Two 3 Series BMWs

[EngineerNate]

Hi Guys!

These are the first two cars I've done as a "detailer" and not just a hobbyist. By that I mean, I was paid to do the work. I'm still very much a novice and learning as I go. These cars belong to friends that trusted my hobbyist experience and didn't have the cash or desire to hire a more established detailer. I'm trying to get both my skills up and get some good pictures in the hopes that I can turn this into a little part-time job while I finish grad school.

Enjoy the pics, and I welcome any feedback!

E36 M3:

Before: https://imgur.com/a/0R4HU

After: https://imgur.com/a/ymX3s

This was my first car. I used a bunch of products I had on hand for this. Primarily Meg's Ultimate Interior Detailer and the Lexol twins on the inside. After washing/claying, the outside got a 2-step with Ultimate Compound/Polish with LC flat and CCS orange and white pads respetively. I used an inexpensive clothing steamer on the seats. LSP was Meg's Ultimate Paste Wax.

I added up my time and this car took 32 hours to finish.

2006 330i

I took what I learned from the M3 and applied it to this car. I ended up being able to work a bit faster, but not as fast as I'd like! Still around 3 days total for interior/exterior washing + the paint correction. This got a one step with Griots BOSS orange pads and Ultimate compound due to budget constraints. I spot corrected various defects with UC and the white BOSS pad as well. This was also my first experience with bulk products, and what an improvement! I used N-914, the McKee's 37 Hi-Intensity APC+, and Meg's D156 extensively for this detail and having them in bulk saved me a bundle.

Claying and decontaminating the car went quick aside from the rear RHS quarter and rear door. The overspray shown in the photos was incredibly stubborn. I settled on a process of softening the overspray with lacquer remover followed by claying, then repeating that process until the spots released from the paint. After completing this, I kept a small bit of clay and the N-914 with me during the entire polishing process as I kept finding tiny bits that I'd missed. I'd estimate I removed 100 or so individual spots, one at a time. Next time I'm faced with something like this I'd like to try one of the nanoskin products to speed things up as recommended by users on this forum.

Before: https://imgur.com/a/qwKVx

After: https://imgur.com/a/7o7UN

The regimen I used on the 330i is as follows:

Exterior:
Products (In order of application):
-Meg's Dub Color Change Wheel Cleaner
-Megs Gold Class Wash
-Chenille mitts/various brushes/3 bucket method
-Sonax Fallout Remover
-McKee's 37 Clay with N-914 at 1:128 as lubricant
-Aerospace 303 on black trim/rubber (Applied first to make removal of any sling easier)
-Griot's BOSS White Pad + Meg's Ultimate Compound
-Griot's BOSS Orange Pad + Meg's Ultimate Compound
-McKee's 37 N-914 @ 1:8 to prep for sealants
-Megs Spray Headlight Sealant/UV Protectant (Tail lights only, waiting on owner to see if he want's to proceed further with the headlights)
-Meg's Ultimate Fast Finish
-Stoner's Invisible Glass
-Meg's D156 as LSP and wheel wax
-Mothers FX Tire Shine
-Aerospace 303 again.

In general, I'd follow the UC with UP or M205 but that was out of the budget with this customer so I found a compromise that finished out to an acceptable level while maintaining decent correcting power. I REALLY like the Griot's BOSS pads. Can't wait to use them on my personal vehicles in the coming weeks.

Interior
Interior:
Products used:
-Folex Carpet Stain Lifter
-McKee's 37 Hi-Intensity APC+ 10:1
-Megs Ultimate Quick Interior Detailer
-Lexol Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
-Steam!
-Aerospace 303 Protectant
-Plenty of microfibers
-Solo Horton Brushes


Thanks for looking!

[Paul A.]

Nice work, Nate! Now have those 2 folks spread the word, huh?

[EngineerNate]

Nice work, Nate! Now have those 2 folks spread the word, huh?

That's the idea! I think one of the neighbors is going to hire me to do his 4runner. Fingers crossed!

[chet31]

Good work, I'd hire you.

[EngineerNate]

Good work, I'd hire you.

Thanks! That means a lot coming from a veteran of this forum.

[wing commander]

Came out really nice! looked like seal-coat or tar on the second car that Stoner Tarminator removes bug residue, tar, tree sap, gum and more from automotive surfaces! bug & tar remover, auto spot cleaner, car bug & tar works well on.

[EngineerNate]

Came out really nice! looked like seal-coat or tar on the second car that Stoner Tarminator removes bug residue, tar, tree sap, gum and more from automotive surfaces! bug & tar remover, auto spot cleaner, car bug & tar works well on.

That was my first thought as well. There was some tar on the wheels and the paint near the front wheel wells, Tarminator cut through that no problem. I hit this stuff with Tarminator and it didn't even loosen it a little bit. Up close, it looked like paint splatter, little perfectly round dots.

The entire quarter was covered in a fine dusting of black particles that the fallout remover didn't touch as well. Those came off with clay. My best guess is that somebody shot something with a Wagner type paint gun or used black spray paint near the car. The smaller particles were more easily dislodged by the clay, while these bigger ones took more effort to loosen.

[yellosuzku]

Those cars came out fantastic, excellent work.