imported_Totoland Mach
New member
I'm reconditioning a Black 740i with 90,000 miles and would like to share how I recondition scratched door handles. The Bimmer handles are painted pot metal and have to be treated a little differently than the surrounding sheet metal.
I start with taping the handles while I'm compounding the doors.
After completion of sheet metal, I remove the tape to work on the handles.
Next up, I wet sand the handles with 3000 grit. Typically, I stuff a rag under the handle to lift it away from the door area. For the recess, I hand apply compound with a rag until the scratches are gone, then hand apply 3M glaze for a nice finish
Using my Metabo (lighter than "Big Bertha" the DeWalt) with a small pad and backing plate, I compound the handle with light pressure. BMW's handles burn easily, so I watch my work carefully.
After completion of the car, I will use 3M Ultrafina SE for any leftover surface swirls and Meg's #26 as the LSP.
Here's the work-in-process so far:
This works well on recessed door handles that are a different base material than surrounding sheet metal.
Toto
I start with taping the handles while I'm compounding the doors.
After completion of sheet metal, I remove the tape to work on the handles.
Next up, I wet sand the handles with 3000 grit. Typically, I stuff a rag under the handle to lift it away from the door area. For the recess, I hand apply compound with a rag until the scratches are gone, then hand apply 3M glaze for a nice finish
Using my Metabo (lighter than "Big Bertha" the DeWalt) with a small pad and backing plate, I compound the handle with light pressure. BMW's handles burn easily, so I watch my work carefully.
After completion of the car, I will use 3M Ultrafina SE for any leftover surface swirls and Meg's #26 as the LSP.
Here's the work-in-process so far:
This works well on recessed door handles that are a different base material than surrounding sheet metal.
Toto
