Swirled Accord, scratched BMW 330i, cream puff Honda Pilot

S

Scottwax

New member
1998 Honda Accord. I had detailed it a couple of years ago, since then it had been in an accident and had the passenger side repainted but overall wasn't too bad. Interior was in pretty decent shape too. The roof has some clearcoat failure issues, nothing I could do about that but I could do something about the plethora of halo swirls.



1998_Honda_Accord_swirls1_before.jpg




After Optimum Compound using a white LC polishing pad...and notice the absolute lack of any marring or hazing!



1998_Honda_Accord_swirls1_after.jpg




Rear quarter polished as above, door untouched-I think you can see I went a little into the door when polishing the rear quarter:



1998_Honda_Accord_half_polished.jpg




Both polished:



1998_Honda_Accord_all_polished.jpg




After polishing with Optimum Compound and a white LC pad, I used Clearkote's Vanilla Moose with a Meguiars polishing pad and sealed with Poorboy's EX.



1998_Honda_Accord_front1.jpg




1998_Honda_Accord_front2.jpg




1998_Honda_Accord_rear2.jpg




1998_Honda_Accord_frontend.jpg




1998_Honda_Accord_frontend2.jpg
 
2004 Honda Pilot. Last detailed in early November using Klasse AIO and Werkstatt's Acrylic Jett. Still looked really good, had some slickness left, still beading well. Used Werkstatt's Prime with a blue Propel finishing pad this time and again sealed it with Acrylic Jett.



2004_Honda_Pilot_PAJ_front1.jpg




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2004_Honda_Pilot_PAJ_side1.jpg
 
2004 BMW 330i. I've done this one a few times now but this time was mostly because a board on the freeway was kicked up by a truck and hit the BMW on the hood, part of the front left fender and door. He wanted to see if I could buff it out enough that he could live with it instead of having it repainted.



I stopped by his house last weekend after finishing another job to take a look and tried out some DACP by hand on it and I was able to make a noticable improvement but knew immediately not all of the scratches could be removed. He said he could see a difference and was aware not all could be corrected without a repaint and asked me to go ahead and schedule a detail.



Before (although after some minor correction by hand a few days earlier with DACP):



2004_BMW_330i_scratches_before.jpg




After polishing with Optimum's Hyper Compound using a burgandy Meguiars cutting pad (definitely left some hazing) and Optimum Compound using a yellow LC cutting pad (removed most of the hazing). Obviously not perfect but a noticable improvement.



2004_BMW_330i_scratches_HC_OC.jpg




I then went over the whole car with Meguiars #83 DACP using a Meguiars polishing pad and then #80 Speed Glaze, again using a Meguiars polishing pad. I went with Meguiars over Optimum because I wanted the filling properties I get with the 'trade secret' oils both Meguiars polishes contain. Polishing wasn't going to completely remove the scratches so I filled (mostly) what was left. I then topped with Meguiars #16. Sorry no after shots of the hood in the sun-about 3 hours had passed and I couldn't get a good angle. Definitely improved even more from the heavy polishing.



Oddly enough, though I had done this car a few times, I never had full sun to put the car in and realized for the first time the paint was metallic!
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I also suspect the hood has been repainted at some point, the paint was noticably harder and took the heavy compounding on the scratches to also remove the halo swirls while the rest of the car responded well to DACP and #80.



Finished shots:



2004_BMW_330i_front1.jpg




2004_BMW_330i_frontend1.jpg




2004_BMW_330i_no_swirls1.jpg




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2004_BMW_330i_rear1.jpg




2004_BMW_330i_side.jpg
 
It is amazing to me the corrections I've seen here. The damage to the hood on the BMW is almost gone. It looks great. :bigups
 
The BMW hood turned out very nice indeed, especially considering the damage. The clearbra on that car looks kind of wonky though - how was it in person?



The Accord looks killer. It's easy to forget how good the staples (VM/EX) are sometimes.
 
Picus said:
The BMW hood turned out very nice indeed, especially considering the damage. The clearbra on that car looks kind of wonky though - how was it in person?



The Accord looks killer. It's easy to forget how good the staples (VM/EX) are sometimes.
Click to expand...



I was about to say that. Is appears that there is still wax/polish residue in the line around the clear bra on the hood. Don't get me wrong, I've had this problem, and it took me 3 hours to fix since I didn't think anything of it. Then after 2 days backing in the sun I noticed it and was like "HOLY CRAP" and well, you can figure out the rest.



Looks great though, I'm extremely impressed with these Optimum polishs!
 
That generation of the Accord coupe is one of my very favorites! Especially with the spoiler. That car without the spoiler just doesn't look right.



You did a fabulous job on it. I love it!
 
Scott, what do you do to that plastic molding on the BMW that runs down the sides and goes across both the front and rear bumpers? I was wondering if running the PC over it while you are doing your VM step might save you some time. I have always had to go back and use something like Poorboys Trim Restore or something on it but it takes time.
 
74 thing said:
Scott, what do you do to that plastic molding on the BMW that runs down the sides and goes across both the front and rear bumpers? I was wondering if running the PC over it while you are doing your VM step might save you some time. I have always had to go back and use something like Poorboys Trim Restore or something on it but it takes time.
Click to expand...





First off, nice work (as usual) Scott :)

That Accord is stunning, wet, beautiful!



This trim is a PITA on this series BMW. I typically mask it off before polishing unless I'm using something like VM that works well on that sort of textured plastic trim. If I don't mask it I make sure to be extra careful with any potentially staining waxes or sealants. I absolutely hate that trim!
 
Picus said:
The clearbra on that car looks kind of wonky though - how was it in person?
Click to expand...



Same as in the picture. Pulling up in a few areas too.



The Accord looks killer. It's easy to forget how good the staples (VM/EX) are sometimes.
Click to expand...



Agreed. All these new products that are so good that I don't always use old favorites regularly. Glad I chose those two on that car. :)



Steve-there are problems with that clear bra, the edges are beginning to pull and fray.



74 thing-with #83 and #80, I avoid it, although I normally don't have problems with #80. I just hit the trim with VM after polishing the paint.



tumbler-#83/80 seem to work really well on BMW and Mercedes. :bigups
 
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