2003 Porsche Boxster S

2003 Porsche Boxster S

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geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Saturday 4th July 2020
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Not much to update lately. Bought some lovely AutoFinesse Esseence wax for the car as I was seriously unimpressed with Victoria concourse wax. The shine is great, but the durability is even better. Driving the car with a lot of heavy rain and there isn't a mark on the paintwork.



Aside from that, it's pretty much been sat outside with the odd drive to keep it fresh.

However, I've replaced my daily car with something a little nicer:





It's a 2012 Focus Titanium with every optional extra you can think of. Blind spot system, adaptive cruise control with the traffic sign recognition system and emergency braking, auto headlights, wipers, dimming mirrors, ambient lighting, folding mirrors with puddle lights, keyless start and entry, parking sensors, and lots more. It's super smooth and quiet to drive, £20 a year to tax and 78mpg. Couldn't ask for more.

I'll be starting another thread on here about that as I have a few plans for it.

Hope everyone is staying safe?

ddom

6,657 posts

47 months

Saturday 4th July 2020
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Awesome thread. Keep the updates coming OP.

geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Thanks! I certainly shall. I'm currently only taking it for the odd drive or two but nothing substantial.

The things that need doing are:

- O/S/F droplink needs changing
- Exhaust needs welding (slight blow)
- Paint wheel bolts
- Get headlamps clear coated

The headlamps need that to hide some of the slight buff marks here and there, and to stop the yellowing. I'd do it myself with a can of lacquer but I know I'd mess it up as I don't have the best of luck with spray paints. I'll get a bodyshop to do it properly.

ATM

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
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Can a bit of clear wrap achieve the same as clear coat? Surely you just need something to fill the little abrasions so cant the glue of the wrap do this?

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
quotequote all
geraintthomas said:
Replaced the front boot struts for £23. Why I didn't do this earlier I've no idea. You only have to lift the lid a little and it opens itself, and considering how heavy it is that's fantastic.



That's about as exciting as things have been for the car in a wee while.
I need these too! Could you link me where you got them as all the ones I can find are £20 each!

Car is look great as per normal!

geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
quotequote all
No problem! I've looked at my purchase history and they've been increased to £28.99, which is annoying.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-BONNET-HOOD-GAS-SPRI...

But they're worth it. Need to get another set for the rear boot.

geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
quotequote all
ATM said:
Can a bit of clear wrap achieve the same as clear coat? Surely you just need something to fill the little abrasions so cant the glue of the wrap do this?
I'm going to look into this... that's an incredible idea.

geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
quotequote all
I've just bought 2 rolls of 100cmx30cm clear vinyl wrap for £10 on Amazon, arriving tomorrow. Can't wait to try these out as the edge of the headlights has a nice lip where the rubber seals fit over, so it should look fantastic.

ATM, if this works, I'm buying you a beer.

ATM

18,089 posts

218 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
quotequote all
geraintthomas said:
I've just bought 2 rolls of 100cmx30cm clear vinyl wrap for £10 on Amazon, arriving tomorrow. Can't wait to try these out as the edge of the headlights has a nice lip where the rubber seals fit over, so it should look fantastic.

ATM, if this works, I'm buying you a beer.
Err hang on. It was just an idea. I'm not that confident ... now.

I've seen a few you tube type videos of people buffing their lights with various grades of wet and dry sand paper. Then they apply clear coat as a form of protection. So if you cant achieve the finish with a spray then wrap feels like the next best thing and cant be anywhere near as hard to get a smooth finish. Lets see some before pics - how bad are your lights now?

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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Your work is fantastic! I love the attention to detail and the perseverance, working it all out and making it right!

The condition of yours is definitely better than mine, and you've done some little fixes here and there that I really want to do to mine. I'll have to pick your brains.

I'm lucky that mine has cruise control, but this does mean that if I want to replace the stalks (self-cancelling problem), I need to get a cruise control stalk module. I'll have to have a look at it and see if your fix will work. Really nice to see how my car could look with the flaws sorted out.

Are you still doing the freelance detailing?

Escy

3,906 posts

148 months

Thursday 9th July 2020
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The cruise control stalk is separate and can be swapped over.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Friday 10th July 2020
quotequote all
Escy said:
The cruise control stalk is separate and can be swapped over.
I thought that the trip computer stalk was separate but the cruise control stalk is part of the entire module? I'd be delighted to be mistaken!

