Muttgrunt Detailed: Chrysler 300
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 3
From: SE Michigan, USA
Muttgrunt Detailed: Chrysler 300
OK guys, so first things first. As you regulars might know, I've been looking into getting into the detailing biz for a little bit as a part time thing while i go to school. after my time in the military I really want to do something I enjoy, and working on cars is something I love!
After a lot of prep, and stocking on supplies, I set out for some clients. This job was a first of many kinds: first time with the PC, first client, first full out detail, and because of it all I learned a lot.
This 2005 Chrysler 300 was built in September 2004, so is a month shy of being four years old. It is owned by a friend of mine that jumped on the chance to have his car completely taken care of for a good price (have to start with lower prices to built a client base!). The poor girl hasn't had the luxury of always being garage kept, and had a lot of really major paint problems. Swirl city, scrapes, scratches, minor chips, random marks, and everything that would make a car look twice as old as it should was easily seen, especially after the initial wash and inspection.
Total time spent was 18-20 hours (could have been a few less but I'm a newbie!). I was luckily able to take my time as the family went to northern Michigan for vacation, and therefore had 6 days to spread the work around this girl. Because of that, I took my time and used around 4 days total to ensure everything would come out the way I wanted. The last two I could relax knowing the 300 was going to make an owner happy.
Exterior:
Palm Olive to strip off anything that might have been on it
Adam's Clay
CG Luber
Simple Green diluted 1:10
Menzerna Power Gloss
Menzerna PO85RD
CG JetSeal109
Rain-X
Wheels:
One Touch tire cleaner
Black Magic Tire Gel
P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel
Interior:
Einszett Cockpit Premium
Simple Green Diluted 1:10
Lexol Leather Cleaner
Lexol Leather Conditioner
Stoner's Invisible Glass
Tools:
PC 7424
LC CCS Orange Pad
LC CCS White Pad
Grit Guards
Painter's Tape
Foam applicator for Lusso
Uber microfiber applicator for JetSeal
Lots and lots of uber micro's, terry clothes, and cheapo microfibers
160gig iPod connected to cpu speakers to keep me going!
LSP:
Lusso Oro
Now for pics!
unloading from the car ready to get to work!
hmmm... what am I getting myself into...
the trunk lid was really bad. Lot's of build up, old dirt and mud, and was a real pain. This is the only place i used simple green on the exterior.
Onced washed off, I got to see all the scratches and swirls the dirt was covering!
lots of marks on driver side passenger door:
driver's door:
scratched up hood
Inside wasn't any better. Caked up cup holders, dirt, etc.
The exterior looked so bad that I didn't want to wait, so I began to clay knowing I could get on the interior if I became overwhelmed. This is what i got from the first square foot of the hood:
taped up also showing the wheel wells looking a bit....umm... harsh
I orginally started with the Orange CCS Pad using Menzerna SIP, but the results were leaving me worried and tired. I had to step it up to Power Gloss after trying out a section of the paint for better results. I know Mercedes is supposed to have some really hard clear coats that are a paint to work with. I wonder if Chrysler adopted some of their technology in certain vehicles before the split. If anyone has info on this please let me know as I'm interested. I thought for sure that Orange+SIP would be good enough to get out nearly everything I'd come across on a car. Now I know I'm going to need that yellow pad as well....
front left fender before:
front left fender after:
remember those big scratches in the hood?
after some work, only a real deep mark was left
the paint as a whole really came around once I really worked it well
driver's door looking much better
once the wheels and wheel wells were cleaned, the car was looking a lot more new. All that buffing certainly helped as well
Once I put on the JetSeal109, I waited until the next day to come back to put on Lusso Oro. The JetSeal was amazing. This was my first time using it, and I'm blown away. The uber app made it easy to apply, a little went a long way, and it made putting on the Lusso that much easier I think. It was also very easy to take off with uber towels, and gave the car a nice shine.
