Ford fiesta zetec S paint correction detail.
This is a prime example of ensuring you get exactly what you require. I was contacted a short while back with regards to a Ford fiesta zetec S. Client found the car to be of stable condition yet the finish somewhat impared due to the typical swirl markings we all strive to irradicate from our lives. Client was told he could get the car corrected for around the £100 marker in a single day which we all know when it comes to getting the best, time should not be of an issue. As the car is a daily driver and is stored outside it seemed to be a touch wasteful going the whole 9 yards with full paint correction. I ensured that the client was fully aware the finish would not be 100% flawless but more so 80%. For the perfectionist, nothing but perfect will do as we all know, however, cost was discussed and time due to the client being without the car. A 2 day mild paint correction detail was agreed.
The car in question being a 2007 zetec S model...
Doesnt look to bad but is pretty self explanatory when the vehicle had been in for some work and the dealership valeter had given the car a once over.
Vehicle was prepared as follow's:
- Rinse wheels thoroughly.
- Apply non acid cleaner to inside & outside of wheels. ( Autosmart smart wheels )
- Agitate with various soft bristle brushes.
- Rinse wheels thoroughly.
- Apply citrus based degreaser to wheel arches.
- Agitate with various soft bristle brushes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Apply citrus based degreaser to all lower sections of the vehicle to remove road grime | traffic film and bug debris.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Apply citrus based degreaser to all doorshute | boot shut.
- Agitate with various brushes.
- Rinse clean.
- Rinse whole vehicle.
- Wash from top to bottom using 2 buckets | grit guards, Lambswool wash mitt and M&K spa pH neutral shampoo.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Apply dedicated tar remover, leave to dwell them wipe clean with soft microfiber towels.
- Rinse thoroughly. ( Choice today was Carchem tar remover )
- Decontaminate vehicle including wheels with Iron x to remove iron | metal contamination.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Remove bonded contaminants with claybar ( Bilthambre soft ) readying paintwork prior to paint correction.
- Final rinse.
- Dry using dense pile quality drying towels. ( Uber towels ( I4DETAILING )
With the prep work complete. Car was taken into teh unit for closer check up and assessment.
Bonnet was reading between 130 - 180um.
Passenger wing seemed quite tidy considering the state of the bonnet...
Not surprising as it had seen some recent paintwork and average readings were around the 190um area.
Passenger door telling a different story whilst riddled in swirl markings and RDS...
Rear quarter...
Arch...
Pillar...
So were getting a pattern emerging. Inconsistent readings meant taking some correct lengthy time to enure no major blatant disregard for the clearcoat whilst still gaining a successful level of correction.
Car standing in stance all taped up and ready for surgery.
Due to the extremity of the damage to the bonnet I felt the need for a closed cell structure pad to gain a little extra heat whilst polishing to ensure best level of cut from teh medium grade polish. Combination chosen and worked extremely well was Scholl concepts orange sandwhich pad and S17+. After a couplle of set's the finish was far more vibrant and far less tarnished...
At this point I did my usual trick and marked out all the RDS areas to which were needing some localised attention...
Opting for Lake country purple foamed wool pad and S17+ in keeping with the lesser aggressive and slower ethic to not jeopardise clear coat once again...
Stubborn RDS rounded to take the eye away from the offending scratch. Sometimes, these things have to be left behind in the quest of doing what is right for the vehicle and its precious paintwork.
Choosing 3M yellow for its open cell structure to keep temperatures down and gain lesser aggressive cut from S17+ followed by
3M blue with ultrafina SE to sharpen, jewel and add crispness the finish we are left with...
Check over for any left over polishing oils...
Stepping round the the lesser tarnished passenger wing. 2 sets with 3M yellow and S17+ as a medium polish erring towards lesser aggressive would do the trick. Refined with 3M blue and ultrafina SE leaving a near on faultless panel...
Pillar was next to be tackled and took a single hit from a generic closed cell polishing pad, S17+ and refined once again with UF se and 3M blue...
Tackling the roof with a slightly mixed combination of wool, S17+ and a small dose of 3M fast cut plus for first initial cut with extra bite...
Polished and refined in the same way as other panels thus far to leave this...
Tricky little area where the spoiler meets the tailgate was dealt with by hand to ensure no potential strike through on teh edges which on these areas are quite easily done...
3-4 attempts were required to gain a passable level of defect removal...
Rear end tidied up leaving still the odd little RDS but in general, well improved...
Round to the drivers side where things got even more fun and interesting. Greeted with plenty of overspray and after repair holograms...
Still measuring as we go...
After correction process...
By now I think all will have an idea of what extent was being done to get the car looking all uniform. Vehicle was taken out for a rinse down, dried and continuing with all the finishing aspects. Paintwork cleansed with an all in one cleanser with sealant...
Leaving the paintwork creaking clean and ready for LSP...
Even the lights needed attention. The lights were in a sorry state including some lovable overspray yet again courtesy of the paintshop. These were corrected with a generic waffle polishing pad and S17+ with a drop of ultrafina SE to lubricate and keep temperature slightly lower.
Rear Before...
After...
Before...
After...
Headlights before...
After...
Before...
After...
Seals fed...
Relevant trim dressed with dyonisus trim glitz ( still a favourite due to durability )...
Wheels sealed with Zymol coat ( No affiliation with brand just choose to use the product )...
Tyres dressed with a gel product I quite like atm from Carchem...
Nice combination...
Let's get rid of this nasty advertising material...
Glass cleaned with Carchem glass cleaner...
Grilles and arches dressed with Carpro pearl then on to LSP choosing Zymol concourse ( no affiliation just choose to use the product ) for its slight warm hue it gives tpo the finish...
Left to cure for 40 minutes giving chance for a brew and a little rest...
Final wipe down with a QD / sealant combo and brought out into the summer sun...
Thanks for making it this far and hope you all enjoyed.
The car in question being a 2007 zetec S model...
Doesnt look to bad but is pretty self explanatory when the vehicle had been in for some work and the dealership valeter had given the car a once over.
Vehicle was prepared as follow's:
- Rinse wheels thoroughly.
- Apply non acid cleaner to inside & outside of wheels. ( Autosmart smart wheels )
- Agitate with various soft bristle brushes.
- Rinse wheels thoroughly.
- Apply citrus based degreaser to wheel arches.
- Agitate with various soft bristle brushes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Apply citrus based degreaser to all lower sections of the vehicle to remove road grime | traffic film and bug debris.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Apply citrus based degreaser to all doorshute | boot shut.
- Agitate with various brushes.
- Rinse clean.
- Rinse whole vehicle.
- Wash from top to bottom using 2 buckets | grit guards, Lambswool wash mitt and M&K spa pH neutral shampoo.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Apply dedicated tar remover, leave to dwell them wipe clean with soft microfiber towels.
- Rinse thoroughly. ( Choice today was Carchem tar remover )
- Decontaminate vehicle including wheels with Iron x to remove iron | metal contamination.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Remove bonded contaminants with claybar ( Bilthambre soft ) readying paintwork prior to paint correction.
- Final rinse.
- Dry using dense pile quality drying towels. ( Uber towels ( I4DETAILING )
With the prep work complete. Car was taken into teh unit for closer check up and assessment.
Bonnet was reading between 130 - 180um.
Passenger wing seemed quite tidy considering the state of the bonnet...
Not surprising as it had seen some recent paintwork and average readings were around the 190um area.
Passenger door telling a different story whilst riddled in swirl markings and RDS...
Rear quarter...
Arch...
Pillar...
So were getting a pattern emerging. Inconsistent readings meant taking some correct lengthy time to enure no major blatant disregard for the clearcoat whilst still gaining a successful level of correction.
Car standing in stance all taped up and ready for surgery.
Due to the extremity of the damage to the bonnet I felt the need for a closed cell structure pad to gain a little extra heat whilst polishing to ensure best level of cut from teh medium grade polish. Combination chosen and worked extremely well was Scholl concepts orange sandwhich pad and S17+. After a couplle of set's the finish was far more vibrant and far less tarnished...
At this point I did my usual trick and marked out all the RDS areas to which were needing some localised attention...
Opting for Lake country purple foamed wool pad and S17+ in keeping with the lesser aggressive and slower ethic to not jeopardise clear coat once again...
Stubborn RDS rounded to take the eye away from the offending scratch. Sometimes, these things have to be left behind in the quest of doing what is right for the vehicle and its precious paintwork.
Choosing 3M yellow for its open cell structure to keep temperatures down and gain lesser aggressive cut from S17+ followed by
3M blue with ultrafina SE to sharpen, jewel and add crispness the finish we are left with...
Check over for any left over polishing oils...
Stepping round the the lesser tarnished passenger wing. 2 sets with 3M yellow and S17+ as a medium polish erring towards lesser aggressive would do the trick. Refined with 3M blue and ultrafina SE leaving a near on faultless panel...
Pillar was next to be tackled and took a single hit from a generic closed cell polishing pad, S17+ and refined once again with UF se and 3M blue...
Tackling the roof with a slightly mixed combination of wool, S17+ and a small dose of 3M fast cut plus for first initial cut with extra bite...
Polished and refined in the same way as other panels thus far to leave this...
Tricky little area where the spoiler meets the tailgate was dealt with by hand to ensure no potential strike through on teh edges which on these areas are quite easily done...
3-4 attempts were required to gain a passable level of defect removal...
Rear end tidied up leaving still the odd little RDS but in general, well improved...
Round to the drivers side where things got even more fun and interesting. Greeted with plenty of overspray and after repair holograms...
Still measuring as we go...
After correction process...
By now I think all will have an idea of what extent was being done to get the car looking all uniform. Vehicle was taken out for a rinse down, dried and continuing with all the finishing aspects. Paintwork cleansed with an all in one cleanser with sealant...
Leaving the paintwork creaking clean and ready for LSP...
Even the lights needed attention. The lights were in a sorry state including some lovable overspray yet again courtesy of the paintshop. These were corrected with a generic waffle polishing pad and S17+ with a drop of ultrafina SE to lubricate and keep temperature slightly lower.
Rear Before...
After...
Before...
After...
Headlights before...
After...
Before...
After...
Seals fed...
Relevant trim dressed with dyonisus trim glitz ( still a favourite due to durability )...
Wheels sealed with Zymol coat ( No affiliation with brand just choose to use the product )...
Tyres dressed with a gel product I quite like atm from Carchem...
Nice combination...
Let's get rid of this nasty advertising material...
Glass cleaned with Carchem glass cleaner...
Grilles and arches dressed with Carpro pearl then on to LSP choosing Zymol concourse ( no affiliation just choose to use the product ) for its slight warm hue it gives tpo the finish...
Left to cure for 40 minutes giving chance for a brew and a little rest...
Final wipe down with a QD / sealant combo and brought out into the summer sun...
Thanks for making it this far and hope you all enjoyed.