My 'New' Z4 fully detailed

I bought a 2008 E86 Z4 on 8 April 2018. It was a little scruffy and very contaminated, so I spent 2 days bringing it back to as close as factory finish as a 10 year old car can be. I am fairly meticulous and also sometimes forgetful, so I always have a list and procedure. This is what I did and what I used.

POLISHING EQUIPMENT FOR BMW Z4

Karcher
Snow foam

Grey stool
Car wash shampoo
Wheel cleaner
Wheel brushes (3)
Wash mitt and drying cloths
2 Buckets
Power extension lead

Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish
Bilt Hamber Surfex HD
Bilt Hamber Korrosol
Tardis
Dressle
Clay bar
Clay cloth

Air blower/dryer (Metro Vac)
Carpet vacuum

Rupes Duetto Polishing machine
2 grades of polish
2 grades of pads
2 hand pucks
Panel Wipe residue remover

Kamikaze ISM
Kamikaze Overcoat
SwissVax Autobahn wax for wheels
Windshield polish
Glass cleaner and cleaning pads
Interior window cleaning pads (2)
Kamikaze Intenso – Exterior glass

Leather cleaner
Gyeon leather seal
Carpet protector
Box of microfibre cloths
Gyeon products bag


FORMAT TO FOLLOW FOR OUTSIDE & ENGINE BAY

• Surfex HD – Dilute 10:1 Body spray – don't wipe it off the bodywork; simply spray on, allow to dwell for 7 minutes then rinse off. (the bodywork isn't clean enough for wiping yet)

• Surfex HD (plastics. Use old sheepskin mitt.)

• Surfex HD (grill etc. Use old sheepskin mitt + Large Boar hair brush)

• Rinse thourourly

• Tardis (body & glass) use work towel - light pressure only

• Rinse thourourly

• Korrosol (leave for 7 minutes, then rub with work towel)

• Rinse thourourly

• Snow foam

• Rinse thourourly

• Clay cloth + Clay bar

• WASH

• Towel dry and Metro Vac

• Tape rubber seals badges etc.

• Machine polish

• Wipe down (Panel Wipe)

• 1 coat of Kamikaze ISM (after 2 hours apply Kamikaze Overcoat)

• Dressle (Engine Bay etc.)

• Kamikaze Intenso – Exterior glass


FORMAT TO FOLLOW FOR INTERIOR

• Vacuum

• Clean interior windows

• Dressle

• Clean leather

• Gyeon leather seal

• Nanolex Textile protection for carpets



WHEELS

Remove each wheel – wash, Korrosol and Surfex HD. Wash again and blow dry with Metro Vac. Now use Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish to remove residue. Wax wheels SwissVax Autobahn. Dress tyres

C5 for exhaust tips

When wheels are on – Check & set tyre pressures.

After 12 hours - Blackfire for Exhaust Tips & Chrome

Can you do mine please

Looney said:

Can you do mine please

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This :rofl:

Very nice coupe and welcome! You’ve put in some work already... if you stick around you’ll find a whole list of mods you can do to make the car unique and even more special!

The flutes down the side of the air filter housing are FILTHY!!!! Disgrace.

ph001 said:

The flutes down the side of the air filter housing are FILTHY!!!! Disgrace.

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Ha, Ha, I have since cleaned them. I must take another photo. Nice to have a critical eye, reminds of my school teacher 60 years ago.

kis said:

Looney said:

Can you do mine please

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This :rofl:

Very nice coupe and welcome! You’ve put in some work already... if you stick around you’ll find a whole list of mods you can do to make the car unique and even more special!

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Thanks kis. I have spent a few hours looking round the site already. Very good site, lots of helpful and knowledgeable people.

very high standard of work !!

Very impressive...kudos to you sir! Do you have a front end shot? Mine is going in for a respray, once you've detailed the rest of the car it just becomes annoying to look at it.

I felt worn out just reading the equipment list!

BeeEmm said:

Grey stool

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Frankly, I'm worried about this. I'd see the doctor as soon as possible.

SV8Predator said:

BeeEmm said:

Grey stool

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Frankly, I'm worried about this. I'd see the doctor as soon as possible.

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Ha, Ha. These notes are for me so that I don't forget things. I live in a 3rd floor flat and going up and down more than necessary, is a pain. The 'Grey Stool' refers to the stand on/sit on stool that contains microfibre cloths and is just behind the front door. You should know that really.

Looks spot on well done you

That's one hell of a list of products - car looks immaculate, can't beat a pristine engine bay (i must get some dressel or equivalent)

Marlon said:

That's one hell of a list of products - car looks immaculate, can't beat a pristine engine bay (i must get some dressel or equivalent)

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Thanks Marlon. Auto Finesse Dressle is really good stuff. Best way to use it on an engine bay (when clean) is to spray it liberally all over and shut the bonnet and walk away. You might think that you should rub it in, but don't. Honest!

Congratulations! ...... does the engine work? ....

Kingfisher said:

Congratulations! ...... does the engine work? ....

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Thanks kingfisher. Do you mean that oily thing underneath the clean covers?

It looks stunning, excellent work! What polish and pad combination did you use?

Snails said:

It looks stunning, excellent work! What polish and pad combination did you use?

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Thanks Snails. I used Rupes 'Keramik Gloss' with a Rupes yellow pad and finished with Rupes 'Diamond Ultra fine' on a white pad.

A stunning job BeeEmm! Some great product tips there for a new owner like myself! I already have the stool :roll: (on wheels, for motorcycle use) I just need to pick out the essentials from your list for my already very clean coupe!