96GreenPSD
Member
This X3 was just bought by a client of mine who likes to trade cars frequently (this one he'll keep until winter is over) and wanted to get the car into presentable condition inside and out. The car came from Manheim's PA location and had received some prep before being sold; the carpets showed signs of extraction, the motor had been detailed and the wheels cleaned, but really it would need much more work to meet my client's expectations, even if he did only plan to keep it for nine months.
My initial inspection revealed an interior that wasn't in terrible shape; a little ground-in dirt in the driver's carpet, food and debris in the cup holders and some dog hair all around. The exterior was an entirely different story; in addition to the usual bonded contaminants this car showed numerous sap spots across the hood, roof and glass sunroofs. The passenger side fender and door showed heavy scratches (almost bordering on gouges), seemingly from hitting sometime at high speed which must have bounced off the door. Various RIDS were present across many of the body panels, and the amount of accumulated dirt & mold build-up in all of the body creases and gaps in conjunction with the moderate-heavy wash marring indicated that this vehicle probably saw the local scratch & swirl carwash exclusively.
Damage to the passenger fender and door:
DSC04908 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04918 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04905 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Moderate marring present everywhere:
DSC04900 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Marring + RIDS on passenger fender:
DSC04914 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Driver's side rear door showing marring + scratches on the front edge from the previous owner squeezing in and out of a barely open door:
DSC04929 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Driver's side fender also showing RIDS all around the wheels well (did it go offroading??):
DSC04935 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04937 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Passenger quarter panel showing heavy marring, plus scratches leading from the rear door onto the quarter:
DSC04825 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04826 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04831 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Dried up sap speckled the hood:
DSC04836 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04841 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Dirt and mold in all the nooks and crannies:
DSC04848 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04849 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04851 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Dirt coating sitting under the edge of the rear window:
DSC04850 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Gas filler door after preliminary cleaning via boar's hair brush and OPC @ 3:1:
DSC04872 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Sonax wheel cleaner plus dissolving some bakes on iron deposits:
DSC04863 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Interior condition before any work was done, note the dirt and staining around the edges of the plastic trim:
DSC04803 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04805 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04806 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Grime in the cupholder and around the shifter:
DSC04807 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Dog hair and debris in the cargo area:
DSC04812 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Soiling of the passenger front carpet:
DSC04818 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Interior after:
DSC04875 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
The carpet isn't perfect, but definitely improved:
DSC04876 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04878 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Console looking clean:
DSC04884 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04899 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Rear seat cleaned up:
DSC04887 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Cargo area improved:
DSC04890 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Passenger side carpet up front looking better:
DSC04898 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04894 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Onto the exterior:
We decided a two step correction was necessary in this case given the severity of the scratches all over the body, plus the moderate marring all around.Prior to polishing the body was washed, decon'd and all sap spots were removed with 70% IPA and mf towels. I chose Meguiar's 205 polish for the compounding and polishing steps, using an Optimum MF pad and an abundance of M205 for compounding and a Lake Country black foam finishing pad with a normal amount of M205 to remove the small amount of micromarring and hazing from the compounding step. Extra compounding was performed on areas exhibiting deeper scratches. All cracks & crevices were cleaned with OPC @ 3:1 dilution ratio, ONR at 8:1 (QD strength) and a boar's hair brush and mf towels. The LSP of choice was CarPro's Reload due to its reflective look and ability to shed dirt easily during the wash process (the new owner uses the 2-bucket method on his cars), since the owner will only be keeping this car for a short amount of time a coating was deemed unnecessary.
