This is what happens when you care for your car's paint....

smithf80 · 11-19-2015, 09:46 PM

Even your Estoril Blue paint can look like GLASS.

EDIT: IF THE PICS DONT SHOW UP CHECK BACK LATER, It appears flickr is having some issues.

Here is a non-edited, HDR photo from my iPhone 6S:

I am a detailing nut, and I am very serious about keeping my cars paint scratch and swirl free.

My issue has always been that my car is parked outside 24/7 therefore waxes are not really going to protect me or last, because of this I looked into sealants. I found Sonax Polymer Net Shield and loved it, but unfortunately it seems like fallout from parking underneath a tree just really kills its beading and sheeting properties. Usually a wash brings it back, but recently that hasn't been happening, I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that I foam now or not, but either way its just not working out.

In comes GTechniq EXO V2, a paint protection coating that should last the duration of my lease...

That was a no go, after attempting to apply it on my trunk I kept getting hazing that I could not prevent, even got the GTechniq USA reps involved and they were just not sure what the issue was.

Here comes the next product, Car Pro's CQuartz UK. The UK version is similar to the classic CQuartz but its application process is more forgiving in colder temperatures.

I went ahead and clayed, compounded, and polished my hood to get started:

After removing all oil's using Car Pro Eraser and IPA I went ahead to apply the coating. For whatever reason it went on my hood incredibly easy and buffed off properly with no streaking or hazing. The drivers side of the car not so much.... My only theory on this is because that side of the car was facing the sun and even though the panel wasn't really hot the sun was causing the coating to flash too quickly before it was actually adhered to the paint.

Either way, at the end of the day, it was applied and with no streaking that I could find either by sunlight or LED flashlight.

The reflections really are amazing:

Here is that same first picture with some editing:

But as you can see here, even with no editing, the paint looks amazing:

Vegetable · 11-19-2015, 09:55 PM

Car looks great. I thought I was the only one that looked at my car with a LED flashlight.. I always keep my car garaged, but recently it was littered with rock chips thanks to road work.. Ordered Dr. Color Chip basic kit.. hope it works as good as they say.

smithf80 · 11-19-2015, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Car looks great. I thought I was the only one that looked at my car with a LED flashlight.. I always keep my car garaged, but recently it was littered with rock chips thanks to road work.. Ordered Dr. Color Chip basic kit.. hope it works as good as they say.

Thanks!

I got fucked by chips one night driving home, didn't see the signs that the highway I was traveling on was ground down for repaving, so imagine being on a 3 lane highway going 60mph and all the sudden its just ground down pavement with tons of little loose rocks. I was miserable.

tboooe · 11-19-2015, 10:14 PM

Dude...I wish I had your skillzzz. But as it is I am just a detailing hack. Btw, I am big fan of gtechniq. I've had good luck with all their products.

DDD31 · 11-19-2015, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Car looks great. I thought I was the only one that looked at my car with a LED flashlight.. I always keep my car garaged, but recently it was littered with rock chips thanks to road work.. Ordered Dr. Color Chip basic kit.. hope it works as good as they say.

I've had great success in the past with Dr. Colorchip but the kit that I have now for Estoril Blue doesn't match well, the touch-up color is too dark. I don't know what looks worse stone chips or the mismatched touch-up.

DDD31 · 11-19-2015, 10:37 PM

OP your car looks great!!!

I just finished polishing and coating my Estoril Blue 335i for the winter. I use Sonax Net Polymer Shield and have had good success but my car is garaged. One of these days I'm going to try the Carpro coatings because the protection, from what I read, lasts much longer than the Sonax.

rolltidef32 · 11-20-2015, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smithf32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Car looks great. I thought I was the only one that looked at my car with a LED flashlight.. I always keep my car garaged, but recently it was littered with rock chips thanks to road work.. Ordered Dr. Color Chip basic kit.. hope it works as good as they say.

Thanks!

I got fucked by chips one night driving home, didn't see the signs that the highway I was traveling on was ground down for repaving, so imagine being on a 3 lane highway going 60mph and all the sudden its just ground down pavement with tons of little loose rocks. I was miserable.

Dang man, and I thought I had the detail bug bad!

Car looks amazing. You're pretty good with a camera too iPhone or not.

I park outside of the garage mostly due to my wife's car and just crap stored in there. Hadn't really thought about a coating. I agree with you on wax for an out in the elements car.

I use a sealant also. Wolfgang's 3.0. Been very pleased with it, but it was when I polished the car back in May that made it shine like crazy. I only polish once a year.

raqautle · 11-20-2015, 07:14 AM

Ooooooooooo shiiiiiinyyyy

Dang3r · 11-20-2015, 07:22 AM

Really nice job dude, I got my bimmer just back from the paint pro who polish the car the last time before the winter is really coming. He determines a few dents from the parking place when other suc*ers are slamming their doors into mine...old story.
But amazing how the light effects could turn the surface into EBII water tone

canukgtp · 11-20-2015, 07:51 AM

yup very nice job!

