Black BMW M3 Correction - TLC Auto Detail

[Flannigan]

Hey everyone. Today we've got a black BMW M3 that is in dire need of some serious TLC. The customer is getting ready to sell the car, which hasn't been driven in at least 6 months, and hasn't been even washed in twice that long. The major problem is the hood and the trunk. It was repainted (bc/cc) and looks terrible. Both panels almost look grey they are so bad. We decided to do a full correction on the hood and trunk, and a two step on the rest of the vehicle. This vehicle is far from perfect, but this detail should help it sell faster and hopefully for more money. *Note-The front bumper was not touched. it is almost white with chips and is getting repainted*

Onto the process. The vehicle was foamed with a mix of XMT Shampoo and Opticlean. It was then washed with XMT soap and a GG wash sponge. The clay of choice today was Ultima Clay block with CG Luber for lube. The entire vehicle was then rinsed again and dried. There were no pictures of this process since it was done at night. I think everyone has washed a car before...lol

Next up were the wheels. Surprisingly they weren't that dirty, but needed a little help. They were cleaned with Soanx FE Wheel cleaner, while the tires and wells were cleaned with Opticlean. The wheel faces were then polished and sealed with Collinite Metal polish. the tires were dressed with Blackfire tire Dressing and the wells were dressed with Adams in and out spray.

Before:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/wheelbefore001.jpg

After:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/wheelafter001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/wheelafter002.jpg

So the first panel that was addressed was the hood since it would need the most attention. After A LOT of testing I settled on wet sanding. This repaint was hard as a rock, unlike BMW's normal paint. Even a wool pad on a rotary was not touching this stuff. It was hand sanded with 1500, 2000, and 3000 (after taking paint readings of course. It was then compounded with M105 on a wool pad on my Dynabrade rotary, polished with M105 on a yellow BS pad, then with Carpro Fixxer on a tangerine pad.

Before:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/hoodbefore001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/hoodbefore002.jpg

notice how it looks flat here, almost like it was meant to be...lol

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/hoodbefore003.jpg

After:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/hoodafter001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/hoodafter002.jpg

Next up was the trunk. It was the other panel that had been rapainted at the same time. It wasn't quite as bad as the hood. Sanding was not needed, the polishing steps however, were the same as on the hood.

Before:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/trunk001.jpg

50/50's
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/trunk002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/trunk003.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/trunk004.jpg

After:
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/trunk005.jpg

the rest of the vehicle had your typical swirls, and was factory paint, so it was super soft. To correct it I used Carpro Fixxer on a tangerine pad, followed by Fixxer on a crimson pad. Here are some reflection shots. Some were taken while I was working, so please excuse and dust.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec003.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec004.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec005.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec006.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec007.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec008.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec009.jpg

And here are the final shots.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/after001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/after002.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/after003.jpg

The interior was also addressed, but it was in much better shape. It got a thourough vaccuum, all panels were wiped down and dressed with Blackfire interior dressing, and the glass was cleaned. Leather was cleaned and treated with UIGP. Sorry, no before pictures.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/int001.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/int002.jpg

That's it! thanks for looking everyone, and have a very safe and happy New Year!!

[alko]

Very nice work Sir!!! Love the pics!!!

[alko]

What machine did you use to correct the paint?

[Flannigan]

Very nice work Sir!!! Love the pics!!!
Thank you sir!

What machine did you use to correct the paint?
For the hood and trunk the compounding and first polishing step was done with the Dynabrade rotary. The final polish and polishing on the rest of the vehicle was done with the PCXP.

[SeaJay's]

Great work on that M3! That hood turn around is amazing!

[Flannigan]

oh and the one in the background here was done today...stay tuned for the write up! ;)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/after002.jpg

[Flannigan]

Great work on that M3! That hood turn around is amazing!
Thank you very much! I was very happy with the outcome!

[RFulmer]

Great job. I like the below photo best, he looks like he's thinking "You sure are making a lot of noise".

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec001.jpg

[phantom]

I just have to ask - did you ask the owner why the TRUNK was ever repainted? Seems lik an odd part to suffer damage. Great work BTW.

[detailguy71]

Awesome save on the bimmer.

[c5z06camaro]

oooo nice job man!

[armorrig]

excellent work!!

[Flannigan]

Great job. I like the below photo best, he looks like he's thinking "You sure are making a lot of noise".

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/twistedframe/2002%20Black%20BMW%20M3/reflec001.jpg
Haha, thanks. That's my helper, although she really just lays around mostly...lol

I just have to ask - did you ask the owner why the TRUNK was ever repainted? Seems lik an odd part to suffer damage. Great work BTW.
Thank you! I didn't even think to ask that, I also thought it was weird that the hood had been repainted but not the fenders....maybe hail damage?


Awesome save on the bimmer.
Thanks!

oooo nice job man!
Thank you!!!

excellent work!!
Thank you!

[shoeless89]

Amazing job! How did you like Car Pro Fixer? I have a bottle but haven't tried it out yet.

[Flannigan]

Amazing job! How did you like Car Pro Fixer? I have a bottle but haven't tried it out yet.
Thank you! I like Fixxer alot so far. I've used it on two cars now and it's very versatile. It's pad dependant so you can get some pretty good cut with in on a cutting pad, or it can finish very well too on a finishing pad. That said, I don't believe it's quite as powerful as powerfinish, but on softer paints like this it works great. :buffing: