[Beemer5to3]

So after finally getting all my issues sorted out a couple of weeks ago, I decided to treat the car to a full exterior detail...

If anyone's interested, see below steps / products used to get the car as it is now (just a shame the light was going down as when the sun was properly hitting the car it looked amazing!)

Pre-wash: Auto Finesse Dynamite (diluted 5:1), sprayed liberally all over the lower half of the car. Left to dwell for 5 mins and pressure wash off. Followed by snow foam with Autoglym Polar Blast (diluted 6:1), left to dwell for 10 mins and rinse.

Wheels: combination of pre-wash with Auto Finesse Dynamite, followed by Autoglym Magma iron remover. Used separate mitt to contact wash at snow foam stage.

Contact wash: Meguiars Wash Plus, used directly on the mitt. This was to remove any remnants of the previous wax / sealant on the car. I wouldn't recommend this unless you intend to polish the car after, as it will leave micro scratches on the paint. Wash & rinse off one section at a time. (I normally use Autoglym Pure Shampoo when washing normally). Contact wash followed up by decontamination with Autoglym Magma to get rid of any stubborn iron contamination on the paint.

Dry: Large soft microfibre drying towels. Bought from Amazon, and can't remember what make they are. Shuts and returns done with separate microfibre towels to stop dripping.

Polish: DAS6 Pro V2 dual-action polisher, used with Lake Country White polishing pad. Menzerna Super Finish 3500 polish used - this is very mildly abrasive and will get rid of light surface haze and swirl marks, which was a perfect match for the condition of my paint. Mirrors and hard to reach areas were hand polished using Meguiars Ultimate Polish. Full panel wipe down done after using G-techniq IPA panel wipe.

Sealant: Meguiars Ceramic Liquid Wax, applied with Meguiars foam applicator pads. This stuff is amazing, and can be maintained once applied once using their Ceramic Spray wax straight after washing, then you can just rinse and dry off as normal.

Tyres: Wonder Tyres tyre gel. Not the greatest product to apply, but the finish is decent and it's all I had!

[xenon]

[wassap]

Fair play. It’s too cold for me for the full wash, so I just snow foam to get rid of the worst of the muck.

[woody320]

What a superb job. What a great colour.

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by woody320

What a superb job. What a great colour.

Thanks mate! It really does look so good once it's all detailed.

[Beemer5to3]

You can really tell how good the paint looks under halogen light. (Treating myself to beers after a hard days work!)

[G21MKN]

Looks great, good days work!

[RichE91]

WOw that looks great!
My order of Gyeon products turned up earlier this week and it hasn’t stopped raining since

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by RichE91

WOw that looks great!
My order of Gyeon products turned up earlier this week and it hasn't stopped raining since

Cheers! Gyeon stuff is decent - what have you gone with? It was cold up in the north east today, but nice and clear so I jumped at the change to try out my new polisher and polishes!

[Axeman15]

Cracking job mate. I’ve let a friend borrow my foam Lance and DA polisher but you’ve given me the urge to get them back.

[Jasperistops]

Getting all my detailing and cleaning stuff sorted ready for delivery in early March. Car looks amazing. Fantastic job fella

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by Jasperistops

Getting all my detailing and cleaning stuff sorted ready for delivery in early March. Car looks amazing. Fantastic job fella

Good stuff - what have you gone for?

[AB55]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

You can really tell how good the paint looks under halogen light. (Treating myself to beers after a hard days work!)

Good job mate , colour looks amazing

[Jasperistops]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

Good stuff - what have you gone for?

330e m sport in mineral grey with the mocha interior. Had quite a bit of detailing stuff already but just replenished my microfibres and stocked up on quite a bit of chemical guys stuff in preparation. Booked in for a machine polish and ceramic the day after delivery so should just be maintenance washes for a while.

[xenon]

Mines mineral grey with mocha too. Post some pics when it arrives

[Jasperistops]

Originally Posted by xenon

Mines mineral grey with mocha too. Post some pics when it arrives

Pretty sure you can count on it 😂😂

[johnboysafc]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

So after finally getting all my issues sorted out a couple of weeks ago, I decided to treat the car to a full exterior detail...

If anyone's interested, see below steps / products used to get the car as it is now (just a shame the light was going down as when the sun was properly hitting the car it looked amazing!)

Pre-wash: Auto Finesse Dynamite (diluted 5:1), sprayed liberally all over the lower half of the car. Left to dwell for 5 mins and pressure wash off. Followed by snow foam with Autoglym Polar Blast (diluted 6:1), left to dwell for 10 mins and rinse.

Wheels: combination of pre-wash with Auto Finesse Dynamite, followed by Autoglym Magma iron remover. Used separate mitt to contact wash at snow foam stage.

Contact wash: Meguiars Wash Plus, used directly on the mitt. This was to remove any remnants of the previous wax / sealant on the car. I wouldn't recommend this unless you intend to polish the car after, as it will leave micro scratches on the paint. Wash & rinse off one section at a time. (I normally use Autoglym Pure Shampoo when washing normally). Contact wash followed up by decontamination with Autoglym Magma to get rid of any stubborn iron contamination on the paint.

Dry: Large soft microfibre drying towels. Bought from Amazon, and can't remember what make they are. Shuts and returns done with separate microfibre towels to stop dripping.

Polish: DAS6 Pro V2 dual-action polisher, used with Lake Country White polishing pad. Menzerna Super Finish 3500 polish used - this is very mildly abrasive and will get rid of light surface haze and swirl marks, which was a perfect match for the condition of my paint. Mirrors and hard to reach areas were hand polished using Meguiars Ultimate Polish. Full panel wipe down done after using G-techniq IPA panel wipe.

Sealant: Meguiars Ceramic Liquid Wax, applied with Meguiars foam applicator pads. This stuff is amazing, and can be maintained once applied once using their Ceramic Spray wax straight after washing, then you can just rinse and dry off as normal.

Tyres: Wonder Tyres tyre gel. Not the greatest product to apply, but the finish is decent and it's all I had!

Sweet, good job
Road to filthy and salty where I live, just a minimal wash to keep on top, warmer dryer weather required!!!

[Ikester19]

Good job. Looks great

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by johnboysafc

Sweet, good job
Road to filthy and salty where I live, just a minimal wash to keep on top, warmer dryer weather required!!!

Always the same in the north east! I'm hoping the graft I put in will see me just having to do easy maintenance washes from now until it warms up!

[xenon]

Snow foam question (having never done it before) - do you put the snow foam gunk into the lance bottle neat? I see above it says "diluted 6:1" but is that the effective dilution when mixed in the jet washer lance or do you dilute before you fill the bottle?

[wassap]

The ratio is what you put in the bottle, so 1 part Sf and 6 parts water, then hook it up to your jet wash and have some fun!

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by wassap

The ratio is what you put in the bottle, so 1 part Sf and 6 parts water, then hook it up to your jet wash and have some fun!

Yep - exactly this. And make sure you have your snow foam bottle on the lowest mix setting, I.e. minimal mix with the water coming through your jet wash so it just pulls the mix from the bottle.