Paul B's Audi A6 detailed (warning, picture intensive)

[paul b]

So, I (with some help from my lad) treated the A6 to a full detail a couple of weeks ago ahead of the winter. I have not done such an in-depth detail before on the car since I bought it, so now it looks as good as it ever has!

Products and method used:

- Pressure washed (Karcher) using Autoglym Shampoo Conditioner and a Meguiars microfibre wash mitt (2 bucket method of course).
- Dried using a RaceGlaze waffle weave drying towel.
- Clayed using a 200g regular grade Bilt Hamber clay bar and water as a lube.
- I then applied Farecla G10 compound using a Halfords car rotary polisher with a lambswool head to correct any scratches, marring or swirls.
- Polished using Autoglym Super Resin Polish (wheels included).
- Sealed with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.
- Waxed with Collinite 476S using wax applicator pads.
- Exhaust tailpipes and mirrors were polished with Autosol.
- All exterior trim cleaned with Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care.
- All tyres dressed with Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing.
- Lots of microfibre cloths.

Some BEFORE pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040100.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040102.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040101.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040105.jpg

And now AFTER:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040120.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040117.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040124.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040123.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040118.jpg

Some close ups:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040121.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040122.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040119.jpg

Close up of before/after correction of a large scratch caused by some little ***** and a key:

Before:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040104.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040103.jpg

After

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040126.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v70/Axios/Audi/Paul%20Bs/P1040125.jpg
Hope you like! :beerchug:
Paul

[kite]

Great job..
Are you going to set about the inside now....

[macmillions]

Wow, that looks the absolute badger's nadgers!
Really need to clean the Octavia now after havnig seen that... :o

[paul b]

Great job..
Are you going to set about the inside now....
I was a very silly man, and didn't get pictures of the inside after I did it! And you wouldn't want pictures of the inside before I cleaned it (bloody wife). ;)

Wow, that looks the absolute badger's nadgers!
Really need to clean the Octavia now after havnig seen that... :o
Thanks, Mac. So you've got an Octavia VRS now eh, lovely! Been a while since I was last on here you see...

[macmillions]

It is fantastic.
My poor Clio was going to cost more money to repair a bunch of faults than it was worth, so bit the bullet and bought a vRS!

Got some pics of it here
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=107187

I'm going to have to use some of the techniques you used to wash it. I've never bothered sealing a polish before, only used AG Super Resin Polish, and thats it.

Also, I've never waxed a car before, and am intrigued at how to do it. Any tips?

[JimC64]

Paul...have to say how disappointed I am:(:(
The quality of the work and the finish look grrrreat and well worth the effort:beerchug: BUT......you said pic intensive:confused:
I read the title and decided on a coffee first, so, coffee made I sat down to start reading throu.............that was it FINISHED!!!!!....lol

J/k mate.....really nice work and a sense of achievement after x hours work, aching arms, stiff knees etc etc etc...

[paul b]

I'm going to have to use some of the techniques you used to wash it. I've never bothered sealing a polish before, only used AG Super Resin Polish, and thats it.

Also, I've never waxed a car before, and am intrigued at how to do it. Any tips?
Those Race Blue Octavias come up really well with a good detail, they really are beautiful cars!

As for tips, get onto eBay (or to EliteDetailer), there's a seller selling a Collinite 476S wax kit with 2 cotton applicator pads and a MF cloth for ~£15. All you do is cover the pad in the wax (it is a hard wax) and apply it to the paintwork (but don't rub in circles!). Leave 10mins or so to cure, then just rub it off, again without rubbing in circles. It really is that easy. I recommend getting a friend in (or the Mrs ;)) to help, I had to make do with my son. :p

The Extra Gloss Protection (sealing) is much runnier, just wipe it on, leave about 30mins before rubbing the excess off. Really easy to use compared to the wax.

Paul...have to say how disappointed I am:(:(
The quality of the work and the finish look grrrreat and well worth the effort:beerchug: BUT......you said pic intensive:confused:
I read the title and decided on a coffee first, so, coffee made I sat down to start reading throu.............that was it FINISHED!!!!!....lol

J/k mate.....really nice work and a sense of achievement after x hours work, aching arms, stiff knees etc etc etc...
I do apologise Mr C, I do have some more pictures of the beading which I need to upload. I've never seen beading like it, very impressive. I also have 1 more picture which I simply forgot to link in, I'll get that added onto here at a later date. :D

What can I say, Mr EliteDetailer's write-up skills are far superior to my own! :Blush:

[macmillions]

there's a seller selling a Collinite 476S wax kit with 2 cotton applicator pads and a MF cloth for ~£15.

Purchased :D

[paul b]

Purchased :D
You'll love the stuff. Does every bit as good a job as Autoglym HD Wax, but costs less than half as much. And apparently lasts longer (4-6 months)... well time will tell on that one. ;)

[paul b]

Pictures updated

Fellow member Axios recognised that the white balance setting used on my camera was totally wrong, and he very kindly adjusted the white balance to a correct level.
Thanks Axios. :beerchug:

[Axios]

Pictures updated

Fellow member Axios recognised that the white balance setting used on my camera was totally wrong, and he very kindly adjusted the white balance to a correct level.
Thanks Axios. :beerchug:
Not a problem mate.
happy to help .:)

[paul b]

if your going for colly your best bet is 915 instead of 476s and when you wax the car you should leave the wax to cure as long as possible, ideally 12 hours per coat should do but obviously you cant wait that long so atleast an hour and not 10 mins. when we do an ultimate detail we leave the wax cure for 10 hours each and we put 3 coats on with our ultimate detail. Dodo supernatural wax is one of the best out there although expensive you can get sample pots for £15 which will do your car atleast twice so try Dodo out next for a good wax.
My understanding was that 476s was more durable than 915? Although maybe not quite so glossy.

I left the first few panels longer to cure, but the wax was very difficult to buff. Is that a good sign? Or should I have left it longer before buffing?

I think the wax cured quite quickly, it wasn't a warm day but there was strong sunshine.