Here is the backstory. Christmas 2013 I go to Lowe's to buy a mini-fridge for my basement. I take my 335, thinking the fridge is small and would fit in the backseat, somehow. So I buy it and request it to be loaded into my car. I pull up front and the employees attempt to load it into my car. Won't fit. So they un-box it and try that way. One guy on the outside is trying to wiggle it in and the other is trying to maneuver from the inside. Still won't fit. No big deal my girlfriend was with me and she had her E350 (don't remember why we took separate cars) anyways, so she pulls up and we ask the guy to try and load it into her car. Now an E class is larger than a 3 series, and the fridge was barely not fitting in mine and definitely would fit in hers. The employee flat out refuses. Says he won't do that to her car, this is when I become suspicious; Was it was because her car was a '13 and mine '11? Does he prefer MB to BMW? Either way it was nearly closing time and we leave fridgeless.
The next day the plan was to go back to Lowe's with my truck and finally get the fridge (didn't take the truck the first time because I can't keep it at home during the winter, street parking restrictions). As she is getting ready, I go outside to give my 335 a quick wash (By some stroke of luck the weather warmed to like 45, first time in months). As I'm washing I notice a deep gouge in my rear passenger quarter panel as I inspect further, I see another gouge in the door-sill, and another in the interior leather door panel. I am pissed. Knowing I did not hit anything my suspicion kicks in and I grab a measuring tape and start measuring the distance between the door panel and quarter panel, 22" I check online, the fridge 22.5" wide. I got them.
We go to Lowe's in the truck, go to pick up the fridge, its damaged. So we grab a new fridge. And go home, like nothing was wrong. I didn't go in guns blazing because I wanted to double check everything and get an estimate. So what do I do now? Like any good American I go to the body shop to get an estimate, take pictures with measurements, and finally down to the town court to file a small claims lawsuit. In the end we settled outside of court for the full amount of the repair.
Now about 2 weeks ago I decided I was sick of the 335 and want something else. So enter the scratch repair. Please don't judge the condition of pre-detail I didn't do anything to this car detailing wise because of the scratch.
Products:
1500 and 2500 grit
Griot's 3" Polisher
Meg's 3" Cutting Disc
Megs 3" Polishing Disc
Megs 105
Megs 205
OEM BMW touch up paint
50/50 alcohol/water
Here is the "raw" scratch. Car was washed and clayed at this point.
Here I lightly wetsanded around the scratch with 1500 just to take down the peaks on either side.
After much internal debate I decided to use tape to "set and edge". My reason was the scratch had varrying depths and the left end stopped on a corner. Also I tend to over use touch up paint and didn't want any to run.
Stupidly I didn't take any pictures with the paint on and dried. OEM BMW touch up paint comes with color and clear separate. Which is awesome! I feel clear can tend to give scratches away, so I choose not to use it. I applied the paint with a dental tooth pick, they can be would at any drug store. Reason is the brush that comes with the paint is huge and clumsy. The dental pick is very small and allows me much more control. After the paint dried I removed the tape, sanded with 1500 then 2500. Cleaned it off. Then M105 with a Megs MF cutting disc. As you can see my first attempt the scratch is still visible. I didn't use enough paint and there were still low spots that 105 settled into.
Here is essentially my final product. I ended up having to clean out the scratch with the 50/50 solution, applying another coat of paint, wet-sanding again, 105 then 205. Here is how it looked when I was finished. I believe I did another round of 205 as I was not completely happy, not positive though.
In the end I am happy with the end result. I feel it came out well and I ended up making $1000+ from not having it repaired from the body shop :xyxthumbs:
P.S. - I would like to give a special thanks to the fridge. In the ended it made me money and has never let me down.
The next day the plan was to go back to Lowe's with my truck and finally get the fridge (didn't take the truck the first time because I can't keep it at home during the winter, street parking restrictions). As she is getting ready, I go outside to give my 335 a quick wash (By some stroke of luck the weather warmed to like 45, first time in months). As I'm washing I notice a deep gouge in my rear passenger quarter panel as I inspect further, I see another gouge in the door-sill, and another in the interior leather door panel. I am pissed. Knowing I did not hit anything my suspicion kicks in and I grab a measuring tape and start measuring the distance between the door panel and quarter panel, 22" I check online, the fridge 22.5" wide. I got them.
We go to Lowe's in the truck, go to pick up the fridge, its damaged. So we grab a new fridge. And go home, like nothing was wrong. I didn't go in guns blazing because I wanted to double check everything and get an estimate. So what do I do now? Like any good American I go to the body shop to get an estimate, take pictures with measurements, and finally down to the town court to file a small claims lawsuit. In the end we settled outside of court for the full amount of the repair.
Now about 2 weeks ago I decided I was sick of the 335 and want something else. So enter the scratch repair. Please don't judge the condition of pre-detail I didn't do anything to this car detailing wise because of the scratch.
Products:
1500 and 2500 grit
Griot's 3" Polisher
Meg's 3" Cutting Disc
Megs 3" Polishing Disc
Megs 105
Megs 205
OEM BMW touch up paint
50/50 alcohol/water
Here is the "raw" scratch. Car was washed and clayed at this point.
Here I lightly wetsanded around the scratch with 1500 just to take down the peaks on either side.
After much internal debate I decided to use tape to "set and edge". My reason was the scratch had varrying depths and the left end stopped on a corner. Also I tend to over use touch up paint and didn't want any to run.
Stupidly I didn't take any pictures with the paint on and dried. OEM BMW touch up paint comes with color and clear separate. Which is awesome! I feel clear can tend to give scratches away, so I choose not to use it. I applied the paint with a dental tooth pick, they can be would at any drug store. Reason is the brush that comes with the paint is huge and clumsy. The dental pick is very small and allows me much more control. After the paint dried I removed the tape, sanded with 1500 then 2500. Cleaned it off. Then M105 with a Megs MF cutting disc. As you can see my first attempt the scratch is still visible. I didn't use enough paint and there were still low spots that 105 settled into.
Here is essentially my final product. I ended up having to clean out the scratch with the 50/50 solution, applying another coat of paint, wet-sanding again, 105 then 205. Here is how it looked when I was finished. I believe I did another round of 205 as I was not completely happy, not positive though.
In the end I am happy with the end result. I feel it came out well and I ended up making $1000+ from not having it repaired from the body shop :xyxthumbs:
P.S. - I would like to give a special thanks to the fridge. In the ended it made me money and has never let me down.
