E46 M3 Alpine White detail

Discussion in 'Show and Shine' started by mikenap, Oct 5, 2011.

  1. mikenap

    mikenap Jedi Nuba

    The owner of this Alpine White M3 was introduced to me by a fellow E46 M3 owner at a recent Charlotte Cars&Coffee. After a few conversations, we settled on a time this past weekend to get his car cleaned up for an upcoming M3 get together. Since time was a definite factor, I managed the interior work on Saturday and returned on Sunday to wash/clay/one-step polish the exterior. Between both days, this car took about 14 hours to complete.

    Starting in the trunk

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Moving inside


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Amazing what one 5-year old can do to an interior

    [​IMG]

    Almost got it all

    [​IMG]

    Once again, sunblock applied via 5-year old.

    [​IMG]



    Interior afters:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    Returned the following day for a wash

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Hard to see but this car had the most contamination and rust blooms of any car I've seen yet. Claying took FOREVER, and really had me wishing for some Iron-X.



    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Proceeded with taping

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    Tried capturing some defects, 50/50s and after shots, but it was hard to do on this color, plus my photography skills are sad.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Looks like sanding marks, but the owner didn't know where they would have come from.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]

    The trunk was a carbon Vorsteiner CSL "bootlid" so I took it easy. The paint seemed thin, but my Highline II won't read carbon. So better safe than sorry, I stepped down to 205/tangerine to be safe. Took out most swirls but left some obvious RIDS. Also, from certain angles you could actually see the carbon weave under the paint. Weird.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Afterwards, we pulled the wheels and cleaned them inside and out. Also cleaned the calipers and wheel wells. This is while cleaning the custom-painted calipers. After this, I steamed the wells and applied Hyperdressing.

    [​IMG]


    The exhaust tips were painted, so no steel wool here. Cleaned up as best I could with DG501.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Finally, some after pictures. The better quality ones were taken by the owner!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Thanks for looking!
     
  2. hamza7

    hamza7 Welcome to Detailing

    I have no idea but I am really likeing this M, I think all the customization has really made this car unique. I'm more for the subtle custom work that doesn't show off but this car is really nice.

    Good job man.
     
  3. Frankastic

    Frankastic Detail Photographer

    top notch Mike! car looks really nice
     
  4. Chaseme

    Chaseme DB Forum Supporter

    I love AW M3s. So fresh.

    Great work on this - crazy about the kid applying sunblock. Haha.
     
  5. Danny

    Danny Nuba Guru

    Great work!
     
  6. mikenap

    mikenap Jedi Nuba

    Thanks Hamza! He's really made the car stand out without going overboard I think. When he got the car, the hood vents were still raw carbon, so I think re-painting the whole thing white was a good move.

    Thanks OT! You've been knocking out some good ones lately too!

    Thank you! It was sort of funny, but came off pretty easy.

    Thanks Danny!
     
  7. Gale Force

    Gale Force Obsessive Detailer

    Very clean looking car. Good job.
     
  8. kakeuter

    kakeuter DB Forum Supporter

    Car looks incredible, excellent work!

    -Kody-
     
  9. mikenap

    mikenap Jedi Nuba

    Thank you!

    Thanks Kody! Didn't realize you were on DB too!
     

Share This Page