A Steel Gray M3 & A-Spec TL

G35stilez

G35stilez

Ari Gold
Nothing horrid, haggard, or abused here, just a couple of gorgeous sports cars.



2002 BMW M3 - Steel Gray

-Dawn Wash
-Zaino Z18 Clay with Dawn Wash as lube
-TOL Tire Cleaner cut 50/50 for tires/wells
-Meguiar's Wheel Brightener cut 2:1 for wheels

-Blackfire Ceramiclear Finishing Polish/ CK RMG (70/30) via rotary and LC Polishing Pad @ 1500 rpm
-Flitz and #0000 Steel Wool to polish exhaust
-Zaino Z6 Wipedown

-Zaino Z2 Pro (ZFX'd, Z8'd) by hand on paint/glass/wheels
-Zaino Z8 by hand
-Zaino Z16 on tires, wells (2:1), and trim


Before
IMG_4404.jpg


After
IMG_4448.jpg


IMG_4416.jpg


IMG_4452.jpg

Car was driven a few miles after the detail, hence the brake dust

IMG_4427.jpg





2005 Acura TL A-Spec


-Dawn Wash
-Zaino Z18 Clay with Dawn Wash as lube
-TOL Tire Cleaner cut 50/50 for tires/wells
-Meguiar's Wheel Brightener cut 2:1 for wheels

-Optimum Car Polish via rotary and LC Finessing Pad @ 1400 rpm
-Flitz and #0000 Steel Wool to polish exhaust
-Zaino Z6 Wipedown

-Zaino Z2 Pro (ZFX'd, Z8'd) by hand on paint/glass/wheels
-Zaino Z8 by hand
-Zaino Z16 on tires, wells (2:1), and trim


IMG_4466.jpg


IMG_4454.jpg


IMG_4456.jpg


IMG_4460.jpg


IMG_4465.jpg




Questions/Comments/Advice, please feel free.


Cheers!
 
Looks great. But why the dawn wash? I understand the Zaino instructions for their owners that just wanna clay and apply sealant, but you polished it and everything.

I bought a can of Prepsol a few weeks ago, and I use that after my polishing to rid the paint of anything. I'm sure the Dawn wash is just as effective, but why the recent use of it on exterior paint? Last few details mention you using it on wheels and jams but not paint.
 
Two fine looking silver bullets!

I would love to have the M3 sitting in my garage. That car is aging well.

The details look fantastic, pretty much status quo for you these days.

You're a machine!!!
 
Forgot to ask. That rear side pic of the M3 facing the garage, how did your picture come out soo "wow"... Was it a vivid setting, lens, ect? I have left some lighter cars looking incredible form some angles, but my shots never show it. You should really start a Basic Camera tutorial to be made sticky. The current one that is always posted sucks in my opinion and doesn't help in taking "detail'' pics.
 
Thanks Thanks :).


joy: I find Dawn an effective way to not only clean really well but to loosen up contaminants prior to claying. Similar to dish-washing, when you let the solution soak on the surface, it definately penetrates and aids in cleaning. I have found it to work *better* than a standard car wash, but obviously only for vehicles that are about to be detailed.

At the end of the day, it's not bad for the finish. Sure, if you used it weekly for a couple years, you'd probably dull your paint. But for a twice a year chore, I hardly see it being more hurtful than an APC or bug wash.
 
joyriide1113 said:
Forgot to ask. That rear side pic of the M3 facing the garage, how did your picture come out soo "wow"... Was it a vivid setting, lens, ect? I have left some lighter cars looking incredible form some angles, but my shots never show it. You should really start a Basic Camera tutorial to be made sticky. The current one that is always posted sucks in my opinion and doesn't help in taking "detail'' pics.
Click to expand...


Thanks. The settings on my Canon were:


"C"ustom Mode
ISO 50
AWB
Vivid
SuperFine
L
E/V: -1/3

When I take pictures of vehicles, I take about 10-15 minutes for the afters. I really try to find all the angles. I think that's what it's all about. I've read a few tutorials and such, but it's basically just picking something and going with it.

For the shot you are refererring to, I took it 3 times, all with different EV (brightness) settings. the -1/3 made it look the closest to daylight. Too bright and you lose the paint in glare, to dark, you look the darker details.

If you notice, the background on the TL is darker. I had the EV at -2/3 or -1 since the sun was so bright. The silver reflected such a huge glare that I might as well take a picture of the sun.

Take some time to play around with the settings. I am still learning :).
 
G35stilez said:
Thanks. The settings on my Canon were:


"C"ustom Mode
ISO 50
AWB
Vivid
SuperFine
L
E/V: -1/3

When I take pictures of vehicles, I take about 10-15 minutes for the afters. I really try to find all the angles. I think that's what it's all about. I've read a few tutorials and such, but it's basically just picking something and going with it.

For the shot you are refererring to, I took it 3 times, all with different EV (brightness) settings. the -1/3 made it look the closest to daylight. Too bright and you lose the paint in glare, to dark, you look the darker details.

If you notice, the background on the TL is darker. I had the EV at -2/3 or -1 since the sun was so bright. The silver reflected such a huge glare that I might as well take a picture of the sun.

Take some time to play around with the settings. I am still learning :).
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
Nice job on both...the M3 is my dream car...meaning one I could possibly afford when the car is like 5 years old
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top