OK well having seen how good Mike Holroyd's old Octavia looked the other day after a bit of polish and elbow grease I thought I'd have a go at our Fabia.

 

The car was bought new in March 2001 so is thirteen and a half years old and has 136k on the clock.  Whilst it is looked after mechanically it doesn't get washed that often due to small kids etc and has lived under a lime tree until earlier this year when we moved house.  The paint was therefore a bit dull.

 

So - jetwashed down, snow foamed with a mix of Bilt Hamber Auto Foam and Simoniz shampoo then rinsed.  Attacked all the shuts with a detailing brush, rinsed again.  Snow foamed again and then went over it all with a Meguirs microfibre washmit and a noodle washmit.  Dried with  a silicon blade and then a microfiber towel.

 

Had a go at the bonnet with Autoglym Paint Renovator and then went over the whole car with Auotglym Super Resin Polish using a Perfect Palm applicator, buffed off with a 12v random orbital polisher.  Went over a few bits again and then, as I didn't have time for the Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection  finished off with a 1:4 solution of Bilt Hamber Auto QD.

 

I reckon it look pretty good for it's age...

 

PS - It's about to go up for sale if anyone is interested in a cheap reliable runabout...

That looks damned good for the age

Can I ask why you diluted the BHQD?

Looks pretty good!  Same age as the mongrel, right down to the month.

That looks damned good for the age

Can I ask why you diluted the BHQD?

Thanks for that - although if I am honest it probably isn't as good as it could be if I had more time.

As for the dilution the BH website suggests up to a 1 to 5 dilution for a mid-gloss and I was really looking to just tidy up the polish dust and give it a bit of protection without going too over the top for what is an oldish car.

The octy and mx5 may get a similar treatment next week as my 10 year old helped today and loved doing it so while the interest is there and all that. . .

Looks pretty good!  Same age as the mongrel, right down to the month.

I think yours has moved a bit further from the original spec though ;-)

Most of the paint is original though

Thanks for that - although if I am honest it probably isn't as good as it could be if I had more time.

As for the dilution the BH website suggests up to a 1 to 5 dilution for a mid-gloss and I was really looking to just tidy up the polish dust and give it a bit of protection without going too over the top for what is an oldish car.

The octy and mx5 may get a similar treatment next week as my 10 year old helped today and loved doing it so while the interest is there and all that. . .

I have used BHQD extensively and have used it diluted up to 50% as adrying aid and at other dilution rates as described by BH

BUT I always used it neat as a protection topper as I found this had the best durability and shine..and you dont need much

It really doesnt matter what the paintwork is like, use it neat and it will last a lot longer...if you want it to

The car is looking very good indeed mate - great detail and a nice vibrant colour brought back to the car!