Bentley Continental Supersports- Winter protection valet

[Stuart]

The car
Bentley Continental Supersports
621bhp and 591 lb ft
420mm carbon ceramic brakes
4 x carbon backed sports seats

[Stuart]

So as usual for this type of job, it was exhausts and alloys first up on the cleaning schedule
Polished with Car-Chem metal polish (later sealed with SP1000p)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167972955/" title="IMAG0300 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/1016 ... f266_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0300"></a>
The alloys had to be very carefully cleaned. Carbon ceramic brakes don't react well with acid or alkalis so it was very important to protect them (especially as they cost 26k to replace!!) With that in mind the alloys were cleaned with shampoo only, with the tyres cleaned and degreased with Car-Chem snowfoam and the arches and calipers were also cleaned
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167860405/" title="IMAG0314 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7299/1016 ... dca8_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0314"></a>
The lower third of the car was then soaked in snowfoam to loosen any muck or dirt, but also to soften any bugs that may have been collected along the way. Once this was allowed to dwell for five minutes, I used a detail brush on grilles etc and then washed the car top to bottom with a good quality wax free shampoo.

Once the car had any signs of tar removed, it was re-washed where necessary and rinsed and dried using the Uber Yellow towels that a few of you have bought now

Onto the polishing! All by hand (as that was agreed as being appropriate for the job and time) to remove/reduce scratches and swirls in this hard Bentley paint. I certainly got a sweat on with this part of the job.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10168024926/" title="IMAG0303 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/1016 ... 1b30_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0303"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167847774/" title="IMAG0304 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/1016 ... 48a0_c.jpg" width="478" height="800" alt="IMAG0304"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167845204/" title="IMAG0305 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/1016 ... b138_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0305"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167749414/" title="IMAG0306 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8130/1016 ... c366_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0306"></a>
This was probably one of my favourite photos as it shows such a lovely reflection; it highlights the way that the curves of the bodywork 'flow'
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167745544/" title="IMAG0309 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/1016 ... 1016_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0309"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167829344/" title="IMAG0311 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8273/1016 ... 37d6_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0311"></a>

[Stuart]

With the polishing completed it was time to seal the paint for durability before applying a wax to enhance the paint finish

A British wax for a British car
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167825714/" title="IMAG0312 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/1016 ... 239f_c.jpg" width="478" height="800" alt="IMAG0312"></a>
Good evidence of the metal flake and reflective quality
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167823544/" title="IMAG0313 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8274/1016 ... 3f9b_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0313"></a>

The roof did need retreating as I guessed, so that was all masked up using Euromask and then given four coats of Meguiar's to protect it
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167965866/" title="IMAG0322 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2861/1016 ... ec40_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0322"></a>

The interior needed minor cleaning really, but all surfaces were dusted, cleaned and treated.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167991696/" title="IMAG0317 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/1016 ... f119_c.jpg" width="478" height="800" alt="IMAG0317"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167974753/" title="IMAG0318 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5543/1016 ... 6dd7_c.jpg" width="478" height="800" alt="IMAG0318"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10168053293/" title="IMAG0319 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/1016 ... b3d9_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0319"></a>
The engine needed light cleaning and dressing
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167981176/" title="IMAG0320 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/1016 ... 84f3_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0320"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10168038583/" title="IMAG0321 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/1016 ... 37c2_c.jpg" width="478" height="800" alt="IMAG0321"></a>

With the grilles cleaned, alloys sealed and tyres dressed it was a finished piece of work and ready to be tucked away
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167779844/" title="IMAG0323 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/1016 ... 9c11_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0323"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167761914/" title="IMAG0325 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/1016 ... 6a9a_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0325"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/93963817@N07/10167875375/" title="IMAG0326 by Stuart Staples, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/1016 ... 5060_c.jpg" width="800" height="478" alt="IMAG0326"></a>

I genuinely feel very fortunate to be able to work on cars like this. The fact that I am trusted by owners with their pride and joy is always close to my heart but when the car in question is this kind of thing, well it certainly makes you stop and think

* Comments always welcome and if the comments relate to the work and products, all the better

Thanks for reading

[Ben]

My god, the reflections in that paintwork are FLAWLESS .. nice work

[john B]

Simply Stunning the only issue I have with Bentley now is "Its German" nice work big man !!!

[Daniel]

Shit the bed that's awesome!

[Stuart]

My god, the reflections in that paintwork are FLAWLESS .. nice work

Simply Stunning the only issue I have with Bentley now is "Its German" nice work big man !!!

Shit the bed that's awesome!

Thank you Gentlemen

[maff]

Very nice, really striking car in the flesh, the other half of one of the girls at work has one (not a super-sport) only weird thing is the floppy paddles are plastic, you'd have thought for that money a bit of alloy wouldn't go a miss, perhaps its an option.

Great job as ever mate, the GTR next?

[Stuart]

From this owner Maff, no not the GTR. I have a three day stint booked for his 40ft Fleetwood RV (inside and outside full valet). He's kindly organised scaffolding and a platform so that I can work at height in complete safety for hours on end.

It should be an interesting challenge that's for sure. Maybe I'll get to the GTR sometime in the future

[Danny@APT]

That's some damn shiny paintwork!

Awesome work as ever, Stuart.