Did my first full detail today

"AM3R shamefully returns " (am3rshamefullyreturns)
03/22/2016 at 23:53 • Filed to: Detailed

Terrible picture

Using a polisher. It was fun, but man I’m tired. Claying was probably the most tedious part about it. I found this really cool foam gun hose attachment at lowes while I was buying an extension cord, and it made the washing process so much easier. Anyways, it was getting dark when I finished so I’ll put good pictures up tomorrow. This is all I got for now.

Also, as I was polishing, a bird shit straight on the hood of the car. I was so pissed, my luck is just awesome. Not having a garage really is getting annoying.

This picture really doesn't do it justice

Will I have the energy to repeat the 4 hour process and do it all again tomorrow for the 335i? Stay tuned.

DISCUSSION (52)

E92M3 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:09

What product did you use to polish?

jkm7680 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:13

Noice!

AM3R shamefully returns > E92M3
03/23/2016 at 00:17

Since it's my first time using a polisher, I wanted to keep it easy and just did a 1 step detail with Optimim Poli-seal on a white pad. It took care of swirls and some very minor scratches, but I'll definitely go with something more aggressive next time.

AM3R shamefully returns > jkm7680
03/23/2016 at 00:18

Thanks! It was a good way to spend some time outside in this weather.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:27

That’s awesome! I haven’t given my car a full detail in over a year. Damn California drought :( What wax/sealant did you put on it?

For Sweden > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:27

I choose to see a reflection of a Volvo in the first picture

AM3R shamefully returns > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
03/23/2016 at 00:30

I did a one-step detail, so I used an all in one product. Polish/sealant was optimum Poli-seal. Sucks that you guys have the drought! Hopefully you'll get to detail soon. It was oddly relaxing.

AM3R shamefully returns > For Sweden
03/23/2016 at 00:31

You know, there isn't a single Volvo in my neighborhood. :(

For Sweden > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:32

BoulderZ > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:33

Nice work! Claybar is the only way to get dark colors to look great, but takes so much time and work. My Z is a ‘78 Black Pearl, kinda sorta rare, looks great. I’m not sure I’ll ever buy another black car, though.

Loping Camshaft > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:37

Ahh that explains the 4 hours. Using regular products from washing and drying, to claying, to polishing (often more than one step), to protecting usually takes longer than that, especially for the first time.

Using an all-in-one is fine for the beginner. Welcome to the world of shiny cars!

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:39

Oh cool! That probably saves time. Yeah, I saw my neighbor washing his car in the middle of the night to avoid potentially nosy neighbors reporting him. It was hilarious. I might just have to borrow his idea.

Yeah, detailing is oddly relaxing even though it’s a tiring task. Probably because it’s great bonding time with the car. Another cool thing is when you can touch the silky glass smooth paint after a full detail. Most pro detailers would cringe at that thought but I’m not a pro and my hands aren’t coated in sand so I do what I want. It feels so damn good to touch it.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:43

Looks great. Just to keep on top of it with a safe wash technique and you should only need to do this once a year. ;)

AM3R shamefully returns > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
03/23/2016 at 00:45

Yes! I was feeling up my car like crazy after claying it. That’s what makes it worth it. Then you take a nice spirited drive.

What’s the punishment if you get reported? That’s crazy! Have you thought about using one of those rinseless car wash products? http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rin…

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend
03/23/2016 at 00:46

Thanks Svend! I made sure to do the 2 bucket method with a grit guard :) I'll have my photographer friend take pictures while I'm doing the 335i so you can really see if I'm getting it right.

AM3R shamefully returns > BoulderZ
03/23/2016 at 00:49

Black looks great when clean, but man it’s tough to keep black clean. I love Z’s! This guy up the road from me has a 280z in dark green that he doesn't drive. I need to get him to sell it to me!

AM3R shamefully returns > For Sweden
03/23/2016 at 00:50

Hey, I basically talked my parents into getting a new XC90 so there'll at least be a Volvo stopping by frequently.

AM3R shamefully returns > Loping Camshaft
03/23/2016 at 00:52

Thanks! Claying was definitely the slowest part. The AIO is nice but I can see the appeal of doing a 2 step polish. Just a little more cutting power would really help clean the car up.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:52

It’s a fine for the first time I think. Not sure what happens if it happens a second time. Pretty ridiculous. I’ve looked into the rinseless options. I’m not sure how I feel about not being able to rinse off the dirt to help lower the risk of swirls though. I’m considering just bringing two buckets and a wash mit to the local car wash stations. I just have to see if they’re still open now though.

