View Full Version : D!Tailed: Acura RDX SH
BumbleBug
05-01-2009, 01:42 PM
Just thought I'd add one of my latest D!Tails.
This car was in decent shape, but needed a ton of work on the interior.
I didn't have a ton of time to take during shots, but here's the before and after.
Let's start with the engine
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=206
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=207
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=208
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=209
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=210
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=211
I'll just give you one wheel shot.
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=202
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=203
Some of the interior, which was pretty dirty, but cleaned up nicely!
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=238
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=239
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=234
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=235
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=236
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=237
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=216
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=217
More to follow...
BumbleBug
05-01-2009, 01:43 PM
Interior continued:
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=232
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=233
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=230
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=231
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=228
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=229
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=226
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=227
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=224
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=225
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=222
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=223
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=220
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=221
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=218
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=219
more to come...
BumbleBug
05-01-2009, 01:44 PM
Back to the exterior:
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=214
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=215
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=260
50/50:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=262
Did some polishing on the tail lights. Not sure how easy this will be to see, but they had some light scratching.
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=254
50/50 tapedleft side has been polished)
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=255
50/50 without tape. You can see the scratches to the right of the line where the tape was:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=256
50/50 without tape that shows the depth and clarity on the polished side:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=258
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=259
The car had a couple of scuffs from the previous owner. These were removed with some light wetsanding and buffing.
Before: (sorry, it's blurry)
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=248
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=249
After (Same spot) You can see that a few little scratches remain. They were too deep to polish out.
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=250
Before scuff 2:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=251
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=252
After 2:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=253
There were also some scratches on the threshold on the tail gate
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=244
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=245
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=246
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=247
More to come...
BumbleBug
05-01-2009, 01:45 PM
And now, the full outside shots
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=263
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=264
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=265
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=266
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=186
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=187
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=267
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=189
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=268
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=191
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=269
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=193
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=194
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=195
Before:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=270
After:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=271
And some reflection shots!
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=241
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=242
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=243
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=240
Process to follow!
BumbleBug
05-01-2009, 01:46 PM
The process:
The entire process took me about 10-12 hours. Interior took much longer than expected due to the amount of dirt and salt build up.
Interior:
Vacuumed out all misc dirt
Deep cleaned carpets using Little Green Machine with Meguiars APC (I did some other stuff too, but that's a trade secret)
Cleaned all vinyl using Tornador and a 50/50 mixture of Woolite and water
Deep conditioned all leather with Leatherique Rejuvinator (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=235). Allowed that to dwell for 4 days. Removed with Leatherique Prestine Clean (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=236). Topped with Prima Nourish (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=289) for extra nourishment and because the stuff smells so good!
Car was washed twice with snow foamer and Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Clear to remove any wax that remained before polishing:
http://www.bimmerdrivers.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=26&pictureid=272
(I added this pic because I LOVE my snow foamer. It's funny because I get really car geeky about it!)
Then car was washed using the two bucket method by hand.
Final rinse was with the CRSpotless (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76&products_id=280).
First stage polish was Prima Finish (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=254) on a Lake Country White pad (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=182). This was followed by Prima Amigo (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=255) on a Lake Country White pad (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=182). The Prima Amigo (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=255) really added a nice deep color to the car that you can really see in the before vs after pics. It really gave it a nice deep gloss. The more I use it, the more I really love this product!
LSP was Prima Epic (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=248) applied via PC on a Lake Country Black pad (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=183). LSP was removed and then a coat of Prima Hydro (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=246) was applied by hand and with a Paradise Monster Fluffy Microfiber (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=259). This was followed several hours later by a coat of Prima Slick (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=251) and then that was followed by another coat of Prima Hydro (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=246) (because I was being anal and wanted to see what it would do)
Engine was cleaned with Meguiar's Super Degreaser and dressed with Meguiars Hyper Dressing.
Wheel wells were cleaned with Meguiars Super Degreaser and then dressed with Meguiars Hyper Dressing.
Wheels were cleaned with Meguiars Wheel Brightener and an E-Z Detail Brush
http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/classic-motoring_2048_13008451
(coming soon to TSGAutoCare.com!)
Wheels were then sealed with Prima Wheel Armour (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=253) This was removed with a Paradise Starfish Mitt (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=258)
Exhaust tips were cleaned and polished using 0000 steel wool and jewelers rouge and a lot of elbow grease!
Tail lights were polished with Prima Swirl (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=245) on a 4 inch Lake Country Orange pad (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=293) on my Metabo mini random orbital buffer.
Scuffs were wetsanded and then polished with a rotary and Prima Finish (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66&products_id=254) on a Lake Country Purple wool pad.
All interior vinyl was treated with Prima Nero (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=252) for a nice matte finish.
Glass was cleaned using Prima Clarity (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=249) and a Paradise Glass Cleaning Cloth (http://www.tsgautocare.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=263).
Winshield cowling vinyl was treated with Black Wow.
I think that just about covers it!
Thanks for looking!
D!
Hey D! you sure you don't have the before and after pictures reversed?
BumbleBug
05-01-2009, 05:10 PM
Hey D! you sure you don't have the before and after pictures reversed?
:D
D!
:D
D!
Great job as always D!
BEARJAM
05-04-2009, 06:33 AM
Nice Beetle in the garage. Are those taillights legal in Utah?
BumbleBug
05-04-2009, 07:17 AM
Nice Beetle in the garage. Are those taillights legal in Utah?
Sure they are!
They just don't pass inspection...for now.
It's crazy because the LED's in these lights make them brighter than the tails on my stock Jetta, but they say that because there is film on them they won't pass.
A load of crap if you ask me. Luckily I have some junker tails that I can throw in to pass.
:D
D!
BEARJAM
05-05-2009, 08:42 AM
Luckily I have some junker tails that I can throw in to pass.
:whacky086:
Sure they are!
They just don't pass inspection...for now.
It's crazy because the LED's in these lights make them brighter than the tails on my stock Jetta, but they say that because there is film on them they won't pass.
A load of crap if you ask me. Luckily I have some junker tails that I can throw in to pass.
:D
D!
You kept the tails off of BHRIFIC to pass inspection? :hiding: