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View Full Version : Echo's first detailing session



RITmusic2k
03-17-2011, 11:41 AM
This past weekend I spent seven quality hours with Echo, giving her as thorough a workover as can be done by hand.

I don't have any 'before' pictures, but a bunch of you saw how cruddy she was on the March 5th meetup. The car had only gotten dirtier since then.

I'm relieved to say that the paint itself is in relatively good condition. It's due for a polishing to remove the swirls that I do see on most surfaces, but there are no rock chips on the hood or any other significant damage spots elsewhere. I don't yet have a polisher, so that treatment will have to come later.

What I did manage to accomplish was the following:

1. Full wheel & tire cleaning
2. Full mitt wash
3. Full exterior clay bar
4. Quick rewash
5. Door jamb/trunk/engine bay cleaning
6. Wax

I have a secret weapon that I absolutely swear by - the Mr. Clean Autodry car wash system (http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=zhpcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0006M56CE):

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412T8QT205L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

It's a pretty average soap-dispensing hose attachment that only does an okay job of washing the car... though it actually works pretty well in place of quick-detailer spray when I'm claying the car. But the real benefit to this thing is that it has a special filter cartridge that removes all minerals from your water supply, allowing you to spray a post-rinse mist that air dries to a spot-free finish, no chamois required. That alone is worth more than the cost of the unit. They're discontinued, but still available from Amazon and other online sources.

Anyway, here are the results; I'm really happy with how well she came out. The paint is positively slippery now.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5rpQoXw0I/AAAAAAAABR8/AR2Jfob4SXc/s800/1000000113.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5r4xvgrzI/AAAAAAAABSM/EreE8G42PA4/s800/1000000110.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5r9wRrrpI/AAAAAAAABSQ/iDURA0h-F4M/s800/1000000109.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5sKg3LL6I/AAAAAAAABSk/7Aeu6kELFJI/s800/1000000106.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5sPFO1jWI/AAAAAAAABSo/yTbs9VioHok/s800/1000000105.JPG
Just a wee bit of headlight condensation. Gone now, but something I'll have to look into later.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5sYUVhLvI/AAAAAAAABS0/tmMfJHcZpy4/s800/1000000103.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5slCPNWaI/AAAAAAAABTI/uCpDxjS09Bs/s800/1000000100.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5su95rscI/AAAAAAAABTQ/eQ8kUPUhQpM/s800/1000000098.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5s4fP9tWI/AAAAAAAABTc/lyM8Hu240uQ/s800/1000000096.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5tCV8etuI/AAAAAAAABTs/jy-bt8oIc8A/s800/1000000094.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_pj2vLdnw2c0/TX5tHbOHkzI/AAAAAAAABTw/rEatwWcwp18/s800/1000000093.JPG

gr330zhp
03-17-2011, 11:52 AM
Looking awesome!!

What shade of black is that exactly??

RITmusic2k
03-17-2011, 11:59 AM
Thanks, man! I was told she's Jet Black; my VIN options list states the color as "SCHWARZ 2 (668)".

gr330zhp
03-17-2011, 12:11 PM
Thanks, man! I was told she's Jet Black; my VIN options list states the color as "SCHWARZ 2 (668)".

Hmmm...what does the label say on the strut mount?? :dunno

danewilson77
03-17-2011, 01:30 PM
Looks great.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Johnmadd
03-17-2011, 06:34 PM
Sure wish the bottom of my front bumper shined like that, maybe I can get DW to hook me up.

kayger12
03-17-2011, 06:37 PM
Thanks, man! I was told she's Jet Black; my VIN options list states the color as "SCHWARZ 2 (668)".

668 is Jet Black.

My favorite.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

M0nk3y
03-17-2011, 07:56 PM
Looks Good, Clean those exhaust tips though

RITmusic2k
03-18-2011, 08:34 AM
Any suggestions on how to clean the pipes?

I tried scrubbing with soap, using the clay bar, etc., all to no avail.

danewilson77
03-18-2011, 08:36 AM
I think we have an entire thread (or several posts) dedictaed to that very thing.

RITmusic2k
03-18-2011, 08:48 AM
Ooh, will go looking; thanks Dane!

Marcus-SanDiego
03-18-2011, 08:49 AM
We do have a thread on it. Let's try and find it.

Marcus-SanDiego
03-18-2011, 08:50 AM
Found it: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1270-Detail-BMW-330-ZHP-Exhaust-Tips&highlight=mwscircle

danewilson77
03-18-2011, 08:51 AM
Found it: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1270-Detail-BMW-330-ZHP-Exhaust-Tips&highlight=mwscircle

Thanks Boss.

Marcus-SanDiego
03-18-2011, 08:55 AM
No problem. I had a keyword in there that allowed me to find it.

M0nk3y
03-18-2011, 09:02 AM
Yep. Thread is FTW.