Shine

NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
Some nice shine on the Z4

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fmorelli

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Aug 11, 2017
3,748
3,592
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57
Virginia
Ride
E89 Z4 35i, F10 535d
And you are going to share the process you used so we can really feel bad about our own cars? Please do tell.

Filippo
 
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NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
And you are going to share the process you used so we can really feel bad about our own cars? Please do tell.

Filippo

I'll get some notes and photos together.

The Z is small but it is a complicated body with lots of ridges. This was a lot of work but the main reason it looks so good is a couple seasons ago I wet sanded the whole car and polished it back out.
 
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NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
The work that allows this type of shine happened back in 2016. Fixed all the rock chips then a full wet sand of the entire car.
Some areas went as low as 600 grit paper, then worked my way through 800 and 1000 by hand.
that was followed up with 2000 and 3000 on a DA orbital buffer

Some chip work on the hood
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More spot repairs..
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Starting to blend in all the repairs to a consistent level of flat/dullness
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This is a good pic - The lower rocker under the door you see the orange-peel look in the clear coat as I started working on flattening it. The dull spots are higher than the dark spots. No amount of polish and wax will make that look great. This was all over the car but this pic shows it best.
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NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
Good shot of the door. Notice how consistent the dullness is. This is now very flat and very smooth.
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Getting hood to look the same
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After the wet sanding was multiple passes of polishing to get to here
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My favorite product line is the Meguiar's Detailer DA Micro Fiber Pro Series. In the pic you will see micro fiber pads for the DA, and some 3000 grit sand paper.

For the session I just completed:
  1. Wash
  2. Stripped existing sealer/wax with diluted Isopropyl Alcohol
  3. Clay bar
  4. Correction Compound D300 with MF Pad and DA polisher. Inspect and repeat where needed
  5. Polish D302 with MF Pad and DA Polisher
  6. Griot's Ceramic 3 in 1 Wax - 12 hour cure - Second coat - 12 hour cure


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