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C. Charles Hahn
11-22-2011, 03:47 PM
http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/M_LOGO.JPG

The owner of this 2005 BMW M3 Convertible contacted me a couple weeks back about getting it detailed before it goes into winter hibernation. Unfortunately he does not have a garage, so the car lives outside 24x7 and as a business owner, he has little time to do a lot of maintenance. Since this car is finished in the dreaded Jet Black, these conditions have taken their toll on the car over time, in spite of the low 31,000 miles on its odometer.

As usual, we'll start with the interior:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_BEFORE1.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_BEFORE2.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_BEFORE3.JPG

Just a bit of loose dirt, really nothing horrible.... except for the drivers' seat:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/SEAT_BEFORE1.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/SEAT_BEFORE2.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/SEAT_BEFORE3.JPG

Over time, the bolsters of the Cinnamon-colored leather had become caked with dirt, causing them to appear splotchy and brown. By employing Optimum Power Clean at 3:1 dilution and the "Fermani Method" of scrubbing with a toothbrush, progress was made:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/SEAT_5050.JPG

Three passes with OPC were required to fully clean up the seat bolsters, and save for a patch on the side of the seat that had sustained further damage, the leather was returned to pristine condition:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/SEAT_CLEAN.JPG

The remainder of the interior was steam cleaned and then wiped down with Optimum's Opti-Clean at 3:1 dilution, and all leather was conditioned with Zaino Z10 leather conditioner. No deep shampooing of the carpets was required, so they were just freshened up with the steamer.

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_AFTER1.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_AFTER2.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_AFTER3.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/INTERIOR_AFTER4.JPG

With the interior out of the way, next up was the engine bay. Outdoor living along with some miles have given the engine a nice coating of grime:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/ENGINE_BEFORE.JPG

Again, Optimum Power Clean was used, this time at 1:1 dilution, along with a siphon-fed compressed air cleaning gun to blast away the soiling and reveal a fresh clean result. Dressing was compliments of CD2 Engine Detailer, seen here freshly applied:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/ENGINE_DURING.JPG

Once the engine had dried and been wiped down, restoration of a factory fresh appearance was complete:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/ENGINE_AFTER.JPG
C. Charles Hahn
11-22-2011, 03:48 PM
Now, it's time for the main event: The Exterior.

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_BEFORE1.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_BEFORE2.JPG

Sadly the sun wasn't with me for most of this detail, despite it taking place over the course of four days. Still, evidence that this car is most definitely driven was apparent:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/MUD_BOGGING1.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/MUD_BOGGING2.JPG

In addition, a bit of unfortunate damage had befallen the front clip, which is beyond the scope of this detail:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/FRONT_DAMAGE.JPG

The car was foamed down with a combination of Optimum Power Clean and DP Xtreme Foam Formula wash in the low buck "foam lance" that came with my pressure washer:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/DURING_WASH.JPG

With the car clean, clayed with Clay Magic Blue, and dried, it was brought back into the shop for inspection. Several etched areas from water spotting and bird droppings were found, along with scratches and a generally hazy appearance over much of the car, especially on the hood and trunk.

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/BIRD_ETCHING.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/HOOD_MASKED.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/GRILLES_MASKED.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/TRUNK_MASKED.JPG

Given that this car is going to continue living outdoors for the time being, we weren't going for a full correction; however three buffing steps were required to bring the car up to an acceptable level suitable for application of Opti-Coat to make maximize protection and minimize the further impact of environmental exposure.

Here's a sample area showing what I had to work with:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/SCRATCHES.JPG

The first pass was M105 on an MF cutting pad with the G110v2:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/PASS1.JPG

Next a pass with D300 on an MF cutting pad:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/PASS2.JPG

And finally a pass with Menzerna PO106FA (SF 4000) on a Lake Country HT Crimson:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/PASS3.JPG

After applying Opti-Coat to the paintwork and applicable trim, the car was moved back outside, where the beautiful matte-black aftermarket wheels were removed for cleaning and also to have the center caps replaced with "BMW" pieces for a more factory-like appearance. When they came in, they were covered in grime from the notoriously dusty factory brake pads:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/WHEEL_GRIME.JPG

Following a thorough scrub with P21S Wheel Gel, and an application of Stoner More Shine on the performance rubber, things are looking much more tidy:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/WHEEL_CLEAN.JPG

What we're left with is a much more respectable and menacing M3, ready to eat up the streets or the track:

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_AFTER1.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_AFTER2.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_AFTER3.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_AFTER4.JPG

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/EXTERIOR_AFTER5.JPG

Thanks for looking! :)

http://www.hahn-on-the.net/pictures/M3/FINISHED.JPG
Harleyguy
11-22-2011, 03:56 PM
Charley the car came out awesome I think the real star of this makeover is how you were able to turn that trashed interior back to looking like it was on the showroom floor .
Thanks for sharing the well documented detail
C. Charles Hahn
11-22-2011, 04:27 PM
Thanks Adam!
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
11-22-2011, 04:28 PM
Looks great Charlie. Too bad the car has to sit outside. It really should be in a garage. I love a properly detailed black BMW.

It looks much better now that you replaced the Avant Garde caps with the proper BMW caps.
C. Charles Hahn
11-22-2011, 04:36 PM
Looks great Charlie. Too bad the car has to sit outside. It really should be in a garage. I love a properly detailed black BMW.

It looks much better now that you replaced the Avant Garde caps with the proper BMW caps.

Thanks smack; the owner did say he's hopefully going to have a garage to keep it in at some point within the next year. Whether or not we end up doing deeper correction at that point or not we'll just have to wait and see... he's mulling over possibly picking up a 550i instead.
waynvision
11-22-2011, 04:43 PM
And this is why we join Autogeek.

And the results are what we aspire to... Much Kudos and Respect!

:props::urtheman::bowdown:
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
11-22-2011, 04:47 PM
Tell him to forgo the 550i in favor of the new M5.
budinsc
11-22-2011, 05:53 PM
outstanding job! that bad boy car needs a warehouse for the winter. i use and love cd2 also.

budinsc
Mike Phillips
11-22-2011, 05:56 PM
Nice makeover Charlie and excellent photography work and write-up...

:dblthumb2:
Pats300zx
11-22-2011, 05:59 PM
Beautiful work Charlie !!!!
Flash Gordon
11-22-2011, 06:28 PM
Looks great Charlie! Nice work!!
C. Charles Hahn
11-22-2011, 07:27 PM
Thanks guys!


Tell him to forgo the 550i in favor of the new M5.

I mentioned that to him... his response was "costs too much."
FUNX650
11-22-2011, 07:28 PM
Excellent make-over and write-up Charlie!:dblthumb2:

I realize this wasn't a full correction, but....How did the etchings you mention respond to the OC?

BTW...Your results on the interior and engine bay were awesome.

:)

Bob
C. Charles Hahn
11-22-2011, 07:44 PM
Excellent make-over and write-up Charlie!:dblthumb2:

I realize this wasn't a full correction, but....How did the etchings you mention respond to the OC?

BTW...Your results on the interior and engine bay were awesome.

:)

Bob

Thanks Bob; the deeper etchings that wouldn't come out didn't really seem to be affected by the OC; if there was any reduction in their appearance it was minimal.