For a car that has done 156,000 miles, it wasn't in too bad condition, the worst bits being the front bumper, the leading edges of the wings and the bonnet (motorway mile muncher from what Chris was saying) which had received a fair few stone chips.
It received a thorough clean and decontamination using a variety of products:
Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snow Foam (nice short dwell in the scorching heat)
Autobrite Bane Blade Shampoo
Autobrite Rapid Revenge QD
Autobrite Green Goddess Clay
Autobrite Blue Fluffy Towel
The wheels were given a deep clean using Autobrite Purple Rain 2.0, an advanced formula that is easier to spray than the original formula and quicker to react and therefore clean, ideal in yesterdays heat. Spray, leave for 5 mins, jet wash clean.
The bodywork was polished using a variety of polish and pads according to what was needed. The majority required Menzerna Power Gloss with a dab of Super Finish to extend the worktime. Refined using Superfinish on a 3M Yellow Pad for a smidge extra bite. IPA wiped down between sets to ensure the oils were removed. Glass was cleaned with Autobrite ClearVue polish and microfibres. Plastics dressed with CG New Look Trim Gel, as were the tyres. Wheels were sealed with Autobrite Whe'elzebub Wheel sealant. Exhaust was polished inside and out with 0000 wire wool and Autobrite MetalWorx polish, buffed with a microfibre. Paint was given a Project32 wipedown prior to waxing with Autobrite 'The Chasm'.
Up close:
Love this shot:
So yeah, as I said to Chris, I would have loved to have had more time on it to give an even better finish. I spent some time shaving down some filled stone chips on the bonnet and wings with my Festool Denibber but the paint hadn't adhered properly, so I prepared the chips and using a fine artists brush and some Cosmos Black paint, started to fill the chips so that the bonnet didn't look as peppered.
She's a lovely example of a 12yr old car. You can see my old Vectra C in the background in some of these shots.
I love detailing, will share a few more on different motors later on this evening