Restoring BMW Techno-Violet paint

[KingRichard]

Hi all

Just bought an old smoker for a bag of chips and a fluffy polo, but I think it has a lot of potential. It's very straight and solid and has a really nice interior (dirty, but good condition).

I haven't really done a full inspection of the paint but it's done 115,000 miles and looks quite well used.

I've got some basic valeting gear in the office, but I'm not really sure if what I have will do more damage to it or not. I've seen perfectly detailed techno-violet paint before and it looks amazing. It would be great if I could get the paint to pop on my new daily driver

I was thinking of giving clay a try so I could get all the crap out of the paint first, but does this paint have a lacquer finish and should I be using cutting compound? I have autosmart mild compound... should I look at getting it done by machine?

Any help greatly appreciated

[KingRichard]

I haven't got a machine - I think my mate has one that I can borrow, but I'm not sure what it is... Just looks like an angle grinder with a pad

Car is 1996 on a 'P', 318is Coupe.

Sad I know, but I even went out in my dressing gown last night to pat it goodnight Well, they need to know they're loved don't they?


What?

[KingRichard]

Oh yeah, and where is a cheap place to buy clay? Car only cost me £1300 I don't really want to spend a fortune on it

[KingRichard]

PJ S said:

If the axle grinder is a rotary, then I'd hold off on it for now! You'd be safer to use a random orbital polisher as there's less heat generated and less chance of strike-through.
As for the paint - 1996 should be a clearcoated job. The BMW forum might give you a definitive, as would a quick call to the local BMW dealership's service dept. or a body repair outfit.
Regarding clay - www.bilthamber.co.uk and/or www.pro-detailing.co.uk, contact Nick by e-mail, and since he works for BMW in their paint division, he'll be able to advise on the suitability of the compound you have there.
I would also consider letting someone with all the tools necessary do the restoration, you can do the washing/claying before they arrive, and then maintain the finish thereon in.
Might be more cost effective.

Thanks for all that. I'll try and get hold of Nick later today

I'd really like to do it myself - I've used a buffer before but I've never really known what I'm doing with it (I used to be a valeter, but I could never be classed as a detailer!). As long as you keep the speed down and use plenty of water to lube the surface it should be ok shouldn't it?

I've just signed up to detailingworld and e36coupe too so should get some answers back re: clearcoat or not.

[KingRichard]

PJ S said:

As for the buffer - if you use foam pads and keep the speed down, whilst constantly moving it around the area being polished, then you should do little in the way of damage. Buffer trails may be an issue, but they can be removed by using a finer grade polish or a RO unit like the Meguiar's G220 or the Cyclo dual-headed one that I use.
Not sure how the AS stuff stacks up, but the better polishes tend to be Menzerna and 3M, with some liking the Meguiar's ones.
Follow the polishing with an IPA or DoDo Lime Prime wipe down, to make sure all defects have been removed and not masked, then wax/seal the car.

The cutting compound I have is Autosmart Cut Back. It looks similar to T-Cut (same colour and smell!) but I never really got on with T-Cut, it used to piss me off working with it outside in the sun!

I've read that T-Cut isn't the best thing to use anyway. Or is that to do with it's colour retoring properties? Ie: I don't need to restore any colour but I just want to remove some defects so it should be ok...

Cheers

[KingRichard]

PJ S said:

T-Cut? You'd have better results and less damage using barbed wire!
Seriously, steer well clear of the stuff - it's a paint stripper.
I'll have a search on DW, as can you now you're a member, for the AS polish, to see how abrasive it is. It might be alright, but the preferred brands tend to be Menz and 3M, for ease of working, finish, and effectiveness.

Oh ok then! Cool

My account hasn't been activated yet which is annoying. Hopefully get a chance to have a look later

[KingRichard]

Ok... I was going to post this up on detailingworld, but I may as well ask you since you're here - Whatshould I do first?

I was going to give it a good jet wash and a clay, then see what the paint looks like. Do I need to polish straight after claying or will a quick coat of AG Extra Gloss Protection protect the paint until I can do the job properly?

I might not even need to use a machine. I haven't spent that long checking the paintwork out...

