BMW 745 Li - 2005 Luxo Tourer

[Totoland Mach]

Started on a luxury touring car: 2005 745 Li that only had light scratches for the most part...and ONE nasty scratch right above the driver's door handle. To fix the scratch, I wet sanded and decided to try a nice little air powered rotary with a 3" foam pad. Well, that went well for a little while and then I noticed I burned the paint! Un-freekin believable! So, here I am with an $80,000 used car and a burn spot right where the driver can see it! The dealer tried to blob some touch up, but that might not work. If it doesn't we're gonna re-paint that area with a pro painter. I'm bummed, the dealer is bummed, and I offered to pay for the re-paint.

Here's some pic's (almost don't want to post them)

Overall shot after compounding and glazing.

Door Scratches. We taped that handle because the big scratch was right above it and didn't want to take a chance on damaging the paint on the handle.

The dark blob is touch up paint on the burned area right above the handle.

Interior Shot of the rear passenger area. I could go on a trip like that!

Interior Shot of the driver seating area. I could also drive a car like this on a trip!

I tried a new approach to compounding and it seems to work great. I use 3M compound AND Meguiar's #83 together on a foam pad. It gives longevity for working the compound, keeps the pad from filling with compound, and adds a higher level of shine.

Here's a reflection shot of the trunk lid.

Door length reflection shot.

Hopefully, the blob of paint will level down and we won't have to repaint.

Toto

 

[abrcrombe]

Sorry to hear that... but the rest of the car looks AWESOME! I absolutely LOVE the 7 series... I just don't like the problems associated with it.

 

[Nuke33]

Looks good, nice car... good luck with the paint!

 

[justin_murphy]

I think you can handle that and make it respectable. The thing is, the car will look so good that it will not be noticed. Just remember, most dealers would not even wax a used car.

 

[FloridaNative]

I think you can handle that and make it respectable. The thing is, the car will look so good that it will not be noticed. Just remember, most dealers would not even wax a used car.

Was that an intentional pun, Justin? The car looks great Toto. I'm sure the blob will buff down to unnoticeable. The rest of the car looks fantastic! It looks so comfy inside.

 

[Kelso]

looks good besides the burn,whats with the wood though? keep the tires off the ground so you can dress them better or what?

 

[Gary Sword]

One of my neighbors has a 745 Li. Very nice car. I hope it works out with the burn spot and you don't have to pay for a repaint. I would be bummed too. So hows your new bimmer Toto?

 

[Totoland Mach]

looks good besides the burn,whats with the wood though? keep the tires off the ground so you can dress them better or what?

The wood planks are for the Snap-On lift. They are a chin spoiler "saver" for low cars and also, they make lining up the car for the lift easy.

Gary: hopefully, the build-up of touchup paint will blend in. My Bimmer is doing great. Got to see what an Xi is all about in the snow! Very nice handling, but the electronic sensors want to handle the spinning wheels a lot.

Justin: I guess I feel personally responsible for the burn...and it happened on the most expensive car in inventory. I could tell (but he won't admit it) the dealer was bummed out because of this.

Actually, my wife really likes it and that's all that matters!

Toto

 

[nick19]

Wow Toto! That door reflection shot is really nice! 3M is some pretty good stuff. #83 is amazing!

How do you like your Mach 1, BTW? I'm thinking of getting an all black exterior/interior 2003 with 23k miles for 17.5k I have found a complete Voretec super-charger kit for $4.7k and boots the total HP to 460, and 440lbs/tq. Made especially for the Mach 1.



Take care bud, everything will work out, and the owner will be completely surprised at the finished result. I have faith in you..:cheers:




-Nick :cheers:
5-Star Auto Detailing

 

[Totoland Mach]

Nick: Boy, you're gonna love that Mach! They are a fun car with good horsepower right out of the crate, and adding a Vortec just makes them unreal. A friend of mine has a Black Mach with a ProCharger and he's bumping 500 hp. The motor has an aluminum block and forged crank (on the 5 speed), but the rest of the internals cannot take a lot of abuse. Use the Vortec wisely!

Holler if you get the Mach. Be sure to get on the Mach 1 Registry. There's tons of supercharger info and general maintenance information.

Toto

 

[nick19]

Nick: Boy, you're gonna love that Mach! They are a fun car with good horsepower right out of the crate, and adding a Vortec just makes them unreal. A friend of mine has a Black Mach with a ProCharger and he's bumping 500 hp. The motor has an aluminum block and forged crank (on the 5 speed), but the rest of the internals cannot take a lot of abuse. Use the Vortec wisely!

Holler if you get the Mach. Be sure to get on the Mach 1 Registry. There's tons of supercharger info and general maintenance information.

Toto

Is there a website for the Mach 1 Registry?

I have heard from a few people, saying 450 HP is about all the internals can combat, before they need to be further upgraded. I plan on adding the Vortec system, and upgrading exhaust and that's it. I'm not much of a racer, but it's a nice conversation peice, and collectors item. Only 7500 were built, right?




-Nick :cheers:
5-Star Auto Detailing

 

[nick19]

Mach1Registry.com... lol I found it. I thought maybe it wasn't so simple, but indeed it was. Thanks for the heads up. I have to make a big decision on what apartment I am going to move into, and complete my certified Fire Fighter/Paramedic training and I'll be that much closer to having my own peice of history.




-Nick :cheers:
5-Star Auto Detailing

 

[Totoland Mach]

Nick: They made approx. 9,000 in 2003 and 5,000 in 2004. Compared to the 60's and early 70 series Mach's, the production at that time was 50,000 plus.

I think they will always be "desirable" and maybe a collector item way down the road (my grand kids will probably see those benefits LOL).

If you get one, enjoy it for what it is: a 32 valve hot rod that is a piece of history.

Toto

 

[nick19]

That just makes me want one even more now... :awesome:

I am looking over their forum right now.. Thanks!






-Nick :cheers:
5-Star Auto Detailing

 

[P1et]

Incredibly nice work Toto, as usual! Sorry to read about the burn mark, but look at all the great work you did on the black 540i. Your boss shouldn't even let you worry about this one, but you took it like a man and offered to pay for it. Very admirable!

 

[sparkie]

Outstanding work, I always love your reflection shots!

 

[Nica]

Sorry to hear about the little accident Toto but you know what they say practice makes perfect. You should always post especially if it's a little accident because that makes a matures like my self respect the tools and the craftsmanship that goes in detailing. I remember that before I would cut detailers left right and centre because they charged to much but now that I'm getting a little taste of what a detailer really does I totally understand why they charge so much, heck I would even charge more now hehehe.

Thank you for posting and the reflection shots are amazing, it's like a mirror very nice.

 

[Truls]

Where is the car, thats awesome job toto. Sorry about the burn you got, airbrush want help i supose.

 

[Totoland Mach]

I hope to have the exterior done tomorrow night. The dealer has some new paint correction tools that we are going to try out tomorrow. He also had touch-up color mixed plus bought some clear coat touch-up with hardener. That's been our problem, especially on the plastic bumper pieces that get scrapes and rock chips.

Toto

 

[Totoland Mach]

Finally took the 745Li outside for some shots. We are going to try some new touch up products today (special applicator, touchup paint, clear coat touch up with hardner) and I'll try to document the process with pics.

Here's a couple of outdoor shots:

I managed to squeeze my mug in this reflection shot

Rear Three Quarter view

Hood Reflection for a partly cloudy day

Finally: Interior all done...what a nice luxury car!

Hopefully, by tonight, I can get the touchup process uploaded.

Toto