I finished the cars a couple weeks ago--but been busy with school so haven't gotten a chance to do the write-ups! First up was a 2009 E93 M3 'vert in Carbon Black. The car only had 4,000 miles on it, and it was in the shop getting a clear bra done by HD Auto Salon. But before the clear bra went down, I did the polishing! Car before: Some decent marring: Started with the wheels. Autoglym custom wheel cleaner, tires and arches got optimum power clean. After: I then pulled the car in the shop and performed an optimum no rinse wash, and clay while washing. Here's the paint condition under halogens Under the brinkman: Combination for this car with M105+PFW, Extra Fine Compound + 3M UK Yellow pad, M205 + 3M UK Blue pad. 50/50: Brought outside to check results in the sun: Fully corrected: Front bumper before: After: I figured out a creative way to tape over the weather stripping where the top turns in to three separate pieces before folding in to the trunk area. I lifted the top, put the tape down, and sealed the top back again, so only the part of the weather stripping that was exposed had been fully taped, to ensure I could access as much paint as possible Door finished, rear quarter not: Rear quater before: After: Under camera flash: Rear bumper had been repainted... Some severe marring still existed.. but got about 85% correction here: That's it for the polishing steps. The interior was obviously in great shape. So I went over all leather and plastic surfaces with Leatherique Pristine Clean. Carpets protected with 303. Glass was polished with werkstat prime and sealed with acrylic. Carbon fiber was polished with prime as well, same with the door jambs. The only parts of the car NOT covered in clear bra was the roof, and the back half of the rear bumper. Everything else was clear bra'd. Made waxing a breeze! I sealed what little paint was exposed with a couple coats of blackfire wet diamond. Paint without clear bra: Next bimmer!!
This was an exterior only detail. Absolutely hammered Jet black 5 series. Definitely up there with some of the worst paint I've dealth with!! I forgot my camera on day one. But a typical was was carried out. The polish combo I ended up settling on was a mix of both DA and Rotary based on how the polish and pads were breaking down on the medium-soft jet black paint. I used Purple Foamed Wool + 3M Fast Cut plus on the rotary around 1800-2000rpm. Then I followed that up with DD Uber Yellow compounding pad + Fast Cut Plus on the PCXP, PO203S + 3M UK Yellow pad on the rotary, then back to the PCXP for DD Uber Blue pad + Scholl S40. Trunk before (this took 3 passes with wool, two with foam compounding): After: Even in ambient sunlight you can tell a HUGE difference in clarity: Before After Rear bumper before: After wool+foam compounding: Rear quarter before: Rear quarter after: Car was finished off with a coat of Bilt-Hamber Auto Balm That's all! Thanks for looking-- As always, C/C welcome! eace: Aaron
amazing work, Aaron...I've noticed that BMW is THE make that people detail MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAKE...
Duh! I kept saying carbon too. It's the same color, just different name because of model year (basically)
CB is more blue, Jerez is closer to black Jerez Black Metallic Paint code - A73 The mix is : Color ( % of total mix ) Black ( 80%) Pearl Blue ( 7% ) Dark Violet ( 5% ) Light pearl blue( 4% ) Laser Green( 3% ) Pearl White( 1% ) Carbon Black Metallic Paint code 416 The mix is : Color ( % of total mix ) Black ( 76%) Special Red ( 5% ) Pearl Blue( 12% ) Dark Blue( 4% ) Brilliant silver( 2% ) Silver( 1% )
Eh, I'll just chalk up my lack of knowing the minute differences to my color blindness (yes, it's true).