Lime Prime Enhancement on Mini Cooper S GP #0639

[RussZS]

Today saw me spend 5 hours giving my mates Mini Cooper S GP a thorough cleanse ready for Winter, and getting some protection on it.

I'd actually never seen a GP in the flesh before - what a car!! It's magnificent to look at and work on, and the spoiler in particular looks the part. I also had a passenger ride in it - WOW they shift! I love the SC whine too.

Anyway, down to business...

A few befores:


P1030129 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030131 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030133 by RussZS, on Flickr

I started off with the wheels, following this process:

- Wheel rinsed with pressure washer
- G101 sprayed on arches and left to dwell, then worked with brush, then rinsed
- Tyres sprayed with G101 and worked with Envy brush, then rinsed
- Smart Wheels sprayed on wheel back and worked with Eimann brushes
- Smart Wheels sprayed on wheel faces then worked with Envy Brush
- Wheels then shampoo washed using BTBM and Dodo Captain Crevice, ensuring ALL dirt is removed from spokes, and behind them
- Wheel rinsed

I then:

- Rinsed Car down
- Washed with BTBM
- Applied Tardis to car (it was COVERED in tar)

Tardis doing its thing:


P1030136 by RussZS, on Flickr

Then I:

- Clayed the car with Elite Poly Clay and Autosmart Reglaze
- Rinsed again with Pressure Washer
- Washed again with BTBM
- Dried with Elite Uber Drying Towels

At this stage, I was ready to assess the paint, and see what could be achieved within the time available to me.

Firstly, I checked the paints' depth. The bodywork averaged about 180, and the roof about 200:


P1030137 by RussZS, on Flickr

I decided to try Lime Prime on a Megs Polishing pad, via Chicago CP8210 Rotary. The paint was VERY swirly, and I assumed quite 'hard' as it's 'German', but after a single set with Lime Prime and very little pressure, I managed to achieve this:


P1030143 by RussZS, on Flickr

Not bad at all for a 'paint cleanser'!!!

A few more correction shots:


P1030140 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030142 by RussZS, on Flickr

These pics are after polishing, but before any LSP has been applied:


P1030144 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030147 by RussZS, on Flickr

Despite having clayed and de-tar'd, I was amazed at how much crap Lime Prime was pulling from the paint!!


P1030150 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030155 by RussZS, on Flickr

Another before:


P1030160 by RussZS, on Flickr

After:


P1030158 by RussZS, on Flickr

Not perfect, but impressive for one hit!

After the polishing was completed, I decided to:

- Seal wheels with Planet Polish
- Tyres with Pinnacle Onyx
- Metal with Optimum
- Trim with Megs Gold Class
- Glass with 3M Foaming:


P1030163 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030164 by RussZS, on Flickr

Zymol Glasur was the choice of wax today - should see this car though til Feb-Mar hopefully:


P1030162 by RussZS, on Flickr

Just as I was removing Glasur, the heavens decided to open up on me :mad::wall:

However, I managed to get a few beading pics


P1030165 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030167 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030169 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030170 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030171 by RussZS, on Flickr

Then, the Sun finally came out, although I was running out of Daylight, so the final pics aren't the best


P1030172 by RussZS, on Flickr

 

[RussZS]

P1030173 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030175 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030176 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030177 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030178 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030181 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030182 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030184 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030185 by RussZS, on Flickr


P1030186 by RussZS, on Flickr

Thanks for reading!!

Russ

 

[RussZS]

Duplicate post!

 

[Ed...]

WOW just wow . . . . . words cant describe how good you made this look

 

[A2ON]

Looks stunning mate hope Neil is Verry happy .

I would be .

 

[RussZS]

Cheers guys

How's the VXR going mate?

 

[Roy]

amazing finish again:thumbup:

 

[PB.200]

Looks great!

I have heard a lot of good comments about glasur!

As good as concours but cheaper (less expensive)

 

[RussZS]

I've had Carbon, Titanium, Glasur, Concours, Destiny and Vintage, and aside from Vintage, Glasur is my favourite by far. Concours looks very sharp, but I don't find it lasts nearly as long as Glasur does.

Vintage is amazing, but it's far too expensive for most people. I only had a 2oz pot.

Thanks Roy

 

[PB.200]

I have used vintage at a demo.

I was hoping to get a Holiday sampler 2 from america with 2oz of concours, destiny and alantique for $200 but they are all sold.

I have found concours gives tight beading for 4-6months if topped up with a good QD.

I am tempted by glasur next and also have a 15ml pot of raceglaze 55 to try.

but i have about 2 years if not more of concours left.

 

[RussZS]

I should probably try Concours again, but I can't stand the smell

I'd love to try Antlantique at some point, but it's quite hard to come across in small samples

 

[PB.200]

Not a cinnamon fan then??

HD Clense smells the best!!

 

[A2ON]

Cheers guys

How's the VXR going mate?

Yeh not to bad mate in need of some of your TLC trust , lol

Next time im in the mids, whihch should be soon as its my b day 11th .

We need to hook up .

And i love it currently at 270ish bhp and counting all the stage 2 mods now on just need th map for 285ish .

happy days

 

[RussZS]

Sounds great, you'll have to take me out in it!!

Let me know when you're up - I'm getting busy again at the moment, so would be mid Nov at the earliest!

PB - agree on HDC, love the chocolatey smell!

 

[richandgem]

Very nice mate

 

[Paul]

Wow! That looks brilliant!

Good work as always mate! :thumbup:

 

[such]

What a cracking job. Got to get you to sort mine out. Do you reckon its best to leave it till the spring now??

 

[PB.200]

Do you do this for a living? And/or charging?

I'd be very careful about using zymol cos you could get you self into trouble!

 

[RussZS]

Do you do this for a living? And/or charging?

I'd be very careful about using zymol cos you could get you self into trouble!

Just a hobby out of control at the moment! You're right about Zymol though...

 

[RussZS]

What a cracking job. Got to get you to sort mine out. Do you reckon its best to leave it till the spring now??

For correction then definitely yes. No point in removing swirls and defects now, as you will almost certainly put some back in over Winter.

However, I would recommend getting your car protected as much as possible

Russ.