I recently purchased a 2007 m5 with 28k miles on it, now 30k. Being a typical off lease car I was left with some deep scratches, car wash swirl marks, and acidic rain damage. I had my local detailer spend a day on it and was left unsatisfied and a majority of the damage still there. I came across "lord of the wheel" in the detailing section of the board and called him over to my workshop to re-detail my car. After careful inspection of my paint, he said the only way this paint would look brand new, if not better, would be a complete wet sand followed by a 7 stage paint recondition process. The process would take a few days, but I was willing to do it. Being a typical anal nut, I knew eventually the paint condition would bother me enough to sell it.
Being in the automotive service business, I have access to mechanics and a full workshop. We came up with a fun idea of doing an all out concours style detail with my car fully apart to make sure every single part was perfect. Naturally, everyone thought I was nuts but would help in the process. The entire project was an effort of 3 people with a total of 54 man hours spent. Turns out it wasn't that fun of an idea haha. I'm beyond satisfied with the results and can finally sleep well at night. A funny thing I noticed in the past few days is most people don't park next to it (I guess fearing scratching it, Imagine that in NY). Now all I have to do is find a clear film installer to make sure she stays this way.
Beautiful work! In the end, something like this is much more cost-effective than a respray, it looks just as good if not better than a respray would, and you get to keep the original paint! This is detailing at its best!
Yes, what you're doing is removing clearcoat to a level that's below the scratches/swirls, leaving a finish that's fresh and perfect. Wetsanding can be the most efficient way to get the job done if the surface is severe enough, but again you need to have the right person for the job that can gauge how much clearcoat is available for you to safely remove. There are tools high level detailers use to measure the thickness of clearcoat. In the end, the results are absolutely stunning!
excuse my honesty bro but it is for your sake and as long as you like it that what all matters. :)[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE="xxnad201xx, post: 1802255, member: 107235"]3,000 grit paper was used, I plan to keep this car for a long time and would like as much clear as he was able to keep. If we went with a 2000 it would be flat.[/QUOTE]
Exactly, wetsanding to correct the orange peel can possibly remove an unsafe amount of clearcoat. It's also a much longer and expensive process if there is enough room to safely do so. People have different opinions on orange peel - I actually don't mind the look at all. I've come to associate it with the original paint and don't discriminate. In person, a concours level car with factory orange peel still looks perfect in my books. I've seen some detailers wetsand an area without realizing they went below the orange peel level and had one section without orange peel and the rest with it....that's the last thing you want. This is where hiring the right people for the job pays off. Again, you guys did an awesome job, that color is amazing!
3,000 grit paper was used, I plan to keep this car for a long time and would like as much clear as he was able to keep. If we went with a 2000 it would be flat.
Updated with some before photos. As a new member, I cannot reply to any PMs. To answer most questions. A majority of products used are from Autoglym, detailed by John "lord of the wheel, and was detailed at Bradan Group.
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