Black BMW 740iL - New Metabo Rotary

Totoland Mach · 03-19-07, 06:00

I recently purchased a new Metabo PE12-175 to try at the BMW shop. The shop has 2 DeWalt's which are a bit heavy for this 63 year old ...... it's a real upper body workout though! Actually, for smaller areas of the cars, they are more cumbersome for me.

I also bought a small backing plate from Meguiar's and some 7006 pads for cutting with that plate.

The dealer was so impressed with the Metabo, he is ordering another one and will be selling those DeWalts. What a joy to use!

I did this soft paint black 740iL and used the Meg's 8006 pad with Menzerma and it really helped with speed of work. For the tough areas, I used the 7006 pad to correct scratches, followed by the 8006 pad.

Finished up with 3M Ultrafina SE and a coat of #26.

Here's my work cart loaded for Bear!

Typical scratches

Polish in progress with Menzerma

One of the best photo areas for effect is the trunk lip shots

Finished with heavy stuff....final wash...then a coat of #26

Totoland Mach

Coupe · 03-19-07, 06:26

Niiiiiice
Im so geeked about getting my makita!!!

Accumulator · 03-19-07, 11:00

Totoland Mach- Your work always amazes me. Compared with my experiences when I work on my '97 M3, it's like you and I are in different realities! You sure are good at this stuff

Glad to hear you like the Metabo, I bet it feels really light compared with the DeWalt. Any trouble getting used to its not having a trigger? I'm a *little* surprised you guys like the Metabo enough to dispose of the DeWalts altogether.

Totoland Mach · 03-19-07, 11:26

Thanks for the compliment Accumulator!

Actually, both myself and the dealer like the Metabo switch over DeWalt's trigger. We've already had to repair the DeWalt trigger button for constant on and the Metabo is a little easier in those regards.

The next thing the dealer and I like is the motor start-up on the Metabo versus the DeWalt. Especially when you have a line of product on the paint.

We will probably keep one of the DeWalt's as a spare "big Bertha" in case we should have to repair one of the Metabo's.

Totoland Mach

Brandon1 · 03-19-07, 11:27

Are those holograms I see on the front fender in the last shot???

Totoland Mach · 03-19-07, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon1

Are those holograms I see on the front fender in the last shot???

Nope! Actually our last step process is to apply 3M Ultrafina SE (Swirl Eliminator) before I power wash the car. That stuff is flat greasy! Slings oil when you work it in to the neighboring panels. It's a pretty smeary product and after we powerwash the car to remove excess compound from the body seams, I apply #26 to the car.

I'll try to get some after #26 shots today as I still have the interior to complete.

Toto

Accumulator · 03-19-07, 11:44

Totoland Mach- OK, thanks for explaining how you guys feel about the switch vs. trigger. Yeah, that gentle startup with the Metabo *is* a nice feature.

Interesting that you like the 3M UltraFine SE so much despite its greasiness. I would've thought that might make it hard to accurately judge your progress with regard to stuff like holograms (which I expect are an infrequent concern given your level of experience

).

Deanski · 03-19-07, 12:04

I keep hearing and seeing the effect of the 3M Ultrafina when matched with the same pad they spec for as being a bit on the oily side as 3M wants it to finish wet. Even in the 3M Webinar they show the sling of this product. Odd, but you have to admit it does do a good job.

I'm still waiting for time to test it with P085RD to see how it responds.

Regards,
Deanski

DSVWGLI · 03-19-07, 12:07

The Metabo dosn't have a triger to speed up or slow down the set rpms? So all you have is a dial to set the rpms and a switch to turn it on and off? How do you slow down the rpms on the fly when moving into an edge?

Totoland Mach · 03-19-07, 01:01

Accumulator: Regarding the Ultrafina, I inspect the car under 4 halogens + shop lighting and look for holograms prior to applying the product.

Deanski: yep, you use that 3M ultra soft blue rotary pad with the product. I looked at the web video and they talk about the oil sling. The big thing this BMW dealer is looking for is swirl-free after washing. His prior detailer came from the Body/Paint shop environment and really knew wetsanding and heavy rotary work. The problem they used to have was: following that type work (sand-compound-glaze), the car would have swirls re-appear. The guy was very heavy handed with the rotary is what I suspect.

My experience was driveway detailing with a lot less aggressive process and the results are showing up well in the car's I've done. I've had BMW owners stop by the shop with work I did 5 months ago and comment on how the surface still looks great.

DSVWGLI: Lack of a trigger switch and use of the on/off works fine, even when you want to lower rpm. The dial setting is on the back plate of the machine and your finger can easily rotate it to the desired speed.

Toto

Accumulator · 03-19-07, 03:21

Totoland Mach- Ah, OK, sounds like there's little fear of *instilling* holograms *with* that product.

Totoland Mach & DSVWGLI- Flip-side opinion of the Metabo's lack of a trigger and its speed-dial placement: I don't really like it, much as I don't like the PC for the same reason. Admittedly I'm still getting used to it, but, for all the reasons DSVWGLI was concerned about, overall I prefer the design of the Makita/DeWalt rotaries better. Probably not *enough* better to not reach for the Metabo, but I'm glad I have both on hand so I can choose.

Deanski · 03-19-07, 03:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Totoland Mach

Accumulator: Regarding the Ultrafina, I inspect the car under 4 halogens + shop lighting and look for holograms prior to applying the product.

Deanski: yep, you use that 3M ultra soft blue rotary pad with the product. I looked at the web video and they talk about the oil sling. The big thing this BMW dealer is looking for is swirl-free after washing. His prior detailer came from the Body/Paint shop environment and really knew wetsanding and heavy rotary work. The problem they used to have was: following that type work (sand-compound-glaze), the car would have swirls re-appear. The guy was very heavy handed with the rotary is what I suspect.Toto

DING DING DING.... Yes it's the GLAZE! This fills the marring, but as soonas it's washed with a strong car detergent, off comes the filler (kaolin clay), and here comes the marring again. Most shops use glaze very much when it comes to shops that have people not fully trained with 3M products.

A good polish and pad with technique will always win, more so when dealing with black finishes.

When the crew did my Porsche, I dropped off the Menzerna P085RD and had them "play" with it on a test hood I dropped off. Once they got the feel for it, they did my car. My avatar was shot right after the polish alone in the shop.

It may take more time to work a finish correctly, but you end up with happy customers!!!

Regards,
Deanski