We cater for any car here at Clean + Shiny and it's always a great day when we're able to work on luxury vehicles, such as this Aston Martin DB11.
The customer wanted the car enhanced as, unfortunately, it had spent a very long time parked outdoors. The convertible roof was covered in algae which would need to be treated before we applied Gtechniq i1 to protect the fabric.
The paintwork had water spot etching that needed special attention, as well as scratches and swirls that we had quoted to remove as much as possible.
As with every detail, we started with a multi-stage wash. The wheels and tyres are always the dirtiest part of any vehicle, so we tackled those first.
With plenty of brake dust, road grime and iron fallout present, we got some fantastic 'raspberry ripple' from the products we used. The red/purple reaction confirms that contaminants are being dissolved and are ready to be pressure washed away.
Considering the state of the car's fabric roof, we decided to give it an initial 'pass' with Labocosmetica OMNIA. This is an interior cleaner that is also very well suited to cleaning fabrics. We opted for a Detail Factory Curveball brush to agitate the fibres - this is soft-bristled and we knew it wouldn't cause any damage while removing the algae staining.
It's always better to start with the least aggressive option(s) when removing stubborn grime or paintwork defects.
Plenty of 'greenery' dripped away from the fabric, so we knew that progress was being made. All residue was thoroughly rinsed.
However, even with our best efforts, we discovered that there were still some areas that needed attention. So we decided to move onto the pre-wash stage of the wash, which would allow the fabric to be cleaned once more. Pre-washing the car softens road grime and other contamination ready to be rinsed away.
After the nooks, crannies and trim were agitated, it was time for a rinse.
We're fortunate to have a hot-water pressure washer. This makes rinsing far easier as contaminants are thoroughly removed compared to using cold water.
We moved onto our two-bucket hand wash, to get all areas as clean as possible, before we moved onto further detailing. One bucket contains clean, sudsy water. The other is a dedicated rinse bucket. Any dirt particles removed from the car are trapped in the rinse bucket to reduce the chance of them lingering and potentially marking the paintwork as you carry on washing.
After another rinse we dried all areas with our trusty Liquid8r drying towel. This is a 1100GSM, 70/30 blend, thirsty towel! If you like really thick drying towels, checkout the The Rag Company's 1500.
We also used our Rokit R1 forced air car dryer.
Blow-drying is a great way to remove water from even the smallest of gaps.
Afterwards, it was evident that the fabric roof needed more attention. The green algae really had become embedded, so we gave it another thorough pass.
This time we opted for a leather cleaning brush with slightly stiffer bristles. So we'd progressed from least-aggressive to a technique that would work as best as possible without inflicting any damage.
We worked together to get the roof looking its best before we took the car inside to start the paintwork correction. Fabric roof protection, using Gtechniq i1, was part of this enhancement detail. This is why we ensured the roof was as clean as possible before locking in that new finish.
The car was carefully brought inside to start on the paintwork and interior.
Under our detailing lights it was clear how bad the paintwork had become on the DB11. Fortunately, the car was in good hands!
We started to work around each panel with our Rupes machine polisher, medium pad and P&S Rehab compound. Again, the least aggressive option to make a difference without taking away too much clear coat. This way we could gauge how much additional work specific areas of the car needed.
We're a big fan of the Rehab compound as it cuts, polishes or finishes paintwork and you only need to change the pad you're using.
The boot lid had the most defects. We believe the car was parked under a tree and so the environment took its toll.
Our technique for the boot lid was to use a coarse foam cutting pad with Rehab.
However, this was only getting us so far. John decided to try a microfibre cutting disc which did a fantastic job at safely removing 99% of the etching, scratches and swirls.
We were happy with the results and we knew the customer would see a night-and-day difference in the condition of the car.
A quick mention goes out to The Rag Company's Ultra Rip N' Rag towels, these helped us remove Rehab residue after machine polishing passes, aiding the final paintwork finish.
The painted area above the windscreen also needed some correction, so we masked off the front of the fabric roof to avoid any residue transfer.
Our Rupes HLR75 battery powered polisher always comes in handy for intricate areas. Because there's no power cable, you can work more efficiently.
Our enhancement details include an interior wipe-down and refresh. The DB11's leather seats were treated with Gtechniq i2 to remove any grime and body oils, bringing back the factory matte finish.
The fabric mats were also given a hoover and refresh.
The glass was cleaned with Gtechniq G6 to revive its clarity, this included the smaller rear windows. Our glass towel of choice this time round was The Rag Company's FTW.
With the fabric roof now fully dry, we were able to coat it with Gtechniq i1 Smart Fabric AB. This will help to repel water, dirt and grime. i1 is also anti-bacterial, so will help to prevent the algae we removed from returning.
We find spraying and wiping i1 into fabric is the best way of applying the product. Wearing gloves is important and also helps to ensure i1 bonds to the fabric.
With the paintwork now enhanced, we treated all areas with Gtechniq Panel Wipe to remove any remaining Rehab residue or dust. It was then time to apply Gtechniq EXO V5. This is a hydrophobic top coat designed to repel rain and road grime. It also makes future maintenance washes far easier.
We would usually install either Crystal Serum Light or Crystal Serum Ultra before EXO V5, however the customer requested that we only install EXO V5.
Ultra Rip N' Rag towels were back out for levelling and buffing the EXO V5, as the microfibre weave lends itself perfectly to this task.
EXO V5 needs 6-hours to cure and so, with painted areas buffed to a high-gloss, all that was left was some final checks. We also coated the tyres with Gtechniq T1. This is our go-to tyre dressing for details as it makes the wheels pop with added contrast with the car's paintwork.
The next day it was time to take the car outside to get some photos before the customer arrived for collection. Needless to say the car looked incredible.
There were still some small stone chips present, as well as other defects associated with driving the car without PPF installed, however it was night-and-day.
Our deep-clean of the wheels and tyres, together the Gtechniq T1, made a big difference. As we mentioned above, this whole process creates real contrast and makes the car 'pop'.
The interior refresh became evident with the roof down.
The DB11 really is a nice place to be, especially with the forged carbon dashboard.
With final checks complete, we took the car back indoors and waited for the customer to arrive. Upon collection, he was over the moon with the transformation.
Part of our job is to educate our customers, so we offered some advice on how to store the vehicle and best wash practices moving forwards.
As well as detailing, we offer maintenance washes to our customers. So, if you're still unsure on how to best care for your car, or simply don't have time, we're only too happy to assist.
If you'd like your car detailed, whether it's brand new or new-to-you, contact us today and we'll provide you with a bespoke package to meet your requirements and budget.
The Clean + Shiny Team.
