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View Full Version : BMW X3 - Corrected using M205 - Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT



PinnacleAutoCT
10-11-2014, 02:20 PM
This X3 was just bought by a client of mine who likes to trade cars frequently (this one he'll keep until winter is over) and wanted to get the car into presentable condition inside and out. The car came from Manheim's PA location and had received some prep before being sold; the carpets showed signs of extraction, the motor had been detailed and the wheels cleaned, but really it would need much more work to meet my client's expectations, even if he did only plan to keep it for nine months.

My initial inspection revealed an interior that wasn't in terrible shape; a little ground-in dirt in the driver's carpet, food and debris in the cup holders and some dog hair all around. The exterior was an entirely different story; in addition to the usual bonded contaminants this car showed numerous sap spots across the hood, roof and glass sunroofs. The passenger side fender and door showed heavy scratches (almost bordering on gouges), seemingly from hitting sometime at high speed which must have bounced off the door. Various RIDS were present across many of the body panels, and the amount of accumulated dirt & mold build-up in all of the body creases and gaps in conjunction with the moderate-heavy wash marring indicated that this vehicle probably saw the local scratch & swirl carwash exclusively.


Damage to the passenger fender and door:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14939768651_3f77af9d2c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLbdJ8)DSC04908 (https://flic.kr/p/oLbdJ8) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14756232798_ec4a5462c4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXxUS)DSC04918 (https://flic.kr/p/otXxUS) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/14942850515_34b647016d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLs1RH)DSC04905 (https://flic.kr/p/oLs1RH) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Moderate marring and rids present everywhere:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14756178349_0d3b1a793a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXgJ6)DSC04900 (https://flic.kr/p/otXgJ6) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/14756141418_c14212c6f7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otX5Km)DSC04914 (https://flic.kr/p/otX5Km) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/14942469842_0019564218_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLq4Go)DSC04929 (https://flic.kr/p/oLq4Go) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/14919838806_3e0e862e34_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oJq5h7)DSC04935 (https://flic.kr/p/oJq5h7) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14756319368_018632c67c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXZDs)DSC04825 (https://flic.kr/p/otXZDs) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/14942378812_6a8ce5e870_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLpACU)DSC04831 (https://flic.kr/p/oLpACU) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Dried up sap speckled the hood:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14756235819_7c27fa0f52_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXyNX)DSC04836 (https://flic.kr/p/otXyNX) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Dirt and mold in all the nooks and crannies:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/14942544212_2fc73ca85d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLqrNC)DSC04848 (https://flic.kr/p/oLqrNC) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14756222809_483b47acb6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXuWD)DSC04849 (https://flic.kr/p/otXuWD) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5571/14942895615_b6119033a5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLsfgi)DSC04851 (https://flic.kr/p/oLsfgi) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/14756219119_ab46584925_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXtR2)DSC04850 (https://flic.kr/p/otXtR2) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Gas filler door after preliminary cleaning via boar's hair brush and OPC @ 3:1:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14942527452_7b7944d016_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLqmPE)DSC04872 (https://flic.kr/p/oLqmPE) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Sonax wheel cleaner plus dissolving some bakes on iron deposits:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/14756282348_bb8ced7501_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXNDb)DSC04863 (https://flic.kr/p/otXNDb) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Interior before:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3889/14919738446_0995c1ffd9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oJpyrL)DSC04803 (https://flic.kr/p/oJpyrL) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14942581532_0bc9bebe50_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLqCU5)DSC04805 (https://flic.kr/p/oLqCU5) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14756390577_92d1a9bfa7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otYmPc)DSC04807 (https://flic.kr/p/otYmPc) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/14919746996_c21198f41b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oJpAZb)DSC04818 (https://flic.kr/p/oJpAZb) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Interior After:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3891/14939668211_480b0f9273_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLaGSp)DSC04878 (https://flic.kr/p/oLaGSp) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14756216950_256f949419_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXtcC)DSC04875 (https://flic.kr/p/otXtcC) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
The carpet isn’t perfect, but definitely improved:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/14942882815_f6a2bdeb86_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLsbsB)DSC04876 (https://flic.kr/p/oLsbsB) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3879/14939799511_c556279f03_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLbnUc)DSC04884 (https://flic.kr/p/oLbnUc) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/14919872266_da72b17299_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oJqfe1)DSC04899 (https://flic.kr/p/oJqfe1) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/14939796041_d71c7af641_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLbmSn)DSC04887 (https://flic.kr/p/oLbmSn) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/14756320157_322f82c6dd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXZT4)DSC04894 (https://flic.kr/p/otXZT4) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/14942384352_7280ce179f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLpChq)DSC04898 (https://flic.kr/p/oLpChq) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr

Onto the exterior:

We decided a two step correction was necessary in this case given the severity of the scratches all over the body, plus the moderate marring all around.Prior to polishing the body was washed, decon'd and all sap spots were removed with 70% IPA and mf towels. I chose Meguiar's 205 polish for the compounding and polishing steps, using an Optimum MF pad and an abundance of M205 for compounding and a Lake Country black foam finishing pad with a normal amount of M205 to remove the small amount of micromarring and hazing from the compounding step. Extra compounding was performed on areas exhibiting deeper scratches. All cracks & crevices were cleaned with OPC @ 3:1 dilution ratio, ONR at 8:1 (QD strength) and a boar's hair brush and mf towels. The LSP of choice was CarPro's Reload due to its reflective look and ability to shed dirt easily during the wash process (the new owner uses the 2-bucket method on his cars), since the owner will only be keeping this car for a short amount of time a coating was deemed unnecessary.

