Range Rover Autobiography Black – Finished in Barolo Black – In for an Enhancement Detail
Hi Guys, under the microscope today is a beautiful and very rare Range Rover Autobiography.
The Autobiography Black represents the very best Range Rover has to offer and is a fitting tribute to a vehicle which has consistently set the highest standards for all-terrain performance, luxury and design for the last 40 years.” Phil Popham, Land Rover Managing Director
The ultimate incarnation of the Range Rover, the Autobiography Black 40th Anniversary Limited Edition, is quite simply the last word in bespoke vehicles. With a unique finish in Barolo Black, the exterior also features 20-inch alloy wheels, Diamond Turned, a unique front grille with Titan grille mesh, a bright chrome grille ‘U’ edge and black grille surround. Side vents have a new mesh set off by bright chrome bars and a black vent surround. There are body colored door handles and of course, the tailgate badge, ’Autobiography Black’.
Inside, there’s a choice of the standard colourway in Jet, or two colourways unique to the Autobiography Black – Jet and Ivory, or Jet and Pimento. The Autobiography Black logo is discretely repeated throughout the interior where it is embossed on the rear seat armrest and appears on the four unique, Grand Black door veneers. Front door sill tread plates are illuminated with the words ‘Range Rover’ and there’s a half wood Grand Black steering wheel. Petrol models also offer gear knob veneers.
“At the top of the Range, the new Autobiography Black 40th Anniversary Limited Edition offers customers the option of complete exclusivity with unique colourway combinations as well as striking interior and exterior design features. Only 700 will be made, emphasising the exclusivity of this limited edition.”
Design Director, Gerry McGovern
No detail has been overlooked in ensuring this is the most special Range Rover in the marque’s 40 year history. Even the key fob and driver’s handbook carry the Autobiography Black logo.
On top of this Range Rover Being one of only 700 worldwide, I also can’t see an optional extra it is missing plus it has the 5.0L V8 petrol supercharged engine.
The car was booked into Miglior for an enhancement detail, plus a full interior detail including leather cleaning and protecting and also a wheels off detail.
This is the car on arrival!
Swirling
Fold out Side steps needing some attention.
Poor washing marks evident already.
The interior was started first. All the personal items were carefully removed and placed in our own bags and put in the boot. Clothing was carefully folded and put in bags in the same manner.
Shiny leather.
The owners are dog owners so the boot liners were taken out and properly cleaned.
Now the leather has been cleaned with Swissvax Leather cleaner.
The passenger seat wasn’t too bad, but there was some jean transfer on the base. This was dealt with again with Swissvax.
The driver’s door card was cleaned in the same way.
All the carpets and fabrics in the car were shampooed and extracted. Here are the floor mats which have been removed and thoroughly cleaned.
After pictures of the interior will be below.
Now, onto the exterior of the car!
De-tarring in process.
The sidesteps needed particular attention.
Now, with the car washed and dried, I managed to get a picture outside the unit in the setting sun next to another car in at the same time (look out for the BMW 650i detail in a week or so)
Now it was time to get the wheels off detail completed. This range rover wouldn’t go on our ramp because there are items underneath the car which are lower than the factory jacking points. Things like catalytic converters, and the mechanism for the folding steps get in the way.
Time to get access to the jacking points. Even using a jack, you need to remove the side steps.
Jacked up and a suitable axle stand placed underneath in a safe manner just in case!
Now with the wheel off, I can get proper access to remove all the brake dust and crud inside the wheels.
The wheels were worked with various chemicals to get them to a new condition.
Wheels sealed with hydrophobic crystal layer to provide optimum protection.
And finished with a tyre dressing. Swissvax Pneu.
Wheels back on.
Now I started on the claying. It was pretty contaminated but to be fair, I have seen a lot worse on a Range Rover.
The metal side steps were also in need of some decontaminating. This is not dirt, this is etched in grime and splatter.
50/50
The exhausts….
Now onto the enhancement detail. The paint work was typical from Land Rover = STICKY PAINT! Now, for some reason, this was a lot worse than any Range Rover in the past. Even the flat black ones were a walk in the park compared to this. Barolo Black was going to be the death of me!
Anyways, after much deliberating, I settled on a combo that did the job well. I used some Gloss it EVP Pad prime too to aid the lubrication. As I worked my way around the car, I was wiping down with 50/50 IPA.
Here is the outcome. Rich colour and depth. Still some deeper RDS’ in there but this is an enhancement after all.
50/50
Some very deep marks on the bottom of the bumper. This is where a lot of dirt build up and has probably been barely wet and scrubbed off in the past.
Still quite an improvement.
Such a gorgeous colour!
Once the polishing stages were completed the car received a strong IPA mix to remove the oils used when lubricating the sticky paint. The mix was 90% IPA with 10% washing up liquid. This really took out the oils in the paintwork.
After this, another 50/50 IPA/distilled water wipe down was done.
IPA on the panel
Liam wiping down the panel after an IPA spritz with a brand new MF cloth.
Me doing the same.
After the IPA clean.
The car was then left for a day or two whilst I got on with an enhancement detail on a white R8 for a regular customer from Liverpool.
Now, the car was brought back round and finished off! The car was dusted down, and then sealed. The glass was sealed, all the arches were dressed and the tyres were dressed again in Swissvax Pneu.
Enjoy the after pics!
After picture of the interior.
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