empsburna Vs Late's ZTT... (56 maker a cuppa!)

[empsburna]

I've been looking forward to this detail for a few weeks now - and this is one of a long line of ZTT's i've done now, I should have learnt my lesson about taking these on!

The day started at 9am with a knock on the door from my mate Martin (somouk on forums around the internet) - another keen detailer who runs an very clean octavia VRS who I drafted in for the day to help me get round the car in a reasonable time.

After strong coffee and a sausage McMuffin it was time to make our way down the M6 to visit Lates at his humble abode. After a bit of car shuffling we arrived to find an imposing ZTT and a hose ready for us (and after a quick chat the kettle was on...not the only time during the course of the day!)

After a quick look over the car we breathed a sigh of relief - the car was in an all round excellent condition - the only issues we could find was tar (and lots of it! - as the pictures later will show...

OK - on with the write up. Feel free to ask any questions.

Car was hosed down to remove any surface contaminants.

While I gave it the first was Martin started work on the wheels and arches - check out the before and afters! They were foamed with Bilberry wheel cleaner and agitated with an Autoglym Wheel brush - excellent for getting into the tight areas.

While he started this I gave the car a wash down and gave the bugs a scrub with my Schmitt - soft foam on one side and a slightly coarser one on the other side - perfect for jobs like that.

Once the car wash washed and rinsed it was time to get claying. This took us about an hour (with a break for a coffee and a ciggy!) - the car had sprayed up a lot of tar spots - I think i'm going to invest in some autosmart tardis from now on!

Once the claying was finished it was time for another wash to remove all the quick detailer and then the car was dried using sonus drying towels.

And now for the correction.

The paint was in good order - all original looking with very few defects - the halogen work lights were broken out for 5 mins to check the bonnet out. Luckily the tried and tested combo of Menzerna Final Finish on a Sonus green pad on the Porter Cable was a perfect match for the paint on the ZTT - with swirl marks falling out with very little pressure or passes. Once this was finished a layer of Collinite was added and the metal flake started to pop when the sun came out!

//insert break for bacon butties and coffee!

While we shared the polishing (vibration white finger starts to kick in after a few panels!) one person applied the wax and treated the windows to a wipe down with Zymol HD Cleanse and then a coat of Rain-X on the side windows.

The door and boot shuts and behind the petrol cap were cleaned with Meguirs All purpose cleaner and then waxed with collinite.

we were just finishing the last square foot of the bumper when the

And now the bits you have been waiting for - the pics...
First pic

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/01.jpg

Spot those pesky bugs!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/02.jpg

Bit of brake dust - no match for the bilberry wheel cleaner!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/03.jpg


Bugs and bird poo! not nice :(

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/04.jpg

Tar spots - really bad around the sills, arches and wings - no match for sonus grey and green clay.

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/05.jpg

After the first wash - much better already!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/06.jpg

Clean wheels - compare them to the first pics!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/07.jpg

Tar spots

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/08.jpg

Just dried - on with the polishing!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/09.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/10.jpg

Check out the metal flake and reflections

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/11.jpg

More metal flake popping!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/12.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/13.jpg

Couple of reflection shots :)

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/14.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/15.jpg

Boot - Work in progress

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/16.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/17.jpg

Tailpipes and bar treated to autosol metal polish - check the reflection!

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/18.jpg

Bootlid finished

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/19.jpg

Door shuts before/after

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/20.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/21.jpg

More reflections

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/22.jpg

All done...

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/23.jpg

Water beading....

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/24.jpg

More beading

http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/25.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/01.jpg


http://gallery.empsburna.co.uk/latesztt/26.jpg


Well that was it - a long day but well worth it - I hope Lates is pleased!

Any questions post 'em up!

Paul

[Lates]

Very pleased with the "hearse" and a job well done well done gents. Mucho impresso :D:D:D:D:D

[Lates]

I have a bit more time now, these two guys worked solid for the hours attending to Tee Tee, bar coffee and bacon butties. The attention to "detail" was most impressive and didnt even get the opportunity to say you missed a bit. A worthwhile investment to help maintain its gloss during our busy routine and help future washes a tad easier.Thanks again :D

[empsburna]

Phew! I'm glad you are pleased!

