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Hello 5Series.net.

This weekend I spent 16 hours with this car of my friend. It's a BMW E61 530D 2008, Monaco Blue (Blau). A nice LCI model with extras and gizmos.

Scratches and other imperfections:
There were the usual damages on the paint. Swirls and random deeper scratches here and there. The right side doors were repainted recently and their condition was pretty nice. The hood was the worst. It was like there had been some nasty chemicals fallen on it.

Pads, polishes and the machines:
I didn't even try to get it 100% perfect, since this is a true daily driver and I wouldn't have had enough time.

It was a two stage polish. The first round was made with the Flex PE14-2 + Lake Country CCS yellow cutting pad + Menzerna PO203S combination. PO203S finishes surprisingly well, even with this harsh pad. Some spots I took with a Flex XC 3401 VRG + LK CCS orange light cutting pad + PO203S combination. Damn that BMW paint is hard!

I went the second phase with a Flex XC 3401 VRG + Lake Country CCS white polishing pad + Britemax #4 Black Max combination. I really like the Black Max. Sure it is a light glaze as well as it is a polish, but when worked with high revs and with decent amount of pressure on the pad, it cuts relatively well and makes the paint pop.

Waxing (= sealing) and finishing:
I put the FK1000P to protect the surface and Meguiar's on the tires. Unfortunately I didn't have more time to really put my effort to the details more than this.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The process:

1) Prewash
- Turtle Wax Super detergent spray
- Bilt-Hamber Autofoam

2) Wash
- Turtle Wax Big Orange
- Two bucket method + sheepskin mitt
- IronX

3) Claying
- Sonüs Ultra Fine Detailing Clay
- Bilt-Hamber Autofoam as lubricant

4) Polishing
- Menzerna PO203S Lake Country CCS yellow cutting pad + FLEX PE14-2 / Menzerna PO203S Lake Country CCS orange light cutting pad + FLEX XC 3401 VRG (tight spots)
- Britemax #4 Black Max + Lake Country CCS white polishing pad + FLEX XC 3401 VRG

5) LSP
- Finish Kare 1000P

6) Tyres
- Meguiar's Gold Class Endurance Tyre Gel

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Pictures.

Wash

https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09552.jpg

https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09553.jpg

https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09555.jpg

https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09557.jpg

Turtle Wax Super detergent spray.
https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09561.jpg

Autofoam.
https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09565.jpg

https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09567.jpg

IronX.
https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09569.jpg

The clay still severed some dirt from the surface.
https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09573.jpg

Misty weather after a wash :D.
https://i469.photobucket.com/albums/...D/DSC09576.jpg

Nice one as usually. I wish you were closer to UK. Took mine for detailing to local detailer and job was pretty sad. Waste of money.

Great job,

Can you tell something about the longevity and maintenance of such a detail?

How often would you need to do this, 'regular' washes in between etc?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by arix (Post 1411277)

Nice one as usually. I wish you were closer to UK. Took mine for detailing to local detailer and job was pretty sad. Waste of money.

Sorry to hear that. Take a look at www.detailingworld.co.uk. Lots of British detailers there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theo (Post 1411278)

Great job,

Can you tell something about the longevity and maintenance of such a detail?

How often would you need to do this, 'regular' washes in between etc?

Thanks!

Thanks!

It all depends how well you are ready to take care of the paint. I can confess I am almost paranoid about it when it comes to my own car, but I also dare to say the paint remains in great condition for very long. If you wash with the small amount of water without a prewash, use a sponge and some force to severe the stickiest dirt from the paint, it will be 10 washes like that and the paint condition will be the same as in the beginning in this thread, unfortunately.

The paint (or clearcoat actually) scratches so damn easily. For example, if you have washed the car a day before, not driven it since and then you go and wipe the hood with your hand, it will scratch the paint. Only the dust layer between your hand and the paint is enough to do it. Many people who I tell this don't believe it, but that's how it is. I'd say that if you're not washing or waxing it, don't touch it!

A prewash with a good foaming car shampoo and a pressure washer, two bucket method with a clean sheepskin mitt and the most gentle drying technique will help a lot. Even the order how you wash the different parts of the car, affects a lot. Many people recommend using the clay every now and then to clean the paint throughoutly, but the clay will scuff. Believe me, I've tried and tried. Therefore, I use clay only when polishing of the paint will follow. Of course, high quality supplies and gentle techniques are a must.

It is very difficult to say how long the paint will keep in great condition, but as an estimate, I would say that if you never touch the paint if not washing or waxing the car and always when you're washing it you take the time and the care that it needs, you could go 2 years before you can really say that the car needs to be polished (which is very subjective as well!).

Difficult subject but fun to discuss, I think :D.

- Antti -

Fantastic work again Antti :thumbsup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milko75 (Post 1411414)

Fantastic work again Antti :thumbsup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anzafin (Post 1411289)

(...) If you wash with the small amount of water without a prewash, use a sponge and some force to severe the stickiest dirt from the paint, it will be 10 washes like that and the paint condition will be the same as in the beginning in this thread, unfortunately.

(...)

It is very difficult to say how long the paint will keep in great condition, but as an estimate, I would say that if you never touch the paint if not washing or waxing the car and always when you're washing it you take the time and the care that it needs, you could go 2 years before you can really say that the car needs to be polished (which is very subjective as well!).

Difficult subject but fun to discuss, I think :D.

- Antti -

I think that's the hardest part, it takes basically one small rainshower to negate all your previous efforts so you have to wash it again in some form or another. With our climate it's usually only a few days before the car is full of water stains from the rain or splashing from wet roads, same for you probably with the added 'benefit' of a true winter adding snow and ice...

So all in all you have to wash it so many times in order to keep it somewhat clean you'll kill the paint in the process I'm afraid. Especially since it's hard to take plenty of time for each cleaning...

NICE JOB! Do you always use Menzerna on BMW paint? Im in the process of ordering supplies and had Optimum polishes in mind.