Mildly oxidized M3, plus an ML500 and a 330i

Scottwax · 02-17-07, 11:09

1995 BMW M3. The owner just bought the car and brought it back here from California, where the mid-30 degree temperatures and strong north wind must have been a real shock to the sheetmetal! This one has the 321 hp (if I remember right) European engine in it. The paint wasn't too badly oxidized but the roof and hood were definitely lighter than the rest of the car. Here are a few before shots. The wheels and fenderwells had already been cleaned in these pics.

Once we had the car washed and interior vacuumed, the car was pulled into the garage, where my son detailed the interior and I polished the paint. The lighting was pretty good, although we had the garage door pulled down since it faced the north and the winds were blowing 20-35 mph all day.

I took several pics during the polishing process and these are the only ones that turned out even halfway okay. Using flash washed the other shots out so bad they were useless.

The rear fender is polished using Optimum Polish and green Propel lite cut Cyclo pads. With lighting the difference between the two is just not as apparent on film as it was in person but I think you can see the difference in gloss and reflection between the two:

Now both sides are polished:

After Optimum Polish, I used Meguiars #80 Speed Glaze via PC and a white LC (yellow when I finished!!) and topped with Meguiars #16.

By the time we finished, it was very late in the day and overcast. The paint is actually a bit darker in person. Stupid winter.

The engine was washed down (it wasn't very dirty) with Optimum No Rinse and dressed with Armor All.

The interior was cleaned with Woolite/water and the vinyl dressed with Optimum Protectant Plus and the leather with Leather Master's Leather Vital.

Scottwax · 02-17-07, 11:26

2006 Mercedes ML500. Polished and sealed this one several months ago with Prime and Acrylic Jett. Still seemed to be holding up okay despite nothing more than tunnel washing. The owner wanted me to put a quick coat of wax on it to make it through the rest of the winter, even though it could use some polishing. The way the winter has been, he'd rather wait until the chance of snow or ice is completely past. They sand the streets here and that stuff is pretty tough on paint. Anyway, just a quick ONR wash and waxed with Meguiars #16. Just a couple pics, I'll take more late spring/early summer when I go nuts on it.

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2006 BMW 330i. I regularly polish and wax his wife's G35 but this is the first time I have done anything to his relatively new 330. Overall it was in good shape, just some light spider swirls. While I still had some sun, I went over the trunk lid with Meguiars #80 and green Propel lite cut Cyclo pads. First polishing session took about about 85% of the swirls, the second session got pretty much all the rest. Same with the hood. The rest of the paint was fine with one polishing session per panel. Finished out really nicely too, very deep and wet. Simply finished it off with Meguiars #16, then scheduled his wife's G35 for about a month from now during spring break (she is a teacher).

Like usual the past few months, by the time I finish, it is getting close to sunset. Nowhere in the driveway or even the street to pull the car to get out of the shadows of impending dusk. The car is actually a dark blue metallic, in case anyone was wondering.

SpoiledMan · 02-17-07, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

The car is actually a dark blue metallic, in case anyone was wondering.

I was going to ask how you got away with using #80 on a newer black 3 series.

Grouse · 02-17-07, 11:39

very nice on the cars. I love the 330.
PS i sent an email to you about bi-o-kleen traffic lane cleaner. I am not sure if you got it.

rydawg · 02-17-07, 11:57

Hey when your done can you wash my car?

rydawg · 02-18-07, 12:01

When I come out to Texas next time I am gonna stop by and help you one day. Great job as always Scott! You have a very good camera!!!!!

Scottwax · 02-18-07, 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grouse

very nice on the cars. I love the 330.
PS i sent an email to you about bi-o-kleen traffic lane cleaner. I am not sure if you got it.

Yeah, I got it. Sorry, the weather finally got good and I've been slammed.

rydawg-wash yours? I haven't even washed mine in 6-7 weeks.

rydawg · 02-18-07, 12:16

I have not washed mine in 3 months. Still looks like new though.

rydawg · 02-18-07, 12:19

I hope you are making some great money doing all of these cars!

Nimble · 02-18-07, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

1995 BMW M3. The owner just bought the car and brought it back here from California, where the mid-30 degree temperatures and strong north wind must have been a real shock to the sheetmetal! This one has the 321 hp (if I remember right) European engine in it. The paint wasn't too badly oxidized but the roof and hood were definitely lighter than the rest of the car. Here are a few before shots. The wheels and fenderwells had already been cleaned in these pics.

Wow Scott! It's a small world. That car was purchased from a member of bimmerforums.com, the new owner must live by you then? I believe he also has another E36 M3, but green? I think it is also a track car. That Dakar is one of only 2 E36 M3 colors to not have a clearcoat, the other, Hellrot is also a 95 only color. The one you polished is called Dakar 1, and Dakar 2 was on the OBD 2 M3's and had a clearcoat. That car with the Euro 3.2 motor is VERY rare. The new owner must love it! Great work on the car!

Scottwax · 02-18-07, 12:27

Nimble-thanks for the extra info! Yes, he does have a green E36 track car. The engine is out of it right now.

35TH LE · 02-18-07, 02:02

MMMMmmmm.... I love #16!

Great work Scott.. all 3 look incredible!