How to Detail Your Elise

holy crap Clay Bars are incredible!!! How had I never used one before today? anic: :nanner:

Just finished up a Lengthy Wash, Clay-ing, Taco Bell lunch break, and two finish coats.

Here is the Before shot of the Nose

After shot of the nose. Took this one inside the garage.

Back outside for a cool shot of the rear badge

Here is the best reflection I could find. It was very overcast, as you can tell. I think I can make out the green color of the tree leaves. Very cool.

I take my wheels off and detail them and the wheelwells first. You can do a better job and not have to worry about wheel cleaner getting anywhere you don't want it. Use a soft bristle brush and non corrosive wheel cleaner to get everything imaculate (something like a toilet brush that you can find at a hardware store).

Clean all the spots on the rotor that the pad never contacts with wheel cleaner. Rinse off, rinse off again. Spray a tiny bit (TINY BIT!) of silicone lubricant on a paper towel and wipe any bare metal down. I usually dab a tiny, tiny, tiny bit on the rotor, so it shines up insanely bright at the second you brake. I've never noticed any fading or weakening, but can't recommend "oiling your brakes". anic:

Once wheels are on, use turtle wax tire shine gel, the stuff lasts forever.

Hose off the whole car, and if it's really dirty, use stoner's aerosol bug and tar remover. The stuff smells like volatile organic solvents, but it won't damage the resin clear coat. Hose everything off again and wash the whole with a big plaster sized bucket containing a few capfuls of any car wash. Use a sponge or terry cloths and softly wipe down the whole car with the wash solution. Repeat if necessary. Hose off again, and dry with a leaf blower or air compressor, then finish drying with terry cloth towels.

Once it's dry and you make sure it's completely clean, use a carnuba wax blend to shine it up. I've tried just about every wax, wolfgangs, mothers, maguiers, etc... but have two favorites. Turtle wax emerald (or titanium, or platinum) series carnuba blend, and this Teflon wax I can't find any more. I'm sure they still exist.

Coat each panel in a thin layer of wax, wait for it to harden a little (30-60 seconds, and don't wax in the hot sun or it won't harden), then buff it with cloth baby diapers (you can buy laundered ones for nothing), or get a huge pile of old, clean undershirts if the idea of using baby diapers puts you off. Buff each panel to a shine, detail around the star shield, bolts, etc, with a tooth pick (break the end up a little, so it can't do any damage if you push too hard).

I usually wax it with carnuba, then a teflon wax, and then just use a detailing spray or carnuba wax for the next couple of detailings.

Clean the interior with leather cleaner and conditioner (i forget the brand) and wipe everything down in armor all. I made a little clip on an aluminum bar to clean the space between the bottom of the windshield and the dash. I wrap a square tide bottle plastic cutout with paper towels, clip it to the end of the thin metal bar, and spray it with some windex. Armorall the rest of the plastics and vacuum everything out. Shampoo the mats too if you want.

Armorall exterior does a decent job on the black body plastic, but you guys can probably find something better. Also, windex seems to have a tiny bit of wax in it or something, so you can probably find something better. I've never gotten a chance to try that black magic stuff.

I've jacked the car up and cleaned the body panels with soapy water and then silicone lubricant, but that might be overkill .