• Guest would you be interested in CUPRA or SEAT valve caps? let us know in the poll

  • Welcome to our new sponsor Lecatona, a brand dedicated to enhancing performance for VAG group sports cars, including SEAT, Audi, Volkswagen and Škoda. Specializing in High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) upgrades.

BMW 320D 2 Stage Paint Correction Detail - Gleam the Beemer!

jonjay

50 Years of 911
Jun 27, 2005
5,843
1
Essex
BMW 320D 2008

BEEMER ON THE DEVILS FUEL
-----

It’s great having good friends like lm_gauci because his uncle changes car every couple of months. His latest car is a lovely 08 320D BMW in blue fully specced out with the M Sport package.

When I was asked to do this 2 stage paint correction detail lots of things ran through my head such as:
- The dreaded hard paint of the BMW
- long work time to get the light swirls out
- What polish to use, what pad?
- it’s a big car compared to a family hatch which will mean a very long day
- It’s a BMW! Better do a good job!


I then thought this was a perfect opportunity to see how far I have come now a full year has gone since I detailed my first car. The overall aim of the detail was to get the car looking in tip top shape so he gets as much money as possible when he trades it in for a new Focus RS.


Here is how the car was in the morning.

DSCF2147.jpg


DSCF2148.jpg


DSCF2150.jpg


DSCF2151.jpg


DSCF2156.jpg


DSCF2158.jpg



Plan with the end in mind is the sentence that’s been running through my head all this month at work. This carries over to everything I do so I carefully chose my weapons of choice. Taking no risks this time and sticking to what I know 100% works.


PRODUCTS
Wash n Drying
Meguairs NXT Tech Shampoo
Chemical Guys Orange Degreaser
Autosmart Tardis
Bilberry Wheel Cleaner
Valet Pro Snow Foam
Meguairs All Purpose Cleaner
Super Plush drying towel
Chemical Guys, Cleanyourcar Plush and Megs microfibres

Body Work
Sonus Ultra fine Detailing Clay
CleanYouCar Fine Poly Clay
Menzerna Power Finish (106FA)
Dodo Juice Lime Prime
Autosol Metal Polish

Glazes, Sealants and Waxes
Chemical Guys Blitz

Plastics, Rubbers and Glass
Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel
Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care
Lusso Glass Polish
WD40

Tools
Meguiars G220 mk2 machine polisher
Karcher Pressure washer
Sonus German foam applicator
Menzerna Polish Pad (Orange)
Sonus Green Polishing Pad
Swissvax Detail Brush
Meguiars Wheel Spoke Brush
Vikan Brushes
3M 3434 Masking Tape


WHEELS

The wheels were in good condition (no curbing) however on each wheel there was break dust and bonded contaminants that would not come off without claying. The wheels being soaked in Bilberry Wheel Cleaner for the fronts and Megs APC on the rear wheels. The bilberry was worked in scrubbed with soft vikan brush.

Chemicals pressured washed off and then clayed (CleanYourCar Fine Poly Clay) which left the wheel spotless.

DSCF2161.jpg



CLEAN STAGE

Car was snow foamed with Valet Pro and left to soak for 6-7 minutes to get the big chunks of dirt off. The car was then pressure washed off and then refoamed so the surface was very well lubricated and then washed with a lambs wool mitt.

Car rinsed off and there was evidence of some sort of protection applied by BMW as the water was sheeting albeit very slowly.

DSCF2166.jpg


DSCF2169.jpg


DSCF2170.jpg
 
Last edited:

jonjay

50 Years of 911
Jun 27, 2005
5,843
1
Essex
Claying with Sonus Ultra Fine clay I found the car although needed claying wasn’t that bad.

DSCF2172.jpg



The car was then washed again and dried off. Car was already looking gleaming and ready for the correction stage.

DSCF2173.jpg


DSCF2175.jpg


DSCF2177.jpg


DSCF2181.jpg



CORRECTION STAGE

I remembered a detail recently by another detailer whereby from experience, he assumed that a certain paint would be soft and wasn’t. I decided to tackle this with no assumptions. I tested several combinations of different cutting compounds and pads until I settled with 106FA and Menz heavy Polishing Pad. This gave me nearly 95% or more correction on my test areas on one pass.

DSCF2184.jpg


DSCF2187.jpg


DSCF2191.jpg


DSCF2193.jpg
 

jonjay

50 Years of 911
Jun 27, 2005
5,843
1
Essex
Right Arch
DSCF2215.jpg


DSCF2217.jpg



Here are the results from the first stage of correction. The colour of the car changed quite literally.

DSCF2225.jpg


DSCF2226.jpg


DSCF2235.jpg


DSCF2237.jpg



Second Stage and you guess it Lime Prime!

DSCF2239.jpg


DSCF2240.jpg
 
Last edited:

jonjay

50 Years of 911
Jun 27, 2005
5,843
1
Essex
RESULTS

Unfortunately this time of year the light was running out fast so no pictures of the other stages of cleaning. The car was treated with Chemical Guys Blitz to give a nice deep wet look and it worked a charm on this blue colour.

DSCF2241.jpg


DSCF2242.jpg


DSCF2243.jpg


DSCF2244.jpg


DSCF2245.jpg


Chemical Guys Blitzs Applied
DSCF2246.jpg


DSCF2247.jpg


Results from the CG Blitz - a bit dark now sorry

DSCF2251.jpg
 
Last edited:

jonjay

50 Years of 911
Jun 27, 2005
5,843
1
Essex
DSCF2252.jpg


DSCF2255.jpg


DSCF2256.jpg


DSCF2259.jpg


DSCF2260.jpg


Oh and I did dress the wheels…in the dark lol!
DSCF2262.jpg



Hope you enjoyed the detail as much as I did, thanks! Bring on the Focus RS Liam and Jason!
 
Last edited:
SEATCUPRA.NET Forum merchandise