BMW Day 530i and 540i

Totoland Mach

Totoland Mach

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Full day today! Got to try Optimum Compound (new formula) and it is FANTASTIC! Zero dusting and just flat works.

Here's a Black Metallic (can't remember what Bimmer calls it) that had light scratches on the entire car and some scratches that needed attention. Used the Festool Rotex in random orbit mode, then switched to rotary mode to tackle the scratches.

Pic of the hood swirls
MetallicBlack_540i_Swirls.jpg


Another pic of the swirls
MetallicBlack_540i_Before.jpg


Indoor shot of the 540i (I still haven't gotten a tripod yet)
MetallicBlack_540i_AIO.jpg


Next up was a finish job on a 530i. I previously polished with DACP and now added a coat of Klasse. I'll probably finish this car when it sells with a coat of Souveran. We keep covers on the finished cars until a customer wants to drive or see one.

Outside reflection shot
MetallicBlue_530i_AIO_Outside.jpg


One more reflection shot
MetallicBlue_530i_AIO.jpg


The shop's owner has been exclusively 3M, but I've changed him over to Klasse with one application. And now, he saw what Optimum Compound does and zero dust (which is a major problem with 3M compound).

Toto
 
looks great

on another note


finaly someone knows that the a bmw car is called a "bimmer" not a "beamer"



great job on both of them
 
articsilber323 said:
looks great

on another note


finaly someone knows that the a bmw car is called a "bimmer" not a "beamer"



great job on both of them
Click to expand...
Looks great! Yep!
 
I love Optimum Compound and Polish. OC will do some serious correcting, yet finish down like a nice polish even with a cutting pad.
 
Did you use a PC or rotary?
What pads did you use?
How was the work time?

Why is the sky blue?.......
LOL!
 
justin30513 said:
Did you use a PC or rotary?
What pads did you use?
How was the work time?

Why is the sky blue?.......
LOL!
Click to expand...

Last question first: The sky is blue, but in Kansas that can change in minutes!

I used the Festool Rotex in random orbit until I came to an area that needed correction with a rotary. Then, pressed a switch on the Rotex and it was rotary. The tool does not have the power (or weight) of a full DeWalt rotary (which I use after a surface cut with 3000 grit), but it's very versatile and nicely balanced. It's now my everyday tool.

Work time: the Metallic Black polishing took about 1.5 hours and included a coat of AIO. The Blue was already polished from last week, so it was a quick application of AIO.

Toto
 
The after picture of the black is stunning! What a great job.
 
justin30513 said:
Did you use a PC or rotary?
What pads did you use?
How was the work time?

Why is the sky blue?.......
LOL!
Click to expand...

Optimum works with just about ANY pad and the work time is just about however long you want it to be.....slightly longer than other polishes/compounds, but that's because it finishes down better IMO. now.....

WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?

The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.
However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.

Just thought I'd help:D
 
Last edited:
dengood1 said:
Optimum works with just about ANY pad and the work time is just about however long you want it to be.....slightly longer than other polishes/compounds, but that's because it finishes down better IMO. now.....

WHY IS THE SKY BLUE?

The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.
However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.

Just thought I'd help:D
Click to expand...


Ok.....
So funny.......!!!
 
What would we do without Google? It's much smarter than me:p haha....I was just kidding with Justin:cheers:
 
Thanks Sparkie! I started on an X Series (man, I gotta get the hang of BMW models...but it's the V8 SUV) last night. This suv has 65/k miles and shows it. Used 3000 grit pad to remove some scratches + Optimum with a cut pad on the DeWalt. I'll finish up that process tonight.

I did run into one problem and that is the black painted window/door trim that has serious stains (looks like old soap stains embedded or a chemical of some sort). I tried the rotary + compound, the Festool + compound (easier to work with physically) and got 80% of it, but I'm looking for the other 20%..

Toto
 
Very nice, anymore pictures of the shop? Looks very clean!
 
Woob said:
Very nice, anymore pictures of the shop? Looks very clean!
Click to expand...

Here's a decent shot of the shop. It's super clean and part of my detailing entails mopping the floor and general clean up when I'm finished with a car. The shop area is also the sales floor, so the owner stresses clean surroundings. What's also fun is potential customers also watch me work and ask great questions on car washing and finish maintenance.

BMW745Li_White_Finished.jpg


Toto
 
Yes I like it, more pictures! Guessing it's Air Conditioned. Do you do the washing outside?
 
Woob said:
Yes I like it, more pictures! Guessing it's Air Conditioned. Do you do the washing outside?
Click to expand...

Woob: yep, air conditioning and heated. Yes, I wash outside with a power washer. I also use a bucket and soap for wheels (after acid spray to remove brake dust). The dollar amount per car is somewhat less than I typically get in "driveway" detailing, but I have a great shop and I wasn't going to detail in the winter until I found this place (snow and cold is not the best conditions).

All-in-all, it works out for me. Low volume (1-2 cars per week, all late model BMW's), not rushed to complete a job, and a great teacher in the owner.

Toto
 
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