What have you done with or to your M3 today?

buddalun wrote

You are the MAN! Thank you for the the thoughtful step by step.

I recently acquired a Flex 3401, too, and plan to use the Optimum Spray system for a 2-step correction with the Flex, both for the first time. I plan to seal with Opti-Seal.

Nice. Don't know much about the Optimum Spray system and have not seen any reviews. Please do report back once you use it and let us know how it works. If your new working paint, take your time and keep in mind the amount of work involved is not just the product but the pads. Do some research and be sure to get pads that will be best suited for what you want to accomplish and plenty of micro fiber cloths. Cheers, g

Drove it to my local cars & coffee

noremaC wrote

Restored headlights

Looks great. I'm interested in what you used for the various steps. You used a machine, right? Could you have done it by hand?

Man, now my day of detailing looks like I was a slacker. Lol
Power wash, foam cannon and hand wash, clayed, Chemical Guys compound, finishing polish, CG White Light gloss enhancer/sealer, CG Butter wax.

Have to do interior tomorrow.

Also washes the wife's E36 M3.

redvitesse wrote

S

Impressive, the list looks like multiple days of detailing work since it takes me 6 hours doing just a regular exterior wash and detailing without correction of any kind It would be great if you could duplicate your post in the detailing section. There's a lot to discuss. Obviously, once wax is applied most cars will look stunning as long as their finish is approximatively decent, it's when the wax is gone that you can really judge the state of the your finish. By the way i also use P2S and tbh i sometimes feel it's too much reflective mirror shine effect, car looks better without wax but only if finish is flawless which on most cars it's not.

First thing to get out of the way, i used to dress tires i don't anymore. Much better to thoroughly spend your time on shampooing them using a vinyl brush with smooth tips, gets it back to that new tire look. Most dirt on tire is brake dust particles that are hard to remove from the rubber without a brush and soap.

5500 grit is not at all very high for a finish. On straight razor edge honing people regularly use up to 16,000 and even 32,000 grit to give a scratch free bevel surface result under a magnifier. After 5500 any surface will be full of scratches that can be seen even with an 10X pocket lupe magnifier.

Here are pictures of bevels after different grits honing. Keep in mind this is 20-30X magnification. Although you cannot see those scratches from the naked eye it makes a difference in the surface appearance and reaction to light.

#1200



#2000



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#6000



#8000


#16000

Took it out for autocross fun with NCC (BMW CCA) and took first place in Modified class

Did my RB's this weekend on jack stands. I think next time, if it comes to that, I will bring it to a shop...Thanks for the DIY SYT_Shadow.
Top
Front Rear
Bottom
2011 E90 69,400 miles

Updated vehicle i-level, complete programming

Wash and quick detailer spray.

Just got mine back from having the entire front end repainted. A couple of weeks ago I brain farted backing out of the garage and barked the right front bumper cover on the side of my garage. It was just a scrape, but that along with 46,000 miles of driving had left my hood with pretty bad road rash. Front fenders were also repainted for blending. The guy that repainted it did an awesome job and it looks like it did the day I took delivery . Unfortunately, it's mostly going to sit in the garage for a few weeks until it's ready for a full clear bra. I really wish I had done that from the start.

- Flashed with new motor update

- Picked up some new pedals

- New front windshield weatherstrip

- Much needed wash

SDPLV wrote

...
- New front windshield weatherstrip
...

How difficult is changing it out? Simple remove and replace?

JsL wrote

How difficult is changing it out? Simple remove and replace?

Curious about this too. I'm sure my windshield will take a rock to the face as soon as I change it, but mine is starting to look hammered after 9 years

EDIT: Top Windshield Trim DIY

BPM Stage II Tune!

(saturday) dragged both my girls out for an 8 mile hike at 7am. you can guess which one of them was happier about that. Then hauled some 4'x4' plywood boards from home depot since they wouldnt fit in the gf's sedan. who says verts aren't practical?

zipper228 wrote

(saturday) dragged both my girls out for an 8 mile hike at 7am. you can guess which one of them was happier about that. Then hauled some 4'x4' plywood boards from home depot since they wouldnt fit in the gf's sedan. who says verts aren't practical?

Great looking hood/car. I like the vents.

azndrunk74 wrote

had a couple scratches on my manifold so for now i covered it up with a piece of 4D CF wrap. luckily i had a brand new ESS badge laying around from my e46 ESS kit. it will hold me over until i get it refinished.

As someone who typically doesn't like CF wrap on anything, this actually looks great!

Iyzmi wrote

As someone who typically doesn't like CF wrap on anything, this actually looks great!

thanks man! trust me i'm the say way - i don't have anything wrapped on the car. this will be the only thing lol.

just did that whole overhaul and refresh on the car and after a week of having the car back bank 2 throttle actuator goes to shit

replacements coming in tomorrow from fcpeuro and having both replaced come thursday:sigh:

this has become a f#@% it moment

JsL wrote

SDPLV wrote

...
- New front windshield weatherstrip
...

How difficult is changing it out? Simple remove and replace?

Yep. Straightforward. Just use some goo off spray to get the old residue off.

Drove it to the post office to return a dinged up carbon fiber spoiler, so i can be sent a non dinged up one.