The Waiting Game..

Happy new car Kevin! :thumbsup: Can't wait to see the pics once it's detailed. Are you going to take any before /during / after pics? Would be interested to see what condition it's in from the dealer. I've got all the detailing stuff so was giving some thought to something along the same lines as you but doing it myself.

Nickm said:
Curious why a lot of new guys, apart from JDM are not going for the supremely gorgeous 326 M Sport wheels??
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Can't help you there - mine's is spec'd with the 326 wheels. 8) I did think about the standard 18's which I think are a sweet looking wheel, but loved the look of the 19" 326's even more.
 
Thanks Keith, I am quite happy with the repair. Its also got a 5 minute warranty on paint defects, so that put my mind at rest long enough to drive away....

The detail is costing £150 for the Z4, plus £60 for the 1'er (so £210 for both cars) and another £60 fuel charge cos he comes from Bristol. In the future, it will only be the top up, so hopefully £60 each car. He's not doing a full paint correction, cos its a new car! I think the price climbs to £300+ when you start paint correction etc. Also, he's not doing the interior, the cost should start at £190 including the interior, but its the paintwork I'm concerned with. The website is http://www.project-karma.co.uk Do you clay yours every now and then? To be honest, if you are happy to do it yourself, then this would be £150+ wasted money, but for me its worth it.

I take it the 326 wheels are 19"? As I do a lot of driving for work, tyre costs are a consideration. When I got the 1'er I left the standard 17" wheels instead of 18" cos of tyre costs. Now my wife has that car, and drives a lot less miles, I wish I'd gone for 18" and they would've been easier to clean! But for the Z4 the smallest is 18" so I had no choice, plus I like them, so never even considered bigger.
 
I considered the 326's however it came down to the poor roads of my area + road noise + tyre cost vrs satisfaction and value. It just wasn't worth it. I really like the 18in alloys on the car. They look just as good as the 326's.
 
AlteredCarbon said:
Happy new car Kevin! :thumbsup: Can't wait to see the pics once it's detailed. Are you going to take any before /during / after pics? Would be interested to see what condition it's in from the dealer. I've got all the detailing stuff so was giving some thought to something along the same lines as you but doing it myself.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Not gonna do before pics cos there really is no need - it actually looks spotless as it is, but when you feel the paint and get up close, you can tell its not right - that'll be the delivery wax, but to anyone else it looks fine. So even once detailed it will probably look just like any other new car, but I will have peace of mind that it has a good solid base (properly clean paint) meaning the wax will bond properly and give its best protection/looks.

If you have the the stuff to do it yourself and the energy then thats the way to go. I've got the stuff, and I reckon I could do it just as good, but it will take me longer and as I said, I'm too lazy! There don't appear to be any swirls or paint defects cos I was specific that the dealer did as little as possible to the paint to minimise any problems. When Zaff cleans the delivery wax tomorrow he's gonna give it the full once over and correct any issues, but obviously, we're hoping there won't be any.

So detailing it yourself is definitely do-able and from experience, is very rewarding, and a fraction of the cost! Ideally you want the dealer to leave the paint alone (I suppose not ALL dealers are bad!) but best to be safe. Zaff is going to use a de-greaser to remove the wax, but at the moment I don't know what the product is called. I'm just taking the lazy mans easy option, paying someone to do it, but as said previously, not just anyone - the fact that we are using the word "detail" means we care about the paint!
 
kevinmarkwhite said:
AlteredCarbon said:
Happy new car Kevin! :thumbsup: Can't wait to see the pics once it's detailed. Are you going to take any before /during / after pics? Would be interested to see what condition it's in from the dealer. I've got all the detailing stuff so was giving some thought to something along the same lines as you but doing it myself.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Not gonna do before pics cos there really is no need - it actually looks spotless as it is, but when you feel the paint and get up close, you can tell its not right - that'll be the delivery wax, but to anyone else it looks fine. So even once detailed it will probably look just like any other new car, but I will have peace of mind that it has a good solid base (properly clean paint) meaning the wax will bond properly and give its best protection/looks.

If you have the the stuff to do it yourself and the energy then thats the way to go. I've got the stuff, and I reckon I could do it just as good, but it will take me longer and as I said, I'm too lazy! There don't appear to be any swirls or paint defects cos I was specific that the dealer did as little as possible to the paint to minimise any problems. When Zaff cleans the delivery wax tomorrow he's gonna give it the full once over and correct any issues, but obviously, we're hoping there won't be any.

So detailing it yourself is definitely do-able and from experience, is very rewarding, and a fraction of the cost! Ideally you want the dealer to leave the paint alone (I suppose not ALL dealers are bad!) but best to be safe. Zaff is going to use a de-greaser to remove the wax, but at the moment I don't know what the product is called. I'm just taking the lazy mans easy option, paying someone to do it, but as said previously, not just anyone - the fact that we are using the word "detail" means we care about the paint!
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X10!!!
 
kevinmarkwhite said:
Thanks Keith, I am quite happy with the repair. Its also got a 5 minute warranty on paint defects, so that put my mind at rest long enough to drive away....

The detail is costing £150 for the Z4, plus £60 for the 1'er (so £210 for both cars) and another £60 fuel charge cos he comes from Bristol. In the future, it will only be the top up, so hopefully £60 each car. He's not doing a full paint correction, cos its a new car! I think the price climbs to £300+ when you start paint correction etc. Also, he's not doing the interior, the cost should start at £190 including the interior, but its the paintwork I'm concerned with. The website is http://www.project-karma.co.uk Do you clay yours every now and then? To be honest, if you are happy to do it yourself, then this would be £150+ wasted money, but for me its worth it.

