OCDetailing

In one of those rare moments, I've got some time to post up about our own car and some family van shenanigans that have occurred past few months.

I loved our white Estima, it brought both our babies home from the hospital and all the many family adventures in it - but the 2GRFE, while a sleeper powerhouse, was just too heavy on the pocket :( - so it was time to bid it farewell and let it go to someone who would enjoy it more.

I've only ever had Toyotas or Hondas, so I tried that again with an Odyssey and while its a great car - the example I landed unfortunately needed more work than I was willing to admit at the start, so reality smack later - off it went to another owner (with full disclosure of what was necessary for it). Basically my OCD couldn't handle it..

You read/hear it all the time, the whole 'you only realize what you've lost once it's gone' and yet until you experience it, it doesn't kick in! - on losing the white Estima we realized how much we genuinely preferred the interior space it offered. Forget the engine, it was the interior dynamics and the ease of use with the space it offered. For anyone who knows my car history, I deal in 2s, if not 3s.. so we set out to find a replacement Estima and it didn't take long to find the black one or Blackstima!

This will continue to build over the next few months as time permits. Need to sort out an Android/Apple Play head unit next !

Some special mentions here

Jesse Streeter - the realest OG who has been sending my JDM parts well before many of these new kids on the block showed up
Solar Style Tinting & Opti-Coat - yup, call me a brand snob, these are the only folks who tint mine and my family/friend referrals. Not a single car that has had its tint foul over the past 15+ years of dealing with them
Partsouq for supplying those OEM goodies that help keep my OCD in line

It’s an interesting time in the world. While much sits beyond our control, one thing that always remains within it is how we treat one another. Kindness and respect cost little, yet they can make a real difference. At the end of the day, I’d like to think most people simply want peace of mind and the chance to go about their lives and goals without too much hassle.

Not to get too preachy though.

This long weekend, I had the pleasure of preparing this 2025 BMW iX1 for daily duties. A repeat client, a fantastic owner to deal with, and a job I was only happy to take on this long weekend!

The best time to get proper protection on a vehicle is when it’s brand new and straight out of the dealership.

Anyone familiar with the industry will know that new cars do not always arrive in ideal condition. After time at sea, through ports, transport yards, and dealerships, there is often a fair bit that needs correcting before the surface is truly ready to be protected.

That’s not a criticism of dealerships either. They work at volume, with limited time and different processes. My little detailing setup allows me to take a far more focused approach for the discerning owner.

That said I started early Saturday morning with a full decontamination process:

Foam lance, wash, two-bucket method, fine clay bar treatment, air blower for tight areas, and a careful dry-down before the car came inside.

From there, the paintwork was refined using a combination of Zvizzer Australia & NZ pads and Absolute Valeting compounds depending on the area, before being wiped down and coated with one of my all-time favourite Gtechniq Australia Crystal Serum Light.

The interior surfaces were not overlooked either, with the carpets, mats, door trims, and dash all receiving attention as well. 303 Products and GYEON products utilised.

The owner arrived just before the rain, perfect timing. With 4 to 5 days of undercover parking and no rain exposure, the coating will be well on its way to curing properly and this iX1 will be ready to face daily life, rain or shine!

As always, a massive thank you to my trustworthy suppliers!

Zvizzer Australia & NZ
Gtechniq Australia
Waxit Car Care
Nulook Floors Brisbane South for my awesome garage floor

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Apparently this is controversial now… who knew 😅
Anyway — not part of the PC Brigade here (never will be).

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate 🎄 and Happy New Year in advance!

Cheers to another year of progress, perspective, and chasing (or catching) our goals!!

This weekend I worked on this 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350d — a close family friend’s car, and honestly, I’ve lost count of how many of their cars I’ve detailed over the years (which is my way of saying thank you for the continued trust and support!).

Their previous ML was due for an upgrade, and this GLE handles that with ease. With under 75,000 km on the clock, it’s been well maintained with all original paint — but there was an extensive list I wanted to get through before it returns to daily use.

For me, the goal with detailing is always a clean, hygienic, and easy-to-maintain vehicle. With that in mind, I geared up for a full day with this GLE and completed the following:

Exterior:
* Decontamination wash for the body
* Clay bar and iron decontamination for the wheels
* Single pass correction, with a few panels receiving extra attention
* Finished with my go-to: Gtechniq Australia Crystal Serum Light ceramic coating (5-year protection) on all body panels and lights

Interior:
* Carpet mats and cabin carpets coated
* Seats and windows steam-cleaned
* RainX applied to all exterior glass and panoramic roof
* Door trims and dashboard thoroughly cleaned

As always, thanks to my super dependable suppliers:

Gtechniq Australia
Absolute Valeting
Zvizzer Australia & NZ
Waxit Car Care
Nulook Floors Brisbane South for my garage floor as always