Hi there, I have been lurking around for a couple weeks now, this is my first post. Not new to Nissans or the VQ I have a '96 Maxima.

Anyway about two weeks ago my girlfriend bought a '03 Blk/Blk G35 Coupe 5AT. She works at Carmax and got it through wholesale. Only issues with it is the ridiculous tire roar, some scuffs, scratches, and swirls on the paint, and the rims need to be sanded down and repainted. Motor wise it's typical Nissan fantastic!!! Aside from the cosmetic issues we just couldn't pass up on the deal.

Once home the plan of attack was to really try and get this black paint looking good. Which was going to be tough due to the amount of freakin orange peel in it, the swirls, and scratches. This was also my first SERIOUS detail. I have had a PC for over a year now, but really haven't used it to it's capabilities. In the end I feel I did a fairly good job and was proud of myself. Still some minor swirling, and scratches, and the orange peel I'm just going to have to deal with. Onto the process.

Process

1. Wash with dawn soap/wheels cleaned with Meguiars Wheel Cleaner, two bucket method
2. Meguiar's Clay Bar/Lube (boy did it really need a claying A TON of crap all over the paint especially on the hood. Appeared a girl stood in front of it and just sprayed hair spray on half the hood)
3. Rewash with Meguiar's Gold Class, then dryed.
4. Prepped the car, masked off the moldings (got kind of lazy in this area)
5. PC w/orange sonus pad, Poorboy's SSR2, PC set to 5.
6. Jeffs Werkstatt Acrylic Jett
7. Jeffs Werkstatt Acrylic Gloss (any remaining residue I used this also to remove)
8. All the towels that I used were microfibers, even my wash mitts.
9. Black Magic Tire Shine next wash will probably chose something different.

I got lazy and didn't use Jeff's Prime. Next wash I will put some Prime down and then another coat of AJ/AG.

Before Me and my lovely farmers tan Before pics aren't very good lack of lighting, in the garage and outside.

 

After








Left side after polish, right side not done.










Lovely orange peel





That's all. I also cleaned up the interior, but don't have any after pictures. One funny story about the interior. When I was cleaning it, for some reason the previous owner had the moonroof seal removed. I had to put it back in, but I found about 3 bags worth of sunflower seeds in the moonroof/map light controls. I had to pop it out and seeds just fell everywhere. Don't know why anybody wasted their time doing that. I'll snap some pictures of the interior eventually.

For all the hi-res shots I have taken, visit: http://www.4drspeed.com/g/

Thanks for looking, comments, suggestions, whatever is welcome!

 

Excellent work HillyHead. How did the scratches and swirls come out after the detail? Particularly the one in the first shot you posted. Interesting story about the sunflower seeds.

Car looks great!

George

 

Wow what a difference. Stay right there, I'll bring you my car once you're done with yours

 

i bet it'll look even better topped with souveran or natty's blue.. but GREAT job nonetheless !

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. It means a lot, first time I used the PC I felt like I wasn't getting anything done. Went back and read some more and took my time and really felt like I accomplished a fair amount of paint correction.

That first pic, after polishing the scuff is still there slightly and the scratch is still there also, but NO WHERE near as visible. I think with a few more passes, maybe some ScratchX can take it out completely.

But I was exhausted after finishing. Car is due for another wash tomorrow, will put some prime down tomorrow and another coat of AJ/Gloss on it. Paint is SLICK, I love that feeling.

 

that is awesome... gives me something to shoot for when i clean my black '03!! i guess that PC really makes a difference. i need to get me one of those!

 

oh and out of curiosity, why or for what purpose did you lay down the painter's tape??? im assuming for the wax???

 

Gotta love black!Black is a mother to keep up but when you do ain't nothing like it.Black is always the nicest color.

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. Ya black is a PITA to keep up that's for sure. Just about every other day it needs a wash the rain, or bugs just screw it all up and it bothers me lol.

The tape is so the PC/wax does not discolor/burn the trim. I got lazy and didn't do the emblems. People will tell you to tape up the emblems as well.

 

ahh a fellow BO coupe member, car looks great man. Great job!! i also detialed my coupe this weekend. check out my thread below in Care & Detailing.

 

Damn...... bling, bling. What time did you say you'd be home again so you could detail mine. Looks real good!

 

Hilly, very nice job looks better than a new car. In regards to the emblems
on the trunk....removing them will make the job much easier and she'll have
a cleaner backside! HAHA

 

Haha Gary.

I actually suggested to the girl, but she just wants to leave it for now, maybe I can convince her. I convinced her into a Z tube .

 

Any afters in the sun to show off your swirl removal?


Dude, put a shirt on.