Estoril Blue 14 hour detail (exterior) w/special care paid to moldings

[RidgeBack]

Good day bfc patrons,

It started on Monday afternoon with me washing the car (2 bucket) with MG NXT. Dried with waffle towels.

I then removed the moldings and washed them and the lower half of the car again. Dried with waffle towels.

Products:
Pinnacle clay and clay lubricant
Zymol Polish
Klasse AIO
Souveran
Loads of fresh clean mf cloths (3m and edgeless)
mf applicator pads (3x)



I then clayed the entire car



The entire process took a while split over 3 days because I also needed to run to the dealer to get new grommets for the moldings and a couple of new clips (brittle plastic).

Here's closeups of the Estoril in direct sunlight







This morning I added another layer of Forever Black and then installed the trim back onto the car. Some shots of the trim.









The hood and trunk





Final pics...













It was my first time using Zymol polish and I previously used CG but I now prefer the Zymol. It's very easy to apply and remove and any overspray can be removed with a damp rag.

I'm also very happy with the Forever Black since it was my first time using it too.

[TH3 Shifty]

nice... love estoril

[Jean-Claude]

Did you apply everything by hand?

(looks good btw)

[RidgeBack]

nice... love estoril

Thanks, me too

[MrNorwall]

Did you have any swirls at the beginning

[RidgeBack]

Did you apply everything by hand?

(looks good btw)

Thanks. With the Zymol I used my variable speed polisher with yellow polishing pads. The klasse and souveran were applied and removed by hand.

Did you have any swirls at the beginning

Since I last detailed this car a while ago there aren't many swirls. There are virtually no swirls now but there are a few (5/6) barely visible scratches but I'm not a professional paint correction guy so I didn't bother trying to remove them.

[M3Cosmos]

That looks soo amazing. I don't care if there were swirls to begin with or not. The depth of that estoril is unlike any I've seen. Excellent job. Hopefully I can get the same depth and clarity out of my cosmos - just need to spend a few more hours on it.

[RidgeBack]

That looks soo amazing. I don't care if there were swirls to begin with or not. The depth of that estoril is unlike any I've seen. Excellent job. Hopefully I can get the same depth and clarity out of my cosmos - just need to spend a few more hours on it.

I've owned this car for 8 years and I've always taken good care of her hence minimal swirls.

Thanks for the kind words.

[xsport652]

wow I wish my paint was in that condition.

[m3beemer16]

is that zymol cleaner wax what you are referring to when you say "zymol polish"?

[SilburSurfer]

lux and m3 sport side skirts?? diferent on each sides???

[Petrucci]

Nice work man, there's nothing like that feeling when you are all done

and tired.

[RidgeBack]

is that zymol cleaner wax what you are referring to when you say "zymol polish"?

Yes, exactly. Thanks.

lux and m3 sport side skirts?? diferent on each sides???

???? yes ????

Nice work man, there's nothing like that feeling when you are all done

and tired.

Absolutely, my shoulders were tired this morning. Wax on, Wax off!

[keikun]

nice nuff said.

[RidgeBack]

nice nuff said.

Thanks, you have good taste in automobiles

[Ianbiz]

Thats pretty good looking.

Estroil ftw

[MBe36]

I followed you here from your forever black thread just to see the work haha. Well done!!

[Team BM]

lux and m3 sport side skirts?? diferent on each sides???

[Harv328is]

lux and m3 sport side skirts?? diferent on each sides???

Yes, that looks a bit off. Does the OP notice the difference?

[RidgeBack]

Yes, that looks a bit off. Does the OP notice the difference?

Yes, there has been numerous times, over the past number of years (since 2000 to be exact), that this has reared within threads where I has posted pics of my E36.

While it is mismatched (lux vs "sport") it does not negatively affect the vehicle.

It was as a consequence of thieves. About 3 months after I purchased the car (8+ years ago) thieves made off my my wheels and tires and left the car sitting on bricks with the result that one of the side skirts was damaged.

Note for all of you so concerned with my "skirts": It is on my agenda to get replaced but it is a low priority since it is not damaging the vehicle and not causing undue wear or tear on the vehicle.

P.S. if you had read the thread then you would have noticed that I had answered this question already.

[M3Cosmos]

One last question from me:

Did you apply the Zymol and Pinnacle by hand or machine?

[RidgeBack]

One last question from me:

Did you apply the Zymol and Pinnacle by hand or machine?

Hi,

I applied the Zymol with an orbital polisher but the klasse and the Pinnacle by hand.

I found that all of the products are easy to remove with mf cloths (so long as the cloths are clean). Also, since the Zymol is water based it's very easy to remove any "overspray" after using the polisher with a damp mf cloth.

[Harv328is]

P.S. if you had read the thread then you would have noticed that I had answered this question already.

I couldn't read anywhere in this thread where you explained the mismatched skirts; apologies if I missed the explanation of your response, '???? yes ????'

Thanks for the 411 though. I just finished applying two coats of Forever Black to all the side moldings from my E36. FWIW, I noticed that the textured bumper moldings hold the product better than the OEM Non-M smooth side moldings. I found that you have to use two very light coats instead of one heavy coating in order to get a consistent application.

[RidgeBack]

I couldn't read anywhere in this thread where you explained the mismatched skirts; apologies if I missed the explanation of your response, "?????????Yes???????"

Thanks for the 411 though. I just finished applying two coats of Forever Black to all the side moldings from my E36. FWIW, I noticed that the textured bumper moldings hold the product better than the OEM Non-M smooth side moldings. I found that you have to use two very light coats instead of one heavy coating in order to get a consistent application.

No worries, I just get a little tired in that it seems like every time I post a pic or two of my car that someone always harps on about the skirts.

Cheers.

[Tragu]

The blue m3 is great but the red one is super great.