Another weekend, Another BMW paint correction. Sapphire Black 2008 335i - Multi Step Correction

Honestly, how do you become that good at detailing, it's just amazing how good the work is:)
 
I really don't do anything... just move a machine all over the car and it comes out shiny :)
 
zmcgovern45 said:
I really don't do anything... just move a machine all over the car and it comes out shiny :)
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stop it:) I know your being humble about, but it's amazing how good you are, I just wish I could be that good, I just don't have the confidence I guess, I'm afraid I will screw something up:)
 
What's there to be afraid of?

DA machines are incredibly safe, and seeing as how you are an active AGO member, you posses a wealth of information that should lead you to make appropriate decisions when needed.

I never stray from the basic rules... most importantly is always use the least aggressive method possible. I have gone through 4-5 product/pad combos during my "test spot(s)" just to ensure I have the best process for the job.
 
Beautiful job. I'm acquiring the products to decontaminate my 2004 645CI LIMITED EDITION NEIMAN MARCUS BMW. It hasn't had much wax/sealant applied by the Original owner. He kept it clean and only washed it by hand so I don't foresee a big problem with the car. My problem is I'm coming out of the dark ages. I've been using Zymol custom waxes since 1986 when I purchased my first BMW. It was a 325ES in dark metallic gray. My as new BMW (10,555 miles when purchased by me in October 2012). Is in STRATUS GRAY which is a strange color in that it changes depending on the weather. Has a lot of gold in the sunlight and greenish blue in the clouds. My son, who has a MAC TOOL franchise in Florida, sent me a PorterCable buffing machine , and told me to through away the waxes and start using updated products........clays.....sealants, etc. so I ordered Pinnacle Clay and Pinnacle Clay Lube. And for the sealants...two BlackFire products. He also sent me a variety of pads and bonnets......in all colors. I'm 64 years old and have over 10 back surgeries. I'm a little apprehensive to start this product for two reasons. One, I never used a buffing machine....and two, I'm afraid of re injuring my spine. As it is I only am up about 8 hours a day. The remaining time I'm prone. I'm willing to try anything with this car as I never thought I'd have a car of this quality. I took a road trip that lasted 40 days and almost 8K miles. From Central Oregon to Mooresville NC for the opening of NASCAR ( and to see my daughter who lives there). Then to Florida to see my two boys. Then I crisscrossed the country on the way back, visiting a few National Parks and a couple of Civil War battlefields.......I'm rambling...sorry.
If anyone has any ideas as how to tackle this project, with consideration to my physical problems, PLEASE let me know. LOVE MY CAR............
 
1. Pay someone to do it the absolute right way.
2. Just take your time, one panel at a time.

Many people have divided out the project in many steps due to schedule conflicts or whatever.

Continue reviewing some of the articles to understand what makes sense for you. EVERYTHING you generally need to know is here. If you can get your way around the country and back safely then you will likely have no problem.

Seems like you might get a bit wore out here and there, but it's good to get a little exercise and push yourself a bit. If you get tired or uncomfortable, stop. Start again when you feel up to it. You are not going to mess anything up (vehicle related) when working with the least aggressive approach. If you attempt to project and "fail", that's fine! You can rest at night knowing you are gave it your very best attempt.

The community is here to support you. Simply take some time to outline concerns when you stumble upon them. Many here will quickly give you credible feedback.

Good luck and I wish you the very best!

Don't forget to take some pics and have fun with it!
 
That looks greaT! flawless job as always.

Questioning if some darker or contrast setting was applied to the after shots? theres an amazing difference in gloss between the after polish shots and the drive in , floor , walls seem darker
 
Black is always so rewarding to work one!excellent results mate!
 
Safaripete said:
Beautiful job...................
If anyone has any ideas as how to tackle this project, with consideration to my physical problems, PLEASE let me know. LOVE MY CAR............
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^Thanks... it seems like you should seek out a reputable professional to help you out. While DIY may be in your nature, it is never worth risking your health. The entire detailing process is very time consuming, labor intensive, and requires a lot of sitting, standing, bending, twisting, pushing - all of which may lead to discomfort or injury with a sensitive back. You could take it really slow and work on it over the course of several weeks, but let's be honest, that would just be grueling.



R4IDER said:
That looks greaT! flawless job as always.

Questioning if some darker or contrast setting was applied to the after shots? theres an amazing difference in gloss between the after polish shots and the drive in , floor , walls seem darker
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^Thanks!

All photos were shot in RAW, upon importing and converting to JPEG there was some minor processing done to each image to adjust for inaccuracies. Some contrast was added, just like your camera adds on it's own when you shoot in JPEG format.

The major factor in displaying the true gloss is with the lighting. This was an overcast, rainy day - which is perfect for photographing shiny cars. The overcast sky creates soft, even lighting which eliminates harsh shadows and unwanted highlights on the surface of the paint, allowing me to expose the scene properly and really show off the dark, glossy finish. The difference between shooting fully manual with a DSLR and a point and shoot is that you can expose the image to your taste rather than what the camera thinks it should be exposed to. For black vehicles, your camera may be tricked into thinking you are taking a picture in low or dim lighting because the majority of your subject is dark. For this reason, it may create a lighter, more muted appearance when shot in automatic mode. I was able to compensate for this error by shooting in manual mode and exposing the dark black the way it is truly meant to be seen.

As for the difference in gloss... well yeah, look at the 50/50 shot.
942435_244799018991558_521291406_n.jpg


You mentioned that ground and walls looked darker... they were wet. It had been raining all day except for the brief few minutes when I ran outside to take a few pictures in the parking lot (you can see some dry spots that are lighter if you look closely).

vdevan said:
Black is always so rewarding to work one!excellent results mate!
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^Thank you.
 
Do you always glaze? That seems like a good step that I never do, but should given I have a torch red Mustang that shows everything.
 
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