2003 BMW M3 - A Miracle Detailing - Paint correction

**Merlin** · 05-22-2018, 05:28 PM

There was something on or in this paint that was brutal. It looked like a real bad case of clear coat failure.
He actually brought it to me as a last resort. Body shop repaint quoted him $12,500 to repaint the car.
We all know you do not want to repaint if you do not have to. I devalues the vehicle and is never the same.

I did a little 18"x18" test spot in the middle of his hood and whatever it was came off using...
Scholl`s S3, Flex 3401 and a LC Force Hybrid Orange Pad. The test spot looked awesome!
I followed that up with a Rupes 21, Scholl`s S30 and S40 polish and LC finishing pads.

Interestingly enough...at the time I was booked up over a month in advance.
We made the appointment for a month away and I kinda expected him to forget/or bail.
I contacted him two days before the appointment and he was anxious to give it a go.
The funny part was him pulling up in a M3 with a real shiny spot in the middle of his hood.

I wasn`t cheap but I was a lot less the 12k and he had original OEM paint looking better than new.
I`m not much for 50/50 shots as my (old) iPhone has a lens smaller than a pencil eraser. but here goes...

The top of the before/after is the only shot I have of what his hood looked like.
It looked like total CC failure. You can see the tape line in the fluorescent light.

The End

Needless to say he was absolutely blown away when I was done!

Thanks for looking...

**trashmanssd** · 05-22-2018, 05:41 PM

Awesome work as always, before almost looks like faded single stage paint weird for BC/CC paint.

**Merlin** · 05-22-2018, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by trashmanssd

Awesome work as always, before almost looks like faded single stage paint weird for BC/CC paint.

Thank you...that is very kind.

Yes it did...I gave him the "I don`t know, no responsibility, possible burn through...total disclaimer speech.
One thing I did know...I don`t know the end results. "If I burn through the paint you assume all the risk."

I`m kinda fussy on what vehicles I put a coating on. Looking at what arrived it was not coating worthy.
If I coat paint I want it to look as good as it possibly can...it must be at least "better than brand new."
I still have no idea what was stuck on this 15 year old paint but thankfully for him it was not CC failure.
Just for fun...look at the two lights in the 1st top pic. Then look at the same lighting in the 3rd pic down.

**SGM2008** · 05-22-2018, 06:50 PM

Incredible save Merlin, your work continues to amaze!

**phatkid77** · 05-22-2018, 06:57 PM

Wow!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Merlin** · 05-22-2018, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by SGM2008

Incredible save Merlin, your work continues to amaze!

Thank you

Yeah, although it was not very pretty when it arrived, I could tell he loved his "Pride and Joy".

When he came to get it, he could not stop bouncing up and down with a smile that went from ear to ear.
For me, that is what I do, and that is what "detailing" is all about. It is a sense of personal satisfaction.

A Word of Wisdom - If you are only detailing for the money find something else to do.
If you truly take pride in what you do and continually learn you can be in the top 3%.
When you achieve the top 3% then the money will come. Be the best you can be.
Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life. Shine on!

**Merlin** · 05-22-2018, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by phatkid77

Wow!

I like WOW!

**Merlin** · 05-27-2018, 08:27 AM

I didn`t have the opportunity to to a 360 walk-around vid so I complied the pics in a vid.

Please watch in 1080p HD w/sound. Your feedback is appreciated.