Step-By-Step Sanding & Compounding BMW

[Totoland Mach]

More Tonight (Thursday)

Well, it was almost 70 degrees yesterday and tonight it's 27 with an ice storm and predicting 12" of snow tomorrow...so much for warm weather. That's the nice thing about the shop. With those floodlights, I'm in a t-shirt most of the time.

Ok. Here's a pic of the sanded headlight covers

Pic after polishing with Optimum compound. I tried an angle shot, but I don't have a tripod and the pic blurred terribly.

Here's what will be power washed this weekend. There's yellow stripe highway paint in the driver's side fenderwell, lower rocker panel and rear fender well....nasty stuff. BUT...I compounded the driver's side completely.

Driver Side Compounded AND Glazed....what a great reflection!

Final Shot Tonight. I tried a coat of Meg's NXT on the hood. Dries Clear and leaves a nice finish to the work I did last night.

I'm going to bed! This old man's tired and I have a regular work day tomorrow.

Toto

 

[FloridaNative]

Awesome work, Toto!! :applause: Thank you so much for sharing your pics and work with us! I look forward to your future posts!

 

[supercharged]

Awesome!!!!:applause:

 

[tonyspop]

Great work!!Adds mucho dinero to price of the car.By the way,I sqeezed my new Silverado and orange pits popped out.

 

[Flyboy]

Welllllllllll.....not quite! 3000 grit on an orbital sander can go through clear coat to base coat with a little effort and not moving the sander. Also, 3000 grit on a plastic body panel (mirror housing, bumper cover, etc) can do lots of damage due to the paint difference and plastic base.

Toto

i guess i was thinking if you were using it by hand

 

[Totoland Mach]

i guess i was thinking if you were using it by hand

The only time I use a hand pad is for compound curves or small areas where the sander can't get.

Toto

 

[Totoland Mach]

Almost Done (Interior Carpet Shampoo today)

Coming down to the home stretch folks. I did a final power wash to remove glaze and compound from body seams, did the leather seats (boar's hair brush and liquid dishwashing soap diluted 10-1) and just have to shampoo carpets and clean windows.

Here's a graphic example of sanding + compounding + glaze + NXT wax

Before:

AFTER:

Outside the Shop after a final power wash.

Another outside shot

Last hood reflection shot taken outside (snow is still on the ground in KC)

I'll shoot some interior pics right after I shampoo the carpets and it's still light outside.

Overall, the key to this process is in compounding and taking your time. Optimum is very nice compound for dust control and being able to work it longer than the 3M stuff.

Toto

 

[Totoland Mach]

I Am Done!

Finished the interior: Boar's hair brush + mild dishwashing liquid diluted with water 10:1 for leather seats, door panels, and dash (compressed air is your friend doing these). Shampoo carpets with steamer + vac.

Interior Shots: Driver's Side

Passenger Side

Rear Seating Area

Now, I've started taping a dark gray X5....plenty of work for me.

See You Folks Later...Thanks For Looking!

Toto

 

[ltoman]

Coming down to the home stretch folks. I did a final power wash to remove glaze and compound from body seams, did the leather seats (boar's hair brush and liquid dishwashing soap diluted 10-1) and just have to shampoo carpets and clean windows.

Here's a graphic example of sanding + compounding + glaze + NXT wax

Before:

AFTER:

Outside the Shop after a final power wash.

Another outside shot

Last hood reflection shot taken outside (snow is still on the ground in KC)

I'll shoot some interior pics right after I shampoo the carpets and it's still light outside.

Overall, the key to this process is in compounding and taking your time. Optimum is very nice compound for dust control and being able to work it longer than the 3M stuff.

Toto

AWESOME!!!!:awesome: Im the MAN looks great!

 

[ltoman]

Great work!!Adds mucho dinero to price of the car.By the way,I sqeezed my new Silverado and orange pits popped out.

Hey, that is great!!!! You rock!
Wanna do mine too? I can't even get the swirls....