E92 Attention to Detail - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

gatoman39 · 03-29-2012, 09:14 AM

Just bot a lightly used 2011 E92 335i M-Sport about 2 weeks ago with about 9k miles. Just got around to returning it to showroom condition. As expected the car had a lot of swirls and micromarring from improper washing. Thank you to everyone that has helped me in the buying process.

Disclaimer, do not attempt unless you have experience and knowledge about proper safety equipment and procedures.
Tough to get wet look on lighter color cars, I think it turned out pretty well... The car has a lot of nooks and crannies that make some of the panels very tricky to work on. PM me if you want specifics about any of the procedures used below. Enjoy the pics!

1. Wash car.
2. Dry using water magnet towel, blot dry, don't rub.
3. Blow seams dry using compressed air, or a metro vac.
4. Wipe car down with Quick Detailer and a MF towel.
5. Mild Clay and use QD as lube.
6. Wipe car down with Quick Detailer and a MF towel. (or wash again)
7. Prep Car. Tape down all rubber and plastic, emblems, using 3M automotive masking tape.
8. I had a lot of swirls in the paint. I used Megs 105 and a Blue Cyan pad with Flex XC 3401 and Meguiars Microfiber correction compound, a 3 inch cutting disc and a Porter cable 7424
9. Polishing with a Lake Country White foam pad and Mezerna Super Nano Finish.
9a. Wipe car down with 50/50 IPA
10. Wax, I appplied Menzerna Powerlock with a gold foam pad. one thin layer, wipe off, then repeat. (What's the best wax? The one you're using properly).
11. Allow to cure overnight.
12. Use 303 on all rubber seams and trim pieces using Detailing Sticks.
13. Remove tape.
14. Use QD or Ultima waterless wash to go over any spots you missed or tape residue and product dust left behind.
15. Exhaust tips were cleaned using Optima Power clean and Mother all metal polish.

Dark_Knight_335 · 03-29-2012, 09:52 AM

Wow, that is fantastic work man, good job!

gunnerxq · 03-29-2012, 10:05 AM

That's is a really good job restoring it. I just don't understand how the previous owner managed to get that many swirl marks. What did he was it with, a newspaper?

gary88 · 03-29-2012, 10:09 AM

Looks good

gatoman39 · 03-29-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Wow, that is fantastic work man, good job!

Thank you. It's a labor of love!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

That's is a really good job restoring it. I just don't understand how the previous owner managed to get that many swirl marks. What did he was it with, a newspaper?

all it takes is 1 wash though an automated car wash and there you go!

JRJ1970 · 03-29-2012, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

That's is a really good job restoring it. I just don't understand how the previous owner managed to get that many swirl marks. What did he was it with, a newspaper?

Bet the previous owner took it to Washtub and only when it was really dirty.

gunnerxq · 03-29-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatoman39

Thank you. It's a labor of love!

all it takes is 1 wash though an automated car wash and there you go!

Yea I went through an automatic car was this winter and now I'm starting to see swirl marks. I'm gonna have to detail it next weekend.

Rookie83 · 03-29-2012, 10:39 AM

Looks great, wish i had the skill and the time to do this. Its a shame though that those clean wheels will look like crap in 3-5 days

ndog14 · 03-29-2012, 10:48 AM

I'll give you $5 and a case of beer if you do my car.

gunnerxq · 03-29-2012, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie83

Looks great, wish i had the skill and the time to do this. Its a shame though that those clean wheels will look like crap in 3-5 days

Not unless you get ceramic brake pads.

CJ421 · 03-29-2012, 10:52 AM

Really excellent job. I did a similar amount of work to my car, though the swirls weren't nearly as bad as yours:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667117

Meguiar's M105 is awesome stuff.

mkPOTO · 03-29-2012, 10:55 AM

wow great job!

SilverII · 03-29-2012, 12:01 PM

wow...

dmist199 · 03-29-2012, 12:03 PM

wow, the car looks great.

gatoman39 · 03-29-2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie83

Looks great, wish i had the skill and the time to do this. Its a shame though that those clean wheels will look like crap in 3-5 days

I sprayed Meguiars Brake Dust Barrier on the wheels, so they are sealed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndog14

I'll give you $5 and a case of beer if you do my car.

