Hello Autopians.
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.
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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
Turtle Wax Super detergent spray.
Autofoam.
IronX.
The clay still severed some dirt from the surface.
Misty weather after a wash
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Polishing
Average reading for the paint thickness here.
First round equipment.
The usual imperfections.
The hood was the worst.
A mirror before.
After.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All done
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for watching :thumb:.
- Antti -
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pictures.
Wash
Turtle Wax Super detergent spray.
Autofoam.
IronX.
The clay still severed some dirt from the surface.
Misty weather after a wash
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Polishing
Average reading for the paint thickness here.
First round equipment.
The usual imperfections.
The hood was the worst.
A mirror before.
After.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All done
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for watching :thumb:.
- Antti -
