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Started to Detail my E89
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
Thought I’d make a start on detailing my E89.
Today was Pre-wash, wash, fallout remover, re-wash then start to correct the paint.
Started correction today with the bonnet, firstly Clayed then 2 passes with Megs 101 Foam Cut on a yellow cutting pad, followed by 2 passes with Megs 205 ultra finishing polish - using my trusty old DAS 6 PRO
No ‘in progress’ photo’s, really struggled to get ‘pre’ photo’s too despite having a pair of powerful led lights... but the paint had plenty of swirls, typical of a well looked after 7 year old car really.
Bonnet finished, but not product on it yet.
Today was Pre-wash, wash, fallout remover, re-wash then start to correct the paint.
Started correction today with the bonnet, firstly Clayed then 2 passes with Megs 101 Foam Cut on a yellow cutting pad, followed by 2 passes with Megs 205 ultra finishing polish - using my trusty old DAS 6 PRO
No ‘in progress’ photo’s, really struggled to get ‘pre’ photo’s too despite having a pair of powerful led lights... but the paint had plenty of swirls, typical of a well looked after 7 year old car really.
Bonnet finished, but not product on it yet.
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Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
- Ole gits rule
- Lifer
- Posts: 4549
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:49 pm
- Location: Pont-y-Pwll
Started to Detail my E89
Looking good sir - still love that colour
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
- Stevo1987
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:08 pm
- Location: Breckland, Norfolk
Started to Detail my E89
Looks good but a question to all you expert detailers out there. In the lifetime of the car how many times can you do this? Y'know reducing the clear coat, because that is what is happening when removing swirls and stuff. I have seen the "pros" on da tube and they have gauges to measure the thickness. I assume they can tell if the car has been done before and if it can't be taken any further.
2014 Z4 e89 35is in mineral grey.
2012 Audi TTS in Ibis white.
2012 Audi TTS in Ibis white.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
Thank you, yes it makes such a difference when the suns out though.... roll on summer
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
- Ole gits rule
- Lifer
- Posts: 4549
- Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:49 pm
- Location: Pont-y-Pwll
Started to Detail my E89
Just wish my budget had allowed one, one day a 35iS in VO
M4 Vert in Yas Marina Blue
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
2011 23i M Sport Highline in Alpine White with Smart Top installed - Gone but not forgotten.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
There isn’t a numerical answer to this as it depends on many things.Stevo1987 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:18 pm Looks good but a question to all you expert detailers out there. In the lifetime of the car how many times can you do this? Y'know reducing the clear coat, because that is what is happening when removing swirls and stuff. I have seen the "pros" on da tube and they have gauges to measure the thickness. I assume they can tell if the car has been done before and if it can't be taken any further.
In my case, and I’m not a pro detailer, I use a DA (dual action) polishing machine which is much less aggressive and more forgiving than a rotary (especially in the hands of a novice!)
In addition, once I’ve done a car it only ever really needs ‘doing again’ with a finishing compound which removes almost no clear coat using a DA machine... plenty of info all over the internet about it
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
- tomscott
- Lifer
- Posts: 7472
- Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
- Location: Manchester
- Contact:
Started to Detail my E89
Results look amazing.
I had a go on my M this weekend, same prep but Mags DA with ultimate compound and 5" red foam cutting pad 4 passes on the bonnet barely made a dent in the clear coat that paint is rock hard. Same on my 996 C4S 16 years old took all the swirls out... paint looked amazing.
I know the Z4s paint is renowned being hard but wow... its all original paint too. Think I might need a more aggressive pad and compound...
I had a go on my M this weekend, same prep but Mags DA with ultimate compound and 5" red foam cutting pad 4 passes on the bonnet barely made a dent in the clear coat that paint is rock hard. Same on my 996 C4S 16 years old took all the swirls out... paint looked amazing.
I know the Z4s paint is renowned being hard but wow... its all original paint too. Think I might need a more aggressive pad and compound...
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
Thank you,tomscott wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:59 pm Results look amazing.
I had a go on my M this weekend, same prep but Mags DA with ultimate compound and 5" red foam cutting pad 4 passes on the bonnet barely made a dent in the clear coat that paint is rock hard. Same on my 996 C4S 16 years old took all the swirls out... paint looked amazing.
I know the Z4s paint is renowned being hard but wow... its all original paint too. Think I might need a more aggressive pad and compound...
BMW paint is hard, you’re spot on! VAG paint is also typically hard, But rather that than something like Honda, which is typically very soft.
