CleanDetail - BMW Alpina Z4 Full Correction + extras

cleandetail · Post by **cleandetail** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:27 pm

Yorkshire Detailing & Ceramic Protection Specialist
Website: www.mobile-detailing.co.uk | Call: 01302 354798 | Email: info@cleandetail.com

Todayâ€™s Treatments: Full Correction Leather repair, Callipers painted & Wheels powder coated then Engine Detail.

Here we have the BMW Z4 Alpina in for a number of various services to ensure it is brought back to its best condition. This of course is a Alpina Register owners member

So, here she is upon arrival.

So, as you can see not its the worst looking Z4 and certainly not in the worst condition. First things first, i citrus pre-washed the bottom half of the car, and mirrors before rinsing and snow foaming the full vehicle.

Due to the crap weather photos stopped until it was brought inside.

Before that, it had a 2 bucket method wash, rinse, wheel cleaned with Autobrite Very Cherry wheel cleaner, which by the way smells amazing. Roof was scrubbed with fabric cleaner, rinsed and then hovered dry. Engine bay was cleaned beforehand. Using a mix of G101, Maxolen engine cleaner and swissvax brush's.

Once inside it was clayed, dried and moved to the rear of the unit to be stored as the wheels were to be removed right away.

Roof masked and protected while I was working on the rest of the car.

Inspection photos were then taken.

Here is a before and after on the rear wing.

Before:

And here is after. One refining pass left to do but i was very happy.

All the paint work was treated to a 3 stage machine, Using a mix of Scholl S3 Gold, S17+ and a Microfibre system to ensure the flawless finish.

So, before the sealant was applied. I started on the callipers.

Here they were before starting.

Standed and wire bushed down ready for the first coat.

De-waxer was applied to ensure a nice clean surface to paint on.

Each calliper was then left to dry before been masked and the first coat applied.

Second coat applied:

Each coat was left for 4 hours before the next was applied. This ensured a great bond but also as i was brushing them on, it would minimise the bush marks left in the paint most commonly seen when the paint is still sticky.

Same process was done for each calliper. Here is the rear which also shows the arches full cleaned then protected with Meguiars All Season Dressing.

Next i collected the nice fresh powder coated wheels.

A nice coat of our G-3 Glasscoat Ceramic was applied to the inside & outside of the alloy to ensure all around protection before the wheels were fitted.

Once the allows were re-fitted, the paint work was given a layer of Autobrite Ultra Slick Sealant before been given a nice few layers of wax (this was done later as you will see)

Next was to ensure the engine bay was sorted. It was dusted down, paint work polished with DoDo Juice Lime prime then Autobrite Engine Protection was used. Due to me been stupid, Iâ€™ve only got a low res phone photo as it seams i forgot to get one with the DSLR. (My Bad).

Next job was the inside of the car and testing a new leather product :thumb: After first testing the Fenice Leather care kit on the sofas at home, i was more than happy to use this on the Alpina. A few days before hand i had a contractor come and do the leather as it had started to ware on the bolsters (as we dont to leather repair at this point )

Here is the Finice kit.

And the kit in use.

Very happy with that finish and i would recommend it to anyone!

Next the full inside was vacuumed and then plastics treated with Poorboys Natural Look watered down to 50:50 to ensure a real natural look :thumb:

All of which gave this finish inside :argie:

Once happy with the Inside, windows cleaned and roof back up it was time to wax the paintwork.

I have it 1x layer of Swissvax Best Of Show & 2x Layers of Crystal rock over a 48hour period to ensure the best bond and of course finish.

Next was the final little bits, Autobrite Repel added to the windows, all badges & chrome polished and detailed. Tyre dressing added and the roof was given another roll over with the lint remover.

Here are some snaps before taken outside for the final photos.

More than happy with the results. The customer was collected and here is the finished artical. With a total of around 39 Hours over the space of a 2 day booking and then spread over a space of 2 weeks while the client was away.

