Lessons I learned from a Black 2009 BMW 550i

Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
Hahaha I love the gloves! I just have some latex and nytril gloves...work good for me..but my hands still get in bad shape.

Awesome awesome turn around. Ive got a lady who has a new...black...BMW I series...cant remember the #...she's considering a full 3 step. I like you have never done a black car before..and havent yet done a 3 step either...most my customers just want a single pass...and i get really good results with it...but im not quite sure what to charge her for a 3 step....i know this was your friend but how did you go about bidding this one?

Again great job...hope you got that manicure!
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Someone else will need to chime in on bidding. I am strictly a hobby-detailer; I didn't charge him anything - he tried to pay me, but I wouldn't take it. I've been friends with this guy for over 12 years. During that time he spent a very tough year in Iraq, a very tough year after he got back, and now he just got divorced. I did this because he loves the car, and I knew it could look better.

Midnight1700 said:
NICE JOB LAURA!!!! I think you've got a long term client now! AND, not to mention all the people he'll be telling about you. One question for ya, What camera are you using to take your shots? I can never seem to get my pictures to come out near as good as yours.
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Thanks!! I used a Nikon D-40 with the 18-200 VR lens. I think it's mainly the lighting, though since some I took with my iPhone even turned out pretty good.
 
Great job for a hobbyist! That car looks awesome. I only hope my future corrections can look that good........hun....LOL. Those gloves are the bomb.
 
Laura said:
I am strictly a hobby-detailer; I didn't charge him anything
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WOW!!! Not only did you do an outstanding detailing job you also have a wonderful heart.
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If you get another swirlmobile give the Megs DA MF Cutting discs and D300 compound a try.
 
Major :props: to you Laura!
Great work!
Excellent and entertaining well thought out writeup!
And great work hooking your buddy up! He deserves it and I'm glad he has a good friend like you.
 
merlin said:
WOW!!! Not only did you do an outstanding detailing job you also have a wonderful heart.
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If you get another swirlmobile give the Megs DA MF Cutting discs and D300 compound a try.
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How much have you used the new MF system from megs? I was just wondering if you think they would be able to cut through some of those REALLY bad scratches that were shown in some of the pictures...and if so how many section passes do you think? I ask because I'm thinking about getting the MF system myself, but havent pulled the trigger yet :).
 
Wills.WindowsAndWheels said:
How much have you used the new MF system from megs? I was just wondering if you think they would be able to cut through some of those REALLY bad scratches that were shown in some of the pictures...and if so how many section passes do you think? I ask because I'm thinking about getting the MF system myself, but havent pulled the trigger yet :).
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I have only done about five different vehicles with it so far. I had been using M105/Surbuf/Orange-M205/White-PO85rd/Black via the Kevin Brown Method. The MF Cutting disc and D300's is MUCH cleaner and easier to work with than M105 and finishes down almost LSP ready. It gives rotary "like" results from a DA. I have do doubt that this new DA MF system can tackle just about anything. In my case, just to get started, I just purchased the DA MF cutting discs and Megs DA compound D300. The first time I used it I found a new go-to combo for removing swirls.

I have been able to go from MF cutting disc/D300 to Menz 85rd/LC grey pad.
I just purchased the MF finishing discs to use with 85rd but have not tried it yet.
The "trick" is to make sure that the discs are cleaned between each section pass.
Megs recommends blowing 'em out with compressed air. I don't own an air compressor.
I read here that a dry "Bug Sponge" works. I tried it and am very happy with the results.

Wait! Wait!...what am I saying??...DA MF cutting pad to polish...DA MF finishing pad to finish.
What am I going to do with all my foam pads??? Oh Well, I guess I need something to apply sealant. (sigh)
 
We need more NICE people like you! :props:. The man in question needed something special and you made it happen. Saving a BMW 550 like you did had to make his day and he will remember it for many years to come.

Your write-up is full of excellent hints and humor. I enjoyed reading about the student whose mind shut down when the power went up. Great observation about doing vs. teaching. Regardless of what it is, one needs a completely different set of skills and a mind-set to match.

