Ask-A-Pro: Detailing Package Recommendations for BMW M3
by Todd CooperiderBlake seeks advice on product recommendations to maintain his BMW M3:
I have a pc7424. I also have a red BMW M3 with swirl marks and spidering. I need whatever pads polishes etc to get this baby looking new. Will you please put a package together for me? I will need a backing plate for the Lake Country pads as well. I have previously been using Adams Polishes but can’t get the results I’m looking for using their products. Thanks for you help! Blake
Hi Blake, and thanks for submitting your question about product recommendations for your BMW M3.
If you’re using a PC7424, you have some options available to you that will net stunning results on your red paint. As with any other products, the keys to getting the most out of your polishing session are in the preparation, and making sure you’re properly breaking down the polishes.
For BMW paint, it’s really tough to beat Menzerna polishes. The combination of Super Intensive Polish (SIP) for medium cut, and 106FA for finish polishing has been a standard in just about every pro detailers’ arsenal for some time now simply because it works…very well. If you either have light-medium defects, or if you’re willing to give up just a little bit of defect removal capability in favor of time savings, then I can also highly recommend Menzerna’s PO203S Power Finish. This particular polish has the ability to cut down medium level defects, while finishing down almost as good as a dedicated finishing polish.
Before polishing however, be sure to properly prep the paint during your wash and claying routines. Without this critical step, you may not achieve the same level of results.
After you have completed your polishing process, I’d recommend sealing the finish with a high quality sealant that will provide good looks, and impressive durability as well.
I’ll break down the product recommendations into two different categories. One is designed for heavier defects that will require a 2-step polishing process, and the other is designed for a one-step polishing process.
Two-Step Polishing Process:
- Menzerna Super Intensive Polish with Orange Lake Country Pads
- Menzerna 106FA with White Lake Country Pads
- Lake Country Backing Plate
- Chemical Guys Vertua-Bond 408 with Black or Blue Lake Country Pads
- Blackfire Wet Diamond, Optimum Opti-Seal, or Menzerna Power Lock sealant
- DI Accessories Great White MF towels
One-Step Polishing Process:
- Menzerna PO203S Power Finish with Orange Lake Country Pads
- Lake Country Backing Plate
- Chemical Guys Vertua-Bond 408 with Black or Blue Lake Country Pads
- Blackfire Wet Diamond, Optimum Opti-Seal, or Menzerna Power Lock sealant
- DI Accessories Great White MF towels
Regardless of which direction you choose to go, I’m sure you will get the results that you’ve been looking for all along. Either of these combinations will look stunning on your red BMW.
If you or anybody else has additional questions, please let us know. Also report back on how it worked out for you.
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Hi Todd,
I was looking for a similar package for a Blue Honda Civic SI. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated?
Thanks,
-Raj
Raj,
You could go with a real similar package, but with a few modifications since Honda / Acura utilizes much softer paint.
You’ll want a good selection of pads to play with (orange, white, black, and blue) depending on your needs. I’d recommend PO203S as your medium cut polish with either an orange or white pad, and then finish it off with PO85RD on a black or blue pad. With the soft paint that you have, PO85RD will really help bring out the maximum amount of gloss.
Thanks,
Todd
I want to ask same recomendations for 1996 Boston green BMW M3. As i know these older M3 has harder clear coat then newer ceramics clear coat. Would be polishes the same or i need something else? I have tryed 3m fast cut plus on 3m green pad, followed by menzerna po85re5 (is it really better than po85rd?) on 3m blue pad, results are not bad but still not what i looking for. Realy looking forward fo you advice. Thanks.
I would recommend the exact same combination as the red M3. If you have deeper imperfections that the SIP won’t cut, then try stepping up to either Menzerna Power Gloss or Meguiars M105 for the compounding stage. If you compound, then you may want to follow it up with PO203S and either an orange or white pad. This will give you a great finish, but if you wanted to refine it a little more you could then hit it with PO85RD and a black or blue pad.
Thanks,
Todd
Todd! I’ll be polishing my 2005 Imola Red 330ci this weekend with Meg’s 105 and 205 polishes. They worked WONDERS on my 96 Milano Red Civic using the Cyan/105 then White/205 LC pad/polish combinations. For the BMW, I’m planning on Orange/105 then white/205 combinations per some of your previous articles. I think I have ‘medium’ level swirls to remove (btw, how can I tell??)
Does this combination sound promising? I also have a black LC pad available in my arsenal, all powered by the PC7424xp.
Thanks!
David
David,
Your M105 / M205 combo for your 330ci sounds good. You may want to try a few different combinations to see what works best with the pads. Always try your least aggressive combo first and work from there (another reason to have plenty of pads available).
As for being able to tell the severity of swirls, it really just comes with experience. You’ll eventually get the ability to quickly look at a car and tell how severe they are (light, medium, heavy). The only catch to this are deeper scratches that hide under the swirls. Sometimes you can’t see these until you’ve removed the swirls.
Thanks,
Todd
I am extremely happy with the results of Menzerna M203 on BMW paints (Maserati and Porsche also) using either a Porter Cable orbital or a Makita rotary.
On more damaged surfaces, I’ll start with Menzerna SIP or Meguiars M105.
Those tools havent left let me down yet.
how about for a 2005 330 in jet black? would you say the same package or would your recommendation on the sealant choice change for a jet black car? thanks
Jonathan,
Jet Black is one of the more challenging paints to deal with! Although I’ve seen some different levels of softness, most of them are extremely soft. So soft in fact that just wiping a microfiber towel on it can mar the finish. You may still need something more aggressive if you have heavy defects (like PO203S or SIP), but you’ll definitely want to finish down as fine as possible. I would recommend a final finishing with something like Menzerna PO85RD on a blue pad.
As for sealant choices, they would be the same as above.
Good luck.
Todd
thanks, yeah I’ve noticed how soft it is. so if i understand correctly it would go something like SIP or similar IF theres heavy defects, otherwise 106FA on white pad, then PO85RD on blue pad, followed by the vertua-bond on blue pad and finally sealant? given how soft this paint is, i’m wondering if i shouldn’t take it to professionals for the repair step, then just work on keeping it nice myself. thanks again for the recommendations.
Jonathan,
What you described sounds like a pretty good plan to start. Always remember though that even with a good plan, it may require refinement once you start working with the paint. It sounds like you have the tools and products, so why not try to do it yourself even with the first step? It would be a great learning experience for you, and then you’ll know how to correct that finicky Jet Black paint in the future should you need to again.
Thanks,
Todd