Nick Malaka · 11-20-2015, 07:59 AM

Excellent work.

Well done!

435MSport6Speed · 11-20-2015, 08:02 AM

I have found Rejex provides the best protection even from bird droppings. I travel and park my car at the bus (to airport) station. Often I come back and the birds have had fun with my car. I just wash the bombs off - no marring.

I'm also finishing up a bottle of Chemical Guys M-Seal. Can't say I would recommend that.

And I just purchased a Bottle of Black Fire Wet Diamond Sealant. It's very easy to work with and produces tremendous shine. Time will tell on durability but reviews are positive.

smithf80 · 11-20-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDD31

OP your car looks great!!!

I just finished polishing and coating my Estoril Blue 335i for the winter. I use Sonax Net Polymer Shield and have had good success but my car is garaged. One of these days I'm going to try the Carpro coatings because the protection, from what I read, lasts much longer than the Sonax.

Thank you! Sonax is amazing stuff and if I had a garage I would probably stick to it, but with all the fallout here it really just doesn't work for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolltidef32

Dang man, and I thought I had the detail bug bad!

Car looks amazing. You're pretty good with a camera too iPhone or not.

I park outside of the garage mostly due to my wife's car and just crap stored in there. Hadn't really thought about a coating. I agree with you on wax for an out in the elements car.

I use a sealant also. Wolfgang's 3.0. Been very pleased with it, but it was when I polished the car back in May that made it shine like crazy. I only polish once a year.

Haha I have it reaaaal bad, and thank you!
I've heard the wolfgang sealant is nice, I just had to eventually settle on something and at the end of the day I decided to go the coating route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by raqautle

Ooooooooooo shiiiiiinyyyy

Haha!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dang3r

Really nice job dude, I got my bimmer just back from the paint pro who polish the car the last time before the winter is really coming. He determines a few dents from the parking place when other suc*ers are slamming their doors into mine...old story.
But amazing how the light effects could turn the surface into EBII water tone

Thats why I always park far away, can't stand that shit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by canukgtp

yup very nice job!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malaka

Excellent work.

Well done!

Thank you guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulff3

I have found Rejex provides the best protection even from bird droppings. I travel and park my car at the bus (to airport) station. Often I come back and the birds have had fun with my car. I just wash the bombs off - no marring.

I'm also finishing up a bottle of Chemical Guys M-Seal. Can't say I would recommend that.

And I just purchased a Bottle of Black Fire Wet Diamond Sealant. It's very easy to work with and produces tremendous shine. Time will tell on durability but reviews are positive.

Never heard of Rejex before, I'll have to take a look. That sounds impressive!

Also never knew about M-Seal, I've heard of Cguys Jet Seal, but not M-Seal.

MforLove · 11-20-2015, 08:36 AM

My citrin black looking mint like always, granted poor lighting and iphone 6 but wanted to share!! Were shiny and we know it lol

chiefneil · 11-20-2015, 08:37 AM

Personally I belive in the protective power of a thick coat of dust

My dealer has a little waiting area where they pull up your car after service. Swear to god, every time for the past 10 years I'll see and hear a car pull up. I'll look and think, "Damn that's a nice looking car and it sounds great!" Then after a second, "Oh wow, it's mine!" Because it takes me a couple seconds to recognize it when it's clean

X2 Monstah · 11-20-2015, 10:11 AM

Looks great. I'm also a detailing nut. I recently tried 22PLE VX3. Awesome stuff and easy to use.

smithf80 · 11-20-2015, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSM F30

Looks great. I'm also a detailing nut. I recently tried 22PLE VX3. Awesome stuff and easy to use.

I was considering VX3, there are so many damn choices out there its honestly hard to do anything other than just pick one and try.

435MSport6Speed · 11-20-2015, 03:25 PM

Here is a little Rejex action... two coats...

goj · 11-20-2015, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulff3

Here is a little Rejex action... two coats...

Rejex is amazing just did mine 3 weeks ago

tboooe · 11-20-2015, 03:38 PM

Never heard of Rejex. Been using gtechniq for a while now. I will need to check it out.

smithf80 · 11-20-2015, 03:50 PM

It rained pretty heavy last night, here is what the hood looked like this morning:

And the side:

The cool part is seeing the self cleaning, the water droplets pickup dirt and contaminants:

Now heres how dry it got after a quick drive:

RedRaiderDavid · 11-20-2015, 04:10 PM

The car looks great, when you get the mirror reflection you know you did the job right. I"m typically pretty anal about keeping my car clean and EVERYTHING shows on my saphire black car.
I went on a cruise a few weeks ago and my car sat in a parking lot for a week at the terminal. I paid extra for a car cover but the day we returned the remnants of a hurricane were coming through. They didn't secure the cover very well and it was flapping all over the place. The result are some fine scratches in my hood I need to address.

