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- - Wes_R + lsb e46 M3 [103 pics] (https://my350z.com/forum/cleaning-and-detailing/499463-wes_r-lsb-e46-m3-103-pics.html)

Wes_R + lsb e46 M3 [103 pics]

Hi everybody,

This beautiful Laguna Seca Blue M3 came to me very unexpectedly. To be honest I have not seen this color for years, what's so funny to is after working on this car I all of a sudden see 2 of them on the road. Anyway the owner contacted me and said he had an e46 he wanted me to polish, that's all the description I had of the car... an e46. I assumed it was a 328i or something because usually most M3 owners are somewhat proud to tell me they have an M3 they want me to work on.

So the owner just purchased the car took delivery and wanted to bring it to me right away to look at which was on a Friday but things didn't work out that day. He ended up coming on the Sunday though while I was working on the interior of another car. It just so happened that while I was cleaning the back seats of said car the M3 turned the corner... I had to take a double look as I couldn't believe my eyes.... what a beautiful color definitely what I was not expecting! The best e46 M3 color to me period.

Anyway thanks for bearing with my two paragraph intro if you even read it, now let's get into the write up.

Here she is. Starting off with the usual walk around.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/1.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/2.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/3.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/4.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/5.jpg

Honestly the paint was trashed.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/6.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/7.jpg

My washing routine is always to start with the wheels and engine. Reason being when washing either it is almost impossible to not end up with some sort of splatter on the paint from cleaning either. If I had a clean washed car and then had to clean the engine the splatter would end up everywhere and I would have to wash the car all over again.

Started with the wheels and had a new wheel cleaner to try out which was Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner. It is non acidic as well and the instructions say they are safe for any wheel adonized, aluminum, etc.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/8.jpg

One thing I really like about this cleaner is it's ability to pull dirt from the tires. No other wheel cleaner I have used pulls dirt off the tire like this.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n.../alexsm3/9.jpg

Cleaned the inner barrel with my EZ Brush.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/10.jpg

Rim face with a microfibre cloth.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/11.jpg

And the caliper and other small areas like the lug nuts with my Race Glaze Brush.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/12.jpg

While I was down there I cleaned the exhaust as well with 0000 steel wool and Chemical Guys Grime Reaper.

In a backwards order.

After shot.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/13.jpg

And how they looked before.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/14.jpg

Cleaned up the engine with Optimum Power Clean cut 50/50 with water, dressed it with Meguairs Hyper Dressing cut 25/75 with water, and blew dry the engine with my Metro Vac n Blo. Then let the engine run for about 10 min.

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/15.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/16.jpg

On to the washing stage I prefoamed the car with Hi Temp Prep Wash which is meant to strip off any silicones on the paint.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/17.jpg

Let it dwell for a little bit.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/18.jpg

Then washed the car using the 2 bucket method and a Natural Sea Sponge.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/19.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/20.jpg

Rinsing out the sponge after every panel or half a panel, and saving the lower section of the car for last.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/21.jpg

Dried the car with 2 waffle weave towels.

Took it in to clay, and Ricarddo Yellow Clay was used. Meguairs Last Touch cut 15/85 water was my lube.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/22.jpg

The paint was filthy.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/23.jpg

After claying took measurements of the paint and found a few spots repainted and blended in.

The hood was definitely repainted.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/24.jpg

OEM
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/25.jpg

Here is an example of blending in and just painting a section.

The front of the roof.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/26.jpg

The back of the roof.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/27.jpg

In scenarios like this I have to be careful because I don't want to thin out the clear coat to much where they blended in the paint.

OEM
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/28.jpg

Repaint
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/29.jpg

OEM
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/30.jpg

After measuring the paint and taking note of where to be careful I masked up the trim.

The emblems etc had been repainted satin black. Not sure if it was the front grill or sides but I definitely knew the back M3 emblem was repainted so I used a sensitive tape.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/34.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/31.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/32.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/33.jpg

Masked up.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/35.jpg

Now onto the polishing. I have to say that this paint is fairly soft and in general I find solid colors to generally be soft so that would explain a bit of why it was so trashed. That coupled with bad washing technique and a beautiful color is easily mistreated.

