Detailing a 600bhp JDM Beast with TeamAF Japan

Auto Finesse is a globally recognized brand, with a vast network of official distributors and accredited dealers in nearly every country. Wherever you can drive a vehicle, you can count on using our range of high-quality detailing products to maintain it.

This global reach is one of the reasons we place such importance on worldwide education. After launching our flagship Detailing Academy in the UK, we've been expanding our international network, opening new centres across Europe and Asia.

The latest addition to our Academy network is in Tokyo, Japan. Recently, Taiki Ashikawa, the head detailer, and Namito Sato, the main Japanese distributor, visited our UK Academy to further strengthen our global connection.

The reason for the long journey was simple: it's all about maximizing the potential of our detailing products, something that’s at the core of everything we do. We design our products to be accessible and effective for nearly everyone, but that doesn't mean just anyone can teach the Auto Finesse philosophy or advise professionals on the best products to use. To ensure consistency in service worldwide, every Academy detailer, along with our main distributors, must complete an intensive training program led by our UK Detailing Academy team. This training ensures that our customers receive the same high standard of expertise no matter where they are. And that's exactly why the team from Auto Finesse Japan came to the UK for a three-day detailing session on a truly legendary car...

Some might think we brought in this JDM Nissan to make our Japanese colleagues feel a little more at home. You might even imagine that a Stagea like this is a common sight on every street corner in downtown Tokyo. But, as it turns out, this was the first time our Japanese team had ever seen one in person—let alone detailed one.

And this isn't just any family estate. This recently imported example is far from ordinary. Before being tuned to over 600bhp with an impressive list of high-end aftermarket parts, it's a rare Autech-built Stagea 260RS—the legendary "Skyline GT-R Estate." From the factory, these cars came with the twin-turbo RB26 engine straight out of the R33 GT-R, the ATESSA all-wheel drive system, upgraded suspension and brakes, and unique styling features. It's a rare vehicle on both sides of the Pacific, and it beat Audi to the super-estate game by a full six years, long before the RS6 Avant.

This well-used, hard-driven example was the perfect candidate for a full round of international training.

The Approach

For the training session, this car would be treated with nearly every product in our range, starting with the wash stages, moving through full paint correction, and finishing with protection and detailing. The process mirrors what we’d do on any other vehicle – beginning with the wheels, followed by a comprehensive pre-wash, contact wash, and a three-stage decontamination before cutting and refining the paint. However, there were a few unique elements to consider along the way...

The Engine Bay

Given the extensive modifications to the engine, extra caution is essential when cleaning the bay. To start, we protected the open filters with bags and shielded any exposed electrics from the pressure washer.

Once that was done, we followed the usual procedure. The entire bay was cleaned using a mix of Verso All Purpose Cleaner and Eradicate Engine Degreaser, applied with brushes. After rinsing, we finished off with a generous application of Dressle All Purpose Dressing for a clean, well-protected look.

Paint Restoration

Polishing and refining the paint on imports can be uniquely challenging. Many vehicles have an uncertain history, often featuring repaints or touch-ups from past repairs—frequent for cars that endure a bit of rough treatment during shipping.

Additionally, paint on many Japanese cars is notoriously soft, requiring detailers to adapt their techniques to achieve a consistent level of correction and gloss. The reality is, no two vehicles are exactly the same.

Before starting, it's crucial to mask off areas that need protection from the polishing pads. Each panel should then be inspected individually using a dedicated light to highlight swirls and defects that need attention. It’s also wise to measure paint thickness with a gauge to ensure there's enough material to safely work with.

Once the inspection was complete, the correction and refinement process began. A multi-stage approach was carefully tailored to each panel, with various products tested to ensure uniform results across the entire vehicle.

To achieve optimal results, we used a combination of One-Step All-in-One Single Stage Compound and the three-step Revitalise System working together to restore the paintwork to impeccable condition.

Glass Refinement

Polishing wasn’t limited to the paintwork. Japanese imports, like many cars from the '80s and '90s, are often plagued by dull, faded glass. In this case, a quick application of Vision Glass Polish restored the windows, removing contaminants, stains, and light scratches. This straightforward step made a noticeable difference in the vehicle’s overall appearance.

Protecting The Paintwork

To achieve a rich, deep gloss, we opted for one of our signature hard waxes for this detail. Specifically, we selected Soul, a highly reflective wax designed to enhance light-colored and pearlescent paint. Before applying Soul, we prepped the surface with Rejuvenate Paintwork Cleanser. Using microfibre pads, we worked the cleanser into the surface, then buffed it off, leaving the paintwork completely residue-free and perfectly primed for the wax application.

Deep Cleaning The Interior

The interior was in relatively good condition for a car of its age, especially considering its spirited use, but it was still quite dirty and in need of a thorough cleaning. Given the size of the car, access was fairly straightforward, but we opted to remove the aftermarket seats to streamline the process. The seats were first vacuumed and then given a light spray of Total Interior Cleaner. Using an Upholstery Brush to work in the cleaner quickly revitalized the fabric on these classic Recaros.

The carpets, being more durable, were given a thorough vacuuming before scrubbing in a 1:10 dilution of Verso All Purpose Cleaner to lift any ingrained dirt and stains.

The original floor mats, as expected, were more heavily soiled than the carpets. To tackle these, we used a stronger dilution of Verso to break down the grime, followed by a pressure washer for a deeper clean. A wet vac was then used to extract the remaining dirt and water.

Once the carpets and mats were refreshed, we moved on to the dashboard, door panels, and trim. These were meticulously cleaned and sanitized using Total Interior Cleaner, Wipe Out Interior Disinfectant, and Spritz Interior Detailer, leaving everything spotless and ready for the final touches.

The final step for the interior is always cleaning the windows with Crystal Glass Cleaner. This removes any fingerprints, smudges, or overspray from other products. The Stagea has plenty of large windows, but Crystal makes quick work of the task with just a spritz and a wipe. Once the seats were reinstalled, the interior was complete—simple and effective.

Trims & Tyres

This wagon didn’t have a lot of black plastic trim, but the pieces it did have, like the upper front grille and roof rails, showed clear signs of aging and UV damage. Revive Trim Dressing took care of that with ease, restoring a rich, deep finish while nourishing and protecting the surfaces for the future.

For the final touch, we applied Satin Tyre Dressing to the rubber. A couple of layers of this innovative progressive-finish product gave the tires a glossy, wet-look shine to complete the detail.

After a few days of detailing, it's inevitable that the Stagea picked up some light dust and fingerprints. To finish things off, a final wipe down with Finale Quick Detailer is a must before the car leaves. Always keep a bottle of this cherry-scented, versatile product in your detailing kit—it’s a true essential!

The Finished Product

And that’s the detail finished, along with much of the product training. A big thank you to the team at Auto Finesse Japan for making the journey and helping us achieve these amazing results. Be sure to follow them and see what’s coming next at @autofinessejapan.