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lax01
04-16-2007, 08:56 AM
I finally accumulated all the products I needed to attempt a full detail with a Porter Cable for the very first time. I tested the PC on my dad`s 93 Legend and learned the basics. Now its game-time.



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2890.jpg



So I started Friday night by washing the car with Dawn soap and Poorboy`s Bug and Tar Remover on the Lowers and the bumpers. I used a Microfiber wash mit and cleaned the exterior. I then used some ClayMagic clay bar and clayed the entire car (starting from the top of course). I used Poorboy`s Spray and White as lubricant (as well as water). The car was already looking better but as I was running short on day-time, I wasn`t taking any pictures. After claying, I washed one more time and dried with a waffle-weave microfiber towel and then pulled into the garage. The sun had just set so I timed it perfect. I had bought the Craftsman 2-light work-light earlier on Friday so I set that up and start doing more fine drying (door jams, trunk, hood, etc). At this point, this is how the car looked:



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2838.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2840.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2841.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2843.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2846.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2847.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2849.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2854.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2855.jpg



So as you can see, the car was very barely marred and swirled. This is most likely due to my stupidity and not doing proper washing during the winter. Using quickly detailer with salt on the car (stupid stupid :wallbang:). Anyways, I was set out to fix all of that. So I pull out the Porter Cable and my orange Lake Country pad. I pull out the Menzerna Intensive Polish and got the pad lubed up and ready to go. I set it to 3 and smear it onto the trunk. Before I go on, I should remind everyone that I had some really bad hard-water spots on my trunk.



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Autopiablocked/DSC_2833.jpg



I definitely wanted to make sure I removed these. So I went to work with the PC and the Orange Pad....I did only the trunk and the roof on Friday night but it took me awhile because I was going back and forth between the orange and the white LC pads. After doing both trunk with the orange LC pad and IP combo, I went to it with the white LC pad and Menzerna Final Polish II. After finishing this and was happy with the results, I took some pictures:



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2858.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2861.jpg



I also did the roof with the same process but I didn`t get any worthy pictures of it until the next morning:



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2863.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2864.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2865.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2867.jpg



So at this point, it was Saturday morning so I started working the rest of the car. Mostly with the same process. Orange LC Pad with Menzerna Intensive Polish all around and then the White LC Pad with the Final Polish II. I took breaks to get some pictures:



First some of the swirls on the hood (pre-polish)



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2870.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2871.jpg



I also did a test on the driver`s side door with just the White LC pad and FPII, as you can see, it took out some of the swirls, but I figured the Orange LC Pad and IP would be worth it to remove all of the imperfections. Here are the pics:



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2874.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2875.jpg



And here is an after-polishing on the hood:



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2877.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2878.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2879.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2880.jpg



There`s still some minor scratches, but the IP just wasn`t strong enough (or I didn`t work it enough) get them out...I was satisfied with the result though.



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2882.jpg
lax01
04-16-2007, 08:57 AM
So here are the post-wax pictures. I used the Porter Cable and a black Lake Country Pad and Menzerna Full Molecular Jacket. I applied on a speed of 3.5.



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2922.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2923.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2927.jpg



I applied another coat of FMJ with the Black Pad and then cleaned the windows with Stoner window cleaner and dressed the tires with Mequairs Tire Shine.



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2930.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2932.jpg



http://lax.war3.com/Car/M3/Detail-April-07-JPEG/DSC_2938.jpg



So, after many many hours of work, I`m very satisfied with the results. But as you can see in the last picture, it has been raining all weekend, so I didn`t want to take the car out of the garage to get pictures. I`m sure I`ll do a nice photo-shoot sometime soon and I`ll make sure to post those pics up when I take them.



Also, all pictures were taken with a Nikon D50 with an 18-70mm lens; most on a tripod.



Let me know what you think! :)
tom p.
04-16-2007, 09:06 AM
Let me know what you think! :)



You really need to clean your garage and get some superior lighting setup. :D



I luv M series cars. Is this car new to you? Why so much marring? Is this Orient Blue?



The PC is an excellent tool that virtually anyone can master. In some cases the PC simply won`t have enough "action" to deal with severe conditions. I`m not suggesting you`re at that point. You may find the appearance less than perfect once you get it out in the sun. Otherwise, it looks like a 1st class effort on your part!
audicoupej
04-16-2007, 09:29 AM
Nice M3. It looks much better now. :cool:



I like to apply 2-3 "jackets" of FMJ. I apply them with at least a 12 hour curing period between each coat. HGAS is a good companion product for FMJ.



Is that a comp package or just the wheels?
lax01
04-16-2007, 09:29 AM
You really need to clean your garage and get some superior lighting setup. :D



I luv M series cars. Is this car new to you? Why so much marring? Is this Orient Blue?



The PC is an excellent tool that virtually anyone can master. In some cases the PC simply won`t have enough "action" to deal with severe conditions. I`m not suggesting you`re at that point. You may find the appearance less than perfect once you get it out in the sun. Otherwise, it looks like a 1st class effort on your part!



I got it back in November but it went through a rough winter (Daily Driver) and improper washing techniques so it really needed the detail. The color is Carbon Black (its got blue flake in it) and looks black at night



Yeah I`m definitely satisfied for now...no need to move to rotary yet
lax01
04-16-2007, 09:31 AM
Nice M3. It looks much better now. :cool:



I like to apply 2-3 "jackets" of FMJ. I apply them with at least a 12 hour curing period between each coat. HGAS is a good companion product for FMJ.



Is that a comp package or just the wheels?



its an 02 so its just a regular ole M3...but yes those are the ZCP wheels...powder-coated black
coupe
04-16-2007, 09:47 AM
All i see is red x`s
admac
04-16-2007, 11:43 AM
very nice! i don`t know what it is with carbon black and water spots but mine was very susceptible to etching from watermarks. and they came back regularly.
Old Pirate
04-16-2007, 07:10 PM
Looks great, the hard work you put in it pay`s it self off. Can`t wait to get a pc for myself!:2thumbs:
Jmiller07
04-16-2007, 07:18 PM
Great detail, can`t wait to use the PC for the first time. Beautiful m3 too. My friend has an 01 Nogaro blue....
saab93
04-16-2007, 07:53 PM
The detail looks great. I`ve been doing it by hand, but I just ordered my first PC.




very nice! i don`t know what it is with carbon black and water spots but mine was very susceptible to etching from watermarks. and they came back regularly.



My black 2003 Saab 93SS had horrible etching from watermarks, made me hate even looking at it or washing it. I lived in Pittsburgh at the time, where it`s known for high level of acid rain. I have moved since, thank God, so I don`t have to worry about my new black Jag. I also switched to Four Stars Ultimate Paint Protection as my synthetic wax, so far I love how it goes on and it seems to be holding up pretty well.
imported_GregCavi
04-16-2007, 08:02 PM
Those menzerna polishes should be a requirement with the PC. They are great. You did an excellent job on the car. Make sure to keep it that way. ;)



Greg
kesslerbmw
04-16-2007, 08:31 PM
So hot. Loving the Black CSL`s too. Looks great. :buttrock
Scottwax
04-17-2007, 01:00 AM
Nice! Looks a lot better. :)
imported_DieselMDX
04-17-2007, 01:45 AM
wow great pics and post car looks a TON better I will have a M3 in about 2 years lol