The Treatment - 2011 - 2005 BMW 330 Sparkling Graphite ZHP Coupe

[jvr826]

This will be a thread I update after each step. My car was in serious need of a detailing. Ever since I was a kid my dad and I would call this process "The Treatment" so it's stuck with me.

Step one - Clean and dress the engine bay
This is the first time I've ever attempted this level of cleaning, but my engine compartment really needed it. Five years of dusty track days really took it's toll. I was embarrassed to even open my hood for inspections at autocross events.

The process was to soak the whole compartment with S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, which is the same as P21S, but easier for me to get my hands on. I let it sit for a little while, then took an old paint brush and agitated some of the really dirty areas to loosen up the grime. Then, nervously, I hosed everything down with light water pressure out of a gun nozzle on my hose. Once I was done with that I started the engine and breathed a sigh of relief.

LESSON 1: If you intend on cleaning the underside of the hood, remove the pad first. I did not, it got saturated with water and I had to take it off anyway and let it dry in the sun for two days.

I dried off what I could and let it sit overnight. The next day I cut loose with the Adam's In & Out I ordered from DD. WOW! This is great stuff! It was so inspiring, I did this same thing to my Jeep engine compartment with the same great results.

Before:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5392055862_d118954e39_z.jpg

After:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/5393472801_436b0406de_z.jpg

Before:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5392056394_e9e983d837_z.jpg

After:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5394070396_3be0f35284_z.jpg

Before:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5391454731_10848ec26b_z.jpg

After:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5393473913_37af6b67e9_z.jpg

I'll be updating pics at my Flickr, so if you're interested in more (or moar as it were) hit this LINK (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8733184@N05/sets/72157625789307503/).

Step two was a serious washing. I did the one bucket method because I'm headed down the full-on detail path anyway. I had to change the water three times before I was done. I've since ordered a Foam Cannon so I can hopefully prevent the fine scratches that result from this kind of clean-up. I had the car out in the sun today for the after pics and it looks terrible.

After it was washed and dried I went to claying with the Clay Magic kit. I've been using this for years and it works well. There wasn't much contamination because I keep after it, but the usual areas needed it the most... behind the tires, rear of the car.

Dr Color Chip repair is next which I'm working on now. I'll have some pics of that up in the next couple of days.

[kayger12]

Great job. Engine bay looks awesome.

I'm scared as hell to go at the bay with a hose. Did you try to avoid getting water on any specific areas?

[jvr826]

I was putting tin foil on the alternator and then I just said eff it. Why? I watched a YouTube video of a detailer doing exactly the same thing to a $200k Ferrari and I remembered my Jeep can go under water up to the hood line with a snorkel intake. I just didn't dwell on any particular area or use a heavy stream of water. I even hosed off the ECU cover and brake fluid reservoir area.

Can't seem to find the Ferrari video, but here's a good one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBzsJRBU0Ns

EDIT again... here's the Ferrari one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dyfjWhtmS2E

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Jeff, that looks awesome, brother. Great work.

[DetailersDomain]

dam that looks great!

[danewilson77]

Lookin good...

Much easier to find leaks in a clean bay.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[JohnnyGraphic]

Looks great!!

The engine bay is one area that I'm afraid of getting wet. So, I went over it with a damp cloth. It got most of the dust off. I still have other parts that aren't nice and clean. But, I do have to get some sort of dressing on there.

I used to avidly detail my car all of the time. I would hand wash it just about every week when the weather was nice. I did the whole enchilada-clay bar, 2 step polishing and wax/sealant. I would start on a Friday after work and go clear thru Sunday. Taking my time. Nowadays, I'm getting a little too old for all that activity! Fortunately, theres a decent car wash right across the street from my office. They're not perfect, but it will have to do.

Johnny

[jvr826]

Thanks guys...

I get this bug in the spring each year, tho last year I skipped it. The last time I did it I spent 14 hours on just the outside and it was by no means in bad shape. Two-step polish and then three layers of ReJex and two layers of P21S wax. I didn't feel the P21S added anything though, so I don't do the top-coats anymore.

This time I'll polish, then I have two new products I'm trying out: Chemical Guys EZ-Creme Glaze II and Blackfire Wet Diamond. I usually work on this an hour or two a day in between work (I work from home), but I've been too busy this week. I want to finish this weekend so I can drive the car again!

I'm just using a PCROB, but I want to buy a rotary and learn to use it. I have a pickup truck I can practice on, but it's white. This activity is stress reducing and I get a lot out of making a vehicle look good. I might even consider doing this as a side-gig, but I have to speed up the process to make it worth it. I'm too slow.

I really want my car to shine like this one. I saw this on Fanatics and the guys who did it spent 40+ hours on it. This is definitely detail p0rn!!

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=814657&highlight=ferrari+detail

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt90/oakesdetail/Ferrari/Scud328-1.jpg

[jvr826]

Dr Color Chip done (for now)

This was really easy to work with and I think it did a pretty good job of reducing the visibility of the chips... and I had a lot of chips. I used Dane's squeegee method using a piece of wiper blade.

My pics didn't come out too well, should have made sure the angles and range were the same on the before and after shots. The photography was more work than the chip repair.

Before:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5396410773_10a185b008_z.jpg

After:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5396413501_f7d7c0f954_z.jpg

Before:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/5397009832_0b16e170e3_z.jpg

After:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5397012488_51f976e877_z.jpg

Trust me, there were many, many white dots on this hood before doing the touch-up. My bumper looks like it was media blasted with M&M's. I don't think I have the patience to touch it up, but I may try some day.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5397014376_9859cb3939_z.jpg

Tomorrow the buffer comes out... finally!!

[danewilson77]

How many coats of DCC did you put on?

[JohnnyGraphic]

JVR-Your car is going to be great when it's done. Kudos to doing the Dr. Colorchip repair too.

That Ferrari is absolutely gorgeous!!! The before and after pictures are really telling.

I also use Menzerna products. One of these days I'll get back behind the PC and do it.

Johnny

[jvr826]

How many coats of DCC did you put on?

I did two, I may just keep adding to them until I get tired of doing it or the chips are all completely filled in.

I have done the "old school" way before where you drip a little touch-up paint into the chip carefully, let it dry, repeat until it's filled in. Lost interest after about the third coat... but that was a major PITA compared to DCC... which is a breeze in comparison because you don't have to be too careful with it.


That Ferrari is absolutely gorgeous!!! The before and after pictures are really telling.


I've never seen one in that color scheme and it gets me damp. Damn it's beautiful!!



I also use Menzerna products. One of these days I'll get back behind the PC and do it.


When I'm done with all the Sonus stuff I have, I'm going to move to Menzerna also. My big-ass truck will do a good job of working thru the remaining bottles for sure.

[danewilson77]

Ok....gotcha.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[JohnnyGraphic]

I did the touch up paint route before. It took A LONG time to do. I dabbed the paint into the chips and sanded it down. Unfortunately, it wasn't very even. Tough to see unless you're looking for it. Then, used a lot of passes of the Porter Cable with polish. The Dr. Color Chip method makes the most sense.

Johnny

[jvr826]

After polishing the hood yesterday I decided not to put more DCC on... The chips are invisible unless you get your face right down near the paint and look at an angle. I left the front bumper untouched for now while I work up the motivation to DCC the road rash. I think it will make a major improvement.

So here we go... I've finished with the exterior paintwork detailing and I have to say, I'm very happy with the results.

Products
- Clay Magic Perfect Shine clay bar kit
- 3M Finesse-It II on scratches, hand applied
- Sonus SFX-3 Final Finish for haze correction (Blue Sonus Pad)
- Chemical Guys EZ-Creme Glaze (Black Lake Country pad)
- Blackfire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant (Blue Lake Country Pad)
- Porter Cable ROB
- Pile of Costco microfiber towels
- Snappy Clean Pad Cleansing Powder

The paint was in hazy condition after the heavily dirtified condition and hand washing with a bucket and sheepskin mit.

