I have a buddy who has been saying now for two years he wanted me to detail his Honda Accord for him. He's noticed the increase in scratches and after me explaining what swirls are, noticed those as well. There were parts of the car were you could see a good towel inflicted swirl. Some parts were really bad. He also had bird etching. After setting up two appointments, we finally figured out the best day and time to get her all cleaned up and to the best possible condition. Upon the drop off, we inspected the car to see how bad it truly was. Some before notes: * Owner is a really neat guy so never had to do interior but didn't really take care of exterior and is going to begin now!!! * Car has never been waxed since he got it from the dealer in 2003 * Car was apparently what he said 'black' * Car had bird etching in it * The last wash was about 3-4 months ago and at one of those drive throughs (not touchless) * Does not hand wash the car * Wheels and Tires have never been fully cleaned/detailed/dressed. Only switched to ceramic brake pads to reduce brake dust but after years of not cleaning them, he was left with what you'll see below * Parked outside for a good part of 2-3 years through Canadian winter * My longest and biggest write up as of yet. Lots of pics!!! * Had a buddy come by to show him how to use the PC Products Used: Hyper Wash Car Wash soap with two bucket and Chenille Mit 2 Water Magnet Blue Clay with Last Touch 1:1 M80 M83 M66 M07 M16 M21 2 x W - 8006 for M80 1 x W - 8006 for M83 1 x W - 8006 for M66 Foam Applicator for M07 Foam Applicator for M21 Foam Applicator for Black Wow Supreme Shine Microfibre Meguiars/ADS Glass Microfibre Hyper Dressing 4:1 and 10:1 Wheel Brightener 4:1 APC 4:1 Safe D-Greaser 10:1 Rain-X Black Wow Process: Wash with Hyper Wash Soap Clay M80 with W - 8006 M83 with W - 8006 M80 with W - 8006 M66 with W - 8006 M07 with foam applicator M21 with foam applicator Black exterior plastic dressed with Black Wow Tires dressed with Endurance High Gloss x 2 Wheel Wells dressed with Hyper Dressing 4:1 x 2 Interior cleaned with #40 and then dressed with Natural Shine Engine Cleaned with APC 10:1 and 4:1 and then dressed with Hyper Dressing 4:1 x 3 Engine Dressed with Black Wow (parts near the front) All windows cleaned with Auto Gunk Window Cleaner with Meguiars/ADS Glass Towel and Supreme Shine Microfibre and topped with Rain-X Start Time: 8:00 am End Time: 7:30 pm The end results were AMAZING!!! It turned out that his car was not actually black but instead a Nighthawk colour that has blue metallic flakes. When I called to check with him, he didn't remember this, but after sometime remember hearing the name Nighthawk and then remember what it actually looked like when he picked it up. So you see, it was covered in dirt and everything, to the point where its true colour wasn't showing. It truly amazing to see this colour actually come through and I was amazed at it because I didn't even know it was the true colour myself. I was going on what he told me as it was black. And now, here's your writeup and pics for you. Step 1: Evaluate the paint and surface. As you can see, that's bird poop on the side door. When I asked my buddy how long it'd been there, he said a good few weeks or maybe a solid month. Wasn't exactly sure. Either way it left an etching. Barely any reflection in the paint, its dull and not shiny. Swirls, Swirls, Swirls and bird poop!!! Shot of the hood in direct sunlight and look at those SWIRLS!!! Back trunk lid covered in swirls!!! Look how dirty it is!!! Paint transfer, scuffs, scratches and swirls, ALL IN ONE!!! Oh did I mention more bird poop!!! Dead on shot. Covered in bugs, bugs, bugs, but nothing my Gold Class Bug And Tar Remover can't handle!!! BUGS BUGS BUGS!!! Rear driver side pillar. Badly swirled!!! Look at what you can see!!! Or better yet, what do you NOT see here!!! There is everything. More bird poop/etching!!! Tires and wheels!!! WOW!!! Worst I've seen or I should say worst I've had to clean!!! He told me he got ceramic brakes to help with the brake dust and although they reduce the amount of brake dust, if they're not cleaned on a regular basis, that little brake dust builds up to become a lot and then continues to build up and this is what happens!!! A dirty engine that had never been touched since he got it from the dealer!!! Not once was it cleaned or wiped!!! Step 2: Wash and clay the car!!! Here is a shot post wash and post clay!!! Looking pretty good. To bad it took me over 3 hours to wash engine, wash tires, wheels and wheel wells and car!!! Water from the tires and wheels!!! Much worse in person!!! Step 3: Prep and Test SPOT!!! Once it was totally cleaned I pulled the Honda into the garage and began prepping it. I taped it up fully and set up my test spot. I was hoping that M80 would do the trick. But unforunately that was not the case here. The car had been neglected for far to long, taken through to many car washes for it to be M80 alone. So with the test spot set up I went at with M80 with the W - 8006 pad to first see what I could achieve. Upon inspection I didn't quite like the results. And so the next step was to go more aggressive and out came my M83 and the W - 8006 pad again. A pass of M83 with the W - 8006 followed by a pass of M80 with W - 8006 was exactly what I was looking for. The M83 removed the major swirls that were inflicted on this once lovely car, while the M80 helped in removing the hairlines and other light swirls which was evident not only by my eye but by Aaron's as well. Below is the completed test. M83 to M80!!! Yes, unfortunately some scratches still remain, but that is exactly what they are: scratches and deep ones I might add. Those side by side