Biggest job I've tackled; happy with results

[PM5C]

Four months ago I used 3D Speed to get a nice deep shine on my M5. But not knowing how it was cared for before I bought it a year ago, I decided to go beyond my normal quarterly wax job.

My process - helped greatly by posts and threads on AG, was as follows.

1. Washed wheels with CG Diablo in an iK Foamer.
2. Sprayed the dry car with Iron X.
3. Washed with CG Honeydew Snow Foam using pressure washer and foam cannon.
4. Rinsed.
5. Dried with Blaster Sidekick.
6. Clayed the entire car with Speed Master Clay Towel and Blackfire Clay Lube.
7. Test spot on trunk lid using Rupes Keramik, Rupes yellow pad, Rupes LHR Mk II with 5" backing plate. There were only two panels where I planned to use the Keramik to remove some spots and scratches. The photo below is after the Keramik and the arrow points to an example of the RIDS that I decided not to go after. They are virtually invisible unless you stand in exactly the right place with exactly the right light to see them.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191112/b379df727a737e00d7861fe1deed9e0b.jpg

The next two images show the trunk lid with the Keramik and then after a polish with Rupes Diamond on a white Rupes pad. If you look at the reflection of the light bulb, you can see an improvement in clarity as a result of the Diamond polish.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191112/a5c7c529db93ffe701e701311ceee41d.jpg

After Diamond polish

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191112/a602cfdfb72199cf74ef4407b5bc4d00.jpg

8. Polished the entire car with Rupes Diamond.
9. Waxed with Liquid Souveran, applied with the Rupes and another white pad.

I'm really happy with the results. I probably spent 15 hours on this over five days. Following are some random images showing the finish.

The day after I finished, my paint thickness gauge arrived. I'll take some measurements and see if there's enough leeway to try and eliminate the RIDS. But since this is my daily driver that's not garaged, I'm not in any rush to get rid of them.

BTW, this is a 2013 M5, Singapore Gray, with 80,000 miles. It lived in MA, NY, and PA before I bought it and shipped it to AZ 11 months ago. The hood was repainted in July thanks to my insurance covering some etched paint from something dripping in a parking garage.

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Sent from my SM-G975U using Autogeekonline mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87407)

[Markymapo]

Very nice ! I haven’t tried the Liquid Souveran yet on my M4 metallic grey but looks like I need to.

[MAXBKS]

And you should be happy with the results! :xyxthumbs:

[PM5C]

Very nice ! I haven’t tried the Liquid Souveran yet on my M4 metallic grey but looks like I need to.

This was my first time using it, and it was very easy on and off as long as you let it haze up a bit. Zero dust or residue. Impressive wax.

[Bobby B.]

Beautiful M5! Great choice with using the Pinnacle Liquid Souveran as your LSP.

Liquid Souveran Car Wax achieves the Pinnacle of paint perfection! (https://www.autogeek.net/pinliqsouvwa.html)

[Jayfro]

I just applied three coats of Liquid Souveran over two days this weekend! Absolutely love it! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191112/9dd4ae1ccee5c8963612ffd202661870.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191112/d3898c70adbc918ad50aefbefe89660d.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline

[SWETM]

Great work and write up and pictures!

You got an awesome gloss on your beutieful M5!

/ Tony

[JustJesus]

nice job you did on it. Looks good

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Looking good! Thanks for putting together and sharing.

You let that M5 sit outside 24/7!? Blasphemy!

[PM5C]

Looking good! Thanks for putting together and sharing.

You let that M5 sit outside 24/7!? Blasphemy!

She's a sunbather. What can I say? Thanks for the compliment.

[luvmyrv]

So would you say your results are far superior to what you achieved using the HD Speed?

[PM5C]

So would you say your results are far superior to what you achieved using the HD Speed?

As an AIO, HD Speed impressed me. There were holograms on the car from a rotary buff by the previous owner, and it took them out. The Montan wax in HD Speed left a really deep, clean shine.

But the Rupes Diamond polish gave the paint a crisper and sharper look, if that makes sense. It seems to have refined the surface better. My paint is a metallic, and there's more sparkle to it now as a result of the polishing. Then again, that's what I would have expected from a purpose-built polish as opposed to an AIO. And I didn't mind the extra work.

The Liquid Souveran was the icing on the cake. Incredibly easy to use and leaves a crystal-clear finish.

I hope that helps!

[Wknd Dtlr]

But the Rupes Diamond polish gave the paint a crisper and sharper look, i
How many section passes did you make?

Sweet M5! Nice job.

[PM5C]

How many section passes did you make?

Sweet M5! Nice job.

Thanks for the compliment.

I made 6 fairly slow section passes, working in approx. 24" squares or corresponding surface area where the panels weren't large or flat.

I also used Mike's top-down strategy of doing both polish and wax on the roof, hood, and trunk before moving on to polish the front, back, and sides. I used a GG 3" DA for the front and back ends.

[Sizzle Chest]

Very nice work and results! Looks very good!