Correct. I'm super happy with the interior now. I just got a Rupes Bigfoot 15 polisher for my birthday so the next step is a full paint correction and I will be using KamikaZe ISM kit from Esoteric for the sealant. Can't wait to see the paint after that. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Agreed. Previously, I've always had cars with black interiors/carpets. I've never spent as much time trying to keep the carpet clean in my 355 as I have with the tan. I think I'm going to follow the lead here and get black mats when I replace mine.
I really like your black mats. Where did you get them from? I'm in the process of renewing my tan interior. The new leather will be here tomorrow.
Ahhh, you lucky man.. Luv that steering wheel. I wish I had one. It's nicest wheel for the 355. I literally had my steering wheel and think that is the single biggest flaw with the 355. Working on getting nice cs style cf steering wheel.
Thanks a few posts back I mentioned in more detail regarding the mats. I followed suit of another Fchat user and sourced the matts from a UK company- more than polish. They do custom floor matts. I just went for a simple look, black piping, no heel pad and a small F355 logo. I was very happy with fitment and speed of delivery.
I agree 100%. I had to have a 2.7 with no immobilizer and the 3 spoke wheel. Suits the car to a T. The airbag wheel looks more at home in the 456.
Unrelated but cool, my wife (who loves cars) got me this cake for my 30th birthday. Image Unavailable, Please Login
One of the nicest Ferrari cakes I have ever seen!! You have a good Wife mate, be sure to never let her go. On a very similar note, I made this cake for my 2nd anniversary with my 348 8 years ago. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My friends 98 Berlinetta is out of paint and looking great. We took them for a spirited drive before washing them and getting prepped for paint correction and paint sealant. He has similar plates, and fitted a challenge grill along with a host of work similar to mine so on the exterior they present as twins. The heads turn when we are side by side grinning from ear to ear. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Using a Rupes 15 polisher and pads with Menzerna polishing compound. First I washed the car, and clayed it before rewashing and drying. The last photo shows the paint defects and marks. Under harsh lights and sun the paint was heavily swirled and marked, I started with Menzerna fast gloss compound and a medium pad, but swapped out to a coarse pad and that really got into the heavy defects. Paint transfer on single stage paint is new to me so I was taking it slow panel by panel. So far half the car has been heavily compounded. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Some progress, after coarse pad and fast gloss. This really got alot of defects out, I can't wait to see how it looks after I back it out and go for a fine polish with kamikaze sealant. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I finished the first cutting pass of the paint correction, and pulled it out for an inspection under full sun light, all the effort seemed to be paying up. It was already popping even without a wipe down or the backing out with fine polishing compound and pad. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I wiped the car down with a mixture of water and isopropyl to clean up polish residue. Next step was to fit fine Rupes pad with Menzerna Power Finish compound for a mirror finish. So far I'm 3 quarters through with the final pass. The depth and clarity in person is really great now. I look forward to getting the rest polished up and getting it washed and prepped for sealant to protect the newly corrected paint. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Some before and afters to highlight the condition of the paint, looked like it had been washed with a sponge and dish washing liquid its whole life. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Did all that sticky panel removal work last winter on my 355 -98 and it looks new again. The most tricky part was to fix the airbag cover as these intend to "grow" in the upper edges.
95 has no airbag cover and seems to hold a lot better then the airbag fitted models. The edges are rounder and this might help in retaining the shape.
Thank you! Today I finished the paint correction, pulled it out in the sun and it is really stunning now. I gave it a wash to remove all the residue and dust. Now its under its cover awaiting delivery of panel prep and sealant from Esoteric. I also booked in for my first track day in the 355 with the Ferrari Club Australia. I have a lot of experience tracking cars and used to do time attack events, but being my pride and joy and first time on the track in a mid engined Ferrari I will be nervous! Here are some pics of the car before washing it and putting it under cover. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Received my Kamikaze ISM and Over-coat pro kit from Esoteric and got to work prepping the paint with Gyeon Prime and coating with what I'm told is the pinnacle of glass coating currently available. Here are some pics after application. Immediately the gloss levels are increased 25% and the paint feels like butter. This coating should last 2 years and it will be maintained using the Over Coat as recommended. After 24 hours of curing the sealant should crystalize according to the manual and provide an even deeper shine! I highly recommend this product, easy to apply and looks stunning. I cant wait to drive it again now! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That shine looks amazing Elliott!! Top products too, a detailer a friend goes to uses the Gyeon stuff and his work speaks for itself! You have done a wonderful job on this car my friend! I hope you drive the wheels off it.