Step TWO. OCD in full swing. Before PICS
 

THIS weekend was THE ONE! A 7AM Saturday wakeup had me prepping for a friend's 0730 arrival. The Saturday paint protection plan:
Tape
Clay Bar (Simple Magic)
Polish I (Minzerna)
Inspect
Polish II- remaining scratches (Minzerna)
Polish III- Zaino ZPC
Polish IV- Zaino All in One

This is just before the clay. And oh yeah- the refinished wheels are on!
http://www.my02.com/images/4.8is/redyfrnt.jpg

Note the swirls in the flash:
http://www.my02.com/images/4.8is/redyback.jpg

I have more from yesterday, but I need to wrap up the day.

Today (Sunday) was a day for sealant and shine. Three layers of Zaino's Z2 a quick Z6, and the final Zaino application of Z-CS. Zaino's clear shine. I don't have pictures yet because a gaggle of friends convinced me that today was as good a day as any to install the OE Aluminum running boards that I had delivered this week. :rolleyes:

We got ONE side done as we realized that the 'how to' that we found here was written by someone who either didn't actually DO the install or just plain didn't take the time for a good DIY. I hope to make a DIY that is worth a d@mn and post it here soon. I'll use my driver's side as the subject.

Wow she's..... pretty...:drool:
Where you get the Running boards btw?

THANKS! I bought them from BMW of Bloomfield. Here are a couple of 'during' pics. I still have no pics after the progressive applications of the finer cut Zaino products. I know, I know... I'll get 'em!

http://www.my02.com/images/4.8is/polishside.jpg

http://www.my02.com/images/4.8is/2x5s.jpg

http://www.my02.com/images/4.8is/bimmerblues.jpg

http://www.my02.com/images/4.8is/bimmerblues3.jpg

Still drooooling over here, now i am seeing two le mans blue x5 and a 3 in the back! looking prettier and prettier. I am planning on washing/waxing my X tomorrow, i should try sealant for my X too. How is zaino? and btw your pillars are shiney! Are those the Ebay polished pillars?

Thanks for your compliments. That other X5 is my trusty old dark green 2004 3.0 with the 4.8's wheels on it. I need to get it polished and ready for sale.

Everybody has opinions about wax/sealants. I have used Zaino for about 6 years, now. It's been great to work with, long lasting, and gives a GREAT shine. I really like it. It is expensive when compared to some waxes, but it is less or equal in price to others. To me, it's more about the paint preparation and the polish UNDERNEATH rather than the sealant on top. Get the base right and it will look great no matter what you choose.

Those are the stock pillars polished with the same process as the paint. They are just clear coated, glossy paint after all! I just treat them like I do the paint.

::jealous:: also ::cursing my allergies:: - I could try doing this on a nice weekend, but I'd end up with sneezing fits thanks to all the pollen.

Looks great, I used to swear by Zaino until the first time I clayed my old Grand Prix and used a better sealant - liquid glass

i usually do a nice wash, than clay bar, and that use meguires Black nano 2.0 wax. Anyone do a wax than Sealant? does that make it last any longer?

PICS! Always looking for new stuff!

traded your friend your wheels for his?

I haven't used a sealant over a wax in years except for Zaino's product. Early on, I was using the Klasse products. Nice shine, and you could top it with a carnuba P21S for a good, deep luster. It was a bit difficult to work with though.

To hear Zaino tell it, the products 'bind' together with the paint as they layer atop one another. I dunno how much of that is really true, but I can say that the many many times I have used Zaino and then skipped a bi-annual detail, it seems to last well into the next year. Of course, I also use multiple layers of wax, and hit it a few times during that year.

I think of wax the same way I think of oil. If you just use the stuff and follow decent procedure, you'll be rewarded with years of solid service. I could care less about brand- Give me specs and performance!