This lovely Audi S3, finished in Turbo Blue, came into the workshop in Paisley for my Exterior Protection Detail — a thorough, cost-effective way to safely remove dirt, grime, and contaminants while restoring gloss and depth, then locking that finish in with up to 12 months of ceramic coating protection.
The overall paint condition on arrival was good, the paintwork had picked up typical road grime, tar spots, and light wash-induced marring from daily driving.
The Process
The Exterior Protection Detail followed a thorough, multi-step approach:
- Snow foam pre-wash – loosening dirt and grime before any contact touches the paint, reducing the risk of marring during washing
- Safe wash method – using the two-bucket method to safely remove remaining surface dirt
- Iron and tar removal – dedicated chemical treatments to strip embedded brake dust particles and road tar
- Clay bar decontamination – removing bonded contaminants that washing alone can't shift, leaving the paint glass-smooth
- Machine polish – a light polishing pass to enhance gloss, and to clarify this is a single-stage enhancement pass rather than a full multi-stage correction, so this differs from the Minor/Major Paint Correction packages I offer
- Ceramic coating – sealing in the finish with durable, long-lasting protection
The exhaust tailpipes were also polished as part of the finishing touches.
How This Differs From Paint Correction
The Exterior Protection Detail is designed as a cost-effective alternative to a full paint correction package — ideal for paintwork that's in generally good condition but needs a deep clean, decontamination, and a protective finish, rather than the removal of heavier swirl marks or scratches. If your car has more noticeable defects, my Minor Paint Correction or Major Paint Correction packages go further with multi-stage machine polishing.
What's Included
- £200 One-Year Ceramic Coating Package
- Paintwork ceramic coating
- Alloy wheel ceramic coating (wheel faces)
- Exterior glass ceramic coating
The Result
The Audi S3 left the workshop looking clean, glossy, and fully protected — with the Turbo Blue paintwork restored to a deep shine and shielded from road grime, tar, and UV damage for up to a year.
Review bt Dan Stead -"Recently had Dave at DMD detailing Paisley do an exterior protection detail which consists of: Full safe wash, paintwork decontamination (including iron and tar removal), clay bar, followed by a single stage machine polish and all topped off with a ceramic coating. He also did a deep interior clean at the same time. Always a pleasure to deal with and the results speak for themselves, I will certainly be back. Thanks again Dave."
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the Exterior Protection Detail and Paint Correction? The Exterior Protection Detail includes a full decontamination and a light machine polish pass to enhance gloss, finished with a 12-month ceramic coating — ideal for paint in good condition. Paint Correction packages use multi-stage machine polishing to remove more significant swirl marks, scratches, and defects. If you're unsure which suits your car, I'll assess it and recommend the right option.
How long does the ceramic coating last with this package? Up to 12 months with proper maintenance, giving strong protection against grime, tar, and UV damage throughout the year.
Is the wheel ceramic coating included on the faces only, or the full wheel? This package covers the wheel faces — for full inside-and-out wheel coating, get in touch to discuss upgrading to a more comprehensive package.
How much does the Exterior Protection Detail cost? The One-Year Ceramic Coating Package starts from £200 — see the full Price List for other options.
How long does the full process take? 1 day — snow foam through to ceramic coating application.
Book Your Exterior Protection Detail
Keep your car's paintwork clean, glossy, and protected for the year ahead. Get in touch to book the Exterior Protection Detail.
📞 Call or text 07402 223002
Opening hours: Mon–Fri, 7:30am–4:00pm