Okay, Not Technically A 'Mod'... [Archive] - Honda Element Owners Club Forum

: Okay, Not Technically A 'Mod'...


K-Dogg
12-23-2006, 03:55 PM
The guy with the 'big opu' dropped by a little early. Picked up a PC 7424 kit that was on special a little while ago, and had at it! My E was plagued by swirls & micromarring from the get-go, so I decided to finally do something about it.

After a thorough washing, I clayed the paintwork to get out any residual contaminants. Masked off the plastic trim and panels, then went thru the process of applying medium, then fine swirl remover, a finishing glaze, and finally, Zaino's. Then took care of cleaning and applying B2B on the panels, and Meguiar's X-Treme Hi Gloss on the tires, and voila! 6+ hours spent and an afternoon/evening expended... :razz:

Actually, the PC DA is pretty easy to use; it would be pretty difficult to screw up the paint with a random orbital, unless you're a complete doofus and/or got totally aggro, or left the pad spinning on one spot for 5 minutes.

Used the rule of going with the least agressive product to get out the swirls and blemishes, and worked back to a heavier swirl remover if it was needed. The results are pretty impressive, although a random orbital won't get out really deep scratches, and I do have a few of those. But the paint is much cleaner and smoother! It's a lot of work, but what the heck... It's a long weekend and my shopping's done.

It was a beautiful morning so I drove around and shot a couple of pic's.

bobhch/hchbob
12-23-2006, 04:19 PM
K-Dogg,

That looks Sweet! :cool: Black always looks the best when clean. Nebraska weather is cold but, no snow yet. I am just lucky to get a wash in before it freezes here. Lucky! :)

Are you against tinting the drivers and side passenger windows to black out your E? :confused: I did mine and believe that it completes the look. Since your E is black it would really complete yours. IMHO. I don't need to put sunglasses on anymore either. I did put A CHROME tint on the front top portion also to keep the sun out.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g282/bobhch/clear9.jpg

Black was my first choice but, then my Dad (yeah, yeah, yeah and I'm 42) talked me out of it because he said black was hard to keep clean. Looking good in the Neighborhood, Bob

Speedy Toaster Dave
12-23-2006, 04:36 PM
damn K that looks sweet .. makes me want to do mine ...:D

bobhch/hchbob
12-23-2006, 05:49 PM
Here is what is would look like tinted.

K-Dogg
12-23-2006, 06:18 PM
Are you against tinting the drivers and side passenger windows to black out your E? :confused: I did mine and believe that it completes the look. Since your E is black it would really complete yours. IMHO. I don't need to put sunglasses on anymore either. I did put A CHROME tint on the front top portion also to keep the sun out.

Hey Bob & Dave, thanks for the kind words! It was a lot of work and I now have a new-found & healthy respect for folks that do auto detailing for a living.

Here in the State of Hawaii, you can't "black out" your windows and the laws on the books only allow for a minimum 35% light transmission, or greater. I believe you need to have a professional installer apply your tint and it needs to be certified, and that certification has to be in your vehicle at all times.

If an officer pulls you over and requests to see it (along with everything else i.e. driver's license, registration, current safety check, proof of no-fault insurance), you have to produce the document. I don't know, not having tint on the driver & passenger side hasn't been an issue yet; perhaps I'll look into it sometime.

Merry Christmas gentlemen! :D

edit: Hey Bob, thanks for the photoshop rendering! :D Damn, that does look good (albeit probably illegal in this restrictive State of ours)...

turboturtle
12-23-2006, 08:42 PM
Damn, that looks really good K-Dogg. All it needs is ........ hmmmmm..... what is that??????? hmmmmmmmm.........oh yea, Wheels!

Speedy Toaster Dave
12-23-2006, 08:52 PM
yeah Turtle i think Dogg needs a set of 20'' on that Element :D

bobhch/hchbob
12-23-2006, 09:00 PM
Damn, that looks really good K-Dogg. All it needs is ........ hmmmmm..... what is that??????? hmmmmmmmm.........oh yea, Wheels!

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g282/bobhch/anorims1.jpg

Man I didn't even notice that at first glance. How do the tires hold air? :rolleyes:

tooljedi
12-23-2006, 11:03 PM
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g282/bobhch/anorims1.jpg

Man I didn't even notice that at first glance. How do the tires hold air? :rolleyes:


Nice Moon caps! :rolleyes:

K-Dogg
12-24-2006, 12:13 AM
Nice Moon caps! :rolleyes:

:lol: Okay, I'd better book my flight for Salt Lake City. Yeah baby, Bonneville, here I come! :lol: