The Vehicle – Ford RS Fiesta.

The Brief –

This detail was a bit different, and it’s probably my favourite detail carried out in 2006. The RS Fiesta belongs to the father of Mr Shiny. You may know Mr Shiny from such auto detailing forums as Detailing World and Meguiar’s UK, as he is a regular contributor to both of these forums.

I’d agreed for Mr Shiny (Tom) and his father Paul to come over to our shop for a days detailing demo on their show car, the Fiesta RS.

I roped in AntGTi-6 from Sleaford, and his wife Sam to assist. Ant’s one of the best detailers in the Lincolnshire area, and one of only a few people that I’d trust to work on one of my vehicles. (If you live down Linclonshire way, and would like your vehicle detailing to the highest of standards, let me know and I’ll pass your info over to Ant)

Tommy came to assist as normal, and we also had one or two other faces from various forums pop in throughout the day, who all assisted with making this day the success for Mr Shiny that it was.

The Wash Process –

Started off with a 50:50 Autobrite Super Snow Foam : Chemical Guy’s Maxi Suds II wash. While the foam had chance to work, we set too on the wheels, tyres and arches. The wheels were soaked using Chemical Guys Blue Wheel Cleaner – The RS Fiesta had anodised valve caps and paint calipers, so we didn’t want to take any risks by using an acid based cleaner. The Blue Wheel Cleaner cut 4:1, sprayed onto a cool wheel, allowed to sit for 1 minute before agitating with a brush, then rinsing off.
The tyres and inner arches were soaked with Meguiar’s Super degreaser, cut 10:1. This removes all of the old tyre dressing, and does a good job of cleaning up inside the arches.

After rinsing down the whole car, we then did a good safe hand wash using Meguiar’s Shampoo Plus, with lambswool wash mitts. We demonstrated at this point the difference in lubrication offered (or not as the case may be) when using an incorrect quantity of shampoo in the bucket. Everybody got chance to feel the difference.

After practicing a safe wash technique using the two bucket method, we then moved onto the wheels for one last clean using an MF mitt.

Took the RS up to the polishing shop where we demonstrated a few new products to Ant & Mr Shiny.

After dressing the tyres and inner arches with Meguiar’s Hyper Dressing cut 1:1 (bling bling), we then dressed any other trim using Chemical Guy’s New Car dressing. We allowed all of the dressings to soak while the detail continued.

Spritzed the RS with Meguiars Last Touch Quick Detailer Spray, then dried using Meguiars Water magnets. Mr Shiny impressed with the difference the QD makes to drying. Followed the Water magnet with a good wipe from a MF. The car looking almost good to go at this stage.

I took this opportunity to demonstrate a waterless wash technique using Chemical Guy’s Speed Wipe and Spray. We poured the contents of a bottle of CG’s Speed Wipe into one of the small boxes that I carry my kit round in, and soaked 2 or 3 folded Meguiar’s MF’s. When fully soaked, the folded MF can then be carefully wiped across the panel of the car, changing the face of the MF after every wipe. The polymers in this QD safely trapping any loose dirt, ensuring a good safe waterless wash ideal for the limited facilities available at many car shows. The Speed Wipe can be diluted by up to 3:1, while still offering a good safe lubrication to the waterless wash. A quick buff with a dry MF to remove any Speed Wipe residue was all that was needed to fetch a brilliant shine back to the RS.

We took a full set of readings using the Elcometer 456 PTG. The car showing signs of respray on various panels, the thickness reading up to 450ish microns in places.

After doing a test section using a white SFX polishing pad, and Chemical Guy’s Medium Compound, we settled on using Chemical Guy’s Spider One Step on Orange LC pads for the full car. Using the spritzing with QD when almost dry, Ant & I polished the full vehicle. With the paint being very soft on this RS, due to respray etc, certain panels were followed up using Chemical Guy’s Pro Polish on certain panels. (the panels where respray had occurred)

Ant was very impressed with the Spider one step, especially the finish that could be created on most panels by using this product alone.

After completing the bulk of the polishing, we gave Mr Shiny a lesson in the use of the PC, by letting him polish the bumpers, sills and spoilers etc, using a 4” LC orange pad, with Chemical Guy’s Medium Compound. Any areas which couldn’t be reached with the PC, were cut in by hand using Chemical Guy’s Cherry Warm Wax.

Impressed by how quickly Mr Shiny picked up the PC, we gave him an impromptu lesson using the rotary, and Menz IP on a Meguiar’s Polishing pad. Everyone present in the shop at the time were impressed in the ‘ready for LSP’ finish that we were able to create using a rotary. Mr Shniy even shocked himself, by the quality of finish that he found that he could create with my Metabo.

LSP – We glazed the full car using Chemical Guy’s E~Z Creame Glaze. The acrylic shine that this leaves behind making the RS really shine.

We then applied a coat of Chemical Guy’s M-Tech Sealant, to add further to the shine being created. This was easily buffed off by Ultra Plush MF.

We then applied a coat of Chemical Guys Top Coat Sealant with 3X ‘nuba – The car now starting to look very nice and wet.

There could only be one real choice of wax, after the layers of acrylic we’d applied. Ant applied a coat of Chemical Guy’s XXX Wax. This was easily buffed off by MF leaving a rather nice wet looking RS.

The afters -