I’ve been ‘practicing’ with my DAS 6 pro for circa 10 yrs+, I’m not familiar with the Megs Ultimate, but Megs 101 Foam Cut is designed for hard paints as are the yellow cutting pads I have. I’ve also got some microfibre cutting pads, which work very well with the Megs 101 on super-hard paint.. but there’s a different technique altogether for those, slower speeds etc.
I find it therapeutic, it took me a few hours to do the bonnet (big panel on an E89 ) and I’ll do a bit more each day until the cars completely corrected and ready for some sort of sealant or ceramic wax
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
Spent a little bit more time in the garage this morning,
Went over the bonnet again with a softer finishing pad and 205, then applied a coat of Autofiness Ultra Glaze with a super-soft glaze pad. Not sure what wax / sealant I’m going to apply yet but finding love all over the net for the turtle wax ceramic waxes currently... so might give that a try
I wouldn’t normally apply any kind of product until I’d DA’d the whole car, but it’s a massive panel and I can easily work around it when working on the front bumper and front wings.
Very happy with how it’s looking so far.
Went over the bonnet again with a softer finishing pad and 205, then applied a coat of Autofiness Ultra Glaze with a super-soft glaze pad. Not sure what wax / sealant I’m going to apply yet but finding love all over the net for the turtle wax ceramic waxes currently... so might give that a try
I wouldn’t normally apply any kind of product until I’d DA’d the whole car, but it’s a massive panel and I can easily work around it when working on the front bumper and front wings.
Very happy with how it’s looking so far.
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
- 1000rr
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2016 10:53 pm
- Stevo1987
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2019 11:08 pm
- Location: Breckland, Norfolk
Started to Detail my E89
Yes, there is "plenty of info all over the internet". You could answer most posts on here with that comment.True-Blue wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:52 pmStevo1987 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:18 pm Looks good but a question to all you expert detailers out there. In the lifetime of the car how many times can you do this? Y'know reducing the clear coat, because that is what is happening when removing swirls and stuff. I have seen the "pros" on da tube and they have gauges to measure the thickness. I assume they can tell if the car has been done before and if it can't be taken any further.
There isn’t a numerical answer to this as it depends on many things.
In my case, and I’m not a pro detailer, I use a DA (dual action) polishing machine which is much less aggressive and more forgiving than a rotary (especially in the hands of a novice!)
In addition, once I’ve done a car it only ever really needs ‘doing again’ with a finishing compound which removes almost no clear coat using a DA machine... plenty of info all over the internet about it
2014 Z4 e89 35is in mineral grey.
2012 Audi TTS in Ibis white.
2012 Audi TTS in Ibis white.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
Ok Steveo, 99 times.... but don’t come back moaning if you break through the clear coat at the 66th attemptStevo1987 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:58 pmYes, there is "plenty of info all over the internet". You could answer most posts on here with that comment.True-Blue wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:52 pmStevo1987 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:18 pm Looks good but a question to all you expert detailers out there. In the lifetime of the car how many times can you do this? Y'know reducing the clear coat, because that is what is happening when removing swirls and stuff. I have seen the "pros" on da tube and they have gauges to measure the thickness. I assume they can tell if the car has been done before and if it can't be taken any further.
There isn’t a numerical answer to this as it depends on many things.
In my case, and I’m not a pro detailer, I use a DA (dual action) polishing machine which is much less aggressive and more forgiving than a rotary (especially in the hands of a novice!)
In addition, once I’ve done a car it only ever really needs ‘doing again’ with a finishing compound which removes almost no clear coat using a DA machine... plenty of info all over the internet about it
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3199
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:10 pm
- Location: Bristol/Bath
Started to Detail my E89
Bit more work on the car today, same process, tackled the boot and the roof..... I’m never buying a ‘non-metallic’ black car Ever, never worked on straight black before... nightmare!
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
Previous Z4’s :E89 30i, E89 20i, E85 3.0Si (X4) E85 3.0i, E86 3.0 Si, E85 2.5si, E85 2.5i
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- Member
- Posts: 217
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:50 am
Started to Detail my E89
I have the same car in the same colour coordination. Can't say mine is ever gonna be as sparkling as yours, but even with "normal" washing, polishing and waxing, I'm loving the colour
I do like to go topless......
....... in my remapped 20i in Valencia Orange with Black Roof
....... in my remapped 20i in Valencia Orange with Black Roof
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- Member
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:24 pm
Started to Detail my E89
It gets my vote easy to use and great resultsNot sure what wax / sealant I’m going to apply yet but finding love all over the net for the turtle wax ceramic waxes currently... so might give that a try
2007 2.0i S E85 Monaco Blue Beige roof and interior