BoulderZ > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 00:55

So true! I think I washed my car 5 times while rebuilding it, just trying to keep it clean, even with a cover. CO is a dusty place, but still. Every winter I swear I’ll do a better job covering it to make Spring cleaning easier, and every winter I’ve failed. I still have class markings on the windows from the last track day in the fall, and the first show is only about 5 weeks out. Oops.

You need to buy that Z! They do not respond well to just sitting around. Try to catch the owner while they’re outside, and strike up a conversation. If they’re not driving it, they’re killing it. It might take a few visits, but I know you can find an angle!

AM3R shamefully returns > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
03/23/2016 at 01:00

That's a good idea, bringing the wash mitts and buckets to a DIY car wash. I did that once when we randomly had a nice day in January but didn't have my hose set up.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:01

Now you have a foam gun all the better. Even if your just using a car shampoo through the foam gun, means your softening the dirt on there which a lot will then come off with a pressure rinse, the onto your two bucket method. Some people say the 2BM is time consuming or awkward and that grit guards add nothing to a wash technique, but you only have to show them the grit at the bottom of the rinse bucket after a wash to show it makes perfect sense.

With a good wax or sealant you should only need to wash, rinse and then use a quick detailer to dry it to keep it looking pristine.

AM3R shamefully returns > BoulderZ
03/23/2016 at 01:02

Already asked him once, said “it’s too much fun!” Dude! You don't even drive it. I've seen the car sitting for 5+ years, it's only been moved once and that's because the road was getting repaved.

BoulderZ > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:03

Argh! So frustrating. There are some old Z owners that should really be on “Hoarders” or whatever the equivalent is now. Keep after him, patience and persistence will pay off.

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend
03/23/2016 at 01:05

The foam gun was a fantastic buy. It was only $20 and it seems to work great. I wish it had more pressure but oh well, better than nothing. Now I'm going to be very diligent on my wash techniques to avoid any swirling!

AM3R shamefully returns > BoulderZ
03/23/2016 at 01:06

Yeah, it hasn't even been under a cover for the past year :( From about 30 feet away, it looks pristine. Once you get up close you can tell it's been sitting. Rust doesn't look bad, but there's gotta be tons of it that I just can't see.

Loping Camshaft > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:06

Yeah going slow is definitely the right approach. Now some BMW paints are known to be very “hard” and difficult to see results without getting more aggressive with your polish/pad combo. So it’ll be interesting to see how the BMW goes. Good luck! And if you haven’t, look around on:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/

www.autopia.org

https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailin…

BoulderZ > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:11

Yeah, the rust on S30s tends to come from the inside of the panel. If you see it on the surface, it’s got a much larger radius under the paint that hasn’t bubbled yet. The good news is it’s fairly easy to fix, as rust goes. It’s still a PITA, though. I’m hoping to start on restoring my brother’s Z this year, which has been sitting in Seattle (salt air and water, good times) for a couple of years. Adventures in oxide. :/

AM3R shamefully returns > Loping Camshaft
03/23/2016 at 01:14

You know, I’m definitely seeing how tough it is to correct hard BMW paint. The 335i I’m going to be doing either tomorrow or the day after is in better shape with only very light swirling and no real scratches, so I’m going to test out a small area and see if a white pad will do the trick with the AIO. If not, I’m gonna try to move up to an orange pad.

Those websites have been very valuable in the learning process, so has detailed image. I love the Larry kosilla videos.

AM3R shamefully returns > BoulderZ
03/23/2016 at 01:15

Oh that sounds like it'll be a fun time. Do you have a hard time sourcing parts for the S30?

