[Nat Brown]

I've got a web page listing the "best of breed" detailing products I use on a regular basis. It makes a pretty good starters kit for anyone starting out.

--gary

http://www.bariaur.com/e39/detailing.html

:thumb:

 

[Guest84]

Nice site! I don't particularly care for 3M products, but I love the P21S stuff, especially the Paint cleaner and carnauba wax.

 

[Nat Brown]

3M & P21S

I was going to try the P21S wax and cleaner, but I decided to give Zaino a chance. If it lasts as long as the claims on the wax test site, it might actually save some time. I sent my order in yesterday and it should be here in time for the arrival of my new 330i.

3M imperial hand glaze seems to be the universally recognized cleaner, and it's readily available. The 3M plastic cleaners were recommended by Bimmer Magazine for cleaning badly damaged plastic headlight housings.

--gary

 

[Guest84]

I might have to try the 3M plastic cleaner, the Griots Plastic cleaner just doesn't seem to do a very good job, and the Vinyl/Rubber dressing doesn't last very long... I have to apply it to my mudflaps everytime I wash it.

 

[PunchIt]

New Car Smell/Clean the Dash

What is the best thing to clean the dash on my E46? Is there any cleaner or reconditioner that would give me that "new BMW smell"?

Thanks all.

-Daniel

 

[johnlew]

Re: New Car Smell/Clean the Dash

What is the best thing to clean the dash on my E46? Is there any cleaner or reconditioner that would give me that "new BMW smell"?

Thanks all.

-Daniel

I use Vinylex.

 

[Magna]

Gary,

How long does it take you to a complete detail? Do you use special equipment like a Porter Cable?

 

[Guest84]

Gary,

How long does it take you to a complete detail? Do you use special equipment like a Porter Cable?

Magna, here is a thread that gives you an idea of how long my schedule takes with a porter cable:

http://www.beemerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1625

And a thread with a link to "How to use a Porter Cable":

http://autopia-carport.com/ProductTests/PC7424.htm

 

[Nat Brown]

Gary,

How long does it take you to a complete detail? Do you use special equipment like a Porter Cable?

Without power tools, it easily takes a full day to wash, polish and wax the car. Figure 6-8 hours. I would go the PC route, if I were to continue with conventional waxes and polishes. I'm going Zaino now, so I don't think a PC is very useful for that.

--gary

 

[Guest84]

I'm going Zaino now, so I don't think a PC is very useful for that.

--gary

Actually, the polish step is the most important phase of a Porter Cable detail job, that's why I bought it. Apply the wax just makes that job easy, but the real reason for the PC is to remove a micro-thin layer of clean coat, thus removing all scratches and swirl marks. That alone is why most buy the PC. Of course, you should only polish once or twice a year.

 

[Nat Brown]

Zaino Polish

I actually have no experience with the Zaino yet, so I'm basing my opinion on what I've read online. I've got a bunch of bottles sitting in my office and my car just arrived in port on Tuesday. I'll check out the removal process and see if a PC would be effective. Here's what the Zaino folks say about using one:

Q: Can I use an orbital polisher to apply/remove Zaino polish?

A: Yes, you can use an orbital to apply Zaino Z-2, Z-3, or Z-5. I don't recommend it because you waste too much polish that way. The pad on an eleven inch polisher can absorb almost enough polish to coat your entire vehicle. Each time you use an orbital to apply Zaino polish, you are probably wasting as much polish, if not more than you actually applied to the car.

Zaino polish applies easily by hand, especially if you dampen the aplicator pad with water and spritz it with Z-6 before applying it.

If you use an orbital to remove the residue, you should place a white, 100% cotton towel between the pad and the paint, and keep it turned and refolded often so that you are removing the residue with a clean section of towel all the time.

Note: A single orbital pad WILL NOT remove the polish residue from an entire vehicle. You will have smears if you don't use a towel and turn and refold it frequently.

 

[Guest84]

Re: Zaino Polish

Q: Can I use an orbital polisher to apply/remove Zaino polish?

A: Yes, you can use an orbital to apply Zaino Z-2, Z-3, or Z-5. I don't recommend it because you waste too much polish that way. The pad on an eleven inch polisher can absorb almost enough polish to coat your entire vehicle. Each time you use an orbital to apply Zaino polish, you are probably wasting as much polish, if not more than you actually applied to the car.[/i]

11" pad!?! :yikes: :yikes: I don't know too many people that have one of those old dinosaurs for a polisher, nowadays, most quality polishers use a 5 or 6" pad, and are random orbitals. I can testify that I actually use LESS polish and wax with my Porter cable than "by hand" method. Alittle goes along way.

 

[johnlew]

Re: Re: Zaino Polish

11" pad!?! :yikes: :yikes: I don't know too many people that have one of those old dinosaurs for a polisher, nowadays, most quality polishers use a 5 or 6" pad, and are random orbitals. I can testify that I actually use LESS polish and wax with my Porter cable than "by hand" method. Alittle goes along way.

Wanna buy mine? Nice and heavy too!

 

[Guest84]

Hehe, I was at Home depot watching a guy buy one of the 11" inch jobs($29), non-random, he was telling the clerk he was 'going to buff out his car'...and I was cringing, thinking of the heat build up he may encounter while pressing down on the thing...

 

[Magna]

thanks everybody for the info on detailing!!