Detailer's Domain: Ferrari 458 - New Car Prep

This is one of my first customers' Ferrari, an extremely loyal customer and very supportive.
This was the first and most extensive clean up. I'll let the pictures do all of the tell the story.

Total time: 40 hours of work over 3 days

What was done -
Exterior

- Wheels were prepped with Sonax Wheel Cleaner and cleaned up with various brushes
- Tires were spritzed down with Adam’s All Purpose Cleaner and washed down
- Wheel wells were cleaned up
- Pre Washed with W99
- Iron Cut
- Wash down and rinsed
- Door jambs were cleaned up
- Clayed
- Dried
- Tires dressed
- Masking
- Paint Measurement
- Meguiar's M105
- Meguiar's DA300
- Menzerna SF4000
- Inspection with Fenix, 3m Sun Gun, Infratech, and natural sunlight
- Last Step – Wolf's Nano Sealant
- Wheel wells were cleaned and dressed
- Rubber and Plastics Treated
- Exterior windows and mirrors cleaned and sealed
- Exhaust tips cleaned
- Windows were clayed, cleaned, and sealed

Engine -

- Clean
- Dress

Interior -
- Vac
- Wipe down and protect dash
- Leather cleaned and conditioned
- Carbon Fiber Polished and Waxed

Links to products used -

1Z einszett W99
Adam's All Purpose Cleaner
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner
Uber Clay Bar Kit
Meguiar's M105
Meguiar's Microfiber DA Compound D300
Menzerna Super Finish
Wolf's Chemicals Nano Sealant
1Z einszett Vinyl Rubber Care
Optimum Metal Polish

Glass
Uber Glass Cleaner Kit

Engine
Adam's All Purpose Cleaner
Adam's In and Out

Interior
1Z einszett Cockpit
Sonax Leather Foam
Adam's Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Lusso Oro Carnauba Wax

Tools used
Uber Wool Wash Mitt
Uber No Name MF Towels
Porter Cable 7424XP
Uber Buffing Pads
Defelsko Paint Meter

Brinkmann
Kranzle Pressure Washer
Cam Spray Foam Canon
2 Grit Guard Buckets with Caddies
Uber Firehose Nozzle
Metro Air Force Blaster

Interior shots
Before




Vac


Masking the interior for polish and wax





After














Exterior

Engine
Before








Clean up time





After








Before Exterior












Prep, Wash, Clay, Polish

Cleaning up the tires and wheels, Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner and Citrus Degreaser


Going to work on the bugs with 1z Anti Insekt


Wash




Rinse



Metro Air Force Blaster in action


Paint after the Ferrari was prepped and ready for claying
















Claying




Masking



Polishing (before and afters, 50/50 shots)

Before





Various 50/50 shots










After shots


















Masking material


Final touches
1Z einszsett Vinyl Rubber Care







Uber Hi Tech Glass Microfiber


Exhaust tips
Before


After


After shots









































I hope you had fun looking at this one.

 

wow what a beautiful car.nice job phil!

 

Quite the car. Looks great. Nice job as always Phil.

 

Super job Phil 458 looks great!

 

You sure do some special cars, great work Phil

 

WOW Phil this 458 came out flat out amazing I really enjoyed reading this one! What clay did you use was it Ric Yellow also you said you topped Lusso Oro over Bodywrap? I thought topping these nano sealants with a carnauba will clog the pours of the coating? Also if it doesnt affect Bodywrap would you be able to let me know if I can top it with a carnauba or be able to use Prima Slick on it without affecting its properties because the finish on that 458 looks really glossy

 

I believe Jesse said after you let it cure for the day you can top it up with the carnauba wax

 

Outstanding Phil !!!!

 

Great work on an amazing car Phil! I really like your documentation photos! The car looks great!

I can't believe a brand new Ferrari looks like that from the dealer...

 

wow 40 hrs 3 days = 13.3 hrs per day

 

What a stunner Phil, the befores made my hair stand up. Great work.

 

I PMed you Phil so I dont take the thread off track

 

Phil,

WOW.....must feel good to turn a beauty around like that! I cannot believe that product goes out the door in such poor condition.

The after shots are mint. They should fire the whole prep department. They are obviously way underqualified. For crying out loud, this is a Ferrari Dealer. Do you think this is facotry or dealer inflicted damage? Just curious becasue in either case the dealer should have addressed it.

This is a great car that got what it deserves!

 

yup on 2 of the days I had 2 helpers.

 

Thanks guys!

Jeff not sure if that was from Ferrari or from the dealer.

 

Great work and write-up Phil. There's no doubt that customer will continue to be loyal.

-Kody-

 

The holograms were something else... you did a great job fixing it and adding depth to this cars paint, looks like liquid!

 

I can't believe Ferrari detailers do that much damage...Don't they ask for references or a minimum of years experience as a detailer?! damn! Nice save guys!

 

Beautiful job on a beautiful car Phil. That thing was in horrible condition.

 

Ahhh I see the boys at Maranello did a fine job on this one ! Guys, this is how they usually come from the factory... I've been asked (by Ferrari HQ)not to post the Ferraris I do anymore, because it's, well, embarrassing to say the least. I've got about 40+ F-Cars on my computer that look similar .

@ Danny - I believe the wax topping was per the customer's request, but normally I wouldn't suggest topping Body Wrap with anything. Technically you can top it with a wax, but keep in mind that if you do, you'll be losing the great beading that BW gives and also the shine. Basically the beading and shine will be from the last LSP you apply to it. The protection properties of Body Wrap will most certainly be there even if you do top it, because the only way to remove the sealant is by polishing it off . In my personal opinion (no, not biased at all ) topping Body Wrap with anything else is just a downgrade, because I don't think there's a glossier LSP out there, but some people will request it anyway!