Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

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lawrence
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Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by lawrence »

I last detailed this car in Jan http://www.vwclub.co.za/forum/viewtopic ... 0&t=193298 and it had subsequently returned to the panel beaters after some drunk driver crashed into it :cry:

I needed to clean up the typical mess most body shops tend to leave behind (sanding marks, buffer trails, swirls, fillers, wax in cracks etc :mad: ) from the right hand side of the car, and then give the rest of it a really light polish to ensure everything looked the same.

I detailed the car shortly after the owner had taken a trip to the see the snow in KZN in the beginning of August, and so things were dirty :lol:

The first order of business was to get the engine bay looking a bit better. Here are some pictures of what it looked like before.

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Equipment - Karcher K7, Mothers Fenderwell Brush, Daytona Large + Small, Autofinesse Hogs Hair Brushes, MF towels, Electric Blower
Clean - Carchem Citrus APC @ 1:5 though a foaming spray nozzle left to dwell, agitated, pressure rinsed, blown dry
Dress - Autofinesse Dressel applied and left to dwell overnight, final wipe down the following day

And after

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Fender wells
Equipment - Karcher K7, Daytona Large + Small
Clean - Pressure rinsed, Carchem Citrus APC @ 1:5 though a foaming spray nozzle left to dwell, agitated, pressure rinsed
Dress - Autofinesse Dressel

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Tyres
Equipment - Karcher K7, Mothers Tire Brush, Foam Tire Applicator, MF towel
Clean - Pressure rinsed, Carchem Citrus APC @ 1:5 though a foaming spray nozzle left to dwell, agitated, pressure rinsed
Dress - 2 Coats of Carchem Tyre and Trim Gel, 12 hours apart

After cleaning but before dressing

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After dressing

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Wheels
Equipment - Karcher K7, Wheel Woolies, Autofinesse Hogs Hair Brushes, Lambswool Wash mitt, MF towels, Q-tips, Electric Blower
Clean - Pressure rinsed, Valet Pro Billberry @ 1:6 though a foaming spray nozzle left to dwell, agitated, pressure rinsed
Tar Removal - Valet Pro Citrus Tar and Glue Remover
Iron Removal - Carchem Revolt applied liberally, allowed to dwell, agitated, pressure rinsed
Protection - Pressure rinse, spray Gyeon Wetcoat, pressure rinse, blow dry

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Wash
Equipment - Lambswool Wash Mitts, Karcher K7, Foam cannon, 2 Buckets each with grit guards, WW Drying Towels, Electric Blower

Condition on arrival

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Foam - pressure rinse, Valet Pro ANSF via foam cannon, left to dwell, pressure rinsed

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TFR - Valet Pro Citrus Prewash @ 1:8 via a pump sprayer, left to dwell pressure rinsed
Wash - Carchem Luxury Shampoo, pressure rinse
Dry - Flood rinse, ONR

Decontamination
Equipment - MF towels, wash mitt, Karcher K7
Tar Removal - Valet Pro Citrus Tar and Glue Remover
Iron Removal - Carchem Revolt applied liberally, allowed to dwell, agitated, pressure rinsed
Remaining contaminants - Shield Heavy Duty Clay

Paint
Equipment - Flex 3401, LC BP system, 5" / 6.5" Orange/White/Black Hybrid Pads, CEM-DT156 PTG, Tape, MF towels
Correction - Menzerna SF4000, Menzerna PF2300, Menzerna FG400
Protection - Collinite 915

Exhaust Tips
Equipment - MF Towels, dedicated Daytona Jnr wheel brush, Mothers Powerball mini, Drill
Clean - Carchem Citrus APC @1:5, left to dwell, agitated, rinsed
Polish - Meguiars NXT All Metal Polish

Before

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After (excuse the dust :oops: )

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Exterior plastics
Equipment - Foam applicators, MF towels, Q-tips
Clean - Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner
Protect - Carchem Tire and Trim Dressing

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Door and window rubbers
Equipment - Foam applicators, MF towels, Q-tips
Clean - Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and rubber cleaner
Protect - Optimum Optiseal

Before

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After

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Glass
Clean - Autoglym Fast Glass, MF towels

Badges & Emblems
Equipment - Q-tips, MF towels
Clean/polish/protect - Autofinesse Tripple

Interior Plastics
Equipment- Foam applicators, MF towels, Q-tips, Various brushes
Clean - Carchem APC @ 1:20
Protect - Optimum Optiseal

Interior Carpets
Equipment- Brushes, Flex VL35C Vacuum, MF towels,
Clean - Mothers Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner,

Leather Surfaces
Equipment- Foam applicators, Flex VL35C Vacuum, MF towels, Brushes
Clean - Carchem APC @ 1:20, various brushes, MF towels
Protect - Collinite 855

And some pictures of the completed car.

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And my first attempt at a 'zoom blur' shot :oops:

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Total time spent = 30 Hours

As always thanks for looking, and any question or comments are welcome.

:hi:
Wideopn-ZN
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by Wideopn-ZN »

Thanks again Lawrence :oops: looking at the before pics I am embarrassed she was so filthy when I dropped her off :crazy:

Folks, to put it in perspective, that car has 140000km on the clock and I am proud to drive her the way she looks. Looking after a car is a bit of hard work but boy its worth it in the long run.

So looking forward to bringing the 320d in next month. Can't wait to see what she'll look like after you've worked your magic :wink:
Rsi huntered
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by Rsi huntered »

Wideopn-ZN wrote:Thanks again Lawrence :oops: looking at the before pics I am embarrassed she was so filthy when I dropped her off :crazy:

Folks, to put it in perspective, that car has 140000km on the clock and I am proud to drive her the way she looks. Looking after a car is a bit of hard work but boy its worth it in the long run.

So looking forward to bringing the 320d in next month. Can't wait to see what she'll look like after you've worked your magic :wink:
that Engine bay :fear: :grin:

lawrence pulls another one out the hat.

good blur shot for first time ( and what dust were you talking about on the exhaust tips :oops: )

one question i see you use "ValetPro - Advanced Neutral Snow Foam" what dilution ( if you dont mind me asking) and why not use the "ValetPro - PH Neutral Snow foam(recommended dilution is 1:25?)"?

Thanks
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lawrence
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by lawrence »

Wideopn-ZN wrote:Thanks again Lawrence :oops: looking at the before pics I am embarrassed she was so filthy when I dropped her off :crazy:

Folks, to put it in perspective, that car has 140000km on the clock and I am proud to drive her the way she looks. Looking after a car is a bit of hard work but boy its worth it in the long run.

So looking forward to bringing the 320d in next month. Can't wait to see what she'll look like after you've worked your magic :wink:
Thanks for your kind words :hug:

Hey man.... at least the car is being for a little bit off 'harder' driving and not just doing the school run :driving: :lol:
Rsi huntered wrote: that Engine bay :fear: :grin:

lawrence pulls another one out the hat.

good blur shot for first time ( and what dust were you talking about on the exhaust tips :oops: )

one question i see you use "ValetPro - Advanced Neutral Snow Foam" what dilution ( if you dont mind me asking) and why not use the "ValetPro - PH Neutral Snow foam(recommended dilution is 1:25?)"?

Thanks
The dust on the top of the exhaust tip on the after pic - it bothers me :oops: :lol:

I usually use ANSF at around 1:8 via the foam cannon. The difference between it and the PH Neutral version is that ANSF has some characteristics of the Citrus Prewash built into it.... so for cars that need a real good clean, I like hitting it with ANSF and another separate rounds of prewash on its own.
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by Polo Playa 1.8 »

Awesome work Lawrence :hurray:
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by Mbuzi »

Nicely done Bud! :drool:
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by uzzi777 »

Well Done buddy
lawrence
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by lawrence »

Polo Playa 1.8 wrote:Awesome work Lawrence :hurray:
Thank you
Mbuzi wrote:Nicely done Bud! :drool:
Thanks Themba :hug:
uzzi777 wrote:Well Done buddy
Thanks bud
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by mikhail117 »

awesome job bud :hurray: :hurray:

Third time's a charm :lol:
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lawrence
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by lawrence »

mikhail117 wrote:awesome job bud :hurray: :hurray:

Third time's a charm :lol:
Thanks man :thumbup:
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Re: Titanium Silver BMW X3 - Detailed (3rd time) by Lawrence

Post by Unobeat »

Geeez
That was filthy and Lawrence restored it to its beauty.
Epic transformation bro :hurray: :hurray: :thumbup:
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