Gurge
New member
This BMW 335i I was asked to work on threw me a couple curveballs so I figured a short writeup was in order. It's just one example of how every panel on a paint correction job can be different.
Client had brought me the car given that it had a number of swirls and although not looking perfection, wanted a significant improvement. We agreed to a 1 step paint correction.
Started with the usual wash / clay bar routine (no pics - sorry). After I got the car dried I went around quickly with the paint gauge and made an interesting discovery.
I could see a long deep scratch along the passenger door and on closer inspection, it seemed obvious this panel had been previously wetsanded. Quite a bit actually.
Passenger door - close to the fender - 122 microns
Just inches away, along the same panel - 98 microns!
Normal 98 microns on its own is not too much of a concern BUT the inconsistency is the key here. A lot of paint has been removed from this spot. In order to be sure, just a few inches down that same panel (approaching the door handle) we're back to 120+ microns
Ok so we had to be careful there. Most of the car was done with the Flex 3401 / Griots DA along with LC Tangerine pads and Menzerna Power Finish
Fender Before
Fender After (NOT perfect - 1 step correction only)
Hood before
Hood after
Made my way to the rear bumper and it was clear something was different. I couldn't measure on the urethane panel with my Highline meter, but it seemed clear the rear bumper had been repainted, with the body shop leaving a mess of sanding marks and swirls.
I ended up doing a 3 step correction on the rear bumper. LC purple foamed wool + Makita 9227 + megs m100 followed by d300 / megs MF pads and then Menzerna Super Finish with the porter cable DA
Rear bumper before - what a mess!
up close
After - almost full correction - a few deeper isolated scratches I didn't feel comfortable chasing since I couldn't take a paint measurement. Friends know when to say when.
Protected the paint with Blackfire Wet Diamond. Some shots outside after I was finished up.
From the Mr. Sparkle garage in Long Island, NY.....
Mr. Sparkle Detailing.com
Client had brought me the car given that it had a number of swirls and although not looking perfection, wanted a significant improvement. We agreed to a 1 step paint correction.
Started with the usual wash / clay bar routine (no pics - sorry). After I got the car dried I went around quickly with the paint gauge and made an interesting discovery.
I could see a long deep scratch along the passenger door and on closer inspection, it seemed obvious this panel had been previously wetsanded. Quite a bit actually.
Passenger door - close to the fender - 122 microns
Just inches away, along the same panel - 98 microns!
Normal 98 microns on its own is not too much of a concern BUT the inconsistency is the key here. A lot of paint has been removed from this spot. In order to be sure, just a few inches down that same panel (approaching the door handle) we're back to 120+ microns
Ok so we had to be careful there. Most of the car was done with the Flex 3401 / Griots DA along with LC Tangerine pads and Menzerna Power Finish
Fender Before
Fender After (NOT perfect - 1 step correction only)
Hood before
Hood after
Made my way to the rear bumper and it was clear something was different. I couldn't measure on the urethane panel with my Highline meter, but it seemed clear the rear bumper had been repainted, with the body shop leaving a mess of sanding marks and swirls.
I ended up doing a 3 step correction on the rear bumper. LC purple foamed wool + Makita 9227 + megs m100 followed by d300 / megs MF pads and then Menzerna Super Finish with the porter cable DA
Rear bumper before - what a mess!
up close
After - almost full correction - a few deeper isolated scratches I didn't feel comfortable chasing since I couldn't take a paint measurement. Friends know when to say when.
Protected the paint with Blackfire Wet Diamond. Some shots outside after I was finished up.
From the Mr. Sparkle garage in Long Island, NY.....
Mr. Sparkle Detailing.com