GR_TVR

712 posts

83 months

Friday 10th July 2020
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Jimmy Recard said:
Escy said:
The cruise control stalk is separate and can be swapped over.
I thought that the trip computer stalk was separate but the cruise control stalk is part of the entire module? I'd be delighted to be mistaken!
Certainly on my 996 it's the computer stalk that's fixed and the cruise control that's separate - I'd imagine it's the same on yours!

geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Friday 10th July 2020
quotequote all
ATM said:
Err hang on. It was just an idea. I'm not that confident ... now.

I've seen a few you tube type videos of people buffing their lights with various grades of wet and dry sand paper. Then they apply clear coat as a form of protection. So if you cant achieve the finish with a spray then wrap feels like the next best thing and cant be anywhere near as hard to get a smooth finish. Lets see some before pics - how bad are your lights now?
They're not terrible. I've given them a polish yesterday and they look new again, but in a few months they'll go yellow. Then it's back to polishing, and it's an endless cycle. If there was anything I could use that I could coat on, it would be great. I may look into some UV protector, if that's such a thing.

But I've given the wrap a try. I can certainly see how it would work but I couldn't get a good enough finish. There were always bubbles, even when using a heat gun and having my girlfriend to slowly lower the vinyl onto the headlamp, and when there were bubbles you'd press them out which leaves a ring mark where it was. I may give it another go but I really don't think I'll be able to do it!

It's a shame! That £10 could have fixed it, rather than god knows how much to get a body shop to clear coat it. I'd do it myself as I have lots of clear coat, but I don't trust myself on headlights that are quite expensive.

Jimmy Recard said:
Your work is fantastic! I love the attention to detail and the perseverance, working it all out and making it right!

The condition of yours is definitely better than mine, and you've done some little fixes here and there that I really want to do to mine. I'll have to pick your brains.

I'm lucky that mine has cruise control, but this does mean that if I want to replace the stalks (self-cancelling problem), I need to get a cruise control stalk module. I'll have to have a look at it and see if your fix will work. Really nice to see how my car could look with the flaws sorted out.

Are you still doing the freelance detailing?
Very much appreciated! Thank you! It's been one hell of a process to get it to where it is now. It's amazing how big of a difference the small details make, and when there are lots of small details done, it transforms the car. For instance, the now gloss-black radio surround, I sat in the car and imagined that matt black the way it was with some scratches on it, and realised how bad it would look in comparison. Then it's the same for the yellow speedo, then everything else on the car.

The self cancellation thing is part of the air bag clock spring if I remember correctly! It's a little tab that pushes the indicator back, but gets rounded off over time, so you just have to make it a flat surface again for it to catch. The cruise control won't have an issue as it's separate from the assembly - I'm actually looking to add this into mine. Jealous that you have it!

As a general rule, I don't do anymore freelance detailing, but I just did my girlfriends parents car so I suppose that means I can do someone else's! Any photos of yours?

And I'd gladly help out on anything, just give me a shout.


ATM

18,089 posts

218 months

Friday 10th July 2020
quotequote all
geraintthomas said:
ATM said:
Err hang on. It was just an idea. I'm not that confident ... now.

I've seen a few you tube type videos of people buffing their lights with various grades of wet and dry sand paper. Then they apply clear coat as a form of protection. So if you cant achieve the finish with a spray then wrap feels like the next best thing and cant be anywhere near as hard to get a smooth finish. Lets see some before pics - how bad are your lights now?
They're not terrible. I've given them a polish yesterday and they look new again, but in a few months they'll go yellow. Then it's back to polishing, and it's an endless cycle. If there was anything I could use that I could coat on, it would be great. I may look into some UV protector, if that's such a thing.

But I've given the wrap a try. I can certainly see how it would work but I couldn't get a good enough finish. There were always bubbles, even when using a heat gun and having my girlfriend to slowly lower the vinyl onto the headlamp, and when there were bubbles you'd press them out which leaves a ring mark where it was. I may give it another go but I really don't think I'll be able to do it!

It's a shame! That £10 could have fixed it, rather than god knows how much to get a body shop to clear coat it. I'd do it myself as I have lots of clear coat, but I don't trust myself on headlights that are quite expensive.
There must be a way to prevent the yellowing without clear coat and perhaps without wrapping. What about these modern ceramic coatings?

I know you can paint panels with just a brush but then you need to spend a lot of time buffing them up afterwards. The paint or clear coat is just a layer of stuff which hardens. If you dont get the required finish spraying yourself there are other ways to improve on it after. The general advice is that spraying achieves a better finish quicker but the other methods are equally doable.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Friday 10th July 2020
quotequote all
GR_TVR said:
Certainly on my 996 it's the computer stalk that's fixed and the cruise control that's separate - I'd imagine it's the same on yours!
geraintthomas said:
Very much appreciated! Thank you! It's been one hell of a process to get it to where it is now. It's amazing how big of a difference the small details make, and when there are lots of small details done, it transforms the car. For instance, the now gloss-black radio surround, I sat in the car and imagined that matt black the way it was with some scratches on it, and realised how bad it would look in comparison. Then it's the same for the yellow speedo, then everything else on the car.

