2003 BMW 330i Paint Correction/Opti Coat

[tdekany]

When I initially saw the car to estimate the time this would take, I got excited because I really liked the color (topaz blue). Never had a chance to detail this shade in the past. It needed a lot of work.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15407097472_71e55c3a0a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pttpiA)P9290002.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pttpiA) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15404237831_1a21129fde_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ptdKer)P9290001.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ptdKer) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15384391246_631369a73b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/prt2wW)P9290003.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/prt2wW) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15220913917_5ae9e5b8a5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pc2aqi)P9290004.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pc2aqi) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

The car had a very faded clear bra on it that the owner asked me to remove. That took awhile, but once it was off, I gave the car an ONR wash, followed by clay. Dryed it and measured the thickness. Had plenty of clear. Unfortunately most of the front was repainted at some point and it was rock hard.

This is 12 years of improper care - not pretty, but this is what keeps me in business.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15407091102_cb0e582ef5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pttnpL)P9290010.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pttnpL) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15220762750_567f921ccd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pc1otY)P9290008.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pc1otY) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

This was the overall condition of the paint.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15407431415_ae4d401bc0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ptv7ze)P9300011.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ptv7ze) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

50/50 after compounding

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/15220684159_c0feb697bc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pbZZ7X)P9300013.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pbZZ7X) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

Some outside shots while the sun was out

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15425633255_3d3f212460_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv7pm4)PA020016.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv7pm4) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

Halogens

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15425293412_03a403a056_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv5EjG)PA020019.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv5EjG) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

Finally the right side was compounded!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/15425635425_5b1703bd08_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv7pZt)PA020020.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv7pZt) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/15425294482_dd5e19abe7_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv5ED9)PA020021.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pv5ED9) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

Compounding was done with HD ADAPT, Pink cutting pad, HD black turkish lamb wool when needed. Rupes 21 on flat areas, Flex 3401 when needed and also Griots PC when needed.

After the car was corrected, I went over the whole car withOptimum Primer Polish and a blue polishing pad. Finally applied 10cc of Opti Coat Pro.
PS: On the last day my good friend Gabe Dellinger came by to help me out.
I always seem to finish too late to pull the car out, so only garage pictures are in the afters. Tires as always - PERL. Wheels were polished but they really need to be refinished.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15438550261_b8937f225f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwfB84)PA030031.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwfB84) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15441397952_f1b49b67d0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwvcDb)PA030027.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwvcDb) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/15255039610_d8635723d5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf34Nj)PA030022.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf34Nj) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/15254973029_2020934f88_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf2J1n)PA030023.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf2J1n) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15441404722_3084364a1f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwveDU)PA030026.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwveDU) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15441406892_ea88105d1c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwvfij)PA030028.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pwvfij) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/15255051200_bc3050c4b3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf38f9)PA030037.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf38f9) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/15255278867_54c599e5da_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf4hVr)PA030022.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pf4hVr) by savingspaces33 (https://www.flickr.com/people/73124441@N07/), on Flickr

Thanks for looking

[Sicoupe]

Beautiful job!

[zainJR]

Nice one..

[VISITOR]

nice job thomas, you utilized three of the best DA's around (GG6, Flex and Rupes)... :)

[haris300]

Very nice job and excellent photos! Hard to believe that thing is 12 years old.

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beautiful work on that Topaz metallic blue BMW Thomas! That looks incredible now.

[SSStang]

Very nice
Love the color now but not before! lol

[HateSwirls]

Looks Great:dblthumb2:

[HUMP DIESEL]

Awesome write up and turn around. Beautiful color.

HUMP

[LatinFG2]

Very nice work!

[LRC3]

Wow, the Bimmer is back in the game BIGTIME...

Good work man!!!


That last rear shot is the money shot.

[allenk4]

Nice Show & Shine

Really appreciate the close-ups, 50/50 and posting the products you used

[tdekany]

Thanks everyone! Much appreciated.