I tried to not be so aggressive but had no choice but to bring out the big guns. It took multiple hits of M105 and in some areas Power Gloss(pos100) the Euro version with my orange Lake Counrty 5inch pad from Detailers Domain that they used to stock.

As usual they Zenith Point Technique was used so that I could finish down the compounds as nicely as possible.

I also have to mention that there were quite a few deeper scratches and all in all on a scale of 1 to 10, the car came to me as a 1 and after I was done with it I would say it was about a 9. I could have gotten it to a 9.5 maybe even a 9.8 if it wasn't for the deeper stuff.

The before and afters.

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/36.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/37.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/38.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/39.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/40.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/41.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/42.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/43.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/44.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/45.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/46.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/47.jpg

And a 50/50 shot. Look at the clarity lost by the swirls and how dull it makes the paint look.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/48.jpg

After the compounding things can get fairly dusty and I prefer to wash the car because M105 is a non diminishing abrasive and I would like to have a completely clean surface to jewel.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/50.jpg

Rinsing.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/51.jpg

Foamed the car with Prep Wash to clean off the polishing lubricants.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/52.jpg

And 2 bucket method washed the car.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/53.jpg

Dried off the car. And took it into jewel the paint.

I have to say I am so happy that nowadays compounds can finish so well at times and that I can go straight in to jeweling with out a middle step. On the other hand had I used a wool pad I think I would definitely needed that middle step.

Anyway here is a shot of me jeweling the paint with PO85rd and a 5.5 inch white Lake Country Pad.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/49.jpg

And the results of my work.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/54.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/55.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/56.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/57.jpg

After the jeweling I unmasked the car.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/58.jpg

Wiped up some polish build up.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/59.jpg

Then cleaned off the polishing oils from the paint with ipa(rubbing alcohol) cut 50/50 with water and a Pak Shak microfibre cloth.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...alexsm3/60.jpg

Nice detailed write-up... very nice!

The patience some of you have to do that is just amazing. Looks almost like a brand new car again.

amazing job.. lots of time and effort!!
how much do u charge? lol

great job

the owner is one lucky sob

wow, your work brought out a lurker.

That is simply amazing. Its almost a shame that you drive it once and it won't be as clean.

this is my favorite M3 color. nice job with the detail!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0jiggy0 (Post 8639593)

The patience some of you have to do that is just amazing. Looks almost like a brand new car again.

:werd:

that is amazing, I wish you lived near me I'd pay you to do mine :)!

Quote:

Originally Posted by verdict. (Post 8639579)

Nice detailed write-up... very nice!

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0jiggy0 (Post 8639593)

The patience some of you have to do that is just amazing. Looks almost like a brand new car again.

That's why we are here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaaf (Post 8639620)

amazing job.. lots of time and effort!!
how much do u charge? lol

$100000000000000.... cash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by singh (Post 8639722)

great job

the owner is one lucky sob

lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brizzle (Post 8639758)

wow, your work brought out a lurker.

That is simply amazing. Its almost a shame that you drive it once and it won't be as clean.

Not in this situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomerZ33 (Post 8640208)

this is my favorite M3 color. nice job with the detail!

Quote:

Originally Posted by superchargedg (Post 8644727)

Great job!

Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDHRZ (Post 8644742)

:werd:

:thumbup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkmesa350z (Post 8644747)

great work

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssarow (Post 8655093)

that is amazing, I wish you lived near me I'd pay you to do mine :)!

Wish you lived closer so I could work on your car :).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes_R (Post 8667163)

$100000000000000.... cash

lol, baller. Hell of a job you did on that M3. Looks exceptional! Keep up the good work! :thumbup:

Nice job man. Love that m3 but I have to say those things are really starting to show their age.

great job from a fellow detailer. i noticed you were cutting with power gloss and 105. did you follow up with a second step? if i missed it, sorry.