11-19-2015, 09:46 PM	#1
smithf80 Major General 2809 Rep 5,316 Posts Drives: G80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 G20 330i [9.00] 2018 F80 M3 [9.75]	This is what happens when you care for your car's paint.... Even your Estoril Blue paint can look like GLASS. EDIT: IF THE PICS DONT SHOW UP CHECK BACK LATER, It appears flickr is having some issues. Here is a non-edited, HDR photo from my iPhone 6S: I am a detailing nut, and I am very serious about keeping my cars paint scratch and swirl free. My issue has always been that my car is parked outside 24/7 therefore waxes are not really going to protect me or last, because of this I looked into sealants. I found Sonax Polymer Net Shield and loved it, but unfortunately it seems like fallout from parking underneath a tree just really kills its beading and sheeting properties. Usually a wash brings it back, but recently that hasn't been happening, I'm not sure if it has to do with the fact that I foam now or not, but either way its just not working out. In comes GTechniq EXO V2, a paint protection coating that should last the duration of my lease... That was a no go, after attempting to apply it on my trunk I kept getting hazing that I could not prevent, even got the GTechniq USA reps involved and they were just not sure what the issue was. Here comes the next product, Car Pro's CQuartz UK. The UK version is similar to the classic CQuartz but its application process is more forgiving in colder temperatures. I went ahead and clayed, compounded, and polished my hood to get started: After removing all oil's using Car Pro Eraser and IPA I went ahead to apply the coating. For whatever reason it went on my hood incredibly easy and buffed off properly with no streaking or hazing. The drivers side of the car not so much.... My only theory on this is because that side of the car was facing the sun and even though the panel wasn't really hot the sun was causing the coating to flash too quickly before it was actually adhered to the paint. Either way, at the end of the day, it was applied and with no streaking that I could find either by sunlight or LED flashlight. The reflections really are amazing: Here is that same first picture with some editing: But as you can see here, even with no editing, the paint looks amazing: __________________ Scott, Partner Insight Automotive Consulting Click HERE for all discounted BMW New Car Pricing Click HERE for all BMW In Stock Inventory Specials Call/Text: 516-416-5481 Email: scott@insightautoconsulting.com Last edited by smithf80; 11-20-2015 at 08:20 AM..
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11-19-2015, 09:55 PM	#2
Vegetable Lieutenant Colonel 793 Rep 1,627 Posts Drives: 2019 M4 MT, 2024 X3MC Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Humboldt iTrader: (0)	Car looks great. I thought I was the only one that looked at my car with a LED flashlight.. I always keep my car garaged, but recently it was littered with rock chips thanks to road work.. Ordered Dr. Color Chip basic kit.. hope it works as good as they say. __________________ M4 in MG \| 6 MT
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11-19-2015, 10:14 PM	#4
tboooe Brigadier General 925 Rep 3,089 Posts Drives: F36 428i GC, E36 M3 - gone :( Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The OC! iTrader: (1)	Dude...I wish I had your skillzzz. But as it is I am just a detailing hack. Btw, I am big fan of gtechniq. I've had good luck with all their products.
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11-19-2015, 10:37 PM	#6
DDD31 Captain 1649 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 24 M3CS, 95 E320, 85 300CD Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	OP your car looks great!!! I just finished polishing and coating my Estoril Blue 335i for the winter. I use Sonax Net Polymer Shield and have had good success but my car is garaged. One of these days I'm going to try the Carpro coatings because the protection, from what I read, lasts much longer than the Sonax.
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11-20-2015, 07:14 AM	#8
raqautle Private First Class 87 Rep 191 Posts Drives: '17 340i X-Drive M Sport EBII Join Date: May 2014 Location: New York iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 340i X-Drive [0.00]	Ooooooooooo shiiiiiinyyyy
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11-20-2015, 07:22 AM	#9
Dang3r Schmollbraten 12512 Rep 1,985 Posts Drives: M4CPC // HP4 Comp. Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Liandri Central Core iTrader: (0)	Really nice job dude, I got my bimmer just back from the paint pro who polish the car the last time before the winter is really coming. He determines a few dents from the parking place when other suc*ers are slamming their doors into mine...old story. But amazing how the light effects could turn the surface into EBII water tone __________________ Citizen of ///M - Town, where too much is just right Some say, that my scrotum has its own small gravity field and when Im slowing down that brake lights come on at my buttox
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11-20-2015, 07:51 AM	#10
