I am a true car enthusiast, and it's great fun detailing, and looking at other people's details on exotics. But something that showcases true paint correction and attention to detail really stands out among the other exotics in my eyes.

Here's a recent example of a Black 545i I worked on. I spent 2.5 days and about 22 hours on the car to restore the paint to 90-95% correction.

Enjoy:

When the car first arrived:





(it was more of a brown.. then a black.. )



Tree sap? Check. Moderate to heavy swirls+RIDS? Check. Water-spot etching? Check.







First up, were the wheels. Per usual E46/E60 wheels, they were a matte grey, than the metallic silver they're supposed to be.





Rears were in bad shape too:



So I proceeded to rinse, spray P21S wheel gel, and agitate with various brushes.





The tires got eimann fabrik tire cleaner, and the wheel wells got eimann fabrik hi-inensity cleaner.

After the initial scrubbin':





That's more like it!:



The next order of business was the engine bay. It was moderately dirty, but not too bad.





Was pressure rinsed from a safe distance and then sprayed with Eimann Fabrik HIC and agitated with various brushes. Then dressed with PB Trim Restorer.





Once that was complete, I foamed, and washed the car with CG CWC. Then pulled it in for claying. I used Riccardo Yellow for the job. Contamination was relatively light for how dirty the car was.. here's a pic after half the hood:



Swirls before:





Then the polishing came! Using Nikku's instructions, I proceeded with two polishes to start off with. 3M UK Fast Cut Plus, paired with a 3M UK Green Compounding pad and Gloss-It EVP worked for about 5-7 minutes at 1000-1200-1700-1200. Then followed that up with Menzerna PowerFinish on a 3M UK Yellow pad worked at 1000-1200-1500-1200-1000

Here's the results in the sun:





Under halogens:



What I found out once I started working the rest of the hood (I usually work 1/2 a hood at a time) that I was going too fast for the polishing sequence. So on all the verticle panels, and the hood/trunk I went with 3M FC+ and PFW+EVP at 1800rpm, then back down the FC+ and 3M UK Green then PowerFinish/Yellow.

Here's the hood after (a few deep RIDS remained: about 7 scratches that went the length of the hood that I later confirmed with the owner were from cat claws )


(one seen here)





Fender done/ door not:



Mirror before:



After:



Me working the A-pillar:



Trunk before:



And after:



Trunk done, rear quarter not:

 

Rear quarter panel:



After:



Top door frame before:



After:



Rear door done, drivers door not:



Rear door complete:



I then pulled it outside to get some pre-lsp sun shots before rinsing the car off all polishing dust.







After 3 passes with wool, two with green compounding pad, and one with powerfinish, these swirls on the trunk STILL wouln't come out.. with only 120 mircons of clear on the trunk, I didn't feel safe wetsanding the area.





Close-up:



The reason I am showing so many sun-shots pre-LSP is because of LSP choice. I wanted to go with Bilt-Hamber Auto Balm because of it's amazing durability, and the look it gives on black. Last time I used this, I was accused of using it for filling on some forums--well I'm showing you there's little to nothing for BHAB to fill, so I'm using it for it's looks and durability

I then moved on to the interior. It wasn't in bad shape.. a vacuum/carpet cleaning, dash wipe down and wood polished, and cleaning/conditioning of the leather.









Trunk area cleaned up:



Interior afters:











Like I stated previously, LSP of choice was Bilt-Hamber Autobalm. Final afters:























Thanks for looking!

As always, C/C welcome!

Aaron

 

Damn! I'm always amazed at how well a good detailer can make or break a car. Well done Aaron

 

Aaron, car looks great!!! fillers or not, whats safe is safe!! hmmm...blow through the clear into the paint, or fill = tough call, I think you made the right one (assuming BH fills, i dont know)

I have a 07 BMW 335 I just gave an estimate on...lets just say its between the audi I did and the 5 series I did a few months ago! 2 days minimum! looks to be in the same condition as this one, but paint is in a little better condition, with a bunch of holograms!

 

Great job!!!

 

Aaron you're a one-man-machine bro. Great work! How's the S doing?

 

Thanks!

Thanks! As in the before-lsp-pics there wasn't much to fill.. so I didn't use it for it's filling properties, but it IS known to fill.

Thanks!

Hey, Marc! Thanks! Eh S is ok. it's a bittersweet love, that car.

 

Aaron...beautiful work indeed! That car was in bad shape, and I know how challenging the BMW clear can be. Way to put in the time to bring that car back to life. Thanks for sharing.