Bright reflections on the passenger side:
DSC04942 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
The trim was dressed with 3D's thick dressing, the tires received 3D's ultra protectant and were still drying in these pics, hence the milky appearance (both dressings are GREAT, highly recommended):
DSC04943 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Passenger quarter panel scratches nearly gone:
DSC04944 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Metallic flake showing nicely:
DSC04946 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04949 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04950 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04951 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04980 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04974 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
The gouges on the passenger fender were improved by about 80%+, the gouges in the door were deeper and would likely require painting to be fixed completely:
DSC04959 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04963 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
From a few feet away in less direct light the damage to the door was almost invisible:
DSC04964 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Hood sans sap and marring:
DSC04965 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04967 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Driver's door glowing in rays of the LED inspection light:
DSC04975 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
The scratches on the driver's side fender were corrected 80%+
DSC04976 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04977 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04978 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
Mike
Pinnacle Auto Detail
My initial inspection revealed an interior that wasn't in terrible shape; a little ground-in dirt in the driver's carpet, food and debris in the cup holders and some dog hair all around. The exterior was an entirely different story; in addition to the usual bonded contaminants this car showed numerous sap spots across the hood, roof and glass sunroofs. The passenger side fender and door showed heavy scratches (almost bordering on gouges), seemingly from hitting sometime at high speed which must have bounced off the door. Various RIDS were present across many of the body panels, and the amount of accumulated dirt & mold build-up in all of the body creases and gaps in conjunction with the moderate-heavy wash marring indicated that this vehicle probably saw the local scratch & swirl carwash exclusively.
Damage to the passenger fender and door:
DSC04908 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04918 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04905 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrModerate marring present everywhere:
DSC04900 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrMarring + RIDS on passenger fender:
DSC04914 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDriver's side rear door showing marring + scratches on the front edge from the previous owner squeezing in and out of a barely open door:
DSC04929 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDriver's side fender also showing RIDS all around the wheels well (did it go offroading??):
DSC04935 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04937 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrPassenger quarter panel showing heavy marring, plus scratches leading from the rear door onto the quarter:
DSC04825 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04826 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04831 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDried up sap speckled the hood:
DSC04836 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04841 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
Dirt and mold in all the nooks and crannies:
DSC04848 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04849 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04851 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDirt coating sitting under the edge of the rear window:
DSC04850 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrGas filler door after preliminary cleaning via boar's hair brush and OPC @ 3:1:
DSC04872 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrSonax wheel cleaner plus dissolving some bakes on iron deposits:
DSC04863 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrInterior condition before any work was done, note the dirt and staining around the edges of the plastic trim:
DSC04803 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04805 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04806 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrGrime in the cupholder and around the shifter:
DSC04807 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDog hair and debris in the cargo area:
DSC04812 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrSoiling of the passenger front carpet:
DSC04818 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrInterior after:
DSC04875 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrThe carpet isn't perfect, but definitely improved:
DSC04876 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04878 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrConsole looking clean:
DSC04884 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04899 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrRear seat cleaned up:
DSC04887 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrCargo area improved:
DSC04890 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrPassenger side carpet up front looking better:
DSC04898 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04894 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrOnto the exterior:
We decided a two step correction was necessary in this case given the severity of the scratches all over the body, plus the moderate marring all around.Prior to polishing the body was washed, decon'd and all sap spots were removed with 70% IPA and mf towels. I chose Meguiar's 205 polish for the compounding and polishing steps, using an Optimum MF pad and an abundance of M205 for compounding and a Lake Country black foam finishing pad with a normal amount of M205 to remove the small amount of micromarring and hazing from the compounding step. Extra compounding was performed on areas exhibiting deeper scratches. All cracks & crevices were cleaned with OPC @ 3:1 dilution ratio, ONR at 8:1 (QD strength) and a boar's hair brush and mf towels. The LSP of choice was CarPro's Reload due to its reflective look and ability to shed dirt easily during the wash process (the new owner uses the 2-bucket method on his cars), since the owner will only be keeping this car for a short amount of time a coating was deemed unnecessary.
Bright reflections on the passenger side:
DSC04942 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrThe trim was dressed with 3D's thick dressing, the tires received 3D's ultra protectant and were still drying in these pics, hence the milky appearance (both dressings are GREAT, highly recommended):
DSC04943 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrPassenger quarter panel scratches nearly gone:
DSC04944 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrMetallic flake showing nicely:
DSC04946 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04949 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04950 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04951 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04980 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04974 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrThe gouges on the passenger fender were improved by about 80%+, the gouges in the door were deeper and would likely require painting to be fixed completely:
DSC04959 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04963 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrFrom a few feet away in less direct light the damage to the door was almost invisible:
DSC04964 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrHood sans sap and marring:
DSC04965 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04967 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDriver's door glowing in rays of the LED inspection light:
DSC04975 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrThe scratches on the driver's side fender were corrected 80%+
DSC04976 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrDSC04977 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on Flickr
DSC04978 by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT, on FlickrThanks for looking!
Mike
Pinnacle Auto Detail