wash/clay bar/polish/wax

[cvrefugee]

My friend and I cleaned up my car this morning/afternoon, I think it took us about four hours to finish it. We started with a regular wash, used a clay bar on the hood, roof, and rear hatch, then used a two-stage polish/wax (AutoGlym). I brought my camera along to take some photos of the final result.



We used an orbital buffer to get the hood really nice and shiny
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail01.JPG

What you can't see are the dozens of chips on the front fascia (stupid gravel trucks)
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail02.JPG

If my car was darker this would have a mirror finish
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail03.JPG

You can see my friend's Integra poking out
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail04.JPG

Waxing the windows works wonders (nice use of alliteration!)
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail05.JPG

I was messing around with the shutter speed so I made my friend run around to test it out
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail06.JPG

The clay bar really takes out the nasty dirt and grit
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail07.JPG

"Is that one of dem Skee-ons?"
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail08.JPG

Some french sticker I got for free when I was in Portugal, I think they make clothes or something
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail09.JPG

That's my buddy's Element with 6000K HIDs, my car has 4300K
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail10.JPG

Another shot during the sunset
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail11.JPG

Now just my car
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail12.JPG

Friend's old 1998 Acura Integra GSR
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail13.JPG

Domokun power!
http://pic.phyrefile.com/2008/01/04/Detail14.JPG

 

[NutBucket]

Just had to login to say this:

Stock halogen reflector + HID = Fail

Otherwise, nice job on the detailing. Guess you guys must know what you're doing to break out an orbital buffer. Should have went with wax over sealant for the best protection though

 

[AMCRambler]

Wow. Nice wax job. I wish I had 4 hours to spend doing a real good polish job on my car. Also it's really cold here now so it'd be pretty impossible to do it anyway.

 

[cvrefugee]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Just had to login to say this:

Stock halogen reflector + HID = Fail

Otherwise, nice job on the detailing. Guess you guys must know what you're doing to break out an orbital buffer. Should have went with wax over sealant for the best protection though

The beam pattern isn't all that bad. There is some glare but the Toyota bB (Japanese counterpart) had an HID option for the same model, so I'm guessing they may have used a different reflector but it definitely did not have a projector setup.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by:
The beam pattern isn't all that bad. There is some glare but the Toyota bB (Japanese counterpart) had an HID option for the same model, so I'm guessing they may have used a different reflector but it definitely did not have a projector setup.

Actually, real HID set up has V-shape cut-off light pattern, where plate designed into either the reflector or projector.

http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/Cutoff.jpg

Light pattern can be very easy identified not just forward but side way as well.

http://home.comcast.net/~passion4gps/15feet.JPG

W/ your non-OEM HID, you may think it is "not that bad" but for incoming traffic, however, you could really put some strain into their vision specially when it rains.

Real HID actually produce less glare than regular halogen, that's why if have use retro HID kit, then you really should adjsut the Headlight aim to much lower position.


BTW, great waxing job.

 

[cvrefugee]

I have re-aimed the headlights to minimize glare and so far nobody has flashed me. In fact, people were flashing me when I had the stock halogens, so I knew it would be necessary when I installed the HID setup. Eventually I'd love to retrofit some projectors but I have no clue how to do it.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Originally posted by: cvrefugee
I have re-aimed the headlights to minimize glare and so far nobody has flashed me. In fact, people were flashing me when I had the stock halogens, so I knew it would be necessary when I installed the HID setup. Eventually I'd love to retrofit some projectors but I have no clue how to do it.

I have seen many using retro projector lens.
(you can tell which one is retro fit either reflector or projector when they pull up in the traffice where light reflect on trunk of the car in front.)

But if those projector wasn't designed for HID w/ Cut-off, then it will still be the same effect as regular reflector housing.