Ghost in the system? No, but there's a Phantom in the unit
I adore the modern Rolls Royce range. A modern remake of a brand so steeped in history and character could have gone horribly wrong. But in my opinion, BMW got it very right indeed. Should I ever be in a position to own one, this example of a Phantom saloon represents exactly what I would like. Despite being physically huge, the Phantom is remarkably elegant, perfectly proportioned and full of charisma. The lines of the bodywork flow beautifully front to back, and the slight ‘nose up’ stance gives the impression of great speed and locomotion even at standstill.
This cherished example belongs to a gentleman who has owned some fabulous high performance supercars, but this time felt like a change and a different driving experience, and is glad he did. Booked the car in with me for an Enhancement Detail, it was with a view to improving the overall appearance of the paintwork, adding protection in the form of Swissvax Divine wax and ensuring that future washing can be done with the minimum of effort. Inside was destined for attention too, the car of the sumptuous cream leather being a particular area of concern. To allow sufficient time to complete the required tasks, this work was carried out over 2 days.
Dropping the car off at the unit on a grey, rainy morning, the light layer of grime was carefully washed off before moving the car inside. Something that takes care as it nearly fills the place front to back!
Looking around the car showed it to be in generally very good condition, the main issues being some light swirls and marring, together with some deeper ugly scratches on the flat panels, almost certainly caused by the use of a silicon water blade (prior to purchase, the owner knows better!). The picture below is quite typical of what was seen under the halogen light, and what was very evident in sunshine.
This process continued around the car, revealing the true depth and beauty of the glistening metallic paint beneath the haze.
Once the entire car was polished to satisfaction, Swissvax Cleaner Fluid was applied by hand, to cleanse the paint and enhance the crystal clear glossy look, before finally Swissvax Divine was applied as a final layer. This was left to cure whilst wheels were treated with Autobahn wheel wax, and the painstaking process of cleaning the huge polished grill was carried out.
The interior of this car is a truly special place to be, and the owner keeps it in fine fettle. However, as mentioned, the cream leather takes a considerable amount of upkeep and colour transfer from jeans, belts, and other clothing is an issue. After the whole interior had been carefully and thoroughly dusted, vacuumed and dressed, the leather was first prepared by using Swissvax Leather Cleaner. This is a product that has been tested and approved by Rolls Royce, the pH neutral solution being effective in removing dirt, but gentle to the delicate finish. After this, a protector was applied to all leather surfaces, including the dashboard, to provide resistance to dirt and colour transfer.
With the car finished, there was just enough time before it rained to take it outside for some photographs.
Testimonials
“I would definitely recommend anyone to use Shine On regardless of marque, Paul is a genuinely nice bloke who has the rare attributes of actually loving his job and doing it to the best of his ability (bordering on OCD). I personally plan to use this service at least every 8months to keep the cars looking at their best.
And to top it all off…..even my wife commented on how and I quote ‘amazing’ it looked, that testimony alone is worth its weight in gold!
Andy (M3 and Battle Bus!)”
