2004 BMW M3 - Severly Neglected - Oakes Detail

Oakes

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This BMW M3 Convertible was purchased the day I detailed it, and driven straight from Baltimore, MD all the way to my temporary Horsham, PA location. Only to make a return trip back to it's home in Washington, DC

Let me just say, I would not like to know the previous owner's maintenance habits. With that said, the car had my work cut out for me already. The prep process took up a matter of almost 3 full hours, being so heavily contaminated, it required a few passes of aggressive clay - much against my desire. The interior had been too far neglected and the gray leather took on an appearance of grime and grunginess. The paint most certainly experienced a life of automated car washes and severe lack of proper detailing, however for 80+k miles, it certainly held up well for the most part.

I spent a total of 22 hours on this vehicle, almost straight through as well, taking up most of my weekend. However, the final result certainly paid off and the new happy owner certainly made it all worth while, now for the visual proof!

The vehicle as it arrived, for an assumed short stay that turned into a weekend long slumber party!

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Contamination After First Clay pass:

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Side Vent Before/After:

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Reverse Sensor Before/After:

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Interior Before Photos:

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Interior After Photos:

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Paint Condition Before Correction:

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50/50 Photos:

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Corrected Paint Photos, inside and out:

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Reflection and "artsy" Pics:

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Finished Profile photos of the vehicle!

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Hope you enjoyed it as much as I have... :) Feedback always welcome!

-Oakes
 
From a sow's ear to a silk purse....marvelous job.
 
Great correction. That white looks great all cleaned up. Love those M3s.
 
Paint Condition Before Correction:

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25.
I dont expect everyone to be as fanatical about cars and paint as us geeks are, but, My God! How can you let such a beautiful car get in this bad of shape?

Thank God for detailers like Oakes. Nice job man.
 
Excellent as always. I've never seen a sub par job from you yet.:props:And don't expect any in the future. Keep up the excellent work man!:dblthumb2:
 
2nd the request for your process details! Very nice work, nice car too. You added about 2 grand to that car in exchange for a day of your live (and a night).

Thanks for posting.
 
I always wonder when I see people spend that kind of money on a car like that and then completely ignore the finish. I was at the local sandpaper shop (car wash) the other day with a company car. Some guy in a new black Carrera pulled in and I watched it go through the macine wash. The line guys used a towel that fell on the ground to put the "finishing touches" on the paint work before they rubbed on about half a gallon of tire grease.

I watched it sling all over the sides as the man drove off. I wanted to throw up!

Thanks for saving this gem of a car with the TLC!:xyxthumbs:
 
It's really hard to make white shine but you managed to achieve that with this detail! Great job Oakes!
 
It's sad how people just have to take thier vehicles to the automated car washes and don't realize that it take the clear coat off in time. Not to mention scratching everything on the outside. As for that inside, what tha..... Sad. VERY SAD for an M3.

Great job saving it. :xyxthumbs:
 
Talk about a completely different car before and after! :dblthumb2:

I'll second some of the comments on the condition it arrived in. The E46 M3 is one of the sweetest cars going and to see it in that condition made me ill. I guess I'll never understand why a person would treat a beautiful machine like that.
 
Nice paint correction hope the owner is appretiative of the value you added ti thier ride
 
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