[SuperBmw]

I was wondering how long does compounding and polishing an e90/e92 take most of you people?

Just the compounding, polishing stages not the prep or any lsp additions.

[SHEEDI]

2 and half hours

[Former USMC]

Originally Posted by SuperBmw

I was wondering how long does compounding and polishing an e90/e92 take most of you people?

Just the compounding, polishing stages not the prep or any lsp additions.

Super BMW,

30 minutes!

First of all, I do not compound. Second, I use Griot's Garage products - they work as advertised (no special interest in the company). Third, after a wash and clay, I may use their Machine Polish 3 or 4 depending on swirl/towel damage. And yes, I use their random orbital machine. Fourth and final, I follow up with their Premium Carnauba Wax.

Why 30 minutes? I polish/wax my car in stages. One week, I may do the hood. Second week, the top. Third week, the trunk. And so on.

I have the Crimson Red color 335is and personally, I can barely tell the differences between a freshly polished/waxed hood and the rest of the car. Therefore, I do the car in stages. I am not the one to spend hours and hours detailing my car.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Semper Fi

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

After wash and clay, it takes me about 1.5-2 hours to do 2step, with megs M105 and M205. Then Seal it with Opticoat

[P1]

It can easily take 2.5 hours or more per step. That is 2.5 hours for compounding, then 2.5 more hours for using a finishing polish.

[psnt1ol]

Originally Posted by P1et

It can easily take 2.5 hours or more per step. That is 2.5 hours for compounding, then 2.5 more hours for using a finishing polish.

I am in agreement.

You could divide most cars into 45-50 sections. If you only spend 3 minutes on each for compounding, that's 135-150 minutes. This does not include the time it takes to move from panel to panel or for any meaningful inspection of your work with a sun gun.

To do a full 2 step in less than 3 hours seems awfully quick....but then maybe they are more skill than me. In which case, I am open to learn.

[Hokie_BMW]

Took me 10 hours to do a 2 step correction detail/polish on an Audi s6 this past weekend. I'd say I spent a solid 4.5-5.5 hours on correction/polishing. I like to take my time though and make sure it's done right.

[samulis]

Usually 6 hours with a few breaks for a 2 step correction.

[OmidHariri]

I washed, clay, polish, and waxed. Took me 4 hours. All by hand.

[Silver99GSX]

Originally Posted by Hokie_BMW

Took me 10 hours to do a 2 step correction detail/polish on an Audi s6 this past weekend. I'd say I spent a solid 4.5-5.5 hours on correction/polishing. I like to take my time though and make sure it's done right.

+1

I'd say depending on the color of your exterior it can definitely take up to 10 hours, maybe even more. On dark color's when I'm buffing a car I do a 3-4 step. But that does depend on how deep the scratches are. I also clay bar all my cars before a buff. It helps keep your pad's nice and clean by taking off anything from tar from the roads to any other debris it has on the exterior. Black car's I always do a 3-4 step on. Step one (once again depending on how scratched the car is) I would start with a wool pad with a heaver compound, then foam pad with a lite compound, then start the polishing stages (which I do a 2 step for polishing as well, but only with foam polishing pads). Then I wash the car again then apply Wax. Some people Wax the car before they wash them, but I do it after I wash the car. So yeah I'd say 10+ hours being a semi-professional detailer/Buffer. Silver and white cars you might be able to get away with a 2 step (once again depending on how badly scratched the car is). I'd say on a dark colored car I've spent over 15 hours on my buddies black Saab (wish I had some before and after pics of it) I had a lot of wet sanding to do on his car and did a 4 step on it as well as the clay bar. But that's just me Lol


Justin

[mbanks21]

Yeah this is a loaded question. Could take anywhere from 3-8 hours I'd say depending on color and how many passes you have to do on each section. I did a test section on a flat white Corrola (no clear coat from the factory) and the paint is very soft so it didn't take much time to correct. If you have a black German car it could take 6-8 hours or more

[Silver99GSX]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

Yeah this is a loaded question. Could take anywhere from 3-8 hours I'd say depending on color and how many passes you have to do on each section. I did a test section on a flat white Corrola (no clear coat from the factory) and the paint is very soft so it didn't take much time to correct. If you have a black German car it could take 6-8 hours or more

+1

[LaRiv]

3 hrs for me. Orbital buffer from porter cable. McGuires polish compount with a lite cutting pad. Klasse polish with a polishing pad. Wipe all off by hand.
There great advice on autogeek.net also.

[Detailed Image]

We normally average around 5 hours for compounding and 3-4hrs for polishing in a 2-stage process. Many times it can take us 6-7hrs for compounding when we're trying to achieve a bit more correction and also if the paint we're working with is very hard. On the other hand, sometimes the times are turned around when working with finicky paint that can quickly be compounded, but takes some finesse to finish down well. As others have said, it can vary both on the car and person.

The main thing to remember is to not waste time doing something that's not getting you results. Whether it's polishing too quickly and not getting the correction you should be getting, or polishing too long and getting the same correction. Hope that helps.

Ivan @ DI

[Raja Ventureshield]

depending on the size and condition of the car : 4 - 7 hours.
so i am not sure how some are getting done so fast, maybe i need a youtube video of how it's done so fast. Always willing to learn a new trick.

[spsponger2]

...but using GG's 6" and 3" DA polishers, and Meguiar's M105(MF cutting pad)/M205(LC white pad) it took me about 16 total hours to get my black 335 back into OK shape (wash, clay, M105, M205, IPA, sealant). Some sections took multiple M105 applications, and even now I'm not 100% thrilled with it. The time with the M105 ate up probably 80% of the process, the rest was a breeze. I bought the car used (CPO), and needless to say next time if I buy a CPO again I'm going to go over every inch of the paint before I commit as the defects drive me nuts.

Your milage will vary dramatically depending on the color, condition, and your level of OCD.

[M3 Esq]

Took me about 4 hours using 105/205 on my CPO 335i with a porter cable polisher and orange/white pads.

[Dkcarspa]

All depends on the what you are looking to do and remember darker cars take longer than light colors cars. also depends level correction you want.

[Rival]

lots of things will go into the total time. Are you talking a freshly washed/clayed car? or one that is dirty?

How much correction is needed? hard or soft paint? how anal retentive is the owner?

Do you have enough pads to do the whole car without cleaning/washing them out?

5-12hrs.