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imported_Totoland Mach
02-09-2008, 07:28 AM
Nothing like having a full plate for February! The dealer has 9 BMW`s for this month...gonna be busy at least.



First up is this X5 4.6i with 41/k. The finish was in good shape despite the mileage: usual light scratching and swirls and a few chips, but nothing major.



Prior to initial power washing:



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5Sterling_Before2.jpg



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5Sterling_Before3.jpg



Into the shop and on the lift! Tackled the exhaust tips and rear hatch first (gotta start somewhere)



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5Sterling_ExhaustBefore.jpg



I used 2000 grit paper soaked in Adams Metal Polish #2. Gives a nice, OEM appearance.



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5Sterling_Exhaustafter.jpg



On to the body: Started with System One Polish and their wool/foam pad. I later switched to an Edge yellow wool 6" pad because I`m just more comfortable with a smaller diameter pad. It seems so much easier to work with the smaller size IMO.



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5Sterling_X3woolpsngrSide.jpg



System One Polish after the foam polishing process. This has been a true time saver for me over the 3M process because I used to power wash after compounding to remove any dust/grit. With the System One, I eliminated that wash step and go right from wool to foam for finish work.



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5afterX3foam.jpg



Finally got the vehicle out for a final wash prior to waxing. I`ll finish up with an LSP today, then tackle the interior.



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5OutsideRear_Licorice.jpg



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5OutsideShot.jpg



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/05%20X5%20Sterling%20Gray/05X5OutsideSunShot.jpg



Sterling Gray is definitely one of the best colors in the BMW lineup...at certain angles the silver really jumps and at others, the gray is predominant.



Toto
Way2SSlow
02-09-2008, 08:37 AM
Toto,



As always it looks great. When are we going to get to see some more pics of the Mach? I chuckle everytime I see your avatar...My dogs wouldnt be that patient with the glasses.





Is that Adam`s undercarriage dressing on the black trim and in the wells?
imported_Totoland Mach
02-09-2008, 08:51 AM
Toto,



As always it looks great. When are we going to get to see some more pics of the Mach? I chuckle everytime I see your avatar...My dogs wouldnt be that patient with the glasses.





Is that Adam`s undercarriage dressing on the black trim and in the wells?



Thanks Sir: she`s real patient on those glasses! knows a car ride is coming when I put them on her.



No to the Adams undercarriage....I don`t even know if they can sell or ship that product any more. I used what little I had some time ago. I used a sample of System One`s Licorice dressing. Nice stuff and is not greasy at all.



Here`s a couple of Mach pics for Ya



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/Mach%201%20Pics/SLP_Installed.jpg



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/Mach%201%20Pics/MachSide.jpg



http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o212/Totoland/Mach%201%20Pics/DoubleBorder_Mach_Pic.jpg



Toto
P1et
02-09-2008, 09:17 AM
Gorgeous, on both counts!!!
baseballlover1
02-09-2008, 09:27 AM
interesting dare car in the background. lol



great work as always!
Way2SSlow
02-09-2008, 10:55 AM
Toto,



Your mach is insane. Thanks for the pics!
Thomas Dekany
02-09-2008, 10:56 AM
Very nice work Toto!!!
noooorb
02-09-2008, 11:19 AM
Awesome work
imported_Bence
02-09-2008, 02:03 PM
Poor old LS400...
Pats300zx
02-09-2008, 03:31 PM
Great work as always Toto....
Spilchy
02-09-2008, 05:34 PM
Great work!



That X5 looks like a 2004, no? I absolutely hate those wheels to clean. I wash my neighbor`s weekly in good weather and I can`t stand those wheels! I use a soft paint brush to get between the spokes and an EZ Detail brush to get the inside rims. Taping up that plastic is a pain too when it comes time to polish.



Your car looks mean! Very cool.
Mark77
02-09-2008, 06:16 PM
Great work. I think the lift helps you alot to detail the lower areas properly. Even a quite cheap wash and wax place near me use a lift, so I think it`s strange not more detailers have one here on autopia also?
imported_Totoland Mach
02-09-2008, 06:36 PM
Splichy: The car is an 05 4.4i....I also have an 04 4.4i in the front of the shop and the wheels are identical. They are a pita to do properly that`s for sure.



Mark77: That lift is definitely the dream tool for doing the lower portion of any vehicle. The other shop that I contracted with for Ferrari and Lamborghini work did not have a lift and I HATED it....especially those low slung vehicles. Probably spent 2x the time in doing the lower portions of Ferrari`s correctly.



Toto
white ghost
02-10-2008, 11:13 AM
Toto,



I didn`t know that you posted here too! car still looks great!!!
imported_grease
02-10-2008, 03:35 PM
Great job Toto! Nice color, and youre work really brings that out! I hope none of those 9 Bimmers is the black....such a PITA to work with, so soft.