bugman

Wife went to New York for a couple of days with her sister. The sister left her car here so they could abuse the hell out of my Merc SUV that I just detailed. Will someone remind me WHY we marry them ?

Anyway, got in the car today to take the kids to the beach. Just about tossed my cookies. There were crunched up pretzels in the carpets, ANTS !!!, stains that only a Pro detailer could look at without crying, and this exterior that I'm willing to bet has NEVER been washed in the 2 or 3 years the sister has owned the car. It was brand spanking new when she bought it, and BEAUTIFUL !!!

Well, be forewarned -- what lies ahead is not for the squeamish. Shield your face when you look at the wheels -- I would recommend only viewing these pics by reflection in a mirror, lest you be turned into a pillar of salt.

Now here's the thought. Should I detail the car? Well, there's no way I'm spending 8 hours of a day off, for free, doing what this car really needs, including paint chip and scratch repair. But If I don't at least get the bugs and brake dust off this thing, I'll have to have it moved to a neighbor's driveway or I'll break out in a rash.

Should I work on her car tomorrow or go to the beach and drink some beer instead . Factor this: I live in DELAWARE - there hasn't been an attractive woman in a bikini here, other than my own wife, since 1945, so that is not a reason to go to the beach. (seriously)


Rate the pics on the degree of hideosity. Is this so disturbing you'd feel that you have to intervene? Just like if you saw a madman with a chainsaw running into your neighbor's house...

Are you screaming yet?


Museum of Insects - how old ? we're awaiting Carbon-14 dating by the Smithsonian Institute.


How the heck do you get such a bad paint chip in THIS location? It would take months of dedicated effort.


It's not easy to get adherent debris this bad on the REAR - wow.



And The Most hideous wheels of 2006 award goes to ...

duckvett

Yeah, go ahead and wash it, you'll feel better but I doubt your sister-in-law will even notice. To some people it is just a conveyance to get from point A to point B. Damn shame..........

r8edxxx

Sleper

How about some after pictures?

agentf1

I voted for #1, do it so you can spend some time with the hot wife. I also want the after pictures to be of the "hot wife". Getting tired of detail pictures, lets spice this place up.

Seriously, I can tell that thing is going to look beautiful after you give it the Zaino treatment Bugman.

If the sisters cute it should warrant a menage...

bigcypress

Don"t Do It Regardless Of The "reward".

gmblack3

I want to see how PB SnR does on those wheels.

Clay and one step it with IP. Then some z5pro. I would just vac the interior. It will still be a very big difference.

Humanoid 2.0

I said torch it, but i know you won't sleep unless you clean it. Get the kids to help and make a day of it.

mrosa65

You know you have to detail that car. If you leave it as is, it will haunt your dreams (nightmares) for ever.

It can be educational for the kids. They'll learn how to NOT neglect their own property while learning valuable detailing skills. They can also observe the ants and learn how their colony works in harmony. Maybe they can bring some of those ants and pretzels in for show and tell.

As for the pictures Those bugs look like lovebug season here in Florida. You can get 5X that amount in one day of driving here.

FIDOauto

Do It!! Do It!!

Stickman81

I say do it.
It may bring special treats for you.

I'm sure you could make short work of that, then have the beer.

bugman

quick reply -
thanks for all the input. You guys are as sick and twisted as I am. As soon as I woke up this morning, that was on my mind. I just wasn't going to feel comfortable until I gave it at least a wash.

Well I kept going back to it as the day went on.... by nightfall I had not done EVERYTHING (just not time to polish, fix scratches, chips, nor even to clean the carpets properly - they were just unbelieveably stained). But I got a huge amount done --- as you guys said, it may go unnoticed, but it was like climbing a mountain - just had to do it. Here's the sum total:

• Z7 foam gun and Z7 wash
• sorry - didn't want to blow my clay bar doing this free job - no clay
• one coat Z5Pro/Zfx.
• Wanted to put on z8, but the car surface was too hot - and got some streaking. Had to remove with damp microfiber towel and abandon the Z8. Could have done it if I'd had more time.
• wheels/tires - took over an hour -
• Wheels : poorboys wheel cleaner with EZ Detail brush. Then added simple green scrub with brush and Armor all concentrate in water thrown in to get off that stubborn 4 year old brake dust.
• Tires - first Wesley's bleach white, then scrub with armor all concentrate and brush, then simple green spray with brush, then rinse. Dress with Meguiar's hot shine
• Wheel wells - Mother's wheel well brush, simple green with water, then dressed with Meg's Hot shine tire treatment.

And that's just the outside - I won't prolong the post by going into the inside. But I'll tell you that the cadaver smell, the ants, and most of the unidentifiable stains are gone from the seats. There WAS something rather mucoid and hairy that I found in the rear seats - still awaiting identification in the pathology lab. More on that later.

Pics:


AFTER:









I think it's enough to pass the two-foot test.
I'd need another 8 hours for sure, to even START on filling all the chips, buffing out some of the scratches, and some other things. But I think this should be enough to make the sister in law happy, and improve her enjoyment of the ride. VW REALLY did a nice job making this car -- the paint is fantastic, as is the interior - it just needs some more love.

Thanks for the votes - tells me you're as neurotic as I am. Just a fun post for me-- but does also show the nice job that Z7 and Z5Pro can do to even a neglected car (only one coat of Z5P used).

Humanoid 2.0

Looking good, I knew you were going to detail it.

Paixao

Hey Scott...
great job on the
VW.. was here today thinking,
when you where going to post some Pics.
of the New Car,,,
hope that she will notice your
detail work...
have a great week-end..
Paulo..

mrosa65

Scott

Great work on that car. Isn't the new Z5pro awesome or what. 100 times better than the old Z5. Sal hit a homerun with that product for sure.

Make sure to let us know that results from the lab on that strange substance you found, who knows, you may have found Jimmy Hoffa after all of these years.

Craigster05

Scott,

Its a madness we share for sure, but you always slay the dragon. Great turn around!

Now the other question....Did they trash the SUV?????

Stickman81

That looks great.
I knew you could knock it out.

FIDOauto

Holy **** bro..... Not bad at all!!

No matter how 'dirty' she keeps her vehicle, you'd have to be blind and have no sense of smell not to notice the job you did!

Yes....we are here cuz we're all neurotic detailing freaks!!

gmblack3

Great job!!! As said before even one coat of Z5pro does wonders. I think the wheels had the biggest turnaround. How much of the heavy brake dust did the SnR cut?

Oilpatch

You're an enabler.