I'm aching today though!

[Kandyman]

Lovely job emps and somouk.


Looks like you rubbed the rear number plate to hard ;)

[SMC Trading]

Lovely job emps and somouk.


Looks like you rubbed the rear number plate to hard ;)

Not hard enough - still showing SMC Slough (who keep cashing in on my good name!)

[trebor]

Great job Paul, have you had your PC fixed or was it on loan ?

[empsburna]

Great job Paul, have you had your PC fixed or was it on loan ?
Replacement (actually from my mate Martin!)

Thanks for the kind words all.

[Phil]

Did you do the interior as well? Any before and afters? How much does a valet of that standard cost?

[Lates]

Interiors can be done too along with ICE installs ;) 10% comission here :D

[empsburna]

Did you do the interior as well? Any before and afters? How much does a valet of that standard cost?

We didn't do the interior - that would have taken us another day lol.

The price depends on the job/level of correction/finish wanted.

Can take two hours or two days! :)

Interiors can be done too along with ICE installs ;) 10% comission here :D

LOL!!! Mart can usually be found on Talk Audio pimping his wares!

[Phil]

Cheers Emps.


What is the best way to get ingrained dirt out of the carpet without making the carpet go all fluffy? Is there any way to disguise scratches in the leather?

[empsburna]

Spray down with some All purpose cleaner and then agitate before wiping off.

For stubborn stuff we use a steam cleaner and a stiff brush - just enough to get the carpet damp and clean.

Leather is best cleaned (again with APC and a nail brush) then wiped down and then treated with a good feed - I use gliptone leather conditioner - leaves a lovely smell.

[Phil]

Will that method get the bits out of carpet that get ingrained into the fibres of the carpet??

[empsburna]

yep :)

Hang on, i'l try and dig some pictures out - APC foamed - then steamed and scrubbed and then rubbed dry with an old towel - gets the carpet clean, fresh and the same colour again!

[Phil]

I see. A how too would be great.

[nairda]

For stubborn stuff we use a steam cleaner and a stiff brush - just enough to get the carpet damp and clean.

SWMBO has recently been on about getting a steam cleaner for cleaning jobs around the house. I'd already thought about 'borrowing' it to clean the engine bay but that gives me another idea! Are steam cleaners a 'good thing' then?

Top job on Lates' ZTT BTW, lovely reflection and beading shots...

[Lates]

We didn't do the interior - that would have taken us another day lol.


My ZS defo 2 days, TeeTee half hour swmbo dont do dirty interiors

[empsburna]

My ZS defo 2 days, TeeTee half hour swmbo dont do dirty interiors
I mean we would have spent a day on it - to be honest I didn't look!

[empsburna]

SWMBO has recently been on about getting a steam cleaner for cleaning jobs around the house. I'd already thought about 'borrowing' it to clean the engine bay but that gives me another idea! Are steam cleaners a 'good thing' then?

Top job on Lates' ZTT BTW, lovely reflection and beading shots...
I wouldnt be without mine now - just a cheap £20 halford branded one - with the terry cloth attachment over the top its great.

[Lates]

I mean we would have spent a day on it - to be honest I didn't look!

;) just playing with you mate, wish dirty and swmbo in same sentence anagramatically could be fun

[nairda]

I wouldnt be without mine now - just a cheap £20 halford branded one - with the terry cloth attachment over the top its great.

Ah, excellent, an ulterior motive to let her buy one! Although she's been looking at something that resembles a small vacuum cleaner with loads of attachments and costs about £150!

[empsburna]

;) just playing with you mate, wish dirty and swmbo in same sentence anagramatically could be fun

Well you can't write "I wish my missus was this dirty" on the back window of the car now! :getmecoat:

Ah, excellent, an ulterior motive to let her buy one! Although she's been looking at something that resembles a small vacuum cleaner with loads of attachments and costs about £150!

Yikes! I love mine because it was £20 - gets used more than the wet/dry vac!

[Raistlin]

Dazzling I think is the description :)

I really MUST let you take a look at VeeKay to see what you can suggest Paul.