Petrucci Detailed: 2005 BMW Jet Black M3

Petrucci_M3 · 08-17-09, 12:45

Petrucci Detailed: 2005 BMW Jet Black M3

Wash:
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss
Gilmour Foam Gun

Clayed:
Meguiar’s Medium clay
Chemical Guys Synthetic Quick Detailer

Paint Correction:
Flex 3403 rotary
3M Backing Plate
Menzerna Super Intensive Polish
Menzerna Nano Polish
Menzerna PO85RD
CM5300
Fenix TK10
Orange LC pad
White LC pad
Grey LC pad
Blue LC pad
Detailer Domain Uber Towels
Highline Paint Gauge Meter

Protection:
Jetseal109

LSP:
Pinnacle Souveran

Trim:
Aerospace 303

Glass:
Stoner’s Invisible Glass

Wheels:
EZ Detail Brush
Swissvax Wheel Brush
Chemical Guy’s Grime Reaper
Surfcity Tire Shine

Before:

Wash:

Here’s what I had to work with after stripping the wax and clay barring the car.:

So the next step was to measure the clear coat to see what I would be working with and then plan the attack with my Menzerna polishes. Going through the car the hood was the lowest of the readings, so I had to be extra careful.:

Here are some readings of the trunk which was pretty healthy for BMW JB.:

Various other panel readings.:

I started with the trunk working with the least aggressive method first. I started out with a white lake country pad and 106ff at around 1300 rpm. To my amazement it cleared up some of the heaviest areas on the car, but there were certain spots were deeper imperfections were still present. I worked with some SIP but it seemed the paint did not want to accept it because it would leave behind nasty hazing. After a couple of trials I found the formula for the car, which was a white pad with half a bead of 106ff and SIP. Then I followed it up with a white pad and 106ff to get rid of any leftover hazing left from the SIP, and then on to my favorite step jewelling with 85rd on a blue pad. This paint was super soft (almost a nightmare); some of my microfibers would scratch the paint if not careful. Also, my normal 50/50 alcohol wipe down would leave behind streaks and sometimes pick up things that would scratch the paint. I’d say the correction was about 90%, it was definitely a challenge.

Trunk - Before:

Trunk 50/50:

Trunk - After:

Panel - Before:

Panel - After:

Hood - Before:

Hood 50/50:

Driver Fender - After:

Petrucci_M3 · 08-17-09, 12:46

Driver Door - Before:

Driver Door 50/50:

Driver Door After:

Driver Rear Fender - Before:

Driver Rear Fender - After:

Passenger Door 50/50:

Passenger Door - After:

Random reflection shots:

After Shots:

Thanks for looking!

ReLoaDeD BuLLiT · 08-17-09, 09:45

Amazing turn-around bro. What do those meters go for? I've been wanting to add one to my collection for some time now.

Greg Nichols · 08-17-09, 10:10

Very nice job!

I have cannot get 85rd to finish down on Jet Black, I had to use UF and worked like a charm. I would watch this car in the next few days to see if stuff comes back, if it does UF should clean it up.

Cheers,
GREG

Apollo_Auto · 08-17-09, 10:45

Nice work buddy! Those 50/50's say it all!

Petrucci_M3 · 08-17-09, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReLoaDeD BuLLiT

Amazing turn-around bro. What do those meters go for? I've been wanting to add one to my collection for some time now.

Thank you. I bought mine for 199 plus shipping, but I just checked their website and they came out with a version too which is very interesting to look at.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Nichols

Very nice job!

I have cannot get 85rd to finish down on Jet Black, I had to use UF and worked like a charm. I would watch this car in the next few days to see if stuff comes back, if it does UF should clean it up.

Cheers,
GREG

Thanks Greg, unfortunately I'm pretty far from this car to do any matinence washes but I informed the owner on proper techniques to keep this looking "clean." But this paint is so soft, its kinda sad. The lightest touch of anything including some MF can mar the paint

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apollo_Auto

Nice work buddy! Those 50/50's say it all!

Thank you sir!

ReLoaDeD BuLLiT · 08-17-09, 10:08

Thanks. I don't see anything in their product list about fiberglass panel readings though

Petrucci_M3 · 08-17-09, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReLoaDeD BuLLiT

Thanks. I don't see anything in their product list about fiberglass panel readings though

Very true, but for a "poor college kid" it works for me. I can't jump up to the big boys just yet.

ReLoaDeD BuLLiT · 08-17-09, 10:42

good find nonetheless! not all cars have fiberglass! more than not have metal, at least that I personally work on!

I bookmarked it! Thanks!

Also, what's a normal reading you go by for aggressive compounding, etc

ps, I see you have a 3403...just got mine and I absolutely love it!

Petrucci_M3 · 08-18-09, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReLoaDeD BuLLiT

good find nonetheless! not all cars have fiberglass! more than not have metal, at least that I personally work on!

I bookmarked it! Thanks!

Also, what's a normal reading you go by for aggressive compounding, etc

ps, I see you have a 3403...just got mine and I absolutely love it!

No problem! I don't like to use aggressive methods when the clear is closest to 100. I read that normal JB for BMW's should be around 140 to 160 so some areas were in need of caution.

I love my 3403, I haven't had any problems with heat especially since it was averaging around 110 when I worked on the car. I'm looking at possibly picking up either a metabo or makita as a back up. But I'm loving this little machine very much.

RickRack · 08-19-09, 05:31

Wow, the car came out amazing!!!

Ryan and I worked on an M3 about 5 weeks ago that was in similar condition...

Great job bringing it back to life!!

98Vette · 08-19-09, 02:22

Excellent correction on that JB! I might give the nano/sip mix a shot and see what happens. My JB ZHP has been a nightmare to correct. How BMW made paint so soft absolutely amazes me.