This was also my first time with Lusso Oro. This stuff blew me away too. Of course it smells great, and like the Jetseal, it went on extremely easy, a little went a long way, and it really set off the color of this car, which when clean, is great. This was my first time dealing with a higher end carnauba, and the difference shows me that maybe the synthetics are good, but don't sleep on mother nature!
going on in the shade:
and finally:
that driver's side passenger door has a second chance at life!
among my lessons learned: take more pictures! I took 185 pics on this job, but it wasn't nearly enough. I didn't capture the trunk lid after, the cup holders after, the driver's side carpet after, the trunk before or after, the door jams after, the ash tray before and after, and the leather seats after! Also got a lot of practice of what a full job takes, and how to cut down time by cleaning more efficiently. For example, some things you really just need to let soak while you work on other parts of the car. Using One Touch on the wheel wells worked out really well for me as it cleans and leaves a nice satin finish.
Thanx for looking!
Special thanx to Phil from detailer domain for all the great products and service. I'll have another order coming up soon to get engine detailing supplies (as if I haven't given you enough of my money
).
Also thanx to all the members on this forum for spreading your knowledge and helping in numerous ways!
After a lot of prep, and stocking on supplies, I set out for some clients. This job was a first of many kinds: first time with the PC, first client, first full out detail, and because of it all I learned a lot.
This 2005 Chrysler 300 was built in September 2004, so is a month shy of being four years old. It is owned by a friend of mine that jumped on the chance to have his car completely taken care of for a good price (have to start with lower prices to built a client base!). The poor girl hasn't had the luxury of always being garage kept, and had a lot of really major paint problems. Swirl city, scrapes, scratches, minor chips, random marks, and everything that would make a car look twice as old as it should was easily seen, especially after the initial wash and inspection.
Total time spent was 18-20 hours (could have been a few less but I'm a newbie!). I was luckily able to take my time as the family went to northern Michigan for vacation, and therefore had 6 days to spread the work around this girl. Because of that, I took my time and used around 4 days total to ensure everything would come out the way I wanted. The last two I could relax knowing the 300 was going to make an owner happy.
Exterior:
Palm Olive to strip off anything that might have been on it
Adam's Clay
CG Luber
Simple Green diluted 1:10
Menzerna Power Gloss
Menzerna PO85RD
CG JetSeal109
Rain-X
Wheels:
One Touch tire cleaner
Black Magic Tire Gel
P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel
Interior:
Einszett Cockpit Premium
Simple Green Diluted 1:10
Lexol Leather Cleaner
Lexol Leather Conditioner
Stoner's Invisible Glass
Tools:
PC 7424
LC CCS Orange Pad
LC CCS White Pad
Grit Guards
Painter's Tape
Foam applicator for Lusso
Uber microfiber applicator for JetSeal
Lots and lots of uber micro's, terry clothes, and cheapo microfibers
160gig iPod connected to cpu speakers to keep me going!
LSP:
Lusso Oro
Now for pics!
unloading from the car ready to get to work!
hmmm... what am I getting myself into...
the trunk lid was really bad. Lot's of build up, old dirt and mud, and was a real pain. This is the only place i used simple green on the exterior.
Onced washed off, I got to see all the scratches and swirls the dirt was covering!
lots of marks on driver side passenger door:
driver's door:
scratched up hood
Inside wasn't any better. Caked up cup holders, dirt, etc.
The exterior looked so bad that I didn't want to wait, so I began to clay knowing I could get on the interior if I became overwhelmed. This is what i got from the first square foot of the hood:
taped up also showing the wheel wells looking a bit....umm... harsh
I orginally started with the Orange CCS Pad using Menzerna SIP, but the results were leaving me worried and tired. I had to step it up to Power Gloss after trying out a section of the paint for better results. I know Mercedes is supposed to have some really hard clear coats that are a paint to work with. I wonder if Chrysler adopted some of their technology in certain vehicles before the split. If anyone has info on this please let me know as I'm interested. I thought for sure that Orange+SIP would be good enough to get out nearly everything I'd come across on a car. Now I know I'm going to need that yellow pad as well....
front left fender before:
front left fender after:
remember those big scratches in the hood?
after some work, only a real deep mark was left
the paint as a whole really came around once I really worked it well
driver's door looking much better
once the wheels and wheel wells were cleaned, the car was looking a lot more new. All that buffing certainly helped as well
Once I put on the JetSeal109, I waited until the next day to come back to put on Lusso Oro. The JetSeal was amazing. This was my first time using it, and I'm blown away. The uber app made it easy to apply, a little went a long way, and it made putting on the Lusso that much easier I think. It was also very easy to take off with uber towels, and gave the car a nice shine.