comparisons that we all love so much!!! For your viewing pleasure!!! Step 4: Paint Clean So once I established what I would be using in M83 followed by M80, I proceeded to complete the entire car. These two steps alone took a solid 3.5 - 4 hours. This car was heavily swirled. Here is a shot of the hood under the halogens following the M80!!! That little white thing on the bottom right is a rock chip right down to the metal!!! Unfortunately for my buddy I can't fix those. Aaron hard at work. Following M83 and M80, I took M66 to the whole car which is what Aaron below is applying to it right now. Reason. For those fine, micro scratches. Although this paint was really hard, the hardest one I've worked on to date, in some spots it didn't feel as hard and was more susceptible to tiny little scratches and so in removing M80 by hand, I needed M66 to take care of that problem. As is it did, it was also pointed out by Aaron that M66 helped remove some other finer scratches, which was awesome!!! M66 waiting to dry!!! Excellent job done by Aaron here in applying it!!! Awesome overlap and small sections!!! Once I finished with M83, M80 and M66, I gave the whole car a coat of M07 by hand with an applicator pad, to help bring back that glossy finish and add to its shine. Now this is where the true colour started to show. Upon drop off, and of all the years I've known my buddy, I've known and seen the car to be black. Mind you, I wasn't looking at cars like I am now, but still, it should have been noticeable that the car is actually not Black, but instead Nighthawk, which is black with blue metallic flakes in it. The M07 helped restore that colour and beautiful shine!!! I was so impressed up to this point!!! Can you see the blue here!!! I tried my best to capture it!!! I attempted to capture the blue metallic flakes in this pic!!! M21 waiting to dry!!! After a coat of M07 I applied a coat of M21 with an applicator pad for my final LSP!!! And boy, what a difference. The shine! The colour! The wet look! The gloss! BEAUTIFUL!!! Here's a shot off the hood into my product wall!!! Step 5: Enjoy the results!!! Although all the scratches could not come out without a rotary, I'd say that the transformation was close to 95% give or take. It was a HUGE DIFFERENCE as you may be able to tell from when I got the car to when it left. Only some minor scratches there were fairly deep that the PC could not do, that I could not remove that are left. But the swirls are all gone. I was very pleased with the outcome and the work put into it and it shows with the final results. Seeing how it was Canada Day the next day here is a salute to the Great White North I call home. Happy Canada Day!!! Rear driver side door shot!!! Remember the dead on shot earlier!!! Same shot, pretty much same angle!!! Look at the difference!!! Hood shot in direct sunlight outdoors!!! Oh how bad was that trunk lid!!! Well here's that shot again just post Buff N Stuff Detailing!!! All that is left on this lid is some fine scratches that need to be done with a rotary!!! But the transformation I'd leave that open to you all!!! Side reflection shot and removal of bird etching!!! More trunk lid!!! So the wheels!!! I tried Multi Piece but although that product could have probably done the job with a lot more passion, I pulled out my Wheel Brightener (WB) which was diluted 4:1 and went at it. The tires were cleaned with NXT Tire Cleaner. I first hosed done the wheels/tires really good for a good solid minute or so including the wheel wells. Once I had this done, I sprayed WB on them and watched the brake dust disappear before my eyes. A little help from a wheel face brush and I was good to go. Afterwards, I clayed them with Meguiars Blue Clay and some Last Touch 1:1 to help get out those stubborn brake dust stains. Worked AWESOME!!! Very impressed!!! And come to think of, my buddy didn't think they'd turn out like they did!!! How about these bad boys now H? Topped with a coat of M26!!! Two coats of Endurance High Gloss Gel, while the wheel wells got a spray of Hyper Dressing 4:1 and these tires and wheels look brand new!!! The entire exterior trim and one part of the engine was coated with Black Wow!!! You do know its available in Canada right!!! Ah the engine. She purrs once again!!! It was cleaned with some soap and water, APC 4:1 and 10:1 and then sprayed with Hyper Dressing 4:1 x 2. The part of the engine cleaned with Black Wow is the front part that is the same as the black plastic exterior trim!!! Worked awesome!!! Sorry about that glare. It was just to clean I guess !!! Being it was silver, I guess the sun caught it as I was snapping away!!! Although he doesn't look like it, he was extremely happy with the final result!!! Customer happy = Me happy = BUFF N STUFF DETAILING VERY HAPPY!!! Another hood shot that I couldn't resist!!! The send off in one very clean, shiny and beautiful 2003 NIGHTHAWK Honda Accord!!! The End, Thanks for looking, Buff N Stuff Detailing Calogero
That's great work, thanks for bringing it back to life! Hope you taught the owner how to take care of it properly going forward, hah!
Yes he's learned a little bit and tries to keep up with his wheels and tires. We'll see in about a month though how the condition of the paint really is. Thanks guys for the comments.
very impressive work, and with what looks to be a PC none the less! Great vehicle to enter into the contest, good luck.
Thanks. It took a while but it was worth it. Thank you very much. Very much appreciated! THANK YOU!!!
holy cow, that one amazing turn around and great writeup. i have a 2000 honda accord with the same color. i love the blue flakes. when viewed in different angles it can be blue, dark purple, and black.