Bright reflections on the passenger side:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/14756144040_72f46dafc2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otX6wy)DSC04942 (https://flic.kr/p/otX6wy) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
The trim was dressed with 3D's thick dressing, the tires received 3D's ultra protectant and were still drying in these pics, hence the milky appearance (both dressings are GREAT, highly recommended):
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/14756130139_463904064e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otX2oT)DSC04943 (https://flic.kr/p/otX2oT) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Passenger quarter panel scratches nearly gone:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14756145128_ff591dd2f3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otX6Rj)DSC04944 (https://flic.kr/p/otX6Rj) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Metallic flake showing nicely:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3853/14756126019_a37bde8f7b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otX1aR)DSC04946 (https://flic.kr/p/otX1aR) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14756122359_bcd77eb985_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otWZ5K)DSC04949 (https://flic.kr/p/otWZ5K) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/14756128290_8b65052fa4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otX1R1)DSC04950 (https://flic.kr/p/otX1R1) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3864/14939718131_90f8d25f53_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLaXH6)DSC04951 (https://flic.kr/p/oLaXH6) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/14939684621_e1e215b97a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLaMKk)DSC04980 (https://flic.kr/p/oLaMKk) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/14919782196_2559a531c6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oJpMs5)DSC04974 (https://flic.kr/p/oJpMs5) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
The gouges on the passenger fender were improved by about 80%+, the gouges in the door were deeper and would likely require painting to be fixed completely:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/14756120160_5cd593e650_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otWYqQ)DSC04959 (https://flic.kr/p/otWYqQ) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5587/14756115840_565f2e3c15_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otWX9m)DSC04963 (https://flic.kr/p/otWX9m) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
From a few feet away in less direct light the damage to the door was almost invisible
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14919795156_9c4e40d332_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oJpRiw)DSC04964 (https://flic.kr/p/oJpRiw) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Hood sans marring and tree sap:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/14939704221_a1ac88100b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLaTzg)DSC04965 (https://flic.kr/p/oLaTzg) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/14756167438_0d4b76888c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXdtY)DSC04967 (https://flic.kr/p/otXdtY) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Passenger door reflection shot:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14756219997_071d1d41ac_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXu7a)DSC04975 (https://flic.kr/p/otXu7a) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14756157228_a9299dae30_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/otXarW)DSC04976 (https://flic.kr/p/otXarW) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3848/14942763285_02b21675b7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oLryVK)DSC04978 (https://flic.kr/p/oLryVK) by Pinnacle Auto Detail - CT (https://www.flickr.com/people/48678828@N04/), on Flickr

Thanks for looking!

Mike
Pinnacle Auto Detail

Sicoupe
10-11-2014, 03:49 PM
Fantastic job on that bmw Mike!

VISITOR
10-11-2014, 05:17 PM
excellent! what was the machine(s) of choice?

PinnacleAutoCT
10-11-2014, 05:36 PM
Thanks guys!

Visitor- I used the Rupes 21 and 75E machines on this.

custmsprty
10-11-2014, 07:12 PM
Great work both inside and out!

FrankS
10-11-2014, 07:41 PM
Nice work and write-up.

jamesboyy
10-11-2014, 09:08 PM
Marvelous work informational write up too...keep it up

Marc08EX
10-11-2014, 10:56 PM
Amazing work! Loving the reflections!

Mike@DedicatedPerfection
10-11-2014, 11:56 PM
Beautiful work on that X3 Mike! That blue paint really has an incredible shine now.

Maybe the owner will keep this one longer than he expected with an outcome like that.

Thanks for sharing.

sanson12
10-12-2014, 02:34 AM
Very nice work Mike! Couple questions, how long did this project take you from start to finish? And what model camera did you use for taking pictures?

PinnacleAutoCT
10-12-2014, 01:36 PM
Thanks!

Sanson, IIRC this took about 10.5hrs total. The camera is a Sony RX100.

Tato
10-12-2014, 02:32 PM
Very nice work on that X3, truly Detailed Work.

Also found interesting your M205 approach, seems like you read and understood some KB threads around, no? hahah WTG, mate!

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

Extreme Radiance
10-13-2014, 06:57 PM
Good work. I use M205 also and it makes quick work.