[KingRichard]

TheGriffalo said:

KingRichard said:

Ok... I was going to post this up on detailingworld, but I may as well ask you since you're here - Whatshould I do first?

I was going to give it a good jet wash and a clay, then see what the paint looks like. Do I need to polish straight after claying or will a quick coat of AG Extra Gloss Protection protect the paint until I can do the job properly?

I might not even need to use a machine. I haven't spent that long checking the paintwork out...

Clay first, then Zymol HD Cleanse and a nice carnuba wax to follow

Keep well away from the T-Cut

Hey Rob

You fancy that beer sometime soon? I spent nearly the whole day yesterday around East Sussex and Surrey, should have looked you up!

Surely the cleansing will just clean all the shit out of the paint, and then waxing it will show up any defects even worse?

I guess I just want to rip the top layer of paint off

[KingRichard]

TheGriffalo said:

KingRichard said:

TheGriffalo said:

KingRichard said:

Ok... I was going to post this up on detailingworld, but I may as well ask you since you're here - Whatshould I do first?

I was going to give it a good jet wash and a clay, then see what the paint looks like. Do I need to polish straight after claying or will a quick coat of AG Extra Gloss Protection protect the paint until I can do the job properly?

I might not even need to use a machine. I haven't spent that long checking the paintwork out...

Clay first, then Zymol HD Cleanse and a nice carnuba wax to follow

Keep well away from the T-Cut

Hey Rob

You fancy that beer sometime soon? I spent nearly the whole day yesterday around East Sussex and Surrey, should have looked you up!

Surely the cleansing will just clean all the shit out of the paint, and then waxing it will show up any defects even worse?

I guess I just want to rip the top layer of paint off

You could have tried... But I live in East Anglia

I've done quite a lot of paint restoration and I'm in the "less is more" school of thought. The clay bar takes all the contaminants off and the HD Cleanse cleans it. You would be amazed at what a "proper" clean can do for your paintwork

T-Cut is way too coarse for my liking. As I was taught as an apprentice, you can't cut on.

Oops, I have it in my head that you're down this way

Oh well, next time I'm cruising Ipswich for a lady of ill repute I'll look you up

[KingRichard]

PJ S said:

Yes, but the Cleanse will remove the fillers, as it doesn't contain any of its own, in which case you'll clearly see the various defects.
Something with a bit of fill will reduce that and leave only the worst ones, or at best, none at all.

Ok... how's this then?

Two washes.
Acid the wheels (which are in great condition).
Chamois Dry.
Clay.
Autoglym Super Resin Polish. (I've got AS Platiinum as well but I think it's got various polymers and stuff in it which is fine for the cabs but I don't really want to use it on my own cars).
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.
Polish Glass.
Dress Plastics and tyres.

Interior Shampoo and Wet Vac.
Vacuum and brush once dry to raise pile.
Dress interior trim.

THat should do, and then see what's needed from there

[KingRichard]

TheGriffalo said:

Autoglym :shudder: It's petroleum based and leaves white dust everywhere. Once you try Zymol you'll never go back to Autoglym IMO.

Can you get Zymol in Halfrauds? I'll nip down there in the morning...

[KingRichard]

I think that's all a bit OTT for a £1300 car...

That all sounds like mega bucks However, I suppose learning the techniques and getting the products won't hurt as I'll be making a more interesting purchase later in the year

How much you looking at for this stuff? I have a microfibre cloth but surely it just gets wet and then acts like a sponge?

[KingRichard]

Mate is bringing some clay round in a minute, so I'll see what that takes out of the paint in a minute

I'm going to stick with AG stuff for the time being as I'm used to working with it from the olden days (fond memories of being a 5 year old helping dad polish his Jags)

I've never known it to go dusty

Sometimes it leaves a bit of residue if you use too much at a time. Maybe you were a bit too liberal with it Rob

Anyway. Let's see what happens with it... I'll try and post pictures up and do a mini-thread on it if anyone is interested

[KingRichard]

I've now got some wax called collinite 476S - any good?

[KingRichard]

David H said:

Please go over to DW, there's mostly bad information on this topic.

Edited by David H on Tuesday 29th January 23:36

What's your username over there?