Another weekend, Another BMW paint correction. Sapphire Black 2008 335i - Multi Step Correction

[zmcgovern45]

This car belongs to a member of a local car forum that I sponsor and he was looking to have the paint restored after the previous detailer left holograms and swirls all over the paint. The car was in great shape aside from the swirls and scratches... no real dents, dings, or chips. I love BMW's metallic black paint... one of my favorite colors. It looks so good when it is polished!

Process
Wheels: ONR w/ Soft Sponge (wanted to be safe because they were plasti-dipped)
Tires: Tuf Shine Tire Cleaner
Bug Removal: CG Bug Bugger & Tar Remover + Bug Sponge
Pre-Wash: Foamed with Dawn/CG Citrus Wash & Gloss Mixture
Wash: CG Citrus Wash & Gloss
Dry: DI Waffle Weave Towels
Clay: DI Medium Grade Clay
Tape: 3M Blue Painter's Tape
Compound: Meguair's D300 w/ Meguiar's MF Cutting Pad via Rupes LHR21ES
Polish: Meguiar's M205 w/ Black Finishing Pad via Porter Cable 7424XP
Glaze: CG EZ-Creme Glaze w/ Black Finishing Pad via Porter Cable 7424XP
Sealant: Menzerna Power Lock w/ Blue Fine Finishing Pad via Porter Cable 7424XP
Final Wipe: CG V7 Spray Sealant
Metal: CG Metal Polish + Protection
Glass: Stoner's Invisible Glass



Before/During

I began by washing the wheels and tires, then treating certain areas with bug remover, and then I foamed the car to assist in removing dirt and stripping any remaining products from the paint.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/217564_244798132324980_1670284890_n.jpg


Once the car was washed and dried, I clayed the car to remove the bonded contaminates from the surface. The car was very contaminated, and did not take long to turn my clay a nice dirty color.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/942797_244798148991645_1297950791_n.jpg


Once the car had been decontaminated, I was really able to inspect the condition of the paint. It was not too good. There were swirls everywhere, and some holograms left over from the previous detailer. These holograms were most evident on the hood and especially on the soft clear bra. It was somewhat difficult to photograph the defects due to the highly metallic paint, but you will get the idea.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/21200_244798175658309_1438317243_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/941056_244798192324974_315951228_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/603786_244798212324972_1596481314_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/941532_244798248991635_1244102617_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/945294_244798272324966_827627247_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/249482_244798288991631_195866053_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/229153_244798305658296_911926546_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/943670_244798338991626_192613818_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/603693_244798392324954_1906246272_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/945055_244798415658285_1482765369_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/262561_244798448991615_1821548696_n.jpg


Next I decided I would do my test spot on the trunk. There were plenty of swirls and some heavier scratches as well. Here is the trunk before correction.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/943398_244798465658280_688202699_n.jpg


Being familiar with Sapphire Metallic Black, I knew it was on the harder side, so I decided to go with D300 and MF Cutting Pads followed by M205 on a Black Finishing Pad. This yielded excellent results. I was pleased with the correction. Here is the trunk after performing the test area.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/315356_244798552324938_1851935225_n.jpg

Look at that awesome metal flake!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/941057_244798578991602_1002201273_n.jpg


I then turned my attention to the hood of the car. The clear bra was driving me nuts, and I simply couldn't look at the terrible condition any more, so I started with it. Since the clear film is much softer that the paint, I simply used an orange light cutting pad and M205 for the correction. Here is the film before correction.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/603610_244798618991598_594309421_n.jpg

And afterwards you can see that the swirls, holograms, and scratches are removed, but unfortunately the film has seen better days and is still rather dull and lifeless.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/247511_244798642324929_1567824687_n.jpg


I then proceeded to work my way around the car... here is the front door before correction.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/944620_244798788991581_1276071416_n.jpg

And after correction.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/394476_244798828991577_852990451_n.jpg


Passenger Door Before Correction.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/942900_244798852324908_1177901570_n.jpg

And after correction.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/394501_244798905658236_927018447_n.jpg


I couldn't decide which of these 50/50 shots was best, so I'll just include both of them. You can clearly see the improvement! The paint is much darker and deeper, too!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/482424_244798982324895_1220224063_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/942435_244799018991558_521291406_n.jpg


There were some pretty heavy defects on the rear bumper, so I did my best to help hide them. Here is the before.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/282394_244799042324889_974944129_n.jpg

And after. Not perfect, but improved nonetheless.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/320816_244799098991550_510081365_n.jpg


Front fender before correction.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/941682_244799195658207_202867086_n.jpg

and after correction.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/945602_244799235658203_2080556910_n.jpg


Tail Light before correction

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/422051_244799255658201_2060863197_n.jpg

And after correction.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/248099_244799282324865_2137246270_n.jpg

[zmcgovern45]

Once I was finished polishing, I pulled the car outside to inspect the paint before proceeding with the glaze and sealant. Paint was looking great!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/946806_244799362324857_361077506_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/947127_244799425658184_2145221102_n.jpg


I then began finishing up a few smaller details such as the exhaust tips before calling it a day. Here is before polishing.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/644672_244799475658179_1725877392_n.jpg

And after

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/644547_244799542324839_347507439_n.jpg


The next morning, I glazed the car and then applied the sealant and left it to cure for about an hour before removing.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/940992_244799558991504_809309386_n.jpg

After

The paint turned out fantastic! It was deep, very glossy, and just looked like a mirror!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/551314_244799612324832_1973153505_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/946697_244799665658160_1338160354_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/600915_244799695658157_1848736850_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/936268_244799725658154_1471021836_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/943490_244799772324816_425766426_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/263131_244799818991478_1057426561_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/944581_244799865658140_501100602_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/936277_244799928991467_1544779592_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/945708_244799982324795_14215711_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/941503_244800008991459_807994237_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/922786_244800072324786_791680453_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/551562_244800152324778_2131473029_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/942770_244800198991440_1068547988_n.jpg


The sun decided to come out for just a few minutes so I got a couple of quick shots right as the owner arrived.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/942236_244800235658103_467262168_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/320870_244800328991427_301399188_n.jpg



As always, thanks for looking! Questions and/or Comments are always appreciated!

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Nicely done. Car looks much better now.

[Anthony@zerboautoworks]

Wow awesome turnaround, the picture of the hood finished is amazingly wet.

[sproketser]

Great job on the Bimmer mate !

[zmcgovern45]

Thanks guys!

[Marc08EX]

Great job! Looks like a mirror. Very glossy as well.

[JSou]

What a mess it was. No problem for the "Zach Attack" LOL.

Did you get any paint measurements?

[noslef]

Great turnaround on that BMW. The gloss is amazing. About how much time did this take you?

[dchristo]

man, that looks great.............his previous detailer needs to be shot:bash:

[zmcgovern45]

Great job! Looks like a mirror. Very glossy as well.
:dblthumb2:


What a mess it was. No problem for the "Zach Attack" LOL.

Did you get any paint measurements?
^Of course, readings were consistently between 120-150 microns except for one of the doors which was repainted and read between 400-500 microns.


Great turnaround on that BMW. The gloss is amazing. About how much time did this take you?
^I had the car from Friday Night until Sunday morning and probably spent about 12 hours on it (including time spent to take pics).


man, that looks great.............his previous detailer needs to be shot:bash:
^Thanks! Previous detailer = BMW dealership, go figure! Wish it was sunny so I could have taken some nice pics of the car before hand in the sun.. you could really make out the holograms then. :buffing:

[sullysdetailing]

Looks great

[zmcgovern45]

Thanks :dblthumb2:

[zmcgovern45]

Wow awesome turnaround, the picture of the hood finished is amazingly wet.

I loved that picture! It was cloudy, but still bright out, which led to some very glossy pics... looked awesome in person too!

[Hunter09]

Looks good. Nothing beats black when it's clean. Great work