JP89e24
02-24-2010, 02:13 AM
My new (to me) 1998 M3 sedan has been a dream over the past three weeks that I've owned it. However, one thing that's been irking me is the number of swirls and scratches on the Cosmos Black metallic paint. It's a gorgeous color that suits the M quite well, but like any black car it obviously shows its wear more than other paint finishes. I'd say the exterior is about an 8/10 in its present condition, not bad at all for a twelve year-old black car from a Southern climate with it's original factory paint.
Having seen pictures of some beautifully detailed Cosmos M3s and that sweet black Porsche 911 vert that someone just posted, I've been thinking about ways to make my sedan's paintwork "pop" once again. My car detailing experience has only consisted of basic washing and waxing, and I've never undertaken something this extensive before. So here's what I'd like to know:
*How long will it take for me to complete a respectable detail job and light paint correction (scratches, swirls and water spots)? BTW, I won't be doing it until late next month/April, whenever the weather is mild enough for washing cars outside in the driveway again.
*What brand waxes and supplies do you recommend I buy? Can they be bought for less than $60-80 total? I'm not cheap, but it's a DD with light wear and I see no point in making it perfect since the M doesn't have a garage, nor is it a show car. I've had good luck with P21S for simple washes, but what about scratch removers and rags, brushes etc.?
*Finally, if this type of a job is too complex for an amateur with no access or willingness to spend money on a buffer or other complex equipment, can someone recommend a good detailer in the DC area? Again, this is no show piece, just a really nice DD. As much as I'm trying to learn to do more of my own work on my car instead of paying someone else to do it, I am willing to pay a fair price to get the job done right and keep my paint fresh and protected for awhile. I'm just not sure if this job is beyond my skill set or if it'd be a good project for a friend and I to try on some Saturday afternoon.
Forgive me if I'm covering anything thats been stickied or covered multiple times in past threads. Just curious if anyone has any expertise on Cosmos Black metallic in particular since it's not a typical flat black.
Thanks!
Having seen pictures of some beautifully detailed Cosmos M3s and that sweet black Porsche 911 vert that someone just posted, I've been thinking about ways to make my sedan's paintwork "pop" once again. My car detailing experience has only consisted of basic washing and waxing, and I've never undertaken something this extensive before. So here's what I'd like to know:
*How long will it take for me to complete a respectable detail job and light paint correction (scratches, swirls and water spots)? BTW, I won't be doing it until late next month/April, whenever the weather is mild enough for washing cars outside in the driveway again.
*What brand waxes and supplies do you recommend I buy? Can they be bought for less than $60-80 total? I'm not cheap, but it's a DD with light wear and I see no point in making it perfect since the M doesn't have a garage, nor is it a show car. I've had good luck with P21S for simple washes, but what about scratch removers and rags, brushes etc.?
*Finally, if this type of a job is too complex for an amateur with no access or willingness to spend money on a buffer or other complex equipment, can someone recommend a good detailer in the DC area? Again, this is no show piece, just a really nice DD. As much as I'm trying to learn to do more of my own work on my car instead of paying someone else to do it, I am willing to pay a fair price to get the job done right and keep my paint fresh and protected for awhile. I'm just not sure if this job is beyond my skill set or if it'd be a good project for a friend and I to try on some Saturday afternoon.
Forgive me if I'm covering anything thats been stickied or covered multiple times in past threads. Just curious if anyone has any expertise on Cosmos Black metallic in particular since it's not a typical flat black.
Thanks!