Silver BMW 545i Sport Finished Nicely

Totoland Mach

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This 545i Sport finished nicely. Overall, the car had lots of light scratches and I used my cutting pad + Optimum compound. Then went to a glazing pad and Menzerna Glaze + XMT Glaze with Carnnuba.

Here's some nice reflection pics...I managed to get a power wash before an afternoon thunder boomer hit the area. Tomorrow will be #26, then do the interior.

Scratches: Example

545i_Jul07_TrunkScratches.jpg


545i_Jul07_DoorScratches2.jpg


After compounding and glazing

One door finished and the other awaiting it's destiny!

545i_Jul07_DoorScratchesOneDoorComp.jpg


In the shop on the lift....that lift still amazes me

545i_Jul07_OnLiftCompounded.jpg


Side shot with a mini tripod and no flash. This is a better color rendition

545i_Jul07_Finished_InsideShot.jpg


Rear bumper area .... the camera does some funny stuff with silver and flash

545i_Jul07_RearBumperOverall.jpg


Happy Fourth of July Everyone!

Toto
 
Smoooth

That lift still impress me too!!!, found out a place in Sweden where they are sold ($2000usd)

See you use the MG26 on almost all the cars you do, something the shop owner buys, or is it your fav? (or both)
 
Always a great job Toto. I hope you took it easy and didn't detail that bimmer today. Happy 4th of July!
 
Truls said:
Smoooth

That lift still impress me too!!!, found out a place in Sweden where they are sold ($2000usd)

See you use the MG26 on almost all the cars you do, something the shop owner buys, or is it your fav? (or both)

Truls: the Meguiar's #26 is what the shop owner buys (by the gallon). I had my own favorites when I first started (Wolfgang Sealant, Meguiar's #21, etc), but he wanted to use #26 for one BIG reason: the product dries clear and doesn't leave white residue in pits, trim, etc. I've become a fan of 26 and find it is easy to apply/remove and lasts a long time, given the preparation I perform (compounding/glazing/polishing).

He even has a gallon of Perma Plate which I tried (he bought it for the same reasons as #26) and did not like. Not a very good product IMO, but a lot of dealers use this as their "magic" wax.

Toto
 
Very nice Toto, silver is a goofy color to find the swirls/scratches. You have to be looking at it at an angle but swirls are there. I actually purchased #26 too, just a small bottle to try it out.

Toto could you explain your process and what pads you use when you compound/glaze/polish? On this one you said you compounded with the Meg's cutting pad I assume, then what pad do you use to apply the glaze and do you use the Meg's pads for all of the steps?

Just curious that's all.
 
Nica said:
Very nice Toto, silver is a goofy color to find the swirls/scratches. You have to be looking at it at an angle but swirls are there. I actually purchased #26 too, just a small bottle to try it out.

Toto could you explain your process and what pads you use when you compound/glaze/polish? On this one you said you compounded with the Meg's cutting pad I assume, then what pad do you use to apply the glaze and do you use the Meg's pads for all of the steps?

Just curious that's all.

Nica: Sure, I'll explain.

Compounding: I use either a 3M Cutting pad or the Meguiar's #7006 pad (with the smaller backing plate on the Metabo). I'll work the paint with 3M compound, Optimum compound, or, if I need extra, the 3M Extra Cut compound. I've also used the Menzerna compound.

Polishing: Recently, I've been using the Menzerna 106FF and the Meguiar's #8006 pad on the Metabo. I haven't tried it on a black car yet, but the other colors seems to be "brighter" after polishing.

Glazing: I use 3M Glaze and the gray 3M glazing pad or the Meguiar's #9006 finish pad on the Metabo. The 3M product can be worked completely and I've tried the Menzerna Pro Series Glaze which must be buffed out with an mf towel as it leaves a haze. Both are good and add depth to the finish.

Meguiar's #26: I apply this with the Festool and a Meguiar's 9006 pad. Quick and easy.

One thing I like about the 3M pads (they are 8" pads for the DeWalt or Metabo rotary), is they last a long time and are very durable. They are very expensive compared to other foam pads ($15+ and are packaged 2 to a bag).

Hope that helps.

Toto
 
Yup, that helps lots Toto. I too have noticed that the 3M pads cost a little more but they feel different and last a longer. I only have one polishig wool pad and it totally feels different compared to the other wool pads I have.

Thanks for sharing Toto.
 
Toto, I must tell you I'm a big fan of your work.

And working on those car with that lift must be nice!

Question, does 3m compound dust like menzerna? Did you ever worked with presta compound?
 
with all that nice work, you need to start telling us what the dealers willing to move these units for, you might also make a commision for selling !
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
with all that nice work, you need to start telling us what the dealers willing to move these units for, you might also make a commision for selling !

Thanks killrwheels: I don't have a clue about pricing...heck, I can't even remember which model year the cars are!

Here's a link to his website: BavarianAG

Mike (the owner) usually posts prices on the cars and his son takes great pics (way better than me).

I'm in a sales job Mon-Fri, so I stay away from selling in this environment: Detailing Bimmers is my "golf"....relaxing and focused.

Nica: 3M compound dusts just as bad as Menzerna. 3M is yellow dust and Menzerna is white dust. The BIG tip I posted a while ago about using ONR to "wash" the compound dust off the vehicle before polishing/glazing is having a good effect. I now keep a spray bottle of water+ONR handy whenever I get an area that is dusty. The concentration is strong: 1 capful of ONR in a commercial spray bottle (16 oz?) with water. I keep a bucket with plain water and use that to shake out the compound dust.

Toto
 
so you never wash a car after compounding? basicly just a rinseless wash?
 
devst8 said:
so you never wash a car after compounding? basicly just a rinseless wash?

Correct. After compounding, I use ONR to remove dust, then Polish/Glaze is applied. Following that operation, I power wash with plain water to remove excess product from body seams. Using ONR is a big time saver because I was taking the vehicle off the lift (also moving other cars around to do so), power washing the compound dust, putting the car back on the lift, etc. I probably save 30-45 minutes with ONR while the car is in the lift area.

Toto
 
Yup, I agree with you Toto I've been using the ONR after using Menzerna compound...dust everywhere and ONR sure comes in handy.

Toto, every time I see that lift it just seems to push me alittle more and more to getting one my self....one of these day's I'm going to just get it and be done with :D
 
I cannot see the pics for some reason!
 
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