This was the general condition of the paint on the entire car. I did find about three decent scratches that required additional attention, but they were easily removed with hand applied Finesse-IT polish and a microfiber towel.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5402358091_b4ac5c00f4_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5402358807_ac32a41d09_z.jpg

The Final Finish removed this with ease and left the finish nice and glossy. Interim pics proved fruitless since it wasn't all that bad.

Next I used the EZ-Creme Glaze. Last summer I read an article at Detailed Image where the product was used on a silver gray M3 followed by the Blackfire Wet Diamond. The results were stunning so I decided to give them a try.

For reference, here's the pic of that car... who wouldn't buy the stuff after seeing this?

http://www.detailedimage.com/photos/esoteric/BFWD/IMG_4105.JPG

The glaze added clarity to the finish, that's the best I can describe it. This paint color is very difficult to photograph well IMO and seems to really show the orange peel. Adding the glaze reduced that quite a bit. It was very easy to work with, less is more, and the bonus is that it smells like grape Bubble-Yum. I felt 30 years younger just smelling that. I barely used an ounce of this stuff on the entire car.

Lastly, the Blackfire Wet Diamond. The product description says "A top rated sealant that offers incredible depth and gloss, surface slickness, and great durability, while being easy to apply and remove" It's all that and a bag of chips!

Previously my favorite sealant was Rejex, I'll still use it on my other vehicles, but the Bimmer is getting the really good stuff from now on. I barely used an ounce or so on the entire car. Less is more with this also. I buffer applied it with the PCROB on 4.

This was the weather today, so the car isn't going out of the garage until we're done with this

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5402361581_1d4030a3e1_z.jpg

Now onto the results...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5402960692_dd6b237bbc_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5402961486_d837bee779_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5402971266_3287768c79_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5402370169_c112c076fa_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5402963410_e664665350_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5402963958_cfa4b4ecef_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5402972498_9528dc08a5_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5402969290_2d64b58fa3_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5402371375_2f58e014cf_z.jpg

The 1962 shinbuster garage door reflected in the roof panel...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5402369419_0e311c8c6c_z.jpg

It's not a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, but I think it shines like one now...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5402368847_39fca9d75e_z.jpg

I didn't keep track officially, but I think I have about 12 hours in this one starting from engine wash to sealant applied.

Lastly, the Snappy Clean pad cleaning powder is amazing stuff. I had not cleaned my pads from a previous detail and they were pretty caked up with product. I emptied one packet of the powder into about 4 gallons of water and soaked all the pads over night. The next day I gave them a light scrub with a blue Scotch pad/sponge thing and rinsed them out... good as new.

When the weather improves and I find a good spot for a photo shoot, I'll do one. I need to find a good location with good light.

You can do a slideshow at flicker by clicking here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8733184@N05/sets/72157625789307503/show/). Skip over all the blue tape photos, they're not so great.

[JohnnyGraphic]

Jeff-

Totally jealous of you! Very nice job and the time spent was well worth it.

Johnny

[M0nk3y]

Congrats on the transformation!

I have to say, detailing my car for the first time really made me appreciate the gloss and color much more...and it became my baby.

Can't wait to see outside shots

[Kudos]

I think your car will be a hair faster now that it's more aero dynamic and weighs less :) Where do you guys purchase your engine cleaning products?

[spencers]

I must have missed this thread. Awesome work. My car is due for a full detail soon and my PC needs some work thrown at it. :) Good motivation in here.

Glad to hear that pad cleansing powder works. I've always been hesitant to buy some. I've got some caked up pads; including an orange pad that's now black.....

[jvr826]

I think your car will be a hair faster now that it's more aero dynamic and weighs less :) Where do you guys purchase your engine cleaning products?

My most recently purchased stuff came from Phil at the sub-forum sponsor site.

We'll see how fast it is... I have an autocross tomorrow!

[WOLFN8TR]

Looks Great! Thanks for the write up. I have the same color.