PetrucciM3 | BMW E46 Alpine White

[Petrucci_M3]

PetrucciM3 | BMW E46 Alpine White

Wash:
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss
Chemical Guys Heavy Duty Bucket
Grit Guard
Chemical Guys Super Fluffy Mitt
Autogeek Tornador Air Foamer HP


Clayed:
Meguiar’s Medium clay
Chemical Guys Synthetic Quick Detailer

Paint Correction:
Flex 3403 rotary
3M Backing Plate
Gloss-it 3 inch Backing Plate
Menzerna Powergloss
Menzerna Super Intensive Polish
Menzerna Nano Polish
CM5300
Fenix TK10
Orange LC pad
White LC pad
Grey LC pad
Detailer Domain Uber Towels
Highline Paint Gauge Meter

Protection:
Jetseal109

LSP:
Lusso Oro

Trim:
Aerospace 303

Glass:
Stoner’s Invisible Glass

Wheels:
EZ Detail Brush
Swissvax Wheel Brush
Chemical Guy’s Grime Reaper
Surfcity Tire Shine

Exhaust:
Steel wool #0000
Chemical Guy’s Metal Shine

Interior:
1Z Cockpit
303 Aerospace
Chemical Guy’s Lighting Fast Stain Extractor
Metro Vac n Blow
Lil Green Bissel

Wash:

Still have to get the hang of my Tornador Air Foamer.

Roof - Before:

Roof - After:

Rear Driver Fender - Before:

Rear Driver Fender - After:

Hood - Before:

Pulled the car out after I washed, dried and clay bar the car. As you can see it needed some love.

Hood - 50/50:

Hood - After:

Checked my work out in the sun.

Rear Bumper - Before:

Rear Bumper - After:

Trunk - Before:

The trunk required 2 passes with Powergloss, 1 pass with SIP and then finally 106FA to bring back the depth and clarity.

Trunk - 50/50:

Checking my work with my CM5300, absolutely love this light.

Here's with the Fenix, and no flash. Crystal clear :thumbsup2:

Rear - Before:

 

[Petrucci_M3]

Rear - After:

Driver Fender - Before:

Driver Fender - After:

Driver Door - 50/50:

Driver Door - After:

Driver Rear Fender - After:

Passenger Door - 50/50:

Passenger Door - After:

Passenger Rear Fender - Before:

Passenger Rear Fender - 50/50:

Passenger Rear Fender - After:

Exhaust - Before:

Exhaust - After:

M3 Badge - Before:

 

[Petrucci_M3]

M3 Badge - After:

Gotta get the little areas, one of my favorite tools and cheap too

The aftermath!

Interior:

After shots:

So we went from this:

To this

To recap on the hood, from this:

To this.

 

[Petrucci_M3]

 

[SRHTX]

Very nice and clean. Was that a one day deal or two day? rops:

 

[spike]

What an awesome job!! You made that white look deep and glossy like a bowl of milk!!

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

And I am also in awe of your pictures. I have tried to learn how to take pics of defects, and I pretty much stink at it. I don't have the digital camera on the right setting or something. You must have a very good camera (and of course expert technique) to get such great pics. If you don't mind me asking, what setting do you put your camera on when you take pics? My camera will not focus on any of the defects when I try to capture them.

 

[Petrucci_M3]

Very nice and clean. Was that a one day deal or two day? rops:

Thank you! Actually 2 and half days I guess you'd say. I got the car on Friday around 6:30ish and the owner picked it up on Sunday at 6pm.

What an awesome job!! You made that white look deep and glossy like a bowl of milk!!

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

And I am also in awe of your pictures. I have tried to learn how to take pics of defects, and I pretty much stink at it. I don't have the digital camera on the right setting or something. You must have a very good camera (and of course expert technique) to get such great pics. If you don't mind me asking, what setting do you put your camera on when you take pics? My camera will not focus on any of the defects when I try to capture them.

Thank you for the kind words!

I always shoot in RAW and M mode.

When I taking pictures of defects, I try to focus on say a piece of tape then move it to the spot I want a picture of. Or this helps too, take your finger barely touch the surface and focus on your finger. Then remove it and voila.

Or if your camera has a manual focus use that to focus in on the area you're trying to capture.

But for the night shots, like the ones in the garage. I believe my settings were, ISO 100. M mode, F - 4 or 5 ish and shutter speed was 1/20, or 1/15.

Sun shots F was 17 or 18, shutter was 1/80 or 1/100, ISO 100 and M mode of course.

Hope that helps! I really struggled when I first started out but then I sorta got the hang of it.

 

[JonM]

how is that little green debating if i should get one.

 

[Chris27182]

Very Nice work love that White with red interior. My friend has one with an SMG

 

[spike]

Thank you! Actually 2 and half days I guess you'd say. I got the car on Friday around 6:30ish and the owner picked it up on Sunday at 6pm.



Thank you for the kind words!

I always shoot in RAW and M mode.

When I taking pictures of defects, I try to focus on say a piece of tape then move it to the spot I want a picture of. Or this helps too, take your finger barely touch the surface and focus on your finger. Then remove it and voila.

Or if your camera has a manual focus use that to focus in on the area you're trying to capture.

But for the night shots, like the ones in the garage. I believe my settings were, ISO 100. M mode, F - 4 or 5 ish and shutter speed was 1/20, or 1/15.

Sun shots F was 17 or 18, shutter was 1/80 or 1/100, ISO 100 and M mode of course.

Hope that helps! I really struggled when I first started out but then I sorta got the hang of it.

Thanks, I really appreciate your help. I know just how hard it is to capture defects on a white car, and you did it so beautifully. I will try the finger-pointing method, or put a small piece of detailing clay on the paint so the camera has something to focus on. I read this article that Mike Phillips wrote on Megs forum, and now I understand what you both are telling me. I'm gettin' it, I think!! Now if I could just figure out an easier way to post my pics without having to re-size every single one of them, then I'll be on my way...It takes me FOREVER to fix my pics right for posting!

:surrender:

 

[Petrucci_M3]

how is that little green debating if i should get one.

It works great for the jobs that I tackle. I haven't run into anything it doesn't have a cure fore, but it's no substitute for a professional extractor, but I'm more than pleased with it.

Very Nice work love that White with red interior. My friend has one with an SMG

Very nice! I have a feeling that finding one in a 6 speed is going to get tougher when I finally step into an E46. I keep finding more SMG's out there.

Thanks, I really appreciate your help. I know just how hard it is to capture defects on a white car, and you did it so beautifully. I will try the finger-pointing method, or put a small piece of detailing clay on the paint so the camera has something to focus on. I read this article that Mike Phillips wrote on Megs forum, and now I understand what you both are telling me. I'm gettin' it, I think!! Now if I could just figure out an easier way to post my pics without having to re-size every single one of them, then I'll be on my way...It takes me FOREVER to fix my pics right for posting!

:surrender:

Thanks again for the kind words! If you find out a way please let me know haha! Takes me forever too.

 

[TheGLL]

If you don't mind...what is your process with your little green machine ?
I have one and I'm far from having the same results you have and I didn't understood why yet. I know I need more pratice...
Thanks and awesome job on a awesome car!

 

[Petrucci_M3]

If you don't mind...what is your process with your little green machine ?
I have one and I'm far from having the same results you have and I didn't understood why yet. I know I need more pratice...
Thanks and awesome job on a awesome car!

No problem it's very simple actually.

1. Fill up the Little Green with hot water.
2. After the area you're working is clean, spray a little hot water on the surface.
3. In a spray bottle, spray the solution that will clean the area.
4. With a separate brush or the stock brush agitate the area.
5. Extract as much as you can then spray water on the area again and again until the area being extracted is clear.
6. Let dry.

Hope that helps!