My 7th Z Thread
- Thread starter True-Blue
- Start date
Caerdydd
Boyo said:The change of wheels really suit the car. Looking forward to seeing the results of your detailing and paint correction
Thanks, the more I see it the more I like it
I’ll be taking my time with the detailing, like I always do! I like to enjoy it, and I only find paint correction enjoyable for a few hours at a time these days
1536Z4 said:True-Blue said:
I like them as they are and a significant weight saving
Thanks, yes more weight saved than I originally anticipated.
It’s been close to zero all day today here and I’ve been really busy with work, hoping to get out for a drive over the weekend
I’m a fan. Look great! If you can find a set for a sensible price they’re great wheels. Really surprised by the weight saving too - more than I thought as never got round to weighing mine!
Think you went 235/40/18 square didn’t you? Interested if you get any rubbing on the fronts at full compression. I get a bit with 225/45/18.
Think you went 235/40/18 square didn’t you? Interested if you get any rubbing on the fronts at full compression. I get a bit with 225/45/18.
Managed to get out for a drive yesterday, very happy with the new set up.
The car feels much more composed now and, dare I say it, more nimble and less crashy over poor road surfaces.
Really soaks up road imperfections much better with the lighter wheels, and the square tire set up gives more neutral handling
The car feels much more composed now and, dare I say it, more nimble and less crashy over poor road surfaces.
Really soaks up road imperfections much better with the lighter wheels, and the square tire set up gives more neutral handling
North West Surrey
Started the paint correction and detailing today. Wanted to get to paint, so limited my time on the engine bay and went from this;
To this;
More work to be done, but happy with the result for time put in
I then pre-washed the car with Bilt-Hamber Surfex HD, before using Korosol fallout out remover, then washing and claying. I then moved on to paint correction.
Not done much so far, but here are a few ‘pre’ shots,… not the worst I’ve ever seen, but not brilliant either;
To this;
More work to be done, but happy with the result for time put in
I then pre-washed the car with Bilt-Hamber Surfex HD, before using Korosol fallout out remover, then washing and claying. I then moved on to paint correction.
Not done much so far, but here are a few ‘pre’ shots,… not the worst I’ve ever seen, but not brilliant either;
A couple of post correction shots. It was difficult to take these as the silver specks in the Pearl black paint look like dust… but it’s not 
Also, I’ve literally done one wing and started on the bonnet as had to be a family taxi for a bit and it’s bloody cold out in the garage now!
So far I’ve used Sonax EX 04 06 on a yellow pad. I find this combo to have good, but not fierce, correction ability. As the paint wasn’t terrible it seemed a decent compromise. I’ll probably go over it again with the same compound, but on a less aggressive pad. This should give greater clarity and depth of shine
It does look super-glossy already, but the pearlescent ‘flare’ takes the gloss away in the photo’s.
Also, I’ve literally done one wing and started on the bonnet as had to be a family taxi for a bit and it’s bloody cold out in the garage now!
So far I’ve used Sonax EX 04 06 on a yellow pad. I find this combo to have good, but not fierce, correction ability. As the paint wasn’t terrible it seemed a decent compromise. I’ll probably go over it again with the same compound, but on a less aggressive pad. This should give greater clarity and depth of shine
It does look super-glossy already, but the pearlescent ‘flare’ takes the gloss away in the photo’s.
Getting there now, but stopping for today after several hours work.
Front wings and bonnet had two passes with Sonax EX 04 06, first pass with a Yellow cutting pad, second pass with a black finishing pad. Looking much better after the second pass.
Honestly think now that Meg’s 101 on the Yellow Pad would have yielded easier results for the first pass, and better correction with less effort. The 04 06 on the yellow was hard work on my current machine, the two didn’t gel well together in terms of how the machine felt in my hands (hard to explain)
The second pass was much easier!
Hard to capture the result in photo’s really, in the sense that black cars generally look good with reflections if clean, even if the paint’s not that great. This isn’t perfect, I find black cars harder to get close to 100%
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Front wings and bonnet had two passes with Sonax EX 04 06, first pass with a Yellow cutting pad, second pass with a black finishing pad. Looking much better after the second pass.
Honestly think now that Meg’s 101 on the Yellow Pad would have yielded easier results for the first pass, and better correction with less effort. The 04 06 on the yellow was hard work on my current machine, the two didn’t gel well together in terms of how the machine felt in my hands (hard to explain)
The second pass was much easier!