I'd do it for free if I had the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ421

Really excellent job. I did a similar amount of work to my car, though the swirls weren't nearly as bad as yours:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667117
Meguiar's M105 is awesome stuff.

Nice work. Love 105, it's a staple in the arsenal

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkPOTO

wow great job!

Thank you for the support.

Rookie83 · 03-29-2012, 01:15 PM

Oh nice, i will have to look into that because mine are horrible!

AndyR83 · 03-29-2012, 03:11 PM

This is amazing. I suck at this sort of thing, so I am extremely impressed! Looks better than new!

gatoman39 · 03-29-2012, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie83

Oh nice, i will have to look into that because mine are horrible!

It's best to remove the wheel and get it so clean you can eat off it. Then seal it with something permanent like OptiCoat 2.0 and then use a brake dust repellant like Meguiars Brake Dust Barrier or Armor All Wheel Protectant. I did that here:

Before:

AFTER

AndyR83 · 03-29-2012, 04:39 PM

wow... I don't think my wheels have ever been that clean on any car I have ever owned.

CarFan · 03-29-2012, 04:45 PM

Really impressive. I wonder if you had someone videotape you while you do this if you could sell them. The knowledge you demonstrate in ensuring that the car is cleaned and not harmed is very valuable.

33beto · 03-29-2012, 04:48 PM

Incredible. Nice work amigo. car looks better than new.

aarwilli · 03-29-2012, 05:24 PM

Awesome results! Not to miss the forest for the trees or anything but I'm very jealous of the condition of those tips!

03-29-2012, 09:14 AM	#1
gatoman39 Major Drives: 2011 E92 335 M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: LA Posts: 1,340 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E92 335i M Sport [0.50] 2011 535i Sport [0.00]	E92 Attention to Detail Just bot a lightly used 2011 E92 335i M-Sport about 2 weeks ago with about 9k miles. Just got around to returning it to showroom condition. As expected the car had a lot of swirls and micromarring from improper washing. Thank you to everyone that has helped me in the buying process. Disclaimer, do not attempt unless you have experience and knowledge about proper safety equipment and procedures. Tough to get wet look on lighter color cars, I think it turned out pretty well... The car has a lot of nooks and crannies that make some of the panels very tricky to work on. PM me if you want specifics about any of the procedures used below. Enjoy the pics! 1. Wash car. 2. Dry using water magnet towel, blot dry, don't rub. 3. Blow seams dry using compressed air, or a metro vac. 4. Wipe car down with Quick Detailer and a MF towel. 5. Mild Clay and use QD as lube. 6. Wipe car down with Quick Detailer and a MF towel. (or wash again) 7. Prep Car. Tape down all rubber and plastic, emblems, using 3M automotive masking tape. 8. I had a lot of swirls in the paint. I used Megs 105 and a Blue Cyan pad with Flex XC 3401 and Meguiars Microfiber correction compound, a 3 inch cutting disc and a Porter cable 7424 9. Polishing with a Lake Country White foam pad and Mezerna Super Nano Finish. 9a. Wipe car down with 50/50 IPA 10. Wax, I appplied Menzerna Powerlock with a gold foam pad. one thin layer, wipe off, then repeat. (What's the best wax? The one you're using properly). 11. Allow to cure overnight. 12. Use 303 on all rubber seams and trim pieces using Detailing Sticks. 13. Remove tape. 14. Use QD or Ultima waterless wash to go over any spots you missed or tape residue and product dust left behind. 15. Exhaust tips were cleaned using Optima Power clean and Mother all metal polish. __________________ Last edited by gatoman39; 03-29-2012 at 04:24 PM.
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03-29-2012, 10:05 AM	#3
gunnerxq Captain Drives: e90 "325i" Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Staten Island and Albany Posts: 940 iTrader: (0)	That's is a really good job restoring it. I just don't understand how the previous owner managed to get that many swirl marks. What did he was it with, a newspaper? __________________ Bilstein shocks, eibach pro-kit springs, Remus exhaust, stage 3 intake manifold,Stage 2 AA tune, BMW Short shift kit.