BoulderZ > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:23

Well, it’s sort of bittersweet (check my older posts for the details), but it will be great to do it. S30 parts are abundant, relatively inexpensive, and easy to find. There are several major Z-only vendors that always have what you want, plus endless parts yards (well, for now, anyway). The cars are extremely solid but simple engineering, making them very easy to work on. The only issues were they were on the earlier end of unibodies and metal/paint rustproofing technology, so there is a lot of corrosion to fight. But, in the end, you get a beautiful, nicely performing, not expensive, cheap to insure, fun to drive car in the mold of the 60s/70s GT style that can’t help but bring a smile to you and turn the heads of others. The only problem is it seems the early Z may have been “discovered”. The values are going up steadily and somewhat quickly. I’m thinking about grabbing a project for my son sooner (and storing it until we can work on it) rather than later. I don’t know how much longer the affordable but decent project car will be a thing. I could be quite wrong, though.

Loping Camshaft > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:43

Sounds like a good plan. Have fun.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 01:56

It’s still a good way to get a wash media onto the car safely though.

I like to think car washing is the same as doctors oath, ‘first do no harm’.

McMike > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 05:15

I love shiny paint

Kinja'd!!!

Rico > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 10:30

what did you seal it with?

AM3R shamefully returns > Rico
03/23/2016 at 11:09

Optimum poli-seal

Big Bubba Ray > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 11:53

Damn that looks great! Did you clay by hand? If so, throw that clay away and get a clay pad for your orbital. You can literally clay your entire car in 15 minutes. It’s a godsend.

AM3R shamefully returns > Big Bubba Ray
03/23/2016 at 12:34

Thanks, I did clay by hand. I thought about getting one of those nanoskin sponges that basically clays the car, but I wasn't very confident in how well they would work.. Now it seems like they're the real deal so I really should pick one up.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 13:24

Great work! I’ll be doing this on a few cars this spring. What polish did you use?

Also, tip for claying, do it right after you wash and use your leftover soap as the liquid. Ring you sponge out on a panel and clay it, rinse and repeat. Much better than using detail spray, and cheaper.

Big Bubba Ray > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 13:44

You should definitely get your hands one one. I use the Nanoskin pads and they’re amazing.

They work just as well as a traditional claybar, you just have to use plenty of lubricant so you don’t burn through the clear coat. The wetter the better.

Rico > AM3R shamefully returns
03/23/2016 at 14:06

Look into the nanoskin mitts to cut down your claying time.

Rico > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
03/23/2016 at 14:09

Pretreating each panel with solution will help massively with rinseless washing. At this point I mainly only do rinseless washing with uber rinseless wash and multiple towels from american rag company

AM3R shamefully returns > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
03/23/2016 at 18:14

Thanks! I used optimum poli-seal.

Good tip, I had bought the mothers clay kit because it was all I could find locally, so I just used the detail spray that came with it.

AM3R shamefully returns > Rico
03/23/2016 at 18:15

Definitely going to add one to the cart next time I'm ordering stuff.

AM3R shamefully returns > Big Bubba Ray
03/23/2016 at 18:16

Definitely gonna pick one up next time I'm ordering detailing stuff.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/24/2016 at 08:36

Cool, I’ll have to look at that. I’ve been thinking about Ammo products as well, I like Larry’s videos.

Yup, it saves so much time when you clay. I can knock out my Magnum (big car) in about 15 mins right after a wash. Detail spray takes an hour.

AM3R shamefully returns > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
03/24/2016 at 08:45

Poli-seal seems like a big time saver. I got the car done pretty quickly and there was almost no dusting. Getting ready to do my 335i right now, definitely gonna use your tip during the claying processs.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/24/2016 at 08:48

So the poli-seal is what you used for polishing? Or is that the after polished paint sealant? Both of my cars don’t need that aggressive of a polish, a nice show shine one should be good followed by sealant.

AM3R shamefully returns > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
03/24/2016 at 09:42

Poli seal is a polish and sealant. I'll put up pictures after I finish my 335i, it only has very minor swirling so this should take care of it. Poli seal sounds like it would work great for you.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/24/2016 at 09:52

Ok cool, so it’s all one step instead of 2 sounds like. Which for the Magnum, would be VERY welcome.......lol.

AM3R shamefully returns > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8
03/24/2016 at 13:51

Yup. I wash the car, then I clay it, then I hit it with the polisher. Wipe residue off and then I’m all done.

I just finished claying the 335i but unfortunately I have to be somewhere in an hour so I can't polish it until later!

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > AM3R shamefully returns
03/24/2016 at 14:07

Awesome, thanks. I’ll look into this stuff.