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ade and liz flint · Post by **ade and liz flint** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:04 pm

Nice...but I would say that

One query...why no hub painting? Makes little sense to me to have nice shiny calipers and scruffy hubs visible through the wheels

cleandetail · Post by **cleandetail** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:07 pm

ade and liz flint wrote:Nice...but I would say that

One query...why no hub painting? Makes little sense to me to have nice shiny calipers and scruffy hubs visible through the wheels

I do that too, But for the sake of it i'd suggest changing the disc as its that you see not the hub

ade and liz flint · Post by **ade and liz flint** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:12 pm

cleandetail wrote:I do that too, But for the sake of it i'd suggest changing the disc as its that you see not the hub

Ok, slight difference in definition, but we're talking the same part

and they still need painting to prevent horrible corrosion-staining. Mine are all painted anyway as I'm a fastidious so-and-so, so no work coming your way from here

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:14 pm

That's a lovely job and makes the RS look the way it should

cleandetail · Post by **cleandetail** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:14 pm

ade and liz flint wrote:
cleandetail wrote:I do that too, But for the sake of it i'd suggest changing the disc as its that you see not the hub
Ok, slight difference in definition, but we're talking the same part and they still need painting to prevent horrible corrosion-staining. Mine are all painted anyway as I'm a fastidious so-and-so, so no work coming your way from here

Haha fair inuf. I can see where your coming from. Painting them is a good idea if they have plenty of life. Infact my 1 series is in need of it as well as the callipers so, another job on the list lol

ATB
Nick

cleandetail · Post by **cleandetail** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:16 pm

PerryGunn wrote:That's a lovely job and makes the RS look the way it should

Thank you!

D3orbust · Post by **D3orbust** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:28 pm

Stunning, just Glasur'd my D3 this weekend in time for the winter.

So I take it your the honourary forum Detailing Bod?

cleandetail · Post by **cleandetail** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:31 pm

D3orbust wrote:Stunning, just Glasur'd my D3 this weekend in time for the winter.

So I take it your the honourary forum Detailing Bod?

Cant go wrong with that! Got a few tricks coming for winter protection for wheels etc.

Not really thought about been the "detailing bod" but if the hat fits and all that

Nick

Estoril Sport · Post by **Estoril Sport** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:38 pm

Just simply brilliant, the Alpina Roaster looks like new.

(Apart from the wheel hubs).

Although in defence the disks and hub can get very hot. I previously had Sytner to paint mine (via their smart paint service) and the silver paint has since gone a slight bronze colour

I was informed by Sytner that they do not actually recommend painting as the temperatures can get so hot to burn the paint! (like mine

)

cleandetail · Post by **cleandetail** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:41 pm

Estoril Sport wrote:Just simply brilliant, the Alpina Roaster looks like new. (Apart from the wheel hubs).

Although in defence the disks and hub can get very hot. I previously had Sytner to paint mine (via their smart paint service) and the silver paint has since gone a slight bronze colour

I was informed by Sytner that they do not actually recommend painting as the temperatures can get so hot to burn the paint! (like mine )

Sounds about right!

Its not bad it the cars used for slow road use, but if your using it for giving it the beans, track days etc its not a great idea

Your write up is next by the way

ATB
Nick

Estoril Sport · Post by **Estoril Sport** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:50 pm

The hubs on the B3 BT started getting rusty within a year of having the car. Sytner said it is a common issue with BMW cars, that they do not apply much paint on the hubs!

Sytner would not change them under warranty so they painted mine and the result now they have gone a tinge of bronze near the disk.

Thanks Nick I look forward to it

For interest why the need powder coated Dynamic alloys had the other alloys been kerbed?

D3orbust · Post by **D3orbust** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:05 pm

Nick,

what tools and materials would you reccomend for a caliper refurb?

thinking about painting mine over the next few weeks.

Stuart Truman · Post by **Stuart Truman** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:57 pm

Whose car is it? #198 is not on the register. 199 is though and identical.

dave_alp · Post by **dave_alp** » Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:03 pm

Very nice as ever, Nick!