The self cancellation thing is part of the air bag clock spring if I remember correctly! It's a little tab that pushes the indicator back, but gets rounded off over time, so you just have to make it a flat surface again for it to catch. The cruise control won't have an issue as it's separate from the assembly - I'm actually looking to add this into mine. Jealous that you have it!

As a general rule, I don't do anymore freelance detailing, but I just did my girlfriends parents car so I suppose that means I can do someone else's! Any photos of yours?

And I'd gladly help out on anything, just give me a shout.
Well, if I was mistaken about the cruise control thing, thanks. That's very helpful to know.

Mine is on this thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
So far I haven't made as much progress as hoped. Removed the RS badge from the rear rolleyes and replaced the aux belt and tensioner (the first car ever to leave me stranded!)
I have a minor leak to sort now and it's booked into a specialist for a service in August, because I want the stamp in the book and it's the earliest I could get!


geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Friday 10th July 2020
quotequote all
ATM said:
There must be a way to prevent the yellowing without clear coat and perhaps without wrapping. What about these modern ceramic coatings?

I know you can paint panels with just a brush but then you need to spend a lot of time buffing them up afterwards. The paint or clear coat is just a layer of stuff which hardens. If you dont get the required finish spraying yourself there are other ways to improve on it after. The general advice is that spraying achieves a better finish quicker but the other methods are equally doable.
I've just been out and have applied some AutoGlym Extra Gloss Protection as I've read up online that someone had been detailing cars for years and uses it for headlights. He mentioned that using it every few months stops the yellowing. I've got a couple of bottles of it surprisingly, and after using it they feel like glass, so it's certainly coated it!

Jimmy Recard said:
Well, if I was mistaken about the cruise control thing, thanks. That's very helpful to know.

Mine is on this thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
So far I haven't made as much progress as hoped. Removed the RS badge from the rear rolleyes and replaced the aux belt and tensioner (the first car ever to leave me stranded!)
I have a minor leak to sort now and it's booked into a specialist for a service in August, because I want the stamp in the book and it's the earliest I could get!
Ah excellent. I know yours, I saw it not too long ago and loved the interior. My brother in law used to own a 996 and had the same interior, and it was beautiful.

I'm more than happy to detail yours one day if you'd want, and to give tips on how to maintain it. It's too nice of a car not to get into amazing condition!

Keep it up though, you'll love it.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Friday 10th July 2020
quotequote all
geraintthomas said:
Jimmy Recard said:
Well, if I was mistaken about the cruise control thing, thanks. That's very helpful to know.

Mine is on this thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
So far I haven't made as much progress as hoped. Removed the RS badge from the rear rolleyes and replaced the aux belt and tensioner (the first car ever to leave me stranded!)
I have a minor leak to sort now and it's booked into a specialist for a service in August, because I want the stamp in the book and it's the earliest I could get!
Ah excellent. I know yours, I saw it not too long ago and loved the interior. My brother in law used to own a 996 and had the same interior, and it was beautiful.

I'm more than happy to detail yours one day if you'd want, and to give tips on how to maintain it. It's too nice of a car not to get into amazing condition!

Keep it up though, you'll love it.
That would be great, but don't worry, I can get it detailed! I was more asking out of curiosity because I thought by now you'd probably be touring secret supercar collections belonging to rich and famous people to detail for them hehe

Now the weather is looking better and I have places to go, I'm going to be making the most of the car and doing odd jobs here and there. Incremental improvements rather than a blitz smile

geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
Hah I wish! Incremental is the way to go to see the evolution of it. You appreciate the car more too, and get to know it better. I've had every single 'common problem' you can think of, so if anything goes wrong just give me a shout and I should be able to give you some guidance!


Headlights are looking like new this evening after the AutoGlym Extra Gloss Protection layer. Hopefully this will help stop the yellowing if applied regularly, so I'll give it a try.



Aside from this, not much to report, other than the AutoFinesse Essence wax looking lovely during the day today.






geraintthomas

Original Poster:

897 posts

106 months

Wednesday 15th July 2020
quotequote all
Went for a drive this evening to get some fresh air, and also an excuse to take more photos.

I'm quite surprised how different the car looks from the start. All of the small adjustments have added up.





















Thanks all


Edited by geraintthomas on Wednesday 15th July 23:15


Edited by geraintthomas on Wednesday 15th July 23:16