PinnacleAutoCT
10-26-2015, 12:11 PM
The owner of this 2011 BMW M3 contacted me in hopes of improving the appearance of his vehicle’s paint in direct sunlight. Upon inspection it was evident that the car had been polished incorrectly with a rotary buffer, leaving swirl marks over every panel, in addition to moderate to heavy marring from improper washes. Despite being white, a color which typically masks such defects, the damage was still very apparent in any sort of direct lighting (sunlight, fluorescents, etc) and caused a dull appearance even when the paint was clean and waxed.
Before:
Here the car was clean and freshly waxed by the owner, but it lacked the deep, wet shine of corrected paintwork:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5668/22226091408_9dbc0df034_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3wCy)DSC00396 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3wCy) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/663/22388131556_323616d906_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7n2wd)DSC00399 (https://flic.kr/p/A7n2wd) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
The wheel barrels were in need of a detailing and would be cleaned with Optimum Power Clean (3:1) and an EZ detail brush:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5644/22226147710_940f7d01ef_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Pnh)DSC00400 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Pnh) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Under LED lighting the damage to the paint was easily detected. In person the swirls and marring were actually much worse, it was just very difficult to get the camera to reflect this given the white paint:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/717/21792995713_790d5bf7bf_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcLNnp)DSC00420 (https://flic.kr/p/zcLNnp) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/670/22414094215_a96270978c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9E6jg)DSC00422 (https://flic.kr/p/A9E6jg) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/701/22226379008_cccceb79d3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS518b)DSC00423 (https://flic.kr/p/zS518b) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5752/22226114240_a536c87984_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Dqd)DSC00426 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Dqd) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/651/22226999309_27fa3903f9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS8bw2)DSC00428 (https://flic.kr/p/zS8bw2) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/735/22227264819_d9e348ae2f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS9xrM)DSC00430 (https://flic.kr/p/zS9xrM) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/21791312694_0ab60f9f17_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcCb4Q)DSC00431 (https://flic.kr/p/zcCb4Q) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/724/22414055065_26b694e78d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DTFg)DSC00437 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DTFg) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5669/22424895011_42acb1e53c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaBs1T)DSC00441 (https://flic.kr/p/AaBs1T) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5773/22400619692_72d506edc3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A8t2NU)DSC00453 (https://flic.kr/p/A8t2NU) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/715/22388042476_6aa311e88c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7mz3m)DSC00458 (https://flic.kr/p/A7mz3m) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
After a thorough wash with Chemical guys Citrus Wash & Gloss, the foam cannon and filtered water (via CR Spotless), the car was clayed and then different polishing approaches were tested until a satisfactory result of ~80% correction was achieved with the Rupes 21 & 75E polishers along with Lake Country black pads and HD Polish. The paint was then topped with Optiseal and the tires were dressed with 3D Thick Dressing.
After:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5718/22226319618_781fd1cff6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS4Gtd)DSC00492 (https://flic.kr/p/zS4Gtd) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/751/22388028296_06129f1dfd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7muPS)DSC00493 (https://flic.kr/p/A7muPS) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/567/21792907663_5737885097_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcLmci)DSC00496 (https://flic.kr/p/zcLmci) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/736/22387830016_1be4d7a604_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7ktTf)DSC00498 (https://flic.kr/p/A7ktTf) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/621/22424859441_de27990e8e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaBgrB)DSC00499 (https://flic.kr/p/AaBgrB) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/22388006326_7b38d8c452_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7moi5)DSC00502 (https://flic.kr/p/A7moi5) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/750/22413989675_fa9ed64101_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DyeR)DSC00504 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DyeR) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/22226275498_886b68f3f1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS4tmw)DSC00511 (https://flic.kr/p/zS4tmw) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/630/22413966585_cce766c1b2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DrnK)DSC00517 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DrnK) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5809/22424814111_d9e99d721a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaB2Y4)DSC00518 (https://flic.kr/p/AaB2Y4) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/698/22424685631_890b228922_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaAnLT)DSC00523 (https://flic.kr/p/AaAnLT) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5805/22424807071_b2451024cd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaAZSF)DSC00530 (https://flic.kr/p/AaAZSF) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/768/22424796491_3ff04777e5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaAWJg)DSC00535 (https://flic.kr/p/AaAWJg) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/568/22387939896_fb4511d252_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7m3xJ)DSC00536 (https://flic.kr/p/A7m3xJ) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/756/22225959530_441905c2d6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS2RqN)DSC00541 (https://flic.kr/p/zS2RqN) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5815/22400643242_c4086003f3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A8t9NW)DSC00542 (https://flic.kr/p/A8t9NW) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5830/22413912825_90f37e81c9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DaoR)DSC00545 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DaoR) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5724/22227093199_f8e3ce9b3b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS8EqP)DSC00547 (https://flic.kr/p/zS8EqP) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5687/21791141134_aecf4a5115_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcBi4U)DSC00549 (https://flic.kr/p/zcBi4U) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5820/22400689972_8abe5efc32_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A8toGC)DSC00551 (https://flic.kr/p/A8toGC) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5630/22387881606_59c41795a3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7kKdJ)DSC00553 (https://flic.kr/p/A7kKdJ) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/22226137308_86ab822efc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3LgW)DSC00563 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3LgW) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/714/22227049879_386791d91a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS8rxV)DSC00610 (https://flic.kr/p/zS8rxV) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Despite the lack of complete correction, this M3 looked worlds better and both the owner and myself were happy with the outcome. Thanks for looking, comments and questions welcome!
