Showing the Zed some love

Matty_Z4 · Jul 17, 2020

Long time no post, hope everyone is keeping safe with the COVID stuff going on. Look forwards to seeing you at Caffeine and Machine when we are all allowed to meet up again without being scared of each other.

So after a winter of neglect its time to show Snowy* some love. So last night is was a good scrub with some autoglym soft top cleaner, that did her proud there is a few stubborn spots that need another scrub (vikan nail brush) originally thought that might be a bit stiff but its shifted most of the nasty algae that has built up over the winter. No protector applied yet!!**

Onto todays scrub, first a drizzle with some AB Magifoam that stuff is magical

After a quick wash and rinse I gave her a good coat of Red 7 (that s**t is nasty stuff but nicer than Iron-x that stuff is vile)

Cant really see the Paint bleeding but that's a good thing I guess there was very few bits of iron that turned funky colours (It was clayed last summer so not much fallout to be seen I guess)

Can someone tell me how TF tar spots get inside the door jambs.

After the first wash good enough for tonight left to air dry and will pick her back up in the morning.

Engine bay after a scrub with some AB Citrus wash then dressed with Meguiars Mirror Bright Vinyl & Rubber

Plan of attack for tomorrow depending on how energetic I feel,
1) Remove any tar spots with some Tardis.
2) Wash again.
3) Clay
4) Wash and Dry
5) Hand polish with AG SRP***
6) Quick spray with some Hydro2 spray sealant

*Yes i named my Zed Snowy
** Smiley for the long debate should you or shouldn't you.
*** Dont feel like spending 14 hours with a DA doing it properly, one day I will get round to it or pay someone to do it.

buzyg · Jul 18, 2020

Getting there. :wink: 8)

Angelus666 · Jul 18, 2020

Lovely rare colour...

Matty_Z4 · Jul 18, 2020

Angelus666 said:
Lovely rare colour...

I wasn't sure on it when I was looking was determined to get a black/red combo but my flatmate convinced me that Olive/Black was way more classier and less boy racer (I always though my first car without a roof would be a Lotus or a Caterham) . A year and a bit on I think it was the right choice. Still getting used to the shouts of "Nice car".

Was back at it again this morning still not done, I should have brought me DA with me even if I was never planning on doing a full correction, only got half the car done before it got too warm and i got tired out. So tomorrow morning finish the other side of the car and spray on the sealant and polish the water spots off the windows.

So I found an old bottle of Gtechniq C1 kicking around and it hadn't started to crystallise yet WINNER! So figured as the Paint is not worth it YET! i would try it on some of the manky plastic after a good scrub. Was going to dress it with the Meguiars that I used in the engine bay but this did my old car good. A couple of 50/50s

And a quick before and after on the scuttle panel (Gtech C1 again) Even applied it to the wiper arms

Some nice and shiny shots from the one side that I have finished. Im actually impressed by the gloss that you get from SRP I remember a good few years back seeing on DW that it was not very good and full of fillers and you should be doing a proper job. Well let me say for a car that has less than perfect paintwork this is brilliant stuff.

To the Paint doctors out there does this look like the rear bumper has had a bad spray job or did i do fucked up and leave the Red7 or Tar remover on too long and blister my paint.

And another one for the paint doctors is this something that a DIYer can patch without making an absolute mess or should I just pay a professional to do it and all the other little dinks. Front bumper and side skirts are covered in stone chips and the like.

Matty_Z4 · Jul 18, 2020

Oh and is claying absolutely necessary these days if you are going to use chemical fallout removers as I was surprised how clean the clay bar came out after doing the whole car.

Angelus666 · Jul 18, 2020

Lovely work there. The SRP is a nice product, but it lasts a week if it’s daily IMO. If you’ve got the bug you might as well get the DA out, as it’s a futile chase without one. I’d recommend microfibre pads for bmw paint, it saves s lot of time.

Thrustyjust · Jul 18, 2020

Looks a better car for being loved ! I have moved on from clay bars and use a clay mitt by Farecla and does the job a lot quicker and doesnt mark, that I have seen. I still use Dodo clay lube, although they say just use car wash , but a car can be done in a few mins .
I suspect the bumper is a poor repair in the past and contamination has bubbled up in the damp.

patriot66 · Jul 18, 2020

Nice to see your car getting some TLC there. A lovely colour. I've not seen that in the flesh. Make sure to post some more photos

Matty_Z4 · Jul 19, 2020

Thanks guys appreciate the love. Will have to try a clay cloth next year sometime hopefully won't need a deep clean for a while.

I finished up this morning then went for a drive, Unfortunately Chatau Impney was closed so no photos could be got there so it was a choice between the train station or Asda Carpark. Too much of a nice day for Asda.

Morning Beads

Still loving SRP.