Mirror Reflections Auto Spa LLC does a Multi Step Paint Correction on a completely neglected Prius

[Rod73]

I have done a exterior detail on this vehicle before, which was much more basic. My second time with this car will involve a more extensive process. I was informed by the car's owner it had not been washed in over a year. It without protection has seen many highway miles across multiple states. So I had my work cut out for me.


About 15 hours

Materials Used



Rupes Duetto
Porter Cable with 3 and 5 inch backing plates






Cleaners
Chemical Guys Citrus Red Soap (foam: paint & undercarriage)
Optimum Car Wash
Blackfire Rinseless
Meguiars D114
Pinnacle All Purpose Cleaner
Blackfire Total Eclipse Tire and Wheel Cleaner








Post Wash Cleaning
Iron X (lemon scent)
Iron X Paste
Tar X
Rubbing Alcohol
Wolgang Elastic Poly Clay Bar

For Headlights
Sandpaper 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 grit
Menzerna FG 400
Menzerna SF 3800 (formally 4000)




Paint Correction
Mckees Fast Polish
Mckees Compound
Menzerna SF 3800 (formally 4000)
Menzerna FG 400



Dressing
(undercarriage) Bare Bones
(tires) Detailer's Pro Series Tire Gel


Protection
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Sealant
(headlights and windows) Blackfire Crystal Seal


































My 1st priority with a car in this condition is to wash and decontaminate the vehicle in a safe manor, even knowing major paint correction would be performed. My process for the paint was to rinse, spritz the bad areas with APC, then foam the car before washing.






You actually have a piece of a branch bonded to the top of the car by sap. The branch piece I discovered actually baked into the paint.
After various methods of removal without causing additional damage failed, I ended up using rubbing alcohol and a Q-Tip. I gently massaged its grip from the car working it for about a couple minutes.







There were other tree sap bonded areas, but that one in particular was quite special.






When it came to polishing the car, the top received most of the work, completely hacked with RIDS. That required usually 2 compounding sessions, before I came over it with a finishing polish. I usually used a combination of FG400 and Mckees Compound. My reasoning being the FG400 being a little more aggressive of a compound, and I can see from progress something a little lighter would get the job done.





































Fortunately there was a lot of 'Clear' to work with.

























The car was sealed with Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Sealant.

















Mirror Reflections Auto Spa LLC
Mirror Reflections Auto Spa provides a vehicle detailing service for the discerning customer who demands the highest level of quality.
https://www.facebook.com/mirrorreflectionsautospa/

[Rod73]

This is a link to video clip I posted to my fan page of a before and after paint correction shot of the Prius.


https://www.facebook.com/mirrorrefle...6930045443106/








There is also a clip of the car beading water in the rain a few weeks later.

https://www.facebook.com/mirrorrefle...7649048704539/