BDoggPrelude

Really happy with the way the paint looks with the carnauba wax on top of the M21 sealant. Gives the clearcoat a very deep look. Almost looks like a very thin layer of glass on top of the paint. I managed to snap a couple iPhone pictures when I got to work yesterday morning before it rained at all. Of course, I was driving home in a monsoon that evening when I got off work.

t.schultz

looks awesome!

BDoggPrelude

Some more progress today. Installed RV6 HFPC's and j-pipe. Install took FOREVER. Happy with the sound and performance though.

KarKraze

Two of the best bolt on performance mods . The rear HFPC is is tough cookie but the payoff is good.

Performance gains aside,I absolutely love the exhaust tone with these mods.

BDoggPrelude

The rear cat is a pain in the ass. I threw that bitch across my front yard when I finally got it out.

KarKraze

LOL,I hear you, make sure you pick it up though.

Slick_Rick

Nice update. I always look forward to your progress. How would you describe the new sound?

BDoggPrelude

It's a meaner sound. I don't know if I'd say it's a lot deeper, just a more defined note. It made more of a difference in the sound than I thought it would though.

BDoggPrelude

I have a new-found automotive hobby BTW...detailing. I've been amassing an arsenal of detailing supplies and tools over the last 6 months or so. With a detailing hobby also comes the need to take pictures of water beading.

ere4mado

What are some of the "must use" products in the detailing arsenal that you would recommend so far? I'm currently using a Blackfire package, it's been ok. I think I need to invest in an orbital polisher to really bring out the best of my CBP - doing by hand just cannot get that deep gloss/wet look.

BDoggPrelude

Hmmm. I'm not really sure. I use a lot of Meguiar's Professional series products. I recently did paint correction and polishing on my wife's 2007 NBP TL. Used Meg's M105 compound, M205 polish and M21 sealant. I can tell you that the products you use are not nearly as important as your techniques. For waxing, you're really not going to see better results with a DA than you do by hand. The DA just speeds up the process. If you are not going to do any polishing you don't need a DA at all. Keep in mind that typically a synthetic wax or sealant will give more of a reflective glassy look while a carnauba wax will give the paint more depth. Also, since you have a black car, I've had a lot of luck in the past with black specific waxes.

BDoggPrelude

When I did the correction on my wife's TL I used almost all Meguiar's Professional products. It took me all day but here are the results:

ere4mado

I want to do paint correction/swirl removal and I've read the only way to do it was with polishing compound and a DA - no way for the hand to simulate the speed and pressure of a DA. Will probably wait on the DA and add it to my Xmas wishlist from the family :-) So many other things on my mod list ahead of a DA because of this forum.

Damn all of you guys with big budget for mods!! My 3 kids and all their sports activities are eating up my budget. Oh well....I'll just continue to drool through everyone's progress threads and pick and choose the things I want to do to my car. Slow and steady will be my course.

ere4mado

Man, look at that mirror-like finish. Nice job!

BDoggPrelude

Yes, you will definitely want a DA polisher for compounding and polishing. I don't have anything too extravagant. Just a Porter Cable 7424xp. If I ever see a good deal on a Flex one day I would pick it up though.

I wish I had a big car mod budget. I too have a kid and another one on the way.

BDoggPrelude

Nothing overly exciting but I came up with a nice little on-the-go detailing kit for any situations that may arise. It fits in the corner of my trunk and is completely unobtrusive. The netting is a cheap little velcro storage pocket I picked up on eBay for like $7 shipped from China. Contents include:

-Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer
-Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer
-Stoner's Invisible Glass Cleaner
-Individually Ziploc bagged microfiber towels for paint, glass and interior.

BDoggPrelude

With the CTE Icbox not available and the jury still being out on whether or not the Takeda gains or possibly loses power, I picked up the K&N drop-in filter. I needed a new air filter anyway. It can't harm anything an I'll never need to buy another filter as long as I own the car.

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

I like the on the go detail mod. I carry a sort of detailing tool box in my trunk; detailing gloves, quick detailer, leather cleaner and conditioner, spray sealant, spray wax, rubber sealant, tire shine, wheel cleaner, care soap, etc,etc. Basically everything I use for a wash.

BDoggPrelude

Lol. That's a ton of shit to carry with you. I have a massive arsenal of detailing products and tools at my house. Just wanted to travel with the bare essentials. I'm hoping AutoGeek will give me a reason to add to my arsenal with a big sale this weekend...even though my last experience with them was less than stellar.

BDoggPrelude

While I'm waiting for another big order of detailing supplies from AutoGeek's Labor Day sale, I detailed my interior top to bottom. (I hate interior detailing). I ordered an Optimum Gloss-Coat kit. Hoping to take a week off here soon and compound, polish and coat the car before winter comes. Also made a couple small changes for football season.

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

Images aren't coming up? I know I carry way too much, but it's more convenient this way than transporting it between apartment, to car when I go to wash bay.

BDoggPrelude

That's weird. They come up for me? I have a two car garage and a 4 car driveway so no need to carry more than the bare essentials in my trunk. We are looking at new houses right now and an oversized 3 car garage is on my must-have list. Between tools and detailing supplies, my garage is shrinking rapidly.

BDoggPrelude

Got my order in from AutoGeek's Labor Day sale along with a couple extra things I ordered online. Still waiting on some 4" polishing pads and backing plate to come in on Monday. I'll be doing a full paint correction and applying Optimum Gloss-Coat towards the end of this coming week.