Hard to capture the result in photo’s really, in the sense that black cars generally look good with reflections if clean, even if the paint’s not that great. This isn’t perfect, I find black cars harder to get close to 100%
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Lovely! Really like the results. Engine bay work as well, very nice. I also really get what you mean by certain pad/compound combinations not feeling quite right on certain paint. BMW paint tends to be quite hard and grippy, so I prefer microfibre cutting pads combined with a fairly heavy cut compound, finished with a light cut foam and a light cut compound. For maximum results, another pass with a polishing pad is optional, though benefits are often marginal on German paint.
As a tip on posting results: get a penlight and shine “into” the reflection. Photographing that often allows us at the shop to really show the before and after state of paint, such as with this Alfa Spider (Nero Carbinio really does sound familiar to Carbon Schwarz doesn’t it..? :lol: ). This was after the cutting stage but before the polishing stage, as you can see by the unmarked but still slightly cloudy paint. We make sure to match the angles and lighting to really demonstrate the transformation.
Keep posting results, really like seeing a Zed being brought back to its former glory like that
As a tip on posting results: get a penlight and shine “into” the reflection. Photographing that often allows us at the shop to really show the before and after state of paint, such as with this Alfa Spider (Nero Carbinio really does sound familiar to Carbon Schwarz doesn’t it..? :lol: ). This was after the cutting stage but before the polishing stage, as you can see by the unmarked but still slightly cloudy paint. We make sure to match the angles and lighting to really demonstrate the transformation.
Keep posting results, really like seeing a Zed being brought back to its former glory like that
Barty said:Lovely! Really like the results. Engine bay work as well, very nice. I also really get what you mean by certain pad/compound combinations not feeling quite right on certain paint. BMW paint tends to be quite hard and grippy, so I prefer microfibre cutting pads combined with a fairly heavy cut compound, finished with a light cut foam and a light cut compound. For maximum results, another pass with a polishing pad is optional, though benefits are often marginal on German paint.
26FD6D80-7589-4FC5-A380-2B2449FA6458.jpeg
As a tip on posting results: get a penlight and shine “into” the reflection. Photographing that often allows us at the shop to really show the before and after state of paint, such as with this Alfa Spider (Nero Carbinio really does sound familiar to Carbon Schwarz doesn’t it..? :lol: ). This was after the cutting stage but before the polishing stage, as you can see by the unmarked but still slightly cloudy paint. We make sure to match the angles and lighting to really demonstrate the transformation.
Keep posting results, really like seeing a Zed being brought back to its former glory like that
Thanks Barty,
It’s funny, I’ve used that combo before on a different car and it was a much less strenuous experience.
I do like microfibre pads to cut German paint to be honest, but the paint on this car wasn’t at the point where I felt I needed to be that aggressive. With hindsight, should have at least used the Meg’s 101, would have definitely corrected better and with less effort
I have a Ledlenser P7 torch, it’s pretty powerful, I’ll give that a go and try and get some better ‘before and after’ photo’s when I next do some more
Thanks for the kind words
Ha, that proves once again no two cars are the same, even when they’re exactly the same model and period. We’ve had a few 159’s in the shop; first 2 were a doddle, the third an absolute horrorshow to get right. Same model, same year and same colour as the previous one, but for the life of me couldn’t get it to go as I wanted.
Looking forward to the end results! Any thoughts on what you’ll use to protect your hard work?
Looking forward to the end results! Any thoughts on what you’ll use to protect your hard work?
Barty said:
Funnily enough, I’ve been pondering that as I’m not sure I’m brave enough to ceramic coat this one. I still have plenty of CQ.UK 3.0 left, more than enough to do the Zed, but black is a pretty unforgiving colour… Plenty of time before it’s ready for the protection stage though
4 wheel alignment completed. Unsurprisingly setttings we’re all over the place, having previously been corner-weighted for the BC Racing Coilovers that were on the car when I got it.
Have to say, Lee at FCM motorsport seemed spot on. Had a really good understanding of the issues with E85/E86, such as tram-lining, and rear camber limitations when lowered etc.
It was also reassuring when he said ‘I know it’s a low mileage car, but it’s very clean underneath, didn’t have any problems adjusting anything’
Took his time and talked me through what he was doing, car is transformed on the road
Have to say, Lee at FCM motorsport seemed spot on. Had a really good understanding of the issues with E85/E86, such as tram-lining, and rear camber limitations when lowered etc.
It was also reassuring when he said ‘I know it’s a low mileage car, but it’s very clean underneath, didn’t have any problems adjusting anything’
Took his time and talked me through what he was doing, car is transformed on the road
