GTI-Rog's Mk5 GTI "Rejuvenation" Thread (Pic Heavy)

[Dave7692]

Looks really good.  Its amazing what a few good washes and some TLC can deliver!

[Trunkstuff]

Love reading threads like this! You are doing a great job my man keep it up!

[GTI-Rog]

Update Time

It's not often I get enough spare time to polish my own car(s), as I'm always polishing someone elses 

But, I had some time owing at work and decided I would use, probably the best weather day this week, to give my GTI a half decent Enhancement polish.

My main aim today was to properly cleanse, enrich, remove or reduce the heavy defects and bring clarity to the awesome Diamond Black Magic finish.

The polish of choice was Menzerna IP 2200 and a Lake Country orange cutting pad. This combo did a great job of removing the swirls.
Plus knocking back some of the horrendous deep scratches inflicted by a drying blade at the £10 wash and go....GGRRR! Don't use them people, they will ruin your car!

Some defects I left as they were too deep but I acheived the finish I could live with.

The finish was sealed and protected with Wolfs Chemicals Hard Body and topped up with Gtechniq C2v3.

I didn't quite finish all the final touches as I run out of time, but the enhancement certainly has removed the years of neglect and is looking many years younger 

I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking 

Before
Untitled by rogfree43, on Flickr

Wheels cleaned.
by rogfree43, on Flickr

Claybar..
by rogfree43, on Flickr

Swirls
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

After polishing/correcting the paint
by rogfree43, on Flickr

50/50 shots
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Some deeper scratches remain, but looking much better.
by rogfree43, on Flickr

On the door 50/50 passenger side
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Driverside before
by rogfree43, on Flickr

After
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Rear lights polished too. Before
by rogfree43, on Flickr

After
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Wing mirror before
by rogfree43, on Flickr

After
by rogfree43, on Flickr

[amankhan786]

Update Time

It's not often I get enough spare time to polish my own car(s), as I'm always polishing someone elses 

But, I had some time owing at work and decided I would use, probably the best weather day this week, to give my GTI a half decent Enhancement polish.

My main aim today was to properly cleanse, enrich, remove or reduce the heavy defects and bring clarity to the awesome Diamond Black Magic finish.

The polish of choice was Menzerna IP 2200 and a Lake Country orange cutting pad. This combo did a great job of removing the swirls.
Plus knocking back some of the horrendous deep scratches inflicted by a drying blade at the £10 wash and go....GGRRR! Don't use them people, they will ruin your car!

Some defects I left as they were too deep but I acheived the finish I could live with.

The finish was sealed and protected with Wolfs Chemicals Hard Body and topped up with Gtechniq Cv3.

I didn't quite finish all the final touches as I run out of time, but the enhancement certainly has removed the years of neglect and is looking many years younger 

I'll let the pics do the rest of the talking 

Before
Untitled by rogfree43, on Flickr

Wheels cleaned.
by rogfree43, on Flickr

Claybar..
by rogfree43, on Flickr

Swirls
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

After polishing/correcting the paint
by rogfree43, on Flickr

50/50 shots
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Some deeper scratches remain, but looking much better.
by rogfree43, on Flickr

On the door 50/50 passenger side
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Driverside before
by rogfree43, on Flickr

After
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Rear lights polished too. Before
by rogfree43, on Flickr

After
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

Wing mirror before
by rogfree43, on Flickr

After
by rogfree43, on Flickr

Hello bud

Where are you based

[GTI-Rog]

All single stage rotary polishing finished.

by rogfree43, on Flickr

After an IPA wipe down to remove any polishing oils.
The finish was sealed with Wolf's Chemicals Hard Body Ceramic coating which can last upto 2 years.
 Curing in these pics.
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

It was topped up with Gtechniq Cv3 Liquid Crystal sealant to add gloss, wetness and hydrophobic qualities.
The plastics and tyres were dressed.

Here are the after pics 
by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

by rogfree43, on Flickr

I am very happy with the way it came out, it's starting to look younger, that's for sure 

Thanks for looking, comments welcome 

Next up, once I have all the parts, is to install the armrest and new HU etc.

[GTI-Rog]

Hello bud

Where are you based

Milton Keynes 

[amankhan786]

Ooo a bit far from me buddy or i would come down and get some tips on how to get a good shine

Youve done a amazing job with your car bud

[monte]

Just getting better and better mate 

Keep it up and I'm sure in a few years this will be an epic build thread. 

[samx300]

Nice job with the clean, looks great!

[lukemk5gti]

When you polished it did you use the one single polish and go over the entire car or did you go across a range of polishes from lighter to coarser abrasive qualities? Looks great! That 50:50 split really shows the difference!!

[Stanipkiss]

Wow what a transformation, great work 

[teo_parvu]

OMG! It looks a million times better now.

  This takes talent.

[GTI-Rog]

When you polished it did you use the one single polish and go over the entire car or did you go across a range of polishes from lighter to coarser abrasive qualities? Looks great! That 50:50 split really shows the difference!!

Thanks for the great comments 

Yes Luke, I used menzerna IP 2200 as a single stage polish, using long passes, so the abrasives cut effectively intitially, then gradually break down to leave a very glossy finish. I did multiple passes on the heavily damaged panels (which was most of the car to be honest!).

If I had more time, I could have followed up with Menzerna Final Finish to refine. It does help using a rotary polisher too, as it removes the defects a lot quicker than a standard DA, but you have to know what you're doing.
I am pleased with the finish Though. I have left plenty of clearcoat to give it another refining polish when its required. It is hard to beat Menzerna polishes for hard paints like the VAG group tend to have. Makes the job a lot easier.  I have tried others (scholls concepts and wolfs chemicals) but I always come back to Menzerna

Sorry if that comes across a bit nerdy
 

Rog

[GTI-Rog]

OMG! It looks a million times better now.

  This takes talent.

Thanks man

[lukemk5gti]

When you polished it did you use the one single polish and go over the entire car or did you go across a range of polishes from lighter to coarser abrasive qualities? Looks great! That 50:50 split really shows the difference!!

Thanks for the great comments 

Yes Luke, I used menzerna IP 2200 as a single stage polish, using long passes, so the abrasives cut effectively intitially, then gradually break down to leave a very glossy finish. I did multiple passes on the heavily damaged panels (which was most of the car to be honest!).

If I had more time, I could have followed up with Menzerna Final Finish to refine. It does help using a rotary polisher too, as it removes the defects a lot quicker than a standard DA, but you have to know what you're doing.
I am pleased with the finish Though. I have left plenty of clearcoat to give it another refining polish when its required. It is hard to beat Menzerna polishes for hard paints like the VAG group tend to have. Makes the job a lot easier.  I have tried others (scholls concepts and wolfs chemicals) but I always come back to Menzerna

Sorry if that comes across a bit nerdy
 

Rog

Absolutely not! I'd be just like yourself. Summer detail is coming up and it's good to get other people's info.

I have chemic guys V40, V60 and V80 so I'll probably do all 3 again.