355 back from KDS Keltec - image heavy

[Mart-1]

Kelly at KDS Keltec has given my 355 a spruce up recently, and just sent me some before and after photos. KDS work on some amazing cars and i'd highly recommend them

The 355 paintwork was pretty good already but I could see a few swirl marks appearing here and there and thought i'd treat it to a paint correction

Kelly's a genuinely great guy, and spent plenty of time beforehand and afterwards, explaining how to keep it looking good. I've thrown away my synthetic chamois leathers and sponges, and now have lambswool wash mitts, and drying towels that are a 1000 times softer, nicer, and more expensive than my bathroom towels

FYI, Lepsons are just opposite, for top quality wheel refurbs. Tony, the MD, gave me a tour around his facility and it's quite an amazing operation he runs there

Here's some 'before' photos. Kelly explained to me that polishes, like Autoglym that i'd been using, help to disguise swirl marks by filling in the small scratches. These photos are after all the polishes and products on the car were removed










Here are some 'after' photos. It probably looks better now than when it left the factory












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[Audi 525i]

Like those pictures very much. Car looks stunning.

Just out of interest - how are the rear butresses on your vehicle? Have they needed any corrective work?

[Sarnie]

The bit about using a sponge was a joke right??

[Mart-1]

Audi 525i said:

Like those pictures very much. Car looks stunning.

Just out of interest - how are the rear butresses on your vehicle? Have they needed any corrective work?

Cheers

Rear buttresses are very good, though there's a subtle hint in one small place of corrective work in the future. I don't know how often the buttresses need doing but they look to be ok for now

[Mart-1]

Sarnie said:

The bit about using a sponge was a joke right??

I've used sponges on the Porsche for years, though I think (hope) I moved on to a cheap mitt when I got the 355 but I may have used a sponge on it. I was slow to learn about correct washing/drying procedures

The thing is, I keep them at a really great car store, but they insist on using sponges to wash cars and even have a bit of fun at my expense when they see my lambswool wash mitt and drying towels now

I always wash my cars now, but other owners don't, and their F40's, Bugatti's, Astons, are lovingly sponged down

[Audi 525i]

When a car looks this good, this shiny and this clean, it must be a wrench to drive it in these cold, damp conditions, exposing it to the sludge and grime of the autumnal season.

[Mart-1]

Audi 525i said:

When a car looks this good, this shiny and this clean, it must be a wrench to drive it in these cold, damp conditions, exposing it to the sludge and grime of the autumnal season.

I don't mind cleaning it, and I bought it to enjoy it. Having said that, it usually only gets runs out in nice dry weather. Once winter roads are salted it stays in it's fitted pyjamas in the store

There are one or two owners who have cars at the store who are different apparently. One brings a deckchair to the store and only ever sits looking at his P&J. Another has a rare Subaru rally car with delivery miles, cannot drive, never drives it, and arrives twice a year to clean it (plus any other cars the store have waiting to clean)

[Mart-1]

Sarnie said:

The bit about using a sponge was a joke right??

sorry, meant to mention, Kelly told me that as much damage to paintwork is done by leathering off with an old chamois, as washing with a sponge

from now on it's soft drying towels only

[Sarnie]

Mart-1 said:

sorry, meant to mention, Kelly told me that as much damage to paintwork is done by leathering off with an old chamois, as washing with a sponge

from now on it's soft drying towels only

Correct. I just couldn't work out what I was more astonished at, the chamois or the sponge being used!

[Steve12NG]

Hi All. I'm very new to the Ferrari ownership game, and right now the 355 looks absolutely stunning.

I would be shattered to learn that something I've done in cleaning / polishing it may damage the paintwork etc.,

So, what should owners do to keep their P & J looking as good as possible?

And, perhaps more importantly, what shouldn't they do?

What products etc should be used and what should be avoided?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Sarnie]

Steve12NG said:

Hi All. I'm very new to the Ferrari ownership game, and right now the 355 looks absolutely stunning.

I would be shattered to learn that something I've done in cleaning / polishing it may damage the paintwork etc.,

So, what should owners do to keep their P & J looking as good as possible?

And, perhaps more importantly, what shouldn't they do?

What products etc should be used and what should be avoided?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Don't use a sponge or chamois for a start!

Then check out http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php and be prepared to get addicted!

[bing]

chamois is ok right to dry the car with?

[SonnyM]

KDS Keltec have done some awesome stuff - I'm going to get them to bleach my car soon...

[christer]

+1 for KDS Keltec - awesome quality of work.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Which of the KDS packages was this out of interest?

[Mart-1]

bing said:

chamois is ok right to dry the car with?

No - I don't think chamois leathers are to be recommended, as if there are tiny dirt particles on the surface still, they simply scrape them around the paint. As mentioned earlier, I was surprised when Kelly told me that as much damage is done drying a car off with a chamois, as using a sponge to wash it

I use the super-soft Dodo Juice drying towels I got from Kelly when I collected my car, and they work a treat

There's a whole world of obsessive compulsive cleaning equipment out there, so beware!

[Mart-1]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Which of the KDS packages was this out of interest?

It was the 'Silver' package

A GTechniq coating was also applied afterwards to protect the newly corrected immaculate paintwork. It makes it so much easier to keep the car looking good now

[SonnyM]

Mart-1 said:

bing said:

chamois is ok right to dry the car with?

No - I don't think chamois leathers are to be recommended, as if there are tiny dirt particles on the surface still, they simply scrape them around the paint. As mentioned earlier, I was surprised when Kelly told me that as much damage is done drying a car off with a chamois, as using a sponge to wash it

I use the super-soft Dodo Juice drying towels I got from Kelly when I collected my car, and they work a treat

There's a whole world of obsessive compulsive cleaning equipment out there, so beware!

Get the original Wundertowels from CleanYourCar.co.uk - I've had mine for years and they still work faultlessly.

[marky911]

Car looks stunning OP.

Amazing results these guys achieve!