Correction Detail - Citroen C2 Code - Round ONE!

Yesterday saw me burning to a crisp, returning a favour for a lad who lives in my parents' street. He has a Citroen C2 Code (VTS engine) and I said I'd give it a quick once over to sort out the rough paint and restore a bit of gloss into the paint.

I had a quick look at it a couple of weeks ago and it didn't look too bad, so I figured a once over with Scholl S17+ and I'd get great results in a few hours...

However, in the morning sun, I began to realise that the paint was a bit worse than expected...

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P1050577 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050579 by RussZS, on Flickr

Apparently its previous owner was a fan of these cheap hand washes... it really shows!

So, on to a few befores:

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P1050582 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050583 by RussZS, on Flickr

(Note the orange peel from a keying respray)

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P1050585 by RussZS, on Flickr

The car was already very clean (cleaned the day before for me) and the wheels are being refurbed soon, so no thorough cleaning on these.

The shuts and sills needed a bit of attention though, so these were dealt with first via G101 and Envy Brushes:

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P1050590 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050591 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050592 by RussZS, on Flickr

Next up, the car was rinsed and washed with Optimum Car Shampoo, de-tar'd with AS Tardis and rinsed again, ready for claying.

As ever, I clayed with BH Soft Clay and Water as lube (used a hose rather than spray bottle - much easier!!)

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P1050595 by RussZS, on Flickr

After half of a door...

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P1050597 by RussZS, on Flickr

Pics of swirls on clean paint:

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P1050599 by RussZS, on Flickr

Swirls on repainted door:

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P1050600 by RussZS, on Flickr

Roof:

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P1050607 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050608 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050610 by RussZS, on Flickr

I was hoping that I'd be able to get 90% correction or so from a single set of something like S17 or 203S, but I just wasn't getting the desired level of correction, the swirling was particularly deep in places and the car was covered in RDS. Also, the blazing Sun which was on my driveway for the entire day didn't help at all, cause numerous problems during polishing (and turning me into a lobster skinned person in the process!)

After a pass of Megs 205 and 2 passes of S17+ on 3M Yellow pad:

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P1050612 by RussZS, on Flickr

MUCH, MUCH better, but nowhere near perfect.

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P1050615 by RussZS, on Flickr

Bonnet before:

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P1050616 by RussZS, on Flickr

After 2 sets of S17 on Orange Spider Pad, then refined with PO85RD on 3M Blue:

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P1050617 by RussZS, on Flickr

I continued around the car doing multiple passes of S17 and sometimes using Megs 105 and refining with 205. Due to differing results on different panels, and the very high tempratures, this turned into an extremely frustrating experience, and probably the most challenging car I'd ever tackled...

The door:

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P1050618 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050620 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050621 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050622 by RussZS, on Flickr

PAssenger Door (resprayed)

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P1050623 by RussZS, on Flickr

Rear wing:

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P1050624 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050625 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050626 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050629 by RussZS, on Flickr

(3.02 used in places too!)
 
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P1050631 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050632 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050633 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050637 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050639 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050641 by RussZS, on Flickr

(Note the reflection in the resprayed panel is much improved!)

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P1050643 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050648 by RussZS, on Flickr

THE most frustrating experience I've ever had when it comes to detailing! The Sun most certainly didn't help, and I was actually in pain from the burn on my head :worried:

Due to time constraints, I had to throw the towel in, so I still have the bumpers and roof to sort properly and a bit of refining to do. I also intend to wet sand the door if I feel comfortable doing so, after the KDS session on Sunday. Although it's going to take a significant amount of my spare time, this has become personal now lol, and I WILL get this car damn near perfect, if it's the last thing I do!!

I finished up with CG 50/50, Megs Endurance Spray on tyres, Megs GC Trim Detailer and 3M Foaming Glass Polish.


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P1050653 by RussZS, on Flickr


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P1050654 by RussZS, on Flickr

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P1050657 by RussZS, on Flickr

Just goes to show, every car can be very different, and this is a constant learning process. If I were doing this car again, I'd have used something like S3 Gold or Fast Gloss first, then refined the following day - definitely a two day process to get something like this back up to scratch.

Now, where's the After Sun!! :mad::lol:

Thanks for reading!

Russ.
 
I reckon you will have fun with mine russ lol!!
Still waiting for my anti corrosion warranty to go through!
 
Amazing work Russ! Not sure what "favour" you owed this guy, but I hope it was a big one because thats a top job mate :smile:
 
Yeah, the finish on the door is pretty bad, but I'm going to wet sand it for him, should come up like the rest of the car hopefully!

Cheers for all of the comments :smile:
 
That, and the roof! The car was way too hot on the day, so waiting for a spare, cool day now, to finish her off! He lives up the road from me - its nice to see how good its still looking a few weeks on, and seeing another beading beading so well - I need a new hobby, lol!
 
That, and the roof! The car was way too hot on the day, so waiting for a spare, cool day now, to finish her off! He lives up the road from me - its nice to see how good its still looking a few weeks on, and seeing another beading beading so well - I need a new hobby, lol!

well when you do the wet sanding do a photo stages of it so we can all see the effect of it!

oh and keep up the good work :jase:
 
well when you do the wet sanding do a photo stages of it so we can all see the effect of it!

oh and keep up the good work :jase:

Will do, and thank you :smile:

I will be doing 2500, 3000, then 4000 grit - should sort it out a treat.

I've had a go at the orange peel on my Golf, and despite taking AGES, it came up a treat.