Hi all,
While I was home detailing my new Lexus LX470, my mom's new car showed up. Her Audi A3 TDI was bought back by Audi so we replaced it with another diesel. This time it was a Black Sapphire Metallic BMW 328d X-Drive M-Sport which is quite a rare find! 25k miles on the clock and well cared for. The paint however, was NOT in good shape.
This is how it arrived...
DSC_0056 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Old cured Road Paint was covering the entire passenger side. This was a PITA!
DSC_0057 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
IMG_5014 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
All those little white specs...yeah that's road paint. This was a massive PITA! After trying clay, tar remover, apc, mineral spirits and a few other things I ended up going to Google and found a DOT site saying that Goof off is specifically designed to remove cured latex paint which is what road paint is. So I had to use Goof-Off and lots of patience. Took roughly 4 hours to get it all off.
IMG_5021 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
She was washed down and given an iron-x treatment and then this was the condition of the paint. Lots of swirls, scratches and RIDS.
Love the M-Sport wheels!
DSC_0064 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
IMG_5017 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
IMG_5049 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
IMG_5056 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
I went after it with my Flex with a LC Hyrbid orange and FG400.
IMG_5025 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Pillars
IMG_5053 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Quick 50/50 video
IMG_5064 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Then I went back over with CarPro Reflect on a white Hybrid pad. Not the best 50/50 but the Reflect gave me more depth and richness to the black.
IMG_5067 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Then I wiped her down with Wolfgang Perfekt paint prep and did a nice coating of Wolfgang Uber Ceramic Coating. I love this coating because of it's ease of use and durability. Currently have over 18 months on two different cars I've coated with it and still holding up wonderfully!
Final Shots. Once again these pictures were taken in the morning before leaving town so I apologize for the poor lighting. Also didn't get to dress the tires before this picture. Running on little sleep and forgot before pics were taken. Enjoy! All pictures are unedited.
DSC_0046 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0037 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0038 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
This is my favorite shot from this car. Not a defect in sight!
DSC_0043 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0045 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0047 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0048 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Close up of the Black Sapphire Metallic:
DSC_0049 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Few more:
DSC_0053 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0055 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
DSC_0051 by Chris Merritt, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
While I was home detailing my new Lexus LX470, my mom's new car showed up. Her Audi A3 TDI was bought back by Audi so we replaced it with another diesel. This time it was a Black Sapphire Metallic BMW 328d X-Drive M-Sport which is quite a rare find! 25k miles on the clock and well cared for. The paint however, was NOT in good shape.
This is how it arrived...

Old cured Road Paint was covering the entire passenger side. This was a PITA!


All those little white specs...yeah that's road paint. This was a massive PITA! After trying clay, tar remover, apc, mineral spirits and a few other things I ended up going to Google and found a DOT site saying that Goof off is specifically designed to remove cured latex paint which is what road paint is. So I had to use Goof-Off and lots of patience. Took roughly 4 hours to get it all off.

She was washed down and given an iron-x treatment and then this was the condition of the paint. Lots of swirls, scratches and RIDS.
Love the M-Sport wheels!




I went after it with my Flex with a LC Hyrbid orange and FG400.

Pillars

Quick 50/50 video

Then I went back over with CarPro Reflect on a white Hybrid pad. Not the best 50/50 but the Reflect gave me more depth and richness to the black.

Then I wiped her down with Wolfgang Perfekt paint prep and did a nice coating of Wolfgang Uber Ceramic Coating. I love this coating because of it's ease of use and durability. Currently have over 18 months on two different cars I've coated with it and still holding up wonderfully!
Final Shots. Once again these pictures were taken in the morning before leaving town so I apologize for the poor lighting. Also didn't get to dress the tires before this picture. Running on little sleep and forgot before pics were taken. Enjoy! All pictures are unedited.



This is my favorite shot from this car. Not a defect in sight!




Close up of the Black Sapphire Metallic:

Few more:



Thanks for looking!