canukgtp First Lieutenant 107 Rep 333 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New-Brunswick iTrader: (0)	yup very nice job! __________________ 2018 F80 M3 6MT (current) 2014 F31 328i Touring (sold) 2008 E92 M3 6MT (sold) 2011 E90 335xi (lease up)
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11-20-2015, 07:59 AM	#11
Nick Malaka Banned 102 Rep 239 Posts Drives: Anything but diesel... Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Eastbourne iTrader: (0)	Excellent work. Well done!
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11-20-2015, 08:02 AM	#12
435MSport6Speed Captain 432 Rep 814 Posts Drives: 435i M Sport 6 Speed Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	I have found Rejex provides the best protection even from bird droppings. I travel and park my car at the bus (to airport) station. Often I come back and the birds have had fun with my car. I just wash the bombs off - no marring. I'm also finishing up a bottle of Chemical Guys M-Seal. Can't say I would recommend that. And I just purchased a Bottle of Black Fire Wet Diamond Sealant. It's very easy to work with and produces tremendous shine. Time will tell on durability but reviews are positive. __________________ 14 435i M Sport 6 speed, MG/Coral, MusicarNW Stage 3+ Upgrade for HK, M Brakes, MPPK, MPE, M Rear Spoiler, M Side Molding, full Expel wrap
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11-20-2015, 08:36 AM	#14
MforLove Second Lieutenant 83 Rep 224 Posts Drives: 2014 328xi Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tdot iTrader: (0)	My citrin black looking mint like always, granted poor lighting and iphone 6 but wanted to share!! Were shiny and we know it lol Attached Images
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11-20-2015, 08:37 AM	#15
chiefneil Lieutenant Colonel 772 Rep 1,502 Posts Drives: 2014 335i M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Personally I belive in the protective power of a thick coat of dust My dealer has a little waiting area where they pull up your car after service. Swear to god, every time for the past 10 years I'll see and hear a car pull up. I'll look and think, "Damn that's a nice looking car and it sounds great!" Then after a second, "Oh wow, it's mine!" Because it takes me a couple seconds to recognize it when it's clean
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11-20-2015, 10:11 AM	#16
X2 Monstah Captain 301 Rep 718 Posts Drives: 2018 X2 XDrive 28i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (1)	Looks great. I'm also a detailing nut. I recently tried 22PLE VX3. Awesome stuff and easy to use. Attached Images __________________ Mine: 2019 Mini Cooper S / Moonwalk Grey / Black Interior Wife's: 2018 X2 XDrive 28i / MSport X / Mediterrean Blue / Mocha Dakota Leather Previous: 2008 E92; 2014 F30; 2016 F30 M Sport; 2011 E82 (Man I miss the 1er!)
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11-20-2015, 03:25 PM	#18
435MSport6Speed Captain 432 Rep 814 Posts Drives: 435i M Sport 6 Speed Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	Here is a little Rejex action... two coats... Attached Images __________________ 14 435i M Sport 6 speed, MG/Coral, MusicarNW Stage 3+ Upgrade for HK, M Brakes, MPPK, MPE, M Rear Spoiler, M Side Molding, full Expel wrap
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11-20-2015, 03:38 PM	#20
tboooe Brigadier General 925 Rep 3,089 Posts Drives: F36 428i GC, E36 M3 - gone :( Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The OC! iTrader: (1)	Never heard of Rejex. Been using gtechniq for a while now. I will need to check it out. __________________ My build thread 2015 428i GC - Alpine White - Coral Red - M Sport
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11-20-2015, 03:50 PM	#21
smithf80 Major General 2809 Rep 5,316 Posts Drives: G80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 G20 330i [9.00] 2018 F80 M3 [9.75]	It rained pretty heavy last night, here is what the hood looked like this morning: And the side: The cool part is seeing the self cleaning, the water droplets pickup dirt and contaminants: Now heres how dry it got after a quick drive: __________________ Scott, Partner Insight Automotive Consulting Click HERE for all discounted BMW New Car Pricing Click HERE for all BMW In Stock Inventory Specials Call/Text: 516-416-5481 Email: scott@insightautoconsulting.com
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11-20-2015, 04:10 PM	#22
RedRaiderDavid Private First Class 32 Rep 185 Posts Drives: 2017 X3 35i X Drive M Sport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fort Worth, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [0.00]	The car looks great, when you get the mirror reflection you know you did the job right. I"m typically pretty anal about keeping my car clean and EVERYTHING shows on my saphire black car. I went on a cruise a few weeks ago and my car sat in a parking lot for a week at the terminal. I paid extra for a car cover but the day we returned the remnants of a hurricane were coming through. They didn't secure the cover very well and it was flapping all over the place. The result are some fine scratches in my hood I need to address.
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