This was also my first time with Lusso Oro. This stuff blew me away too. Of course it smells great, and like the Jetseal, it went on extremely easy, a little went a long way, and it really set off the color of this car, which when clean, is great. This was my first time dealing with a higher end carnauba, and the difference shows me that maybe the synthetics are good, but don't sleep on mother nature!
going on in the shade:
and finally:
that driver's side passenger door has a second chance at life!
among my lessons learned: take more pictures! I took 185 pics on this job, but it wasn't nearly enough. I didn't capture the trunk lid after, the cup holders after, the driver's side carpet after, the trunk before or after, the door jams after, the ash tray before and after, and the leather seats after! Also got a lot of practice of what a full job takes, and how to cut down time by cleaning more efficiently. For example, some things you really just need to let soak while you work on other parts of the car. Using One Touch on the wheel wells worked out really well for me as it cleans and leaves a nice satin finish.
Thanx for looking!
Special thanx to Phil from detailer domain for all the great products and service. I'll have another order coming up soon to get engine detailing supplies (as if I haven't given you enough of my money
).Also thanx to all the members on this forum for spreading your knowledge and helping in numerous ways!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
Great job! Tackling scratched up black on your first real detail is a handful to say the least...hence the hours you put in. Don't worry though, your process will become more efficient, and your times will come down.
The Chrysler paint should be medium to work with. You're just tackling a tough job with lots of scratches with a PC.
Nice post.
The Chrysler paint should be medium to work with. You're just tackling a tough job with lots of scratches with a PC.
Nice post.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,113
Likes: 4
From: manhattan beach, calif
really your first use of a pc?? if so, i applaud you-
great job in any case, and even greater since so many firsts!!
make sure that the owner gets the pics so he can spread the word!! i suggest giving him just a few of the worst before pics and just a few of the best of the after pics---
great job in any case, and even greater since so many firsts!!
make sure that the owner gets the pics so he can spread the word!! i suggest giving him just a few of the worst before pics and just a few of the best of the after pics---
, i'm also looking to start detailing part time but dont know what products to choose, also where did u get the halogen lights from?
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Amazing job! I really need to get some of this Jetseal stuff! also some Powergloss! Is there a SIP and a IP from Menzerna? I only have IP , but have been contemplating getting a heavier polish in case I run into a bad car...
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 3
From: SE Michigan, USA
yea bro, i'd def recommend some jetseal, but i know there are other good products out there as well. seems like to tougher the polish/compound the more it flakes up and dusts up.
as for the lights, i got them at a local auto store: Murray's. just try to find some good shop lights. these worked out well for me as their 500w's each, and the pole can extend to a good 6 feet or so. you don't want to get something too short - a problem with the first set of lights i bought and returned!
thanx for the positive feedback guys!
as for the lights, i got them at a local auto store: Murray's. just try to find some good shop lights. these worked out well for me as their 500w's each, and the pole can extend to a good 6 feet or so. you don't want to get something too short - a problem with the first set of lights i bought and returned!
thanx for the positive feedback guys!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,943
Likes: 3
From: Philadelphia
Lights can be bought at homedepot/lowes also.
There is ann SIP and an IP. DD carries the SIP which is a better version of the IP.
PowerGlos is nice, but only needed in dire situations.
That car came out great Bro!! Nice work. Glad to see you made out great with so many firsts!!
There is ann SIP and an IP. DD carries the SIP which is a better version of the IP.
PowerGlos is nice, but only needed in dire situations.
That car came out great Bro!! Nice work. Glad to see you made out great with so many firsts!!
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