cleaned the SVX today (plus a pseudo how-to)

[Nevin]

Well, I woke up this morning and didn't have much to to. I decided that today would be as good a day as any to clean up the 'ole Subaru. So you know what? I did just that.

I took a bunch of pictures during the process, so this won't really be a "how-to" more like "How I did it." Bear in mind though that I do this professionally as a side job, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

First off is the dirty car. Not in horrible shape, but just not clean.



That picture is right outside of the shop we rent, and the rest are all around here as well. So, let's go inside and see what happens.

First, I'll show you a few of the things I use. Also, I didn't remember to get everything, so if you want to know... ask!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...wah/cyclo1.jpg

Ahh.. the Cyclo. This is the best buffer you will ever use. Period. What's that, you ask? Does it have two dual action heads? Why yes it does. Easy on, easy off, and you can use it on ANY color even in direct sunlight if you like. I've used this on dozens of cars and have never once left a swirl mark. Woot! Doesn't matter if you're using a wax, rubbing compound... anything! Just make sure you match the appropriate pads to whatever step it is you're on.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...eenmachine.jpg

This little fella' is the Bissell Green Machine. It works awesome. Makes a lazy man like myself look like a carpet cleaning pro. We opted to spend the extra $20 or so on the heated version, and we are glad we did since our shop only has cold water. Anyway, it's a great little bugger. Affordable carpet shampooing is here at last.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3.../britemax1.jpg

Here is the polish I'll be using today. Actually, this was step one of three, we'll say. Normally this is step 4 of 6, but the paint on the Suby is pretty good, so we won't bust it down too hard today. Steps 4 and 5 are what I normally use on a car that has good paint like this. I just really love the Blackmax though. It makes black and other dark colors SING! We've tried lots of different brands, Meguiars, Turtle Wax, Eagle One, Mothers, CarBrite etc... They all are very good products, but I prefer Brite Max just because I think it is the best there is. Put it with a good buffer like ours, and it will make tired old paint look FABULOUS!

Ok, so here we are in the shop. Start off with a good car-wash with a bucket and a sponge. The car wash doesn't really matter, all it has to do is clean the debris on the car now. Don't bother getting a "2 in 1" wash and wax or any of that crap. Anything cheap works. You want wax, buy wax. You want carwash, buy carwash.

Soapytime...



Now that you've soaped it up and rinsed it off, use a water blade to start the drying. A shammy is great, but it is 1970's technology. This is the 21st century. Use a water blade, you'll thank me later. In the photo I am dragging it to the right on the roof of the car. Doesn't take much pressure, it's just a squeegee for paint, and it works excellent. Saves a LOT of time too. Then when you're all done, just grab a towel and touch up the drips and areas you coudln't get to.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...waterblade.jpg

When you're all done drying it off, it will look something like this.



Ok, so now on to the buffing/polishing goodness. If you have any specific questions about this, just let me know, but it was hard to take pictures of myself using the Cyclo, so you'll just have to believe that I did. lol

After I'm done with step1, it looks like this. Peace.



Kind blurry, but you get the idea. This is Britemax Blackmax. Need I say more?

After step 2, let's take another one. How many fingers am I holding up?



Not a HUGE difference in pictures, but in person it is WELL worth it.

So, you think we're done on the outside? HA! Think again! We need to do the doorjams, trunkgaps, and underhood gaps, wheels, and tires, yo! Also I buffed the headlights with Britemax steps 1-5, but as there is already a tutorial on here about headlamp cleaning, we'll forego that.

I didn't take any pictures of cleaning the wheels, but it's easy to do. Actually, first I spray the tire stuff on (Meguiars Hot Shine) and THEN clean the wheels. The hotshine always oversprays, so save yourself the hassle of cleaning the wheel and then the tire and then the wheel again. Clean the tire first, then the rim. For cleaning the wheels, I use Britemax Final Shine. It's an instant detailer that works AWESOME. Goes on and off easy, and offers better protection than even some paste waxes.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...finalshine.jpg

I also use this in doorjams, trunkjams, and all the other nooks and crannies. ALso when I'm done with EVERYTHING, I go back over the whole car one time with this, (step 3 we'll call it) and then again with a dry microfibre cloth to clean any residue.

So, the interior... well I didn't take many pictures there either. Got the 'old wet-dry vac and swept it out, swept the floormats, green machined the mats, used some Invisible Glass glass cleaner on all the windows. Then I grabbed the Lexol leather care stuff and cleaned the seats. Lexol makes an EXCELLENT leather cleaner. So good it is, that Audi recommends it for use in their cars. Good enough for me! They make a cleaner and a conditioner. I used both today.

Ok, so we're getting pretty much done. I left out some little things I'm sure, but by now the car is getting pretty clean. I didn't do anthing in the trunk today cause I had some stuff stored in there, but I don't think it really needed it anyway.

Anyway, enough of my babbling. Here are some pictures of the finished product!











Ok, so there are enough for now.

Anyway, let me know what you think or if you have any questions. Sorry I took so long, but I'm an enthusiast. What can I say! lol

[Ownbot]

Hello, can you sell me your clear corner lights?

[Nevin]

Here is one more of the car that I like.



And no, the clear corners are not for sale. lol I'm actually kinda mad, cause about 3 weeks after I got them, the passenger side one developed a small crack. Probably a rock or something.

[ensteele]

Looks good, and you feel good when it is all done.

[Nevin]

Originally Posted by ensteele

Looks good, and you feel good when it is all done.

Exactly! lol I don't feel like I wasted a Saturday now. Not by a long shot.

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

Originally Posted by ensteele

Looks good, and you feel good when it is all done.

I know that feeling. NICE. Did you post it to the calender thread yet?

[SVXMAN2001]

Looks great! Did you raise the front suspension? The clearance between the wheel and fender looks abnormally large...

[Nevin]

Calendar thread? I don't think any of these are good enough for that... lol

And I've always thought the same about my front suspension. The rear seems low and the front seems high... Kinda has me wondering. I'd like the same gap in the front as I have in the rear though.

[Nevin]

Took a couple more shots tonight. Of COURSE it rained this afternoon... *shakes head* but it dried off some later on. These are kinda blurry, but I still like them...

[Sean486]

Curious, how much does a detailing like that cost when you charge for it?
Sean

[Nevin]

If I were charging a customer for this, it would probably have been $150 or so. We're entirely affordable, if you ask me. You could go 15 miles and pay twice as much for half as good a job. lol

[rrhenderson]

Hey dere. How would you clean the interior of the doors and the dash area of large areas of greasy fingerprints if they existed? Thanks.

~ Robert

[Nevin]

Originally Posted by rrhenderson

Hey dere. How would you clean the interior of the doors and the dash area of large areas of greasy fingerprints if they existed? Thanks.

~ Robert

Get some degreaser and an old cotton rag. Just get a dab of the degreaser on the rag and then get some warm water on there too. Scrub for a bit then get more degreaser/water. Just keep doing that until it comes out. Then go back over to with something like Dupont Teflon spray, or some kind of interior portectant to put a nice finish back on it. The main thing is you don't ever want to clean a surface without putting protection back on it again. That goes for just about any surface.

However if it's the suede you're worried about, then you would want to try some aerosol glass cleaner and a light brush.