SAAB 900 (1979-1994) Special Editions

orca · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: Winter Protection Routine

I'm always putting some product or other on the car, but coming up to winter I like to get a strong finish on and pretty much leave it ... maybe top-up mid-winter.
Anyway, this year I was going to see how Bilt Hamber Auto Balm lasted through winter on my Orca and carry on with my usual cleanse and Collinite wax on the black car, but a a couple of weeks ago KevBu sent me some samples of Duragloss products (thanks, pal) and I really like the finish on white, so I'm going to see how it fairs through winter. I can always use the Bilt Hamber product to clean it up and seal it against the elements if it doesn't last.

So ... shiny pictures ... that's what we want, isn't it?

Washed with Simoniz Advanced Wash & Wax, dried off with the "use water to dry the car" method, blow out any areas where it collects and fluff down with a deep pile microfibre.
I then did what is essentially a paint cleanse and seal with Mother's Carnauba Cleaner Wax and topped that with Auto Bright Creme Wax, which darkens the surface a little, on the bonnet and Collinite 915 on the rest of the car. I want to see how the Mother's/Auto Bright products last over a week, or two and I'll top off the bonnet with Collinite 915 in the near(ish) future. I said, "essentially" since I was mucking about with some madcap product blends that seemed like a good idea after a few Guinnesses and high on cleaning products Embarassed

Full story here: http://www.valet-detail.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=466

Pictures? My pleasure ...

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/da_scientist/DSCF9212.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/da_scientist/DSCF9213.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/da_scientist/DSCF9210.jpg

So ... cleansed ... on with the wax:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/da_scientist/DSCF9216.jpg

... and onto the boot ... glaze and wax:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/da_scientist/DSCF9207.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/da_scientist/DSCF9208.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9209.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9222.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9223.jpg

... and in the words of Gordon Ramsay, "DONE" Twisted Evil

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9228.jpg

My Orca got Duragloss 901, 652, 601 and 105 ... multiple coats of 105 over the last couple of weeks. That's a paint wash, cleanse, pre-bond agent and a sealant to the uninitiated:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/duragloss/DSCF9018.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/duragloss/DSCF9022.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/duragloss/DSCF9035.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/duragloss/DSCF9036.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/duragloss/DSCF9032.jpg

Nice beading, too Cool

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/duragloss/DSCF9169.jpg

But today, while drying off it opened the boot to get the shuts and gutters done and SPROING!!!, BANG!, OW!!! SLAM! Oh FFS!
When I opened the boot, one of the struts broke off its mounting and fireout of the gap between the boot and body just as I was dropping it because it had gone all heavy ... once slammed shut, it just wouldn't sodding open Evil or Very Mad

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/orca_miscellaneous/DSCF9231.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/orca_miscellaneous/DSCF9232.jpg

... anyway, a burly neighbour helped me out by pushing down on the right-hand side of the boot and that moved it sufficient for the catch and lock mechanism to work properly, lifted the boot up and got the strut out but it has caused some paint damage. Ho-hum! It's going to have some spray work done on the LHS front arch at the end of October, so I'll ask them to touch in these bits too.

orca · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

Here we are a month on and I have been maintaining this finish with a weekly was an a quick detailer spray.

I'm on the quest for the glossiest, brightest finish I can achieve on my white car. Black is boring now ... too easy to get a mirror finish, so I've turned my attentions to the white car Very Happy

Anyway, after reading all manner of articles about maintenance waxes and QDs ... and which gives the glossiest finish, it occurred to me that I already have a QD that has that very reputation - this Lucas Slick Mist.

So, without further ado ... out ... car ... wash ... dry ... spritz ... DONE Exclamation

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9527.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9531.jpg

... the the eye, it was more glossy and reflective than that - it was a proper mirror finish. After washing and drying, the finish was good but a spritz of Slick Mist, wiped over front/back and then buffed did reveal further gloss. Superb!

Lucas Slick Mist is actually more of a QD+ ... somewhere between a spray wax and a quick detailer. For more information, see:
http://www.lucasoil.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=79&catid=2&loc=show

... and for a little light mirth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pbu9fe4hiQ
WARNING: Contains scenes of bikini girls and mild peril Twisted Evil

DaVinz · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 123 Location: Holland

wow that is just magnificent !
_________________
900 i '87
900 T16 '86
900 LUX '83
99 T '80

cyber · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 162 Location: Tallinn, Estonia

yeeesh... I'm late with doing all that protecting stuff myself... Razz

Have to take car to some specialist now, who has warm and dry place to do it...

Sry for bad quality, taken through window with mobile phone...Its not THAT dark actually...

orca · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject:

We're due for a "Baltic" weekend ... hope for some snow Twisted Evil

cyber · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 162 Location: Tallinn, Estonia

So, got snow??

I have it so much here... It has been pouring down since morning. 20-30 cm for sure and keeps coming. I had a little fun and drove around in town for a while.
Some pics here

one sample (again phonepics, so no real quality...) :

And this is how a car looks after 30 minutes standing....

orca · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:43 pm Post subject:

cyber · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 162 Location: Tallinn, Estonia

usually those pics of white cars turn out a bit blueish, but this one definitely shows nice white car.. Smile

Or is it my monitor??

orca · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:

That one still looks blue to me, but not quite as blue as others - when I focus on the car within a couple of metres, I think it focusses on the reflection and the white balance is skewed to the blue side. If I stand back and focus on the car as a whole, I can get it to read as white Confused

I got a slightly better picture the weekend previous, but the sun was shining and I used a very glossing quick detailer:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2008/DSCF9527.jpg

orca · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:38 am Post subject:

Hey Cyber - We finally got some Twisted Evil

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/orca_miscellaneous/DSCF9658.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/orca_miscellaneous/DSCF9664.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/orca_miscellaneous/DSCF9661.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/orca_miscellaneous/DSCF9666.jpg

cyber · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 162 Location: Tallinn, Estonia

No bad for beginning.. Smile

Traffic is total chaos already?? Noone goes over 30 kph??

Our snow is totally melted away already.. Smile

Has been raining for past couple of days and temp is ~+5. If I close curtains at work I will not see daylight at all.. Razz

In the morning its still dark and in the evening its already dark.. Razz

orca · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

Traffic was okay today ... yesterday, when it came down it took my wife 2 hours to get into work when it usually takes about 15 minutes. Everyone sticks to the main roads and keep off the side roads - good for a SAABer Wink

We're expecting another 20cm tonight and drifts on high ground - that'll be me, then Laughing