine.

Then it was time to tackle the rest of the detail. This included:

Interior
-Blow out loose dirt with blower
-Vacuum
-Leather cleaned and protected with Collinite 855
-Plastics and dash cleaned with Carchem APC then given a final wipe using Autofinesse Spritz
-Vacuum

Glass
- Clayed using Shield Heavy Duty clay with ONR as lube
- Cleaned using Autoglym Fast Glass

Door rubbers, window rubbers, exterior plastic trim
- Cleaned using Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner
- Protected using Aerospace 303

The miserable weather continued and so the owner opted to collect the car on a dry day, which happened to be Thursday evening. Just prior to collection the car was given a rinseless wash to remove any dust that had collected. This was done using chinchilla mf towels with ONRWW

Here are a few shots in the dying light with my cell

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/20151210_174517_zps8pyb6dgu.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/20151210_174543_zpslqtpb9x4.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/20151210_174604_zpsntfdzsv4.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/20151210_174628_zpsg51qoby7.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/20151210_174722_zpscagtqgu0.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/20151210_174734_zpsl0mmihnk.jpg

And then with the DSLR

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2137_zpsqdvubjg7.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2139_zpsgyzblz0b.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2140_zpsptnonbf2.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2145_zpsp5ga29yx.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Golf%207R/IMG_2141_zpsytustkwl.jpg

Total time spent = 30 hours

As always, thanks for taking the time to read this, and any questions or comments are welcome

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beautiful work my friend. I always enjoy seeing your work. :props:

Thanks for sharing.

[Paul A.]

Excellent write up Lawrence. Thanks for taking the time and sharing it with us! I love the debadge effort and a brilliant application of those round cosmetic cotton swabs.

[Sicoupe]

Awesome job my friend!

[Pats300zx]

Amazing work indeed !!!!

[sharpcanoe]

Beautiful job. love the posts you put up... also took me awhile to figure out the picture of the side of the car and mirror.. the reflection was amazing and done perfect so it threw me off trying to figure out where the car was in the picture at first. Not sure if I am out of line asking but I am curious to what one would normally pay for 30 hours of work and have their car turn out as beautiful as that.. If I am out of line then I apologize in advance.... again, beautiful work

[RFrommann]

30 hours includes the hour to take pictures and hour to write post? Lol


Great work and awesome write up! The details of the writeup speak for the process of the car.

[haris300]

Fantastic turn around. Work and photos are top notch. Thanks for sharing.

[lawrenceSA]

Beautiful work my friend. I always enjoy seeing your work. :props:

Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Mike


Excellent write up Lawrence. Thanks for taking the time and sharing it with us! I love the debadge effort and a brilliant application of those round cosmetic cotton swabs.
Thanks Puckman
Glad you like the cotton swab idea:dblthumb2:


Awesome job my friend!
Thanks Kyle


Amazing work indeed !!!!
Thank you


Beautiful job. love the posts you put up... also took me awhile to figure out the picture of the side of the car and mirror.. the reflection was amazing and done perfect so it threw me off trying to figure out where the car was in the picture at first. Not sure if I am out of line asking but I am curious to what one would normally pay for 30 hours of work and have their car turn out as beautiful as that.. If I am out of line then I apologize in advance.... again, beautiful work
Well I am over here in South Africa and our market is VERY different from you guys in the states and even the guys in the UK so I direct comparison would be somewhat pointless. Also bear in mind this is not a full time business for me, but rather a weekend hobby that pays for itself. I typically quote per job not per hour and take my time getting things done and am not really in it for the money, just the love of it, so my pricing isn't really reflective of what it should/could be.


30 hours includes the hour to take pictures and hour to write post? Lol


Great work and awesome write up! The details of the writeup speak for the process of the car.
Thanks very much.


Fantastic turn around. Work and photos are top notch. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment:xyxthumbs:

[D Hull]

Wonderful, simply wonderful. Question, I have a MK 7 GTI in Pure White with noticeable orange peel. Your Golf R7 appears to free of it. Was it removed and if so by what method. I'm waiting till spring to remove mine by means of CarPro Velvet pads.

[Aaryn NZ]

Stunning Lawrence! :xyxthumbs:

Although this one wasn't as trashed as the last Lapiz blue one, no less love, care & attention was shown in the quality of workmanship. I know who I would choose to detail my cars thats for sure! :props:

Awesome post as usual Lawrence - an enjoyable read with top eye candy! Hats off my friend!

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:

[lawrenceSA]

Wonderful, simply wonderful. Question, I have a MK 7 GTI in Pure White with noticeable orange peel. Your Golf R7 appears to free of it. Was it removed and if so by what method. I'm waiting till spring to remove mine by means of CarPro Velvet pads.
Thanks - this was a customer's car, not mine, and no, there had been no orange peel removal - he must have just got lucky and received one with fairly little texture.... almost all of the VW's I deal with suffer from orange peel.


Stunning Lawrence! :xyxthumbs:

Although this one wasn't as trashed as the last Lapiz blue one, no less love, care & attention was shown in the quality of workmanship. I know who I would choose to detail my cars thats for sure! :props:

Awesome post as usual Lawrence - an enjoyable read with top eye candy! Hats off my friend!

Aaryn NZ. :dblthumb2:
Thanks so much Aaryn :dblthumb2: