​With 800+ horse power, a Viper V-10 motor, fully caged interior, below seat exhaust cut off and fat racing slicks...it was clear that this was not your daddy's Challenger!

Having to be trailered to our Gilbert location (due to it not being street legal) - it had a rather unassuming presence about it. From 10 feet back, if you didn't take note of the racing slicks and battery switch on the rear bumper, you wouldn't know this was a 1 of 50 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

If you did happen to walk up a bit closer to take a look at the inside, the fully caged interior may pique your interest. However, once you looked  and saw what was under the hood...your intrigue would likely be confirmed.

​Now while we all love cool / rare cars, this story focuses around the appearance (specifically the paint) of this Drag Pak and how we took this:

​Now then, if you've recovered from the initial shock of how bad this paint was before, we will continue our journey...
 
You see, the paint on this Challenger was not totally factory. It had been re-sprayed and received a full wet sand (evident by all the sanding marks LEFT in the paint!) to remove orange peel and achieve a higher level of clarity. However, that whole clarity and gloss thing doesn't quite come together without the proper finishing work. While in the shade the reflections were decent and not as "wavy" as you typically see on today’s factory paint jobs. However, under direct lighting the paint's finish was fairly frightening.
 
Lets take a closer look at the car in its entirety:

What you're seeing above is a combination of different types of defects in the paint. We have lots of swirl marks and Random Deep scratches. Also you will see lots of "buffer marks" which are also called holograms due to their 3D appearance when seen in person. Lastly, the dull grey looking spots are actually sanding marks (which can also be described as uniform deep scratches). The graph below will help to put a more precise visual to what you see above.

As you can see, this was not an "isolated" section of damaged paint. No no, it had taken over! Top to bottom, this whole car was covered with buffer trails from the previous detailer, sanding marking, RIDS (Random Isolated Deep Scratches) and even some things we are not able to fix (fish eyes and solvent pops). We had, undoubtedly, quite the battle in front of us.

Once washed - we needed to remove any bonded contaminates on the paint (such as overspray, body shop dust, brake dust, fall out and so on). 

Once the bonded topical contaminates had been removed - it was then time to put together a paint correction process that would work well with this particular car. Every paint job is different and requires a different approach depending on multiple factors (hardness/softness of the paint, paint age, paint thickness etc) so we treat each car on a case by case basis. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to paint correction.

As  you can see above - our test section came out quite well. The right side being "before" and the left side being "after". While performing a test spot and getting it to turn out well is not usually super difficult - repeating that exact process over the entire vehicle is - and takes many hours to perform correctly. 

​For the upper part of the trunk our Rupes 75 pneumatic was a dream as always. We combine it with a Carpro Gloss Pad for finishing work. It fit right into that slight curve just perfectly and left an insane amount of gloss in its wake.

Below you can see the middle is completely undone, the right side has been "cut" Meguiars M205 and a Meguiars Foam Cutting Disc and the left side has been "Final Polished" with a Meguiars Finishing Disc and Carpro's Essence. We used the Rupes MKII 21 for our larger areas and let me tell you, these little Italian machines are true work horses! 
Now that we knew the combo for our first line of attack, it was off to the races. A very slow, tedious, time consuming race!

​Another interesting note on these cars...the owner informed us the side windows are plexi-glass. Thus much easier to scratch than standard glass. We took a little extra precaution by applying plastic over them and of course taped off ALL 1,832 miles of plastic trim as well to insure that while polishing the paint we did not stain the trim.

​Here's a quick little detailers tip - for full correction work like this, especially with many hours and many hands on the car, its often easy to miss something small. It happens. However, that’s why after our final polishing step we will meticulously circle the car to see if we did in fact miss something. If we find anything, we'll then use a grease marker to mark off the area to let whoever is doing the spot polishing/correcting know "Hey, this needs attention".

It was very small, but we saw it, so we wanted it gone!
 
For especially deep sanding marks like what we had circled, Meguiars M100 was what we reached for to be able to give us the extra cut we needed in order to remove deeper scratches such as those.
 
Our little Rupes iBrid Nano also comes in extremely handy for jobs like this. Put into rotary mode, it was a great tool to trace around the badges to get as close as possible without damaging the badge itself:

​Finally, after multiple days and multiple hours - the correction was complete and it was time to get to the good stuff. A super rare car deserves a super rare coating - and the new CQuartz Finest Reserve was up to bat. With a 3 year warranty, extreme protection and a wet look that literally lasts for years, this is the​ product to top off a full paint correction job.

Before applying a nano-ceramic paint coating (and really any paint protection for that matter), it's very important to make sure the paint is squeaky clean and free of any polishing oils, finger prints or anything else that may interfere with the product bonding properly to the paint. This is where CarPro's Eraser comes into play, to remove those polishing oils and leave the surface perfectly prepped.

​After two coats, with an hour of wait time between coats - the gloss on this unique Challenger was coming to life:

​You can see our yellow infrared lamps in the reflection of the fender here. I.R lamp curing is a must when installing a high-grade nano ceramic paint coating. It allows the coating to actually swell up and cure a bit thicker, harder and glossier.  It also catalyzes the bonding of the product to the paint, which is most definitely what we want.

​The finished product was truly something to behold:

​It was a long and hard fought battle - but in the end we were able to win. Considering this was the 3rd vehicle the same owner has brought to us - I think its safe to say he's been satisfied with our work (the others were also both black, both swirled and both awesome muscle cars - GT350 and an all original 1981 Z28 Camaro w/5,000 original miles).
 
I hope you all enjoyed the eye candy, the process and more of the eye candy! I will be back soon with more fun paint correction and details we've been working on.
 
Thanks all!

It’s March 2017 - the weather is getting hot and so are the cars in the W&W shop. Last week we had a lot of gloss and a lot of horse power sitting in the shop. Two C7 Corvettes – one a black convertible and the other a Shark Grey z06.

I don’t care who you are – getting to come to work and see that sitting in your garage never gets old!

On the menu for the black C7 convertible was full frontal Suntek Ultra clear bra, full paint correction, CQuartz Finest nano-ceramic paint coating, wheels pulled and coated and CQuartz Fabric applied to the cloth top.

For the Z06 – more straight forward with full paint correction and CQuartz Finest applied to the wheel faces (it already had Xpel applied to the full front).


First up was the z06 since it was on a bit of a tighter time schedule than the black C7. While usually we have some insane before and after photos of how beat up the paint was prior to us getting our hands on it, this was not one of those cases!
The owner was very savvy when it came to maintaining his cars finish – and it really showed when we began work on it.

So, that being said, many of these will be more eye-candy photos than insane before and after’s, but when does Z06 eye candy ever get old !
​

Here she is getting pampered with a foam bath by big Noah with Iron-X Snow Foam prior to us pulling her in and claying her.

In the background you can see the z06 in the beginning stages of correction. Meguiars M100 and a microfiber finishing pad on the Rupes MK 21 and ES 21 were seriously slaying the swirls. Followed up with CarPro’s Essence on a green Buff n’ Shine pad…it was beginning to glow.

Up front however, you see the starting stages of the Vert’ C7 having Suntek Ultra applied to it. Oh it looks messy now, but it’ll be a gem soon enough.

A little Photo Grid action here with the C7 getting protected with Suntek Ultra:
​
Vents pulled – you know it. Badges pulled as well….of course!

Eventually the rolls were reversed and the z06 was brought back out into the main garage to receive its CQuartz Finest treatment, while the black C7 was pulled into the polishing bay for it’s turn under the Rupes…you may notice something else kinda cool in the back though as well:

Easy enough to see the wheels are pulled, but whats holding the C7 up is our newest addition to the shop!

While we’ve had a mid-rise lift for quite some time – it was not ideal for all the different types of cars we’d have in and need to put up. Sometimes the arms were to short to reach the proper lift points and we found ourselves spending as much time setting the car up as we did actually working on the wheels!