BDoggPrelude

Nothing too exciting. I wrapped the rear diffuser in carbon fiber vinyl with a lot of help from my wife. It looks perfect from about 3' away. We'll see how it holds up. If it doesn't I will either re-wrap it or take if off altogether. I'm still a little undecided on if I like the look. I don't really have anything else on the car that matches it and I don't really plan on wrapping anything else. I though about doing just the backside of the trunk spoiler but don't think it would stay on.







I also cleaned the engine bay and dressed all of the engine covers for the first time since I bought the car. Just knocking out a couple of smaller detailing items before I spend a couple of days on it with a DA and put the coating on before winter.





Unfortunately, I probably won't have any mod updates for about 6 months or so. Wife has money pit number 2 in the oven right now and I have cut back on car spending for a bit.

BDoggPrelude

So this is basically a two day detailing job. My original intent was to take pictures of the entire process in case anybody wanted to see. I ended up spending scratching that idea because detailing while entertaining my daughter was already enough to handle without stopping to take pictures.

I Started off with a highly concentrated Chemical Guys Citrus Wash Gloss to help remove the existing sealant and waxes on the car. Followed that with Car Pro Iron-X as a decontamination. Clay barred the car with Pinnacle Ultra Poly-Clay and Meguiar's D155 spray detailer. After that I spot compounded the car with a Porter Cable 7424xp DA polisher using Lake Country CCS pads and Meguiar's M105 compound then polished the entire car with Meguiar's M205 polish. Next I did a 15% IPA wipedown to remove any remaining polishing residues and oils. Last step was a Optimum Gloss-Coat paint coating. This was my first time using a coating and, so far, I'm impressed with the results.

Tools and products:



My little helper:



Getting ready to clay:



My daughter got a hold of my phone and took some pictures while I was getting road grime off the bottom of the sideskirts.





I asked her if she wanted to go inside to take a nap but she wanted to stay in the garage with me:



Ready to polish:



Polished:







After applying the coating:



All done. Garage is a mess:

BDoggPrelude

The next day we took the car out to take some pictures with my DSLR. I'm not a professional photographer by any means. Took a bunch of pictures but I thought these were the best ones. Lots that really show off the glossy effect of the Opti coating. Enjoy.

My little helper again. Lol.



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arpypat

Car looks great! I'm digging the carbon wrap on the rear diffuser!!

I was thinking about doing the same thing. I mean, ya it doesn't really match anything, but the stock grey diffuser doesn't really match anything either... haha

BDoggPrelude

If I get sick of it, I may go gloss black. Then it would at least match the grill inserts on the front.

LinuxRacr

Very nice ride man. I have Tein coilovers on my Mazda, but may consider them my TL as well now. That wheel gap on the stock height just throws me off.

BDoggPrelude

Couple iPhone pictures I took when we were out and about today.

KarKraze

Nice shots

Beak14

Those rims look really good on that car!

With regards to your tint, it really makes the car look so much better. I wouldn't have thought it made such a difference, but it does, IMO.

Really cool color. I can't remember seeing one, this color, on the road.

Anyway, it looks great!

BDoggPrelude

Thank you. Tint is the first thing I do to any car I buy. Can't live without it.

The color was only offered on the 2012 TL which is why you don't see them often. I've only seen one other Forged Silver Metallic TL on the road. There are a couple other members on here that have one too.

BDoggPrelude

After many years of hauling wheels/tires up and down from the basement of our tri-level house, I finally got some heavy duty tire racks.

HondaOwnerForLife

Loved the FSM on the 2013 RDX and love it on your TL. You have a beautiful TL.

CadiGTi

I love your TL and the color! I have FSM on my 2012 RL. FSM was available on the 2011 and 2012 RL. I was not a huge fan of the color until I purchased the RL CPO a year ago. I love detailing it and the FSM really glows with a very deep lustrous shine. When this color is maintained well, it really adds pop to the car. My windows are tinted too, which also helps make the color and car pop.

It looks like Acura has a similar color (but more metallic and more blue) on at least the current ILX and RDX. Personally I think the FSM with its heavy silver/grey base has a richer look. The color looks best in direct sunlight and also at dusk.

New baby yet?

BDoggPrelude

Thanks. I love the color too and it was a bit of an acquired taste for me too. The first time I really decided I liked it a lot more than the standard silver color was when I came out of a restaurant and another 4G in Palladium Metallic parked next to me. It looked really bland next to Forged Silver Metallic.

As for the baby, 5 weeks from tomorrow, assuming he doesn't come early. Gonna have to start shopping around for a second Recaro car seat. My daughter outgrew her first convertible car seat and was into her Recaro in less than 9 months.

CadiGTi

In the fall of 2011 I was at a charity event in DC and Acura was one of the corporate sponsors. They had a FSM 2012 TL outside on display. It was the 1st time I saw the color and I was very puzzled if it was more blue or silver, but I knew I really liked it.

Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your son. What a great time in your families life.

gokhanturk

by far the cleanest TL around.

BDoggPrelude

Yes, I have a lot of pictures in this location. It's the top of the parking garage at the hospital and I've been there a lot over the last 9 months. It just makes a nice backdrop. And btw, the baby ended up coming 12 days early.