detailed 1988 BMW 325i

**third_shift|studios** · 11-22-2009, 05:52 AM

Car is still with the original owner, it was lucky to be garage kept all it's life. Has 330,000 miles on it! Took me about 6 hours to do the interior/exterior at the guy's apartment. He was super impressed. I think I burnt up a few pads in the process too-they were all covered in red when I was finished

I wish I got some more intimate shots of the differences, but there was a lot to do here. The mirrors and driver door looked like they were painted/cleared but never polished. The rear seats were pretty tarnished and it took a few different chemicals to get them back to a reasonable state. All the black trim was in terrible shape too, so I was happy to bring some life back to that! Had to wash the car on gravel so the power sprayer was out so I didn't kick up rocks and junk. Used ONR (optimum no-rinse) to do the whole car, then used it as a clay lubricant, washed it once more, did two passes with the Flex polisher using Meguire's products from start to finish.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Pads!!!

**SandmanWs7** · 11-22-2009, 03:37 PM

So that car had a single stage paint......or you totally buffed all the clear and will be hearing from him soon.

**third_shift|studios** · 11-22-2009, 03:55 PM

NO! car did have a clearcoat-i could see it flaking in some locations.

**SandmanWs7** · 11-22-2009, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

NO! car did have a clearcoat-i could see it flaking in some locations.

If it was a basecoat/clearcoat there is no reason for your pad to be red, unless you removed all the clear or time has taken its course on the paint.

I have had a car painted cherry apple red metallic that was a single stage paint. So then you would have red pads.

**SandmanWs7** · 11-22-2009, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

NO! car did have a clearcoat-i could see it flaking in some locations.

Just read this the correct way. You should have not touched that car. I do hope you told him that the clear is falling off or may have fallen off prior to you buffing it. If not he could blame you for the future oxidation of his paint.

**third_shift|studios** · 11-22-2009, 05:29 PM

yup, we discussed it ahead of time, had him sign our waiver etc.

**SiggyZ** · 11-23-2009, 10:40 AM

Wow, you sure did remove a ton of base coat there.

**supercopone** · 11-23-2009, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by SiggyZ

Wow, you sure did remove a ton of base coat there.

thats cause its some old ass paint lol

ld:

**SiggyZ** · 11-23-2009, 11:47 AM

My '90 Accord has old ass paint and my buffer doesn't do that.

Originally Posted by supercopone

thats cause its some old ass paint lol

ld:

**third_shift|studios** · 11-23-2009, 12:30 PM

Nothing you can do about it, really. Just the nature of the paint. i don't plan on attacking it like that ever again really.

**SiggyZ** · 11-23-2009, 12:33 PM

I understand that, but the pictures do look good either way.

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

Nothing you can do about it, really. Just the nature of the paint. i don't plan on attacking it like that ever again really.

**SandmanWs7** · 11-23-2009, 03:51 PM

I agree with the pics. I like how the black trim looks black instead of grey.

**Z06-Goose** · 11-23-2009, 03:54 PM

From looking at the pics, it doesn't look to me the finish had any oxidation.
That's a single stage paint. No clear, if it had flakes, the flakes as far as I know is in the basecoat and not in the clearcoat...

A lot of Italian and German cars even newer ones still come with a single stage; Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW...

If after you had detailed this car the paint looks smooth and even all-around, then it was a single stage. With oxidation, no matter what there will always be a spot or two where the oxidation was. On a clearcoat finish it means the clear is shot, and would require re-painting...