Before:
Here the car was clean and freshly waxed by the owner, but it lacked the deep, wet shine of corrected paintwork:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5668/22226091408_9dbc0df034_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3wCy)DSC00396 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3wCy) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/663/22388131556_323616d906_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7n2wd)DSC00399 (https://flic.kr/p/A7n2wd) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
The wheel barrels were in need of a detailing and would be cleaned with Optimum Power Clean (3:1) and an EZ detail brush:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5644/22226147710_940f7d01ef_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Pnh)DSC00400 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Pnh) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Under LED lighting the damage to the paint was easily detected. In person the swirls and marring were actually much worse, it was just very difficult to get the camera to reflect this given the white paint:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/717/21792995713_790d5bf7bf_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcLNnp)DSC00420 (https://flic.kr/p/zcLNnp) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/670/22414094215_a96270978c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9E6jg)DSC00422 (https://flic.kr/p/A9E6jg) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/701/22226379008_cccceb79d3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS518b)DSC00423 (https://flic.kr/p/zS518b) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5752/22226114240_a536c87984_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Dqd)DSC00426 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3Dqd) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/651/22226999309_27fa3903f9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS8bw2)DSC00428 (https://flic.kr/p/zS8bw2) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/735/22227264819_d9e348ae2f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS9xrM)DSC00430 (https://flic.kr/p/zS9xrM) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/21791312694_0ab60f9f17_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcCb4Q)DSC00431 (https://flic.kr/p/zcCb4Q) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/724/22414055065_26b694e78d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DTFg)DSC00437 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DTFg) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5669/22424895011_42acb1e53c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaBs1T)DSC00441 (https://flic.kr/p/AaBs1T) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5773/22400619692_72d506edc3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A8t2NU)DSC00453 (https://flic.kr/p/A8t2NU) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/715/22388042476_6aa311e88c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7mz3m)DSC00458 (https://flic.kr/p/A7mz3m) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
After a thorough wash with Chemical guys Citrus Wash & Gloss, the foam cannon and filtered water (via CR Spotless), the car was clayed and then different polishing approaches were tested until a satisfactory result of ~80% correction was achieved with the Rupes 21 & 75E polishers along with Lake Country black pads and HD Polish. The paint was then topped with Optiseal and the tires were dressed with 3D Thick Dressing.
After:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5718/22226319618_781fd1cff6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS4Gtd)DSC00492 (https://flic.kr/p/zS4Gtd) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/751/22388028296_06129f1dfd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7muPS)DSC00493 (https://flic.kr/p/A7muPS) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/567/21792907663_5737885097_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcLmci)DSC00496 (https://flic.kr/p/zcLmci) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/736/22387830016_1be4d7a604_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7ktTf)DSC00498 (https://flic.kr/p/A7ktTf) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/621/22424859441_de27990e8e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaBgrB)DSC00499 (https://flic.kr/p/AaBgrB) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/22388006326_7b38d8c452_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7moi5)DSC00502 (https://flic.kr/p/A7moi5) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/750/22413989675_fa9ed64101_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DyeR)DSC00504 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DyeR) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/22226275498_886b68f3f1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS4tmw)DSC00511 (https://flic.kr/p/zS4tmw) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/630/22413966585_cce766c1b2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DrnK)DSC00517 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DrnK) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5809/22424814111_d9e99d721a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaB2Y4)DSC00518 (https://flic.kr/p/AaB2Y4) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/698/22424685631_890b228922_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaAnLT)DSC00523 (https://flic.kr/p/AaAnLT) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5805/22424807071_b2451024cd_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaAZSF)DSC00530 (https://flic.kr/p/AaAZSF) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/768/22424796491_3ff04777e5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AaAWJg)DSC00535 (https://flic.kr/p/AaAWJg) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/568/22387939896_fb4511d252_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7m3xJ)DSC00536 (https://flic.kr/p/A7m3xJ) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/756/22225959530_441905c2d6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS2RqN)DSC00541 (https://flic.kr/p/zS2RqN) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5815/22400643242_c4086003f3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A8t9NW)DSC00542 (https://flic.kr/p/A8t9NW) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5830/22413912825_90f37e81c9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A9DaoR)DSC00545 (https://flic.kr/p/A9DaoR) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5724/22227093199_f8e3ce9b3b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS8EqP)DSC00547 (https://flic.kr/p/zS8EqP) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5687/21791141134_aecf4a5115_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zcBi4U)DSC00549 (https://flic.kr/p/zcBi4U) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5820/22400689972_8abe5efc32_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A8toGC)DSC00551 (https://flic.kr/p/A8toGC) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5630/22387881606_59c41795a3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7kKdJ)DSC00553 (https://flic.kr/p/A7kKdJ) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/629/22226137308_86ab822efc_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS3LgW)DSC00563 (https://flic.kr/p/zS3LgW) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/714/22227049879_386791d91a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zS8rxV)DSC00610 (https://flic.kr/p/zS8rxV) by Mike Donoghue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/48678828@N04/), on Flickr
Despite the lack of complete correction, this M3 looked worlds better and both the owner and myself were happy with the outcome. Thanks for looking, comments and questions welcome!