My wife has been daily driving our SVR for about a year now. Its been phenomenal to us however the elements and lack of time dedicated to keeping it pristine has created unfavorable results in the paint. Today I started the process of some paint correction to get us back on track. I washed it using the 2 bucket method with Meguiar's Gold Wash and decontaminated with a clay bar and Meguiar's quick detail spray.



If you love your car don't take it through an automatic car wash.

Now my plan is to use Meguiar's 105 cutting compound and 205 polish and finishing with wax. I purchased a Griot's G9 the other day and did some correcting on my Camry and F150. For some reason it quit working a day after owning it. I intended to exchange it at the store I bought it from but they only had the G6 and I was wanting something nicer. Last night I ordered a Rupes Mk 3 15mm and should have it tomorrow. In the mean time I did some testing with pastes via hand polishing. I'm satisfied with the results so far. I taped a couple of spots to try with just wax, 205 and wax, and 105, 205, then wax. The cutting compound seemed to be the magic bullet.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vGX6AWxEh9qLyoox6

I'll post some results after I get my polisher in and finish correcting the paint. Anyone else diy'ing this type of work?

 

I'm going to try and find a better way to upload the close up shots. Imgbb really destroyed the quality.

 

I’ve actually been bringing back the finish on my vw r32 - it’s been a couple years since I did some legit detailing, but for 12 year old paint, it looks deep and amazing. I have a bunch of tiny touch ups on the lower front bumper that I’ll address when I remove the bumper this fall. I use lanka to flatten the touch up spots and griots and Adams polishes and pads. I’ve been using a flex d/a polisher for about 8 years - I love it. My f-type will get some light correction and then polish, sealer or glaze and ceramic. I’ve been using the Adams ceramic spray - supposed to last a year but I only drive a total of 4500 miles each year and it’s spread out over several vehicles so hoping it will last a bit longer. Not crazy expensive, easy to use, and I’ll know more about how hydrophobic if I ever get to drive in the rain. I drove black cars for years - very important to keep up with it and ceramics are likely to help keep the black nice once you get it dialed in. Best of luck.

 

Rupes is a great machine! Used a Rupes on my car.

final finish was hand applied

Polishangel product. I am very happy with the way it came out. I have been told by the pro's that the Polish angel actually get shinier after 12 hrs.
It did appear to.

 

Just finished up with correcting the paint. I ended up using the 105 only on the places that I felt needed it. The 205 with the machine polisher took the majority of defects away. I felt it was a happy medium of perfect finish vs taking away clear coat.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1yU9TUhBL8ZbAmnx9
Here are some shot with a macro lens. The picture by the gas lid was after the 205. I could definitely get it perfect but it's a daily driver and no one will get that close to the paint.

I tried to be objective with the results. It looks so good in person though. Pictures don't do it justice.

 

For a daily driver, pursuit of perfection is a fool's errand. My feeling is that if you're actually driving it, you're getting the proper enjoyment.

If you're happy, that's all that matters. I'm happier when mine is shinier, but I'm most happy when I'm putting the spurs to her.

EDIT: It's been worse during the COVID-19 time. I rarely drive now, and the pollen and dust collect, get beaded up by dew, then get baked on again. Rinse, repeat (no lather).

 

I agree. It shows the signs of being driven. But that’s the way to enjoy it. Whenever it comes time to reapply wax I’ll hit it with polish if I need to correct a couple things. It’s a good tool to have to keep the finish up. The biggest thing going forward is keeping the paint protected.

 

Great job on the paint correction. It's a tedious task for sure, I've been repainting my project E46 and I'm absolutely sick of sandpaper, cutting compound, polish, haha. Definitely finding a happy medium between perfection and practicality is something you have to determine for yourself.

 

Looks great!

Your less aggressive approach to the paint correction imop was the correct one. Keeping daily drivers perfect is tough and time consuming.

 

Absolutely agree - hard to make them look like they aren’t driven when you want or have to, but that doesn’t keep me from trying. I usually do two good details each year; spring after the winter weather is done punishing us and again in the fall. I have a heated garage with hot water connected to my softener which I use to wash the cars which especially helpful in the colder months. Upkeep is the key. When they’ve been detailed well, they are all easier to clean and keep nice so while the dream of perfection is far away, you can get it and keep it close. Ceramic coatings etc are definitely helping to reduce wash time and the need to scrub and polish everything that the car picked up from the road.

 

Looks really good! Nice job on the correction, and best (less ) aggressive process / products.

And agree with the approach of "near perfection". Best way to enjoy them. I find when I invest too much time/effort, then I do not want to drive them....So I have adopted a similar approach - "Good enough".

DC

 

Yes, the principle developed by Boris Gudenov.