Fast forward to now…our new friend, the Quick Jack!
It has two locking lift points – the lowest of which is seen above and the highest of which maxing out at 21.5” (about 1’ higher than seen). With a 7,000 lbs lifting capacity but super easy functionality (I can easily carry both of these lift rails – they weigh maybe 50 lbs each?) this baby was love at first sight.

At one point, even with 2,500 sqft…things were a bit snug in the shop.

The C7 was behind me in this photo and in front, the z06, a Dodge Hellcat (also wearing CQ Finest), an 81’ Z28 Camaro with 5,000 original miles and all matching parts as well as original paint (so sweet!), a Tesla Model S and a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. Quite the bit of eye candy yes, but it did make things pretty cramped up for a while!

Our Hellcat friend was getting some vinyl installed while the Tesla was finishing up getting a full PPF wrap (that’s a LOT of film)

Now this C7, being black, did not quite cooperate as nicely as the Shark Grey. It was swirled, but not the worst that we’d seen. However, we wanted to make sure we cut out everything possible so we used the same M100 / Megs Microfiber Finishing Pad combo. It DID cut out the swirls, but also left a nice amount of haze that took a little doing to fully remove. Under most any other lighting, it would have looked flawless, but in the light room, VERY faint marring (which I could not even capture in a photo) was evident and required another final polishing step to fully remove.

FINALLY – we got to the point where we could eraser the paint and start applying CQuartz Finest.

That’s some pretty black paint…just sayin’.

The fun part about these Vettes…is the fender wells are carpeted. A traditional scrubbing and power washing doesn’t really 100% clean them. Often times a brush and vacuum is what’s needed to really get these babies clean (as seen here with Mr. Henry working away to get them looking right).

Both Vettes were I.R cured after the coating was applied – which always looks cool:

After being pulled and CQuartz coatings applied to the faces, barrels and calipers…the C7 wheels were looking stellar. We’ve been spraying on CQuartz Finest for more intricate wheels as of late and it really does look amazing when finished:

Once we kicked the lights back on…the last thing to do as the coating cured, was apply CQuartz Fabric to the top:

The next morning when the owner came to pick up – he was quite blown away (which never…ever…gets old).

Now our “house policy” is – if you have CQuartz Finest applied to your car – we do the first follow up wash. While we consider ourselves very good at what we do – when you rack up lots of hours into a job – it’s usually a good idea to lay a fresh set of eyes on the work you did. We also like to inspect to make sure the coating bonded correctly to everything and lastly, we give our customers a 1 on 1 lesson on how to best care for their newly protected finish.

​If you’ve recently purchased – or are considering purchasing a new vehicle, there are a few things you may want to consider doing once you drive off the dealer lot. We’ve put together a Top 5 “New Car Owner” recommendation list so that your new car stays looking new.
 
 
1. Paint Protection Film (Clear Bra) 
While some people like to build suspense by “saving the best for last”, I figured I’d start out with one of the most important things first. In Arizona, where rock chips are life, you should strongly consider PPF (paint protection film) before you go on any road trips or freeway drives.

   Whether you track it, show it or drive it daily – paint protection film will help prevent damage from rocks, road debris and other blunt force hits. Combined with a self healing top coat and a 10 year warranty (in the case of Suntek Ultra and Xpel Ultimate) – it is the best way to make sure your finish is protected from the damage it faces everyday.

A quality repaint of just your front bumper can range between $650-1,000+ (ask me how I know!) Combine that with the fact you’ll be without your car for several days, your car will enter a body shop environment (where often times overspray and body shop dust can end up covering your car inside and out) and you will no longer have a factory paint job – having paint protection film applied from the very beginning really is a no brainer.
 
Over the last several years, PPF has become more durable and less visible, which allows you to enjoy the satisfaction of having your baby protected without having to compromise the look of your new car.
When hunting for a quality film installer – remember the Three R’s:
Research, Reviews and Referrals.

At the very least, be sure to find out the type of film they’re using , ask if they will be hand cutting or plot cutting the material (tight areas like bumpers are best cut by a plotter due to their intricacy) and how many years of experience the installer has.

2. Nano-Ceramic Paint Coating

Nano what…? 
When protecting your vehicle – the question is often asked – “What exactly am I protecting my vehicle from, it’s new!” The answer to this question comes in two parts; the first we covered above (protecting from rock chips and other blunt force hits), the second is environmental damage. Things such as UV rays (especially in Arizona), bird droppings, bug etchings and chemicals from cleaning will etch, stain and fade your paint, eventually causing it to fail.​

​   While in the past, the only solution was to regularly wax your paint, there are now better options available. Just like technology in vehicles has progressed, so has the technology to protect your vehicle. High-end Nano-Ceramic paint coatings (such as CQuartz Finest) can protect your vehicles paint for years, not months. Additionally, it will also make it glossier, allow it to stay cleaner longer and make washing it much easier with better results. 
   

​Like PPF, many “coatings” have hit the market in the past few years – and like PPF – I always encourage owners to follow the Three R’s prior to trusting your new ride with someone.
 
Things to consider when choosing a paint coating (and potentially a coating installer) include:

1. Reviews and history of the coating (has it been tried and tested or did it just come out last week?)

2. What the coating manufacturer says it will protect against? Remember, a nano-ceramic coating is meant to provide protection from environmental threats. Some companies list unrealistic promises (such as protection against things like screwdrivers, fire and comparable blunt force hit protection that clear bra provides). Ceramic coatings were not designed to protect from these types of things – but they can provide excellent protection from things that you will encounter, like the sun.
 
3. What is the history of the detailer you’re hiring to apply the coating? Just like the history of the product is important, the history of the company installing the product is equally (if not more so) important.  Also keep in mind that a true detailer will make sure your paint is in excellent condition prior to any coating application. You don’t want to lock in a sub-par finish with a semi-permanent coating. Proper paint prep is the key prior to the installation of a coating.

3. Window Tinting

We all know that a sweet tint job to your new ride can really make a huge difference in how it looks. However, there are three key practical functions achieved from window tinting aside from a super sleek look.


1. First and foremost, protection from UVA/UVB rays. In Arizona especially, skin cancer is a major concern. A quality tint will filter out over 99% of these at least help keep you safe while you’re stuck in your car during a hot July day. In my opinion, this is a must if you have children riding in the back seat. This won’t make rush hour any less agonizing to drive in, but it will help protect you from harmful UV rays.
 
2. Privacy. If you don’t like the idea of just anybody seeing what’s on the inside of your car when left unattended (phone, laptop, purse etc), then you’ll likely not want to leave your windows un-tinted and 100% transparent. 

3. Last but not least, comfort! Tinting your windows will keep the inside of your vehicle much cooler and more comfortable. This isn’t just good for you, its also good for your electronics and interior upholstery such as leather seats.

4. Proper Exterior Maintenance

What does it mean exactly to “properly” maintain your vehicles exterior? Well, the most common type of damage we run into is usually from the owner actually trying to take care of their car. Quite the paradox isn’t it?
Unfortunately, things such as automatic car washes, improperly trained employees at hand washes or even owners who take the DIY route but haven’t learned the correct way to wash their car, do often times cause harm to their vehicles finish. 

    Brushes, harsh chemicals, hard water and poor technique all attribute to a vehicle becoming more “aged” in appearance as well as causing irreversible damage in extreme cases (such as stained wheels or paint and eventually thinned out or failing clear coat). Doing hand washes with proper technique and quality produces really does make a night and day difference as to how your vehicle will look down the road. While the paint swirls in the above photo were repairable - it is still better to prevent them as much as possible from the beginning.

     
5. The Right Car Care Provider

   Before you bought your new car, you likely did some sort of research on it. While some of us take pre-purchase research to a different extreme than others, the point still stands that simply because your car came with wheels, an engine and a steering wheel – you never believed all cars were created equal (I think most of us remember the Daewoo!)
The same holds true for a professional Detailer. Just because Bob has a bucket, and a sponge and a flyer that says “Detailer”…. it doesn’t mean he is in fact qualified to touch your car.
 
Things to consider:

1. Are they licensed (yes, detailers are required to have a business license).
2. Are they insured (accidents do happen and chances are the guy charging $75 on craigslist can’t afford to fix your new Mercedes if something were to happen.)
3. Are they experienced? Once again we go back to the 3 R’s (no not reading, writing and arithmetic) - reviews, research and referrals. 
 
   I tell all of my potential clients that I can speak highly of myself all day (ok that sounds a little egotistical but just go with me here!) However, you’re more likely to trust the feedback of several people who have a completely unbiased opinion and have paid their hard earned money for a company’s service.  We not only welcome, but also encourage questions from anyone who walks through our door. This not only gives piece of mind to anyone willing to trust us with their car – it also greatly increases the likelihood that an individual will be able to enjoy the work we performed on their car for a longer period of time.

   I hope that these Top 5 New Car Owner Recommendations helped and hopefully sparked a bit of thought as to some things to consider for your vehicle. I’ve always loved the quote “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Basically, it’s a lot easier to take care of something from the beginning rather than neglect it and have to fix it later on down the road.

If you enjoyed this – please share it with a fellow car lover in your life and feel free to contact us or comment with any feedback or questions you may have.


Wills Amstutz
Owner - Windows and Wheels Auto Detailing
​Gilbert,Az

A couple of months back we had the pleasure of doing a full paint correction and apply the CQuartz Finest treatment to this beautiful black Hellcat. This would be the 6th Hellcat in Arizona receiving this treatment.Being a few months old, it already had some signs of wear, but we’ll get to that shortly. First up was the prep wash!For those who haven’t seen, this is the wash area of our new shop! Here is where we clean the tires, rims, wheel wells and all the other nasty stuff prior to pulling it into the garage. As always, spotless water making life easier when having to wash in full sun out in Gilbert, Arizona.Once pulled in, we clayed the paint to remove any remaining bonded contaminates. Then, Dani did her taping magic to protect all the plastic trim pieces on this baby. The red and black looked pretty cool.
Next it was time to inspect the paint under some high-powered LED lights. While the overhead lighting in our shop is great, it still falls well short of being able to spot the defects we’ll be going after.While this paint was metallic black,  as usual black is quite easy to see defects on. Once we spotted our enemy, it was time to figure out our attack plan. This is where we go about doing a “test spot”…which lets us know what combo of pads, product, pressure and machine will best work for this specific car.
Once we’d cracked the code, it was time to get on the grind and make this beast look the way it should.The paint started showing its true colors …The metal flake really started to pop…Make no mistake, there is a LOT of paint to polish on these big boys. But, that doesn’t mean you forget about all the small areas..Ouch !A nice improvement! A little clean up needed around the badging, but the paint cleaned up nicely.Slowly but surely these….Turned into this,Paint selfie:
Once the paint had be polished to its glossiest state, it was time to do an Eraser wipe down, prepping the paint for CQuartz Finest. This step insures there is no polish residue, finger print oil or anything else that could interfere with Finest bonding to the paint.
Once prepped it was time to apply the most exclusive, best looking and best protecting paint coating available.
Id say thats glossing up nicely Not to be forgotten…the wheels too were prepped to receive Finest. This helps a lot with clean up of brake dust during maintenance washes.
Tires were dressed with Carpro’s PERL
Once two coats had been applied and allowed to cure…it was time for some beauty shots. Gloss like this doesn’t come from your over the counter wax or corner car wash….gloss like this comes from taking hours to pamper every inch…in prep, polish and protection. The end results say it all…Id say you could shave in thatThe owner of this car was none other than the 2010-2011 NCAA 125 lbs weight class wrestling championship (an ASU home town hero!) The license plate was very appropriate….when we asked him about it…he said it was a quote from one of his favorite movies, “Tombstone”.
Anyone who’s watched this movie would agree Val played the best Doc Holliday ever…just saying.
End of the day, we made the ugly paint “say when” and left this baby looking the way it should.