BMW E61 530D 2008 - Monaco Blue

[Anzafin]

Hello Autopians.



This weekend I spent 16 hours with this car of my friend. It`s a BMW E61 530D 2008, Monaco Blue (Blau). A nice LCI model with extras and gizmos.



Scratches and other imperfections:

There were the usual damages on the paint. Swirls and random deeper scratches here and there. The right side doors were repainted recently and their condition was pretty nice. The hood was the worst. It was like there had been some nasty chemicals fallen on it.



Pads, polishes and the machines:

I didn`t even try to get it 100% perfect, since this is a true daily driver and I wouldn`t have had enough time.



It was a two stage polish. The first round was made with the Flex PE14-2 + Lake Country CCS yellow cutting pad + Menzerna PO203S combination. PO203S finishes surprisingly well, even with this harsh pad. Some spots I took with a Flex XC 3401 VRG + LK CCS orange light cutting pad + PO203S combination. Damn that BMW paint is hard!



I went the second phase with a Flex XC 3401 VRG + Lake Country CCS white polishing pad + Britemax #4 Black Max combination. I really like the Black Max. Sure it is a light glaze as well as it is a polish, but when worked with high revs and with decent amount of pressure on the pad, it cuts relatively well and makes the paint pop.



Waxing (= sealing) and finishing:

I put the FK1000P to protect the surface and Meguiar`s on the tires. Unfortunately I didn`t have more time to really put my effort to the details more than this.



-----------------------------------------------------------------



The process:



1) Prewash

- Turtle Wax Super detergent spray

- Bilt-Hamber Autofoam



2) Wash

- Turtle Wax Big Orange

- Two bucket method + sheepskin mitt

- IronX



3) Claying

- Sonüs Ultra Fine Detailing Clay

- Bilt-Hamber Autofoam as lubricant



4) Polishing

- Menzerna PO203S Lake Country CCS yellow cutting pad + FLEX PE14-2 / Menzerna PO203S Lake Country CCS orange light cutting pad + FLEX XC 3401 VRG (tight spots)

- Britemax #4 Black Max + Lake Country CCS white polishing pad + FLEX XC 3401 VRG



5) LSP

- Finish Kare 1000P



6) Tyres

- Meguiar`s Gold Class Endurance Tyre Gel



-----------------------------------------------------------------



Pictures.



Wash



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09552.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09553.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09555.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09557.jpg



Turtle Wax Super detergent spray.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09561.jpg



Autofoam.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09565.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09567.jpg



IronX.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09569.jpg



The clay still severed some dirt from the surface.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09573.jpg



Misty weather after a wash :D.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09576.jpg



-----------------------------------------------------------------



Polishing



Average reading for the paint thickness here.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09582.jpg



First round equipment.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09593.jpg



The usual imperfections.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09614.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09594.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09607.jpg



The hood was the worst.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09653.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09660.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09687.jpg



A mirror before.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09729.jpg



After.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09730.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09633.jpg



-----------------------------------------------------------------



All done



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09762.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09784.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09786.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09805.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09813.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09837.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09850.jpg



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr53/Anzafin/BMW%20E61%20530D/DSC09854.jpg



-----------------------------------------------------------------



Thank you for watching :thumb:.



- Antti -

[bigltc]

Nice work! I love the blue on a cold winter night!

[Fast Eddie]

Oh that looks cold, but nice job on the BMW....that is one awesome color when corrected properly. Great work.

[Scottwax]

Wow, nice job getting such a great correction with just two steps!

[kakeuter]

Nice work, I don`t miss that weather.



-Kody-

[Anzafin]

Thank you guys!



The weather in the end when the owner came for pick up the car, was perfect, -8°C. Keeps the car clean and maybe the most enjoyable temperature for outside hobbies etc!



- Antti -

[Nopstnz8]

Looks great man!

[Ch96067]

Great work!



Surprised that you got such correction from a yellow pad and 203S even on the rotary. My experience with the same LC CCS yellow pad (even the 5,5 one) and 3401 (so not exactly rotary) on Audi paint yielded nowhere near such correction. Could be the technique, who knows.

[Anzafin]

Great work!



Surprised that you got such correction from a yellow pad and 203S even on the rotary. My experience with the same LC CCS yellow pad (even the 5,5 one) and 3401 (so not exactly rotary) on Audi paint yielded nowhere near such correction. Could be the technique, who knows.

It`s definitely depending on the machine. PE 14-2 is so much more powerful than 3401.



- Antti -

[Thomas Dekany]

Fantastic work.