03-29-2012, 10:09 AM	#4
gary88 Ikea enthusiast Drives: '07 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,724 iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [3.83]	Looks good __________________ garyhebdingjr.com \| flickr

03-29-2012, 10:52 AM	#11
CJ421 Colonel Drives: 2011 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA Posts: 2,906 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i [4.63]	Really excellent job. I did a similar amount of work to my car, though the swirls weren't nearly as bad as yours: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=667117 Meguiar's M105 is awesome stuff. __________________ 2011 BMW 335i - 6MT, M Sport, Le Mans blue, Logic7

03-29-2012, 10:55 AM	#12
mkPOTO Mr. Nice Says Hello Drives: 1999 528I Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 13,509 iTrader: (19) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [2.66] 1999 BMW E39 528i [2.20] 2007 BMW E92 335I [3.00]	wow great job! __________________ BMW E92 M3 EVOLVE Stage II \| EVOLVE X-Pipe \| EVOLVE E-Tronic Exhaust Macht Schnell Stage II intake \| KW V3 \| Volk TE37SL \| BMW Performance Spoiler

03-29-2012, 09:52 AM	#2
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ Posts: 5,548 iTrader: (17)	Wow, that is fantastic work man, good job!

03-29-2012, 10:39 AM	#8
Rookie83 First Lieutenant Drives: 2009 335i 6mt cpe Join Date: May 2011 Location: DFW Posts: 362 iTrader: (1)	Looks great, wish i had the skill and the time to do this. Its a shame though that those clean wheels will look like crap in 3-5 days

03-29-2012, 10:48 AM	#9
ndog14 Banned Drives: E90 328xi 6MT Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,746 iTrader: (0)	I'll give you $5 and a case of beer if you do my car.

03-29-2012, 12:01 PM	#13
SilverII Colonel Drives: '11 335IS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW Posts: 2,319 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335IS [4.83]	wow...

03-29-2012, 12:03 PM	#14
dmist199 Private First Class Drives: 335 xi LCI Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 179 iTrader: (0)	wow, the car looks great.

03-29-2012, 01:15 PM	#16
Rookie83 First Lieutenant Drives: 2009 335i 6mt cpe Join Date: May 2011 Location: DFW Posts: 362 iTrader: (1)	Oh nice, i will have to look into that because mine are horrible!

03-29-2012, 03:11 PM	#17
AndyR83 Lieutenant Drives: E92 335i FBO Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: PA Posts: 579 iTrader: (5)	This is amazing. I suck at this sort of thing, so I am extremely impressed! Looks better than new! __________________ Do NOT do business with driftbrick744 aka Ian Haan!!!

03-29-2012, 04:39 PM	#19
AndyR83 Lieutenant Drives: E92 335i FBO Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: PA Posts: 579 iTrader: (5)	wow... I don't think my wheels have ever been that clean on any car I have ever owned. __________________ Do NOT do business with driftbrick744 aka Ian Haan!!!

03-29-2012, 04:45 PM	#20
CarFan Private First Class Drives: 2011 X5 3.5 Premium Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: United States Posts: 126 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Porsche Cayman S [5.00] 2011 BMW X5 Premium [0.00] 2012 Hyundai Genesi ... [0.00]	Really impressive. I wonder if you had someone videotape you while you do this if you could sell them. The knowledge you demonstrate in ensuring that the car is cleaned and not harmed is very valuable.

03-29-2012, 04:48 PM	#21
33beto Second Lieutenant Drives: R.I.P. 08 E90 328i/GM 6L45E Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 264 iTrader: (0)	Incredible. Nice work amigo. car looks better than new. __________________ R.I.P 10/14/12

03-29-2012, 05:24 PM	#22
aarwilli Second Lieutenant Drives: 08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 211 iTrader: (1)	Awesome results! Not to miss the forest for the trees or anything but I'm very jealous of the condition of those tips!

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