Black Z3 Detail and reviews...56k warned

[IanBMW]

Ok this will prolly be edited a few times over the next couple of weeks as I am sure to remember bits and pieces here and there. I had bought this car a couple of months ago and have had a blast. The only thing that really bothered me was the paint. It wasn't fading, but had bad swirls and lacked a deep wet gloss. After trying Megs Gold Class (dissapointment, lasted 4 weeks at best), Megs Hi Tech Yellow wax (best off the shelf wax, but short life at 4 weeks max), and Megs Tech Wax (didn't last at all, but to be fair I don't think it had a chance to properly bond). I was fed up I bought some items:
PC 7424/ with pad kit
Microfiber Clothes
SSR 2.5
SSR 1
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant
Pinnacle Souvern

First my car looked like this:


Swirls bad, and a horrid recent experience in acid rain!!!!!

So I went to AutoZone to pick up a awesome clay bar kit for $9.99 called Clay Magic. You can see in this next pic the before and after of the clay bar. It was simply amazing, and this is saying alot coming from the crap I previously used called Meguires Clay bar kit. It had more clay, and seemed to work a hell of alot better and at half the price to boot.


Clay did a pretty nice job, although in these pics its hard to tell, but there is still swirls.

Wait there they are :chair:

UPS delivered my goods finally near the evening, which meant I wasn't going to get to use my new toys till the next day


First thing I do is go over the car with the leftover detailing spray from Clay magic and a MicroFiber to clean the car of dust. The I busted out a orange pad (light cutting ability) and SSR2.5 and went to work. I started off with a spray on the pad to wet it followed with lots of SSR2.5 speed 1 to cover the surface and then immediatly bumping it up to speed 5 to get this b*tch taken care of, then back off to speed 1 and off the machine. Followed with buffing off access with microfiber.


When I reach the fender I run into a mistake, I accidently scrolled the wrong way and went to speed 6 lifting off and did this!

Oh man was I ROYALLY PISSED OFF! The force of the quick spool up pulled ever bit of SSR2.5 out of pad and ALL over the car. It took a solid 15minutes just to clean the area. Not to mention what was a pleasant smell from the SSR2.5 (bubble gum) went up my nose and made me sick to my stomach.
Word to the wise, be careful with speed and make sure you turn off the machine and it is stopped before lifting the pad.

BTW Portal Cable what the hell where you thinking with the location of your buttons!!! :chair:

My review of the SSR2.5 is it removes light swirls (well not remove but makes less noticeable), smells kinda nice (little strong), cheap, but chalks up quite a bit. The chalking up wasn't really a bit surprise and can prolly be said with all compound/polishes of this sort.

I then followed up the car rather quickly (not a good idea), with SSR1. It took quite a bit of the haze out of the car, but I am pretty sure another go would yeild better results, again my fault. It smells better then the SSR2.5 (not strong), and doesn't chalk hardly at all.

I followed the car up with the Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant and garaged the car for a solid day. These are some pics in the garage as outside it was raining.

Note in this pic I am using a light that should and does usually show MAD swirls, but strangly they are gone .


Small crop off bigger picture, just to show the reflection.

Overall I am very pleased with the sealant. While not being quite as deep as a carnuba, it does have some qualities that are very nice. Oh and unlike carnuba oddly I have gotten a xxxx load of comments on how water beads up on my car.

I want to take better pictures and add another layer of sealant, but its been raining nonstop sadly. :boat: Regardless Enjoy!

[mtechnik]

very nice work! will you still add a ""wax"' to seal the deal?

[IanBMW]

Yes, but it won't stop raining.

[Dewey540i]

Looks good!!!! Nice work!

[mtechnik]

if Dewey says so , then it's so

[CMT]

Great writeup! I am a big fan of the Poorboy's SSR line as well, and there is nothing like Souveran as the final topper for a black car.

[IanBMW]

Originally Posted by CMT

Great writeup! I am a big fan of the Poorboy's SSR line as well, and there is nothing like Souveran as the final topper for a black car.

So I hear, I think I will do it tommorrow before work.

[KC_MPWR]

nice job! i also use poorboys ssr

[IanBMW]

So the Pinnacle Souveran Wax did a fantastic job on my car. I used the liquid version, because it was cheaper mainly. When I run out I will buy the paste version of it. I could honestly see the difference, between Pinnacle Souveran and just Wolfgang Deep Gloss sealant. My friend Matt who helped me buff it off (btw no dusting and very easy to remove) freaked out over how wett it looked. I had this guy yesterday stare at my hood for like a solid 2 minutes at the stop sign. What else can I say, it's time for the butter baby!











Ian

[CMT]

I love Souveran. I use the paste, while it does a great job of making my blue car look wet it's nothing like when it's applied to a clean, polished black car like yours. The car looks great man.

[mtechnik]

amzing pics with the background faded

[IanBMW]

CMT you punk, like your car isn't polished to a deep blue mirror 3 times a week. I've viewed your threads for as long as I can remember in awe of your work. So thanks, your compliments are very pleasing to hear.

[rpwsrw]

what was your total cost for all your materials, excluding the Portor Cable.

[CMT]