04 BMW 3 Series - Exterior Detail

[Quiksilver5882]

Saturday was the day to tackle my dad's 2004 BMW 325xi. This car has seen nothing but automatic car washes. The brake dust was a real nightmare. The pictures speak for themselves!!

 

Products Used:

 

- Adam's APC (Diluted 1:1) for tires

- Adam's Car Wash Shampoo

- Adam's Deep Wheel Cleaner

- Competitor's Brake Dust Remover

- MTM Foam Cannon with Cleanforce 1800 pressure washer

- Wheel Woolies & Tire Brush

- Adam's Detail Spray

- Adam's Clay

- Clay Alternative Towel

- Fine Machine Polish

- Competitor's Heavy Cut Compound

- Quick Sealant

- Adam's Glass Cleaner & Sealant

 

The Adam's Deep Wheel Cleaner was effective for removing the built up grime. These particular wheels are a challenge because there is minimal clearance between the rotor and the wheel. The small wheel woolie barely made it. Once the wheels and tires were cleaned to my liking, the car was pulled into the garage for some polishing. It didn't look so bad in the sun, but under the halogen lights, it was swirl city! The water spots were atrocious.

 

The entire vehicle was clayed with Adam's Clay and a competitor's clay alternative towel. Next, all of the rubber and plastic trim was cleaned with APC and a utility towel. I started polishing the hood which was repainted recently. All it needed was some Fine Machine Polish with a white pad.

 

The rest of the car was a different story. There were water spots and swirls all over the place! I had to resort to a competitor's polish and pad combination which took out 90% of the damage. Hopefully the new Adam's polishes are released soon! By the time I was finished it was 5:30. I started this detail at 9:00 AM . Finally, the vehicle was coated with some Quick Sealant. All of the windows were cleaned with Adam's Glass Cleaner and the windshield was sealed with Adam's Glass Sealant.

 

The vehicle looks nearly brand new. Now on to the pictures!!

 

Before

 

Wheels

 

Wheel Cleaner doing its thang

 

All clean!

 

All Clean! - Some of the stains did not come out. (These wheels were purchased used.)

 

 

Before foaming

 

Foamed up!

 

Jacked up paint!

 

All fixed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AmethystBMW]

Good Job! Can't wait to do my vehicles this weekend. Supposed to be in the mid 50s.

[The Ryan]

Great work!!

[Quiksilver5882]

Thanks guys! I'm trying to think of some time saving techniques. I can't think of any besides upgrading to a flex. Eight to nine hours for a detail is nuts but the end result was gratifying.

[Stenguyen1]

after you clay bar the car did you wash the car again? or did you just add wax to it?

[Quiksilver5882]

After I clayed the entire car I began polishing. After polishing I did a wipe down with isopropanol alcohol and applied the sealant. Hopefully that answers your question

[Stenguyen1]

i think that helped. but would it be ok to just clay bar it than wipe down than wax? cuz i know some ppl were saying to wash the car again after clay baring.

[Quiksilver5882]

I forgot to mention that I did not wipe down the car after claying. The residue from the detail spray is polished off so no need for extra work.

[suke]

i think that helped. but would it be ok to just clay bar it than wipe down than wax? cuz i know some ppl were saying to wash the car again after clay baring.

 

If I'm doing a car that is hammered and just full of contaminants I'll wash it after claying it. Otherwise it'd be fine to wipe down and add wax.

[Chris@Adams]

Nice job!