What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[xbimma]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Best of luck to you and the new ride. Hope your previous steed went to a good home.

We recently picked up an F15 as well, diesel version though. Not as engaging as the E53, but holy hell does it feel like a future car in terms of comfort and technology.

Agreed. And I would not have done it without Apple CarPlay integration. Just like my first 2003 E53, this one going to family and a car enthusiast. So I get to see my babies once in a while.

[srmmmm]

I replaced it with a new model


2016 X5 x35i 59,400 miles
2014 428i 75,000 miles



2002 X5 3.0 sold at 388,801 miles
2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird Under restoration - Hopefully new dash cover comes soon

[crystalworks]

Dropped Red off at the detailer for paint correction and ceramic coating. Can't wait to see her all shined up. Been a long time since she was fully detailed.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Dropped Red off at the detailer for paint correction and ceramic coating. Can't wait to see her all shined up. Been a long time since she was fully detailed.

I really should do the same. Just don't know enough about it to ask the right questions to find the right detailer.

[Purplecty]

I'd rather goto a good known detail shop vs the dealer. I plan to take mine to chicago auto pros in the spring / summer for my imola. Check out their youtube videos. They do amazing work!

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Purplecty

I'd rather goto a good known detail shop vs the dealer. I plan to take mine to chicago auto pros in the spring / summer for my imola. Check out their youtube videos. They do amazing work!

Agreed. But who would get a detail at a dealer?

OB, honestly it's a very expensive car wash. You can get 90% of the results with a polish and wax session. But that won't last nearly as long and aren't nearly as resistant to contaminants. A ceramic coated car looks like a freshly polished and waxed car for at least a year if you wash it using normal care (don't introduce swirls and such).

That said, my back can't take a weekend of paint correction, polishing, and washing anymore. So I'm happy to pay my detailer what he charges for the service (half what most do). He's very detail oriented and gives me good "feels" (important to us car guys if we're leaving our toys). Wish you were closer, he'd take care of you.

[Overboost]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Agreed. But who would get a detail at a dealer?

OB, honestly it's a very expensive car wash. You can get 90% of the results with a polish and wax session. But that won't last nearly as long and aren't nearly as resistant to contaminants. A ceramic coated car looks like a freshly polished and waxed car for at least a year if you wash it using normal care (don't introduce swirls and such).

That said, my back can't take a weekend of paint correction, polishing, and washing anymore. So I'm happy to pay my detailer what he charges for the service (half what most do). He's very detail oriented and gives me good "feels" (important to us car guys if we're leaving our toys). Wish you were closer, he'd take care of you.

Yeah, 4 days last year detailing mine in the driveway and it came out great but somehow I think it could be better by someone that has paint knowledge. I'm just a track junkie doing my best at what I think looks good but I would gladly pay for professional results.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Yeah, 4 days last year detailing mine in the driveway and it came out great but somehow I think it could be better by someone that has paint knowledge. I'm just a track junkie doing my best at what I think looks good but I would gladly pay for professional results.

And you're right. I found no matter how much time I spent with a DA/polisher, I can't get the same results as a pro. As with anything else, experience, and technique that pros bring to the table is almost always better than a hobbyist. Not always obviously, some very talented enthusiasts out there. But I'm not one of them.

[absolutezero273c]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

... I'm happy to pay my detailer what he charges for the service (half what most do). He's very detail oriented and gives me good "feels" (important to us car guys if we're leaving our toys). Wish you were closer, he'd take care of you.

My problem is I don't have the time and I don't know of anyone in the area I trust, as you say, to take care of my car(s).


The time factor plays a big part. My car is always the last to get the attention it needs while I'm keeping everyone else's on the road. I think my X5 got washed a total of 2 times last year.

[Purplecty]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Agreed. But who would get a detail at a dealer?



OB, honestly it's a very expensive car wash. You can get 90% of the results with a polish and wax session. But that won't last nearly as long and aren't nearly as resistant to contaminants. A ceramic coated car looks like a freshly polished and waxed car for at least a year if you wash it using normal care (don't introduce swirls and such).



That said, my back can't take a weekend of paint correction, polishing, and washing anymore. So I'm happy to pay my detailer what he charges for the service (half what most do). He's very detail oriented and gives me good "feels" (important to us car guys if we're leaving our toys). Wish you were closer, he'd take care of you.

For some reason I read it that you dropped red off at the dealer for a detail. Woops!