Detailing the 5

[JQ]

My 1998 Mk2 is having the rear arches repaired and welded in 10 days time, due to the dreaded rust. It will involve spraying the whole rear of the car as I'm getting them to sort the boot as well as there's some small bubbling there too.

I would like to detail the car to get the paintwork back to it's original condition (well almost), ie. Wash, clay, polish, wax, gloss. This is not something I've done before and it's not something I want to do twice in quick succession, as I just don't have the time (new son arrived a week ago to go with a 15 month old).

So the big question is, should I do this before it goes for a respray or after?

ps, Ive not put this in the detailing section as I don't want t get lynched by the detailing police - it's something I know nothing about.

[T_Pot]

after

[MX-5 Lazza]

Definitely after. That way the clay barring will remove the inevitable overspray.

[JQ]

cheers

[snotrag]

I dont think its a good idea to be properly polishing paint straight after a respray - it needs time (weeks?) to fully harden... doesnt it? your painter will reccomend no doubt.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I think we are talking about detailing the rest of the car to bring it up to the standard of the new paint. I hope so anyway - that's what I was assuming...

[JQ]

Cheers guys. I also posted this question on MX5Nutz and someone there came up with a very good solution which saves me a load of elbow grease and cash - as I don't have to go out and buy all the detailing gear. I'm going to get the bodyshop to run their machine polisher over the rest of the car when they're doing the re-spray. Then I'll just wax it after and I'm good to go.

[MrV]

JQ said:

Cheers guys. I also posted this question on MX5Nutz and someone there came up with a very good solution which saves me a load of elbow grease and cash - as I don't have to go out and buy all the detailing gear. I'm going to get the bodyshop to run their machine polisher over the rest of the car when they're doing the re-spray. Then I'll just wax it after and I'm good to go.

That would have been me glad to have helped though

[JQ]

MrV said:

JQ said:

Cheers guys. I also posted this question on MX5Nutz and someone there came up with a very good solution which saves me a load of elbow grease and cash - as I don't have to go out and buy all the detailing gear. I'm going to get the bodyshop to run their machine polisher over the rest of the car when they're doing the re-spray. Then I'll just wax it after and I'm good to go.

That would have been me glad to have helped though

Much appreciated. I don't think me spending a day detailing the car was going to go down too well with Mrs JQ, so you've helped me dodge a bullet on that one. I get in enough trouble just washing and waxing far too regularly.