2014 BMW 535i - Removing Dealership Holograms, Swirls and Scratches

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

That's just a ridiculous amount of gloss. Looks great! Is the Jet Black on the BMWs still as hard as it has been in previous years?

[RobertJ34]

Amazing job. I can't believe how BAD the car was after the detailer..I mean I can but still! that paint looked years old!

Kudos Mike!

[Mike Phillips]

That's just a ridiculous amount of gloss. Looks great!

Is the Jet Black on the BMWs still as hard as it has been in previous years?

I found this paint to be on the hard side but not super hard. Like I posted in the thread, we removed the majority of the swirls and scratches using simple foam pads on DA Polishers. I kept this simple to teach the owner how to do this type of work moving into the future.

It did buff really well with whatever we through at it and just as important it did not mar or scratch when we wiped products off. Very forgiving if you ask me and that's something that is VERY important in a paint system.

[Jaretr1]

When black looks good, it looks really good!

[FrankS]

...I'd also like to thank and give credit to Frank for helping with the project, you've become a very talented detailer in the last year Frank and I'm always impressed with the quality of your work.

Thanks for the compliment Mike, I've had an excellent mentor . Glad I was able to help out.

[EWtheDETAILER]

Nice work Mike! What's the life expectancy of the black label Synergy wax?

[glennh]

I'm a little confused. In post #3 you are "Doing a Test Spot" and "The Major Correction Step", but in post #4 you are doing the baggie test and clay cleaning. Certainly you did the claying before any corrections. Am I misunderstanding something?

[Mike Phillips]

I'm a little confused. In post #3 you are "Doing a Test Spot" and "The Major Correction Step", but in post #4 you are doing the baggie test and clay cleaning.

Certainly you did the claying before any corrections. Am I misunderstanding something?

Sorry for the confusion, YES we did the decontamination before the correction step.

What I posted was that after doing the test spot and determining we needed a more aggressive pad was "state" that we were going to switch to the more aggressive pad "WHEN" we moved onto that step.

If you look again,

In post #4 it shows and explains mechanically decontaminating the paint.

Then in post #5 we're taping off the car.

Then in post #6 we're doing the correction or compounding step.

[Paul A.]

That's phenomenal work! Downright inspirational to be honest.

I also own a black BMW and knowing the reputation of "dealer prep" i had to insist to the salesman to NOT "prep" the car once i closed the deal and ordered my spec'ed new BMW. Take off what you are required to after it comes off the truck but do NOT wash or detail it. LEAVE IT DIRTY!!! The salesman was incredulous each of the 3 times i visited prior to day of delivery. He countered with things like "but our guys are pro's and know what they are doing" and "i'm not allowed to leave it unwashed for the customer" etc. etc.

What finally sank into his thick skull was when i asked him out to the showroom floor to look at the hood of a brand new black Z4 convertible. It was bathed in showroom spot lights and showed perfectly all the swirls! He finally confirmed he saw what i was pointing out to him and i suggested that it didn't look like that when it left the factory. I then said that if we need to get the GM to overide their "cleaned cars upon delivery" then take me to him but if it is washed when i come back for it i ain't taking it!

He finally broke and when i picked it up it was freakin filthy. Made delivery to a detailer much more special. I was happy. Took it home, washed and clayed and it looked amazing.

It continues to amaze me what dealers allow their vehicle prep folks to do.

[Paul A.]

Although it probably continues to amaze that salesman that he once had a customer insist on getting a brand new BMW dirty!