Ever wonder what is real "detailing" ? - Our try on a BMW Z4 //M

Hi Everybody,

Today we are going to clean and protect with ceramic a wonderfull Z4 //M. 

This nice cabrio having under its bonnet the 343hp engine of the BMW //M3, will be processed under a full detailing for its 10th birthday.

Here is the program : deep cleaning followed up by corrections of its imperfections and then to finish : ceramic protection over almost all the surfaces : bodywork, lights, rims, exhaust, plastics, joints and the hood. All these protections facilitate the cleaning of this Z4 in considerably increasing its brightness.

These cars are designed to late years which will makes the value of this model continuing to increase on the collection market.

Here are the steps that we will follow:

• Step 1: Pre-cleaning
• Step 2 : cleaning
• Step 3 : Decontamination
• Step 4 : Polishing
• Step 5: Ceramic protection
• Step 6 : Treatment of the hood

Time to realize : 30h

Initial pictures of the car :

     

Step 1: Pre-cleaning

Pre-cleaning of the rims. Here is our tip: simply with a the cleaning agent and the high pressure hose.

The aim is to remove the majority of the dust and the solid contaminations without mecanical contact to avoid scratches. Do not use brush as first step.

We are spraying a pre-cleaning foam Then using a paintbrush to remove the dust in the small opening and cavities that the glove can not reach.

Comes now the 2nd cleaning of the rims

Step 2 : After removing the foam from the hood, the bodywork and the rims, let's start cleaning with the glove and the shampoo. The glove is real wool for the upper parts and microfibers for lower parts

Now we rince a 2nd time

Step 3 : Decontamination 

Here we use a deconatamination agent with a rubber.

Now time to rince a 3rd time and to dry

We unmount the wheels and clean the shock absorbers

Time for the before and after pic:

Let's have a break and have a look at the result 

Even if you think that the result is good, under proper light angle, you can see all the natural scratches of the body. At least the car is free from particles...

Step 4 : Polishing

We prepare at first the polishing by protecting the edges :

We are measusing the thickness of the varnish to know how deep we can polish.

Now we have to find the best compromise between abrasivity of the polish cream, rotation speed and the pad.

Now see the 50/50 test, you do not want to put under the ceramic all this scratches...

After 3 polish by reducing each time the grain texture each time

The details will make the difference !

Step  5: Ceramic protection

The most important step, here we will protect using liquid ceramic.

At first the rims

Then the polymerization is done under infra-red lamps.

Now it is the turn of  the bodywork :

We are using a treatment which guarantees 2 years hower for not a daily car after 5 years, the protection will be easily still efficient.

While the infra-red lamps are baking the ceramic, we are doing some fine details including the restauration of the plastics and joints

Step 6 : Treatment of the hood

Finally time for the "after" pictures :

It is a mirror on the road !