[E92Fan]

As Booforty and the guys will testify, my car wasn't exactly looking its best post 'Ring shenanigans..! Bug splat, dirt, brake dust galore etc etc did their best to render my sapphire black car a dirty shade of grey

Fortunately, Paul Townsend from Shine On Auto Detail (www.shineondetail.com) happened to be in London this morning and came round to do a bit of car cleaning... Some Chemical Guys citrus wash, Swissvax spritz, and Swissvax Best of Show wax later, and my car looked like this












A bit of Gliptone too, and some plastic cleaning spray, and the interior looks, and smells, better than new...



Left the car in the garage overnight, so I can apply a second layer of wax in the morning



I had previously been to Paul for a full on paint correction detail, followed by copious amounts of Swissvax love... have to say that it is now a doddle to wash the car as the water sheets off and the dirt doesn't stick too badly.

The detail took about 14 hours in total, starting off with a basic wash using Chemical Guys products, then a towel down before a complete all-over clay. Then started the long and arduous process of machine polishing, starting off with a medium fine polish and working downwards towards the finest grade available. The front of the car took over four hours alone, as we discovered that bug splat juice had chemically etched into the clearcoat, and normal polishing wasn't removing the marks. So we decided to wet sand the front bumper by hand, with Paul doing one side and me doing the other to save some time. Well, that still took almost two hours, working exceptionally carefully. However, the results after polishing were spectacular. Final finishing wax was Swissvax Best of Show, which is relatively expensive (but nowhere near the cost of Zymol), but fabulous to use (and to smell too!)

I cannot recommend Paul enough - his level of skill and dedication to the job in hand is second to none, and I believe extremely good value for the results obtained

Pics from the detail last month (not the best pics unfortunately - was using a little compact camera)

The sorry state of my car at the very start




Start of the machine polish on the left / existing swirl marks on the right


Working the side of the car




After polishing the side, before waxing


The bonnet, fully polished, before waxing

[remmib]

Sure looks clean now. And nice brakes too.

[Hoops]

That isnt the same car - you've bloody well gone and bought a brand new car you bugger!!! Seriously, that is a fantastic detail on your car - bet it cost a small fortune though?? Did you get my voicemail yesterday Tone??? Give me a tinkle on the tonkle when you have 5 mins. Steve

[willhollin]

Very nice. Black sapphire looks the bollocks!

[booforty]

Welcome back Tony, the car is looking the beanz!!!

[Hoops]

He's bought a new bloody car - dont be fooled Paulie!!!!!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

That isnt the same car - you've bloody well gone and bought a brand new car you bugger!!! Seriously, that is a fantastic detail on your car - bet it cost a small fortune though??

The initial detail on my car cost around £450 - which I think is a bit of a bargain given how much work went into it. We started at 9am, finished at a quarter to midnight.. To be fair though, Paul did me a massive favour by carrying on into the night, because normally it would have been a two day job with the wet sanding involved etc... Swirl marks on a black coloured car are notoriously hard work to remove.

If anyone wants a detail on their car, or just a bloody good clean, contact him at www.shineondetail.com Mention you're off the forum and I'm sure he'll do you a good deal. I've only had my car detailed once, so all I need to do to maintain it is to give it a good wash, glaze and top up the wax once in a while. Really easy

[chrisbin]

More great work by Paul - he does a lot of work through the Lotus site (SELOC) and I used him to prep my grey one before delivery....only trouble is that one is now going back...

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

More great work by Paul - he does a lot of work through the Lotus site (SELOC) and I used him to prep my grey one before delivery....only trouble is that one is now going back...

Going back where??? You selling it, or is it going back for service?? If it's the latter, tell them not to wash it (I stick a big A4-sized note on the windscreen to remind them!)

[dxb335d]

Your car looks beautiful mate

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Going back where??? You selling it, or is it going back for service?? If it's the latter, tell them not to wash it (I stick a big A4-sized note on the windscreen to remind them!)

Going back to its maker......!!!

(320i "issue")

Then probably get sold on to some poor sod!!!

Funnily enough I had a call yesterday to say that the 330i I'm currently driving has been sold, so could they have it back!!!!

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

Going back to its maker......!!!

(320i "issue")

Then probably get sold on to some poor sod!!!

Funnily enough I had a call yesterday to say that the 330i I'm currently driving has been sold, so could they have it back!!!!

So what's on the cards to replace it ??!

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

So what's on the cards to replace it ??!

New spec. E92 320d auto.

Due in a couple of weeks.

[booforty]

Originally Posted by chrisbin

New spec. E92 320d auto.

Due in a couple of weeks.

Chris you get through more E9x's than I have hot dinners...

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by booforty

Chris you get through more E9x's than I have hot dinners...

...not always my choice though.....

[beemerbird]

Pretty impressive Tony and alot of man hours put in eh.

Checked the website of the bloke that did yours and he will travel but at a cost, which is fair enough. I want mine doing so think it's going to be one near York........ but he's booked up for a month, which I suppose is a good thing in some ways.

Does look good Tony

[chrisbin]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Pretty impressive Tony and alot of man hours put in eh.

Checked the website of the bloke that did yours and he will travel but at a cost, which is fair enough. I want mine doing so think it's going to be one near York........ but he's booked up for a month, which I suppose is a good thing in some ways.

Does look good Tony

bb - you won't be dissapointed. Paul really does do a great job and knows his stuff. Some of his work I've seen on Astons and Maser's is superb...

[330cdsport]

That is a fantastic finish. The car now looks soooooo well.

The brakes look the dogs danglies too

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Pretty impressive Tony and alot of man hours put in eh.

Checked the website of the bloke that did yours and he will travel but at a cost, which is fair enough. I want mine doing so think it's going to be one near York........ but he's booked up for a month, which I suppose is a good thing in some ways.

Does look good Tony

You should speak to Paul anyway, as he might be able to sort something out or tie it in with other already-booked jobs up your way

[booforty]

Helen, in a New York accent tell him "Tony sent ch'ya"

Always works for me

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by booforty

Chris you get through more E9x's than I have hot dinners...

Better start training Vanessa a bit better then Paul!! (oh, and popcorn doesn't count!)

[-=TSL=-]

Nice clean car and nice brakes! Thats the first real photos I've seen of the BMW Performance brakes! Pity they dont do rear ones as well...

Just wondering, in the performance brochure they show the rear calipers are painted yellow as well. Would BMW paint/replace the rear ones to match the front?

Again, your car is hot!

TSL