Viking Shield Protection For A Luxury Green-Laner!

The Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE SD4 is a luxury mid-sized SUV with unparalleled all-terrain capability. Replacing the now discontinued Freelander, the sleek new rounded look rather than the squared off corners is more reminiscent of the Evoque than the old ‘Disco’ models. The interior cabin is well appointed and luxuriously comfortable and the panoramic roof gives a wonderful feeling of airy spaciousness. Safe to say for build quality and comfort the new Discovery Sport is more than a match for rivals in the class, such as the BMW X3 and Audi A5, with the added benefit of belonging to the class-leader of the off-road world!

This Discovery Sport HSE SD4 in glorious Firenze Red arrived at UF’s Brands Hatch based Detailing Studio direct from the supplying dealership for a New Car Protection Viking Shield Package.

The idea behind UF’s New Car Protection package is simple, every day wear and tear takes its toll on the interior and exterior surfaces. Whilst clearcoat lacquer has come a long way in terms of protecting paint from the oxidising effects of UV, they’re still susceptible to scratching. The weekly wash is when the most damage can be incurred, with poor techniques introducing swirls to the paintwork. These quickly dull the shine and without removing the swirls it’s impossible to regain the glossy look. Interiors become marked by spills and dirty shoes that in turn generate odours within the cabin. Exterior plastic and rubber trim become faded by UV degradation. By professionally protecting the car, inside and out, from new, with the appropriate durable coatings, it is possible to keep the ‘as new’ look for much longer. This is not only for aesthetic purposes – it also protects your investment by preserving the resale value! – Jez Gilman, Managing Director, UF

Although new, the Discovery had already collected some fallout which needed to be carefully removed. So the registration plates were removed to allow for more thorough cleaning and to allow the final protective coating to be applied evenly.

Initially the Discovery bodywork and wheels were treated with Nanolex Wheel Cleaner & Iron Remover to remove any bonded ferrous contamination.

It’s quite usual for even brand new cars to pick up some iron contamination. Quite often during transit from the factory to the dealership they’re transported via rail and stored near railway tracks. Iron from the wheels of the passing trains becomes airborne and attach to the stored cars. In addition, during road transportation, iron from the pads of braking cars becomes airborne and land on surfaces. These particles are hot, so they bond fast. As they oxidise they swell and can cause permanent pitting in the substrate. So it’s important to make sure all the exterior surfaces are free from all iron deposits. The colour-change function in the product demonstrates the presence of the contamination so it’s obvious when it’s working! – Derek Ginger, Master Detailer, UF Detailing Studio

The Discovery was then treated with Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner Plus to remove any grease, transportation wax and road grime, before an application of Gtechniq W8 Bug Remover, to remove sticky contamination such as squashed bugs and tree sap that had accumulated during outside storage at the dealership.

After rinsing the Discovery was then pre-cleaned using Ultimate Snow Foam, a high foaming, non-contact cleaner producing a thick foam which lifts larger particles of dirt and grit away from the surface. These particles can then be rinsed away before a wash mitt makes contact with the paintwork. This method of pre-cleaning helps prevent incurring swirl marks during the wash process.

For the main wash the Two Bucket Method was used with GYEON Q2M Bathe and an Ulti-Mitt Double Sided Merino Wash Mitt. The car was rinsed and an Aqua Gleam De-ionising water filter connected to the hose to give the car a final, pure water rinse. The Discovery was then dried using soft microfibre towels and brought inside the studio for inspection under high intensity lighting, used to highlight any existing damage.

The Discovery was a true New Car Protection – the paintwork was in perfect condition with no machine polishing required. All that was necessary was a light refining polish by hand to ensure the paint was as glossy as possible prior to the protection being applied. – Derek Ginger, Master Detailer, UF Detailing Studio

To improve the shine and enhance the colour of the paintwork the Discovery was polished by hand using a microfibre applicator pad and PolishAngel Esclate Lotion, a highly effective paint cleaner that removes light scratches, holograms and defects using microscopically fine abrasive particles. Following a wipe down with Gtechniq Panel Wipe residue remover the paintwork was finally protected using PolishAngel Viking Shield.

Viking Shield was originally developed to withstand the harsh Nordic winters. The tough combination of silica and titanium dioxide blended into a creamy formulation. The silica content makes the coating very tough and resistant to wash swirls. The titanium dioxide provides a self-cleaning effect that works by a combination of hydrophilicity and photocatalysis. Automotive protective coatings are either hydrophobic, which causes water to run off by rolling into beads, or hydrophilic, which causes water to run off in sheets. Photocatalysis uses solar energy to break down organic contamination. The effect of the silica-titanium dioxide combination in Viking Shield is a hard, swirl resistant coating which self-cleans by breaking down contamination and causing water to sheet off the surfaces. In addition Viking Shield provides a high shine finish and a durability factor of up to eighteen months, even in the harshest of weather conditions – ideal for a vehicle designed to spend much of its life off road! Viking Shield is only made in small quantities in order that PolishAngel may maintain tight control over the quality of the product.

Viking Shield can be applied in several layers for additional longevity and performance, so three layers were applied to the Discovery with a curing time of thirty minutes allowed between each application. The final curing stage takes around two hours (depending on ambient air temperatures) during which time the Discovery was kept out of sunlight and away from heat and water. Whilst the coating was curing the rest of the vehicle was attended to.

The glass was sealed using GYEON Q2 View. The glass is first cleansed to remove any traces of silicons or oils before being sealed with Repel, a hydrophobic sealant which causes rain water to form into beads on contact, encouraging their dispersal when driving during bad weather conditions.

The interior fabrics and leather were protected with Nanolex Textile Sealant to lay down a hydrophobic barrier to inhibit staining from liquid spills. On leather, the non-greasy formulation repels dust, provides abrasion resistance and helps prevent dye transfer from jeans and dark coloured clothing. The black exterior trim was coated with Nanolex Trim Rejuvenator, a sealant that provides long-lasting protection from UV-induced fading and the effects of acid rain. The wheels were protected using PolishAngel SuperSport PTFE Wheel Wax which also contains titanium dioxide. The PTFE discourages contamination from adhering to the wheels whilst the hydrophilic nature of the titanium dioxide causes dirty water to sheet away from the surface. The result is wheels that remain cleaner for longer and are easier to maintain during the weekly wash process. SuperSport PTFE is also highly effective on exhaust tips so these too were coated to protect from carbon build up.

The final result was absolutely stunning with Viking Shield providing an amazing shine to the paintwork. The toughness of the coating will ensure this Discovery Sport HSE remains the belle of the green lanes for many months to come!

UF Detailing Studio – Award Winning Detailing. Call 0333 800 8004 to discuss your requirements and arrange a free vehicle appraisal.