I take it the 326 wheels are 19"? As I do a lot of driving for work, tyre costs are a consideration. When I got the 1'er I left the standard 17" wheels instead of 18" cos of tyre costs. Now my wife has that car, and drives a lot less miles, I wish I'd gone for 18" and they would've been easier to clean! But for the Z4 the smallest is 18" so I had no choice, plus I like them, so never even considered bigger.
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Hi Kevin,

I clay the Z3 usually once a year around August time once its had its summers dowsing of tree sap and insects and general c**p :) I always wash weekly 2 bucket method and wax once a month, I'm using greased lightening showroom shine at the mo, really is great stuff, not as a waterless wash which is whats its made for but purely a very easy way of applying carnauba and buffing off. Some pics of the Z3, apologies to all for cluttering up the thread :poke:

























Cheers,

Tim.
 
Nickm said:
Curious why a lot of new guys, apart from JDM are not going for the supremely gorgeous 326 M Sport wheels??
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Main reason for us is that 19s are too fragile.
The 325 M wheels look good on the car.
326Ms are £525. If we'd had an extra £500 to spend I would have gotten business audio.


I like the 293s but they are going to be hard to clean and aren't available with M Sport.
 
Granted 19 296's are crap, but 326's fragile? Where do you get that from? I have hot some stinker of potholes in London....had my wheels off last weekend, still perfect....
 
Nickm said:
Granted 19 296's are crap, but 326's fragile? Where do you get that from?
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I didn't. I also didn't read up on style 326 wheels.

Very low profile wheels can be trouble. It isn't easy to make one that is both light and strong enough.

On the US website, style 296 has a long disclaimer and you can't get 326. . .
 
Thanks NormStrm.

Tim - your wash regime sounds ace, and with that, there is no way you would need a detailer! I got given some of the greased lightning products last year but never used them.

He's due at 8.30 and the sun is out...although its blimin freezing at the moment! He's gonna be pleased with the 1 series....it came back from the New Forest yesterday and it is filthy...still, his snow foam will sort that out.

Just tried to fit my stubby arial but I just couldn't undo the original! Might need to grip it with pliers or something, cos it turns about 1mm then no further!
 
Mine was pretty tight to get off, try it with a cloth to get some more purchase!
 
Andrew*Debbie said:
Nickm said:
Granted 19 296's are crap, but 326's fragile? Where do you get that from?
Click to expand...

I didn't. I also didn't read up on style 326 wheels.

Very low profile wheels can be trouble. It isn't easy to make one that is both light and strong enough.

On the US website, style 296 has a long disclaimer and you can't get 326. . .
Click to expand...

Fair enough.....granted if its price, then no quibble there. But you'd be surprised, the 326 wheels are surprisingly light and strong....most of the wheels are made by BBS, I'd be surprised if the 296's were.....I just think the 326's look so good.
 
kevinmarkwhite said:
Just tried to fit my stubby arial but I just couldn't undo the original! Might need to grip it with pliers or something, cos it turns about 1mm then no further!
Click to expand...

Best get your marigolds on to get that extra grip :rofl:
 
Nickm said:
Andrew*Debbie said:
Nickm said:
Granted 19 296's are crap, but 326's fragile? Where do you get that from?
Click to expand...

I didn't. I also didn't read up on style 326 wheels.

Very low profile wheels can be trouble. It isn't easy to make one that is both light and strong enough.

On the US website, style 296 has a long disclaimer and you can't get 326. . .
Click to expand...

Fair enough.....granted if its price, then no quibble there. But you'd be surprised, the 326 wheels are surprisingly light and strong....most of the wheels are made by BBS, I'd be surprised if the 296's were.....I just think the 326's look so good.
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Really? I thought the latest alloys generally were Ronals? The original alloys on my Z3 were BBS which is probably why they corroded :(

Tim.
 
Yup, BBS do make lots of BMW wheels....and good news is BBS make some great wheels these days....
 
Well the detail has been done, over 6 hrs!!! Believe it or not, there were swirl marks on the paint when the sun was on it, and I specifically asked the dealer to only do a very light wash! So, as well as the agreed detail, he machine polished the paint as well and got rid of the marks. Arrived at 0830 and left at 1930! We chatted, had some lunch and he also did a top up detail on the 1'er. Got pictures but we came out straight after so not on computer yet (typing this on iPhone). Will upload ASAP.
 
Sounds like a full monty job on the detailing - annoying the dealer caused some swirl marks, but at least it is swirl free now :thumbsup:
 
All dealers leave swirl marks, even at prep stage, I've seen 80K Range Rovers at Park Royal in the work shop in prep, and the guys who clean are still using leathers. You'd be surprised how many people now get detailers out to their cars before they are delivered. It's just unfortunate you took the car and it was done at home, if it had been at the dealer, you would have almost have been none the wiser.
 
Yeah, I originally planned for the detail before collection, but we just run out of time between arrival at the dealer and collection, so it was booked in for the following day. Originally asked the dealer NOT to touch it, but it was filthy and they wouldn't hand it over like that, so they insisted on a light wash...my detailer wasn't happy that they were washing it, but it had to be reasonably clean so I could check for scratches etc. I couldn't see swirls in the dealers, but in the direct sun they were there!!!!

Pictures here : http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=36119
 
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