Audi Q5 & Correction/Coating
The owner of this Audi Q5 is a deeply passionate person and it was an honor to care for his beautiful vehicle with a thorough, wheels off service. First, he brought it over to our friends at Roc-Euro for a set of coilovers and wheel spacers to give the vehicle a more aggressive look. For the next step, he came to Arete to bring his finish to the next level as well as protect it for an extended life with him.
This unique Q5 came to us needing some serious refinement before we locked in the finish. Our two step paint correction was up to the tall order of repairing existing damage while delivering an immaculate finish. Before we were able to dive into correction it was time for our extensive decontamination process.
Prep
The vehicle came to us on a rainy day and the current protection was doing its job. After our decontamination service the paint will be completely bare, allowing us to view defects objectively as well as create an ideal environment for correction to occur.
The wheels were especially heavily contaminated. Business as usual with German vehicles!
During our initial wash.
An engine bay service was performed during our initial wash.
After our initial decon prior to coating they were showing their true color!
Water is already beginning to sit flat during our wash.
Sparkling once again!
After our initial wash the vehicle was treated with an iron removing chemical to extract ferrous metals and loosen organic contamination.
Following our iron removal the vehicle was treated with a nano-clay towel.
For heavier areas of contamination traditional clay was used.
Following our decon water sat completely flat indicating that the original protection was completely stripped.
Wheel Prep & Coating
We don't waste any time in keeping the detail moving forward! As we finished drying the body, we pulled it onto our lift to remove the wheels in preparation for coating.
After the wheels were removed from the vehicle, a second decontamination was performed to prepare for coating in CQuartz Finest.
Our lead detailer performing the second wheel 'decon', as we often call it.
Following decontamination, CQuartz Finest was applied to the faces and barrels of the wheels.
Correction
Before we start the paint correction process, we take great care to protect surfaces that wouldn't take kindly to polishing! Taping off plastic, vinyl and rubber trim ensures we do not damage or alter the finish of these pieces. For our reference and your enjoyment, we have documented the condition of the paint under LED and halogen light sources. The extent of the marring here has gone well beyond the typical scratching and swirling that is common for a vehicle that's daily driven. The hazy, broad lines seen among the scratches are known as 'buffer trails' and are caused by improper finish polishing. We used different light sources here to accentuate the huge turnaround as well as assure we were achieving true correction!
LED
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Halogen
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Paint Coating Application
Post-correction, pre primer polish.
It was truly a pleasure to care for such a unique Q5. Everything about the vehicle is tasteful and our coating service amplified the already clean look. The depth, clarity, and gloss of the paint surface was truly next level when we rolled it outside. Although the weather didn't cooperate, even in low, gloomy light it looked like a deep pool of water. Its stunning appearance is just one of the benefits of paint coatings, now it's protected for years to come and will be a breeze to maintain for the owner. If long-term protection is something that interests you, reach out! We would be happy to speak with you and create an ideal service.
As always, thanks for reading! Enjoy the finished shots below. We won't soon forget this Audi!
As a part of our service we also applied a coating to the steering wheel.
The shift knob and boot were also coated for lasting protection on heavy wear areas.
