Many hours later...

"AM3R" (AM3R)
08/07/2014 at 21:37 • Filed to: detailing

My car is washed and clayed!

Consider this a teaser, I didn't have much sun by the time I finished and I wanna whore pictures of my car out when it's showing it's lovely purple, so if you guys are interested I'll take some more tomorrow in the sun.

Also, the front wheels are a never ending battle. After washing them with soap and water, using a brake dust spray, and claying them, they still have brake dust caked in from the PO and my spirited drives. I'm switching to a low dust pad soon and hopefully switching to some new wheels (18" CSL's or Apex EC-7's) so I didn't break my back trying to get rid of all the dust. I'll go at them with a toothbrush tomorrow. Here's the clay before I even finished the first wheel:

I'm really tired but it was all worth it. My paint is so smooth now I just can't stop looking out the window at it. Let me know if you have any questions or wanna know the materials I used.

Some "during" shots:

Some "before" shots:

And the only thing to do after:

The oppo gods were with me. After a few corners all the cars around me disappeared so I could hoon responsibly.

DISCUSSION (32)

Alex B > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 21:53

Awesome. Love the E9x 3 series.

petebmwm > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 21:53

I use a product called iron x on the wheels . It smells terrible take it to a car wash and spray the wheels. Wait a few minutes. Magic happens.

AM3R > petebmwm
08/07/2014 at 21:58

Thanks for the tip, I'll look into that if the classic toothbrush fails me.

AM3R > Alex B
08/07/2014 at 21:59

So do i! When my current one dies I wanna step into another! Hopefully an M.

Georgeyboy > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 21:59

Looks good, better put some wax or sealant on it. Clay took it all off.

Alex B > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 22:01

That would be good. Everything about the design is just right.

AM3R > Georgeyboy
08/07/2014 at 22:02

Yup I'll be on that tomorrow. I was running out of sunlight and needed some food in me.

AM3R > Alex B
08/07/2014 at 22:08

The LCI (fancy term for facelifted) E90/E91 look even better.

petebmwm > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 22:13

petebmwm > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 22:16

it will fail you.. it never comes off. I got it off of amazon

 V8 Rustler > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 22:34

I use BMW wheel cleaner. It works very good.

AM3R > V8 Rustler
08/07/2014 at 22:37

I'll try to pick that up next time I'm at the dealership. You aren't the first to recommend me that, I always just thought it was just some rebranded gunk remover.

Alex B > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 22:46

Yes. I know. That LCI really is the high point of recent 3 series in my opinion. The F30 isn't a bad looking car, but I would still rather have an E90/91 at this point.

AM3R > Alex B
08/07/2014 at 22:51

Yeah it's a bit of a pipe dream, but now that ESS is releasing a supercharger kit for the N52 inline 6 I want to buy a 6MT E91 and supercharge it. I'm guessing overall it'll cost around $23k to do all that. Not bad imo for a ~350whp RWD wagon.

Alex B > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 23:04

If you did that you'd be well loved around here. You would be know as the one with the supercharged 3 series wagon. :) Oh, I went on car max and found a 2011 328 with manual transmission and 31k mile for 24k. Is that high priced? http://www.carmax.com/enus/view-car/…

AM3R > Alex B
08/07/2014 at 23:13

Haha I really do wanna do it eventually.

Not a bad find! NP for the miles but I'd look around a little more for a better optioned car. $24k can you you M-sport and it's CPO!

http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/1689A95…

Alex B > AM3R
08/07/2014 at 23:34

I didn't know BMW did the whole M-sport package back then. I thought that came along with the F30.

AM3R > Alex B
08/07/2014 at 23:36

They introduced it with the LCI in 2009, they've had it even longer in Europe. It's way more common with the F30 though.

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 09:05

Yes, it has gotten very popular. Every time I see an esotoril blue F30 I think, "It's a new M3!" Then as I get closer I realize it's only a 328i with M sport package. Is your car a manual?

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 11:32

Whenever I see a 4 series M-sport i get excited thinking I see my first M4, but no :(

My car is an auto. It's a good auto but I should've held out for a manual. My next car certainly will be a manual.

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 11:37

No problem with the auto, I hear that BMW's auto is very good.

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 11:47

It's not as good as the newer ZF 8 speed, but it's still a nice auto box. I'd still prefer 3 pedals. The auto in the 335d is amazing, such an impressive gearbox.

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 11:56

Was the diesel in the 335d a straight 6 turbo charged diesel?

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 12:07

Yup a twin turbo diesel I6! It's a torque monster. Such an impressive engine, you can get 40+ mpg on the highway while putting down 425ft lb stock. It's also a highly tunable engine.

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 12:10

That's impressive. It reminds me of the V10 VW Toureg.

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 12:16

Yeah it really does. I doubt BMW will release another diesel that powerful in the US. Now we get the 320d rebranded as a 328d.

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 12:17

I don't get why they just don't call it the 320d. I guess the higher the number the richer it looks.

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 12:22

Exactly, not like it's any faster over here. We have a 320i, why not just have a 320d?

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 13:38

Well, if you had the 320d, people would look at it as the base cheapest one because the 320i is the cheapest 3, I think.

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 13:54

Yeah the 320i is the cheapest, but at the same time it draws a lot of buyers who want an "economical" BMW. The 320d would make them feel even greener.

Alex B > AM3R
08/08/2014 at 14:10

True. It's a fine line. I wonder if the diesel will stay with 328d when the 328i and 335i are supposedly moving up to 330i and 340i.

AM3R > Alex B
08/08/2014 at 14:48

Nah I bet they'll move it up with a small horsepower boost. I'm not looking forward to that name change at all. 340i just doesn't sound right.