The tip about the manicure...well, let's just say that won't be on my personal list :laughing:.
 
GR8 JOB LAURA!!!!:dblthumb2: The car looks amazing!!! And the before and after shoots...WOW!
I've never done a black car, come to think of it, I've only detailed 5 cars and three of those were for $$$. But I really want to try to clean up some black paint. I have a old hood that one of my friends gave me, and I'm going to paint it black to practice on. If you can fix black paint, you should be able to make any color look great. Once again awesome job, and that was really cool that you hooked you friend up like that.

Oh yeah sorry on more thing, you used wolfgang tsr and then you used glaze, did you use any sealant or wax on top of that? Sorry I had to ask. :)
 
nesto said:
I really want to try to clean up some black paint. I have a old hood that one of my friends gave me, and I'm going to paint it black to practice on.
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Here's my theory - the only thing special about black paint is that it makes it easier to see flaws in your process. I think the main reason this car was hard was that it was in worse shape than any others I've done, it was less forgiving of "good-enough," and I wanted to do the very best I could for my friend...and this post :D


nesto said:
Oh yeah sorry on more thing, you used wolfgang tsr and then you used glaze, did you use any sealant or wax on top of that? Sorry I had to ask. :)
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Here's the honest truth, I had intended to do a coat of DGPS and a coat of Fuzion and make some reference to the "Beauty of German Engineering." However, after it took as long as it did, I ran out of time and had to go back to my real job. So, I put two layers of Optimum Spray Wax on it. I love that stuff! It's quick, easy, looks great, and has remarkable durability.
 
Fabulous work and I definitely will be suggesting the manicure as a tip when asked.
 
black cars are the challenge no doubt. Great work..and I must say you did a very "masculine" job on the car..with such "feminine" hands.
 
I am very green and new to this area of paint protection and detail.Did you use the shown brand of polish on a BMW because the clear coat on the Euro car is different from domestic clear coats?

Your work is great!
 
These pictures are just great, I keep showing my wife pics from the show n shine section to justify why I've dropped so much cash in the last couple weeks just to take care of our two daily drivers. I'm crossing my fingers that my black cars turn out half as nice as this. :xyxthumbs:
 
Great work. Its hard for me to imagine someone making a new car, even considering that its black, look that way that fast. I've got two black cars now and I keep promising myself I'll avoid black in the future.
 
HD F150 said:
Great work. Its hard for me to imagine someone making a new car, even considering that its black, look that way that fast. I've got two black cars now and I keep promising myself I'll avoid black in the future.
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I swore against black cars too. I have 2 now. Nothing looks better that a perfectly polished balck car. Stick with it! My DD is black and it SHINES
 
TL type S said:
Did you use the shown brand of polish on a BMW because the clear coat on the Euro car is different from domestic clear coats?
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Ummm...well...I actually just used what I had. I have an Audi, and I'll admit that I did consider the whole German thing when purchasing polishes. I have Wolfgang and I also have Menzerna SIP & 85RD. I used the TSR because I was almost out and wanted to use it up, and I used the Finishing Glaze because I had it and it "goes with" the TSR. I wish I could tell you I had some kind of scientific method I used; but really it was just what I had in my stash.


Trevor said:
These pictures are just great, I keep showing my wife pics from the show n shine section to justify why I've dropped so much cash in the last couple weeks just to take care of our two daily drivers. I'm crossing my fingers that my black cars turn out half as nice as this. :xyxthumbs:
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Yeah, I crossed my fingers that this one would turn out well, too :dblthumb2:

HD F150 said:
I've got two black cars now and I keep promising myself I'll avoid black in the future.
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No!!! Don't avoid black. Just get comfortable with keeping them looking good.

I can say that since my car is blue!! :props:
 
jpegs13 said:
:doh:

Let's see. we're just missing babe, doll, toots, sugar.........sheesh

Nice job LAURA. Well done and great write up
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Thank you very much, John :cheers:
 
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