98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

[synenergy52]

Just picked this car up. All original paint, original panels, pristine. The paint is VERY, VERY nice but it can use some more gloss. Looks ever so slightly dull. It has VERY minimal swirls--this car was well taken care of.

I am thinking of using a rotary + m83 + w8006 yellow foam pad. Is this overkill to just give the car more gloss? Or should I do it by hand?

I have experience wetsanding/rotary on my 5 series with nice results with M105. I'm not too scared of the rotary

Pics of the car are on my blog -- its the blue M3. http://vgphoto.blogspot.com/ thx for your help guys.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

So this is brand new to you car?

If so, then due to the excitement factor alone you better gear up and go to town on this thing and take it's finish to it's maximum potential, especially if you're going to be able to park it in a garage.


If you haven't used any of our SMAT products with a DA yet (or rotary), and you have a DA you might consider trying this option before diving in head first with a rotary buffer as doing a complete rotary buffer, buff-out is a lot of work and time.

Most people would agree that the new M105 and M205 will tend to be easier to work with and wipe-off as compared to M83, for that reason alone it's worth checking into these new products.

What's your goals for the finish on this car?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

Just picked this car up. All original paint, original panels, pristine. The paint is VERY, VERY nice but it can use some more gloss. Looks ever so slightly dull. It has VERY minimal swirls--this car was well taken care of.

Probably a good idea to start with a very thorough wash and dry job and then inspect to see if the paint needs to be clayed and if so do that first thing.

Might even clay at least the horizontal panels even if they feel smooth a lot of times detailing clay will remove and reveal to your eyes what your sense of touch may miss. This way you can be sure you're starting with contaminant-free surface and go from there.

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

I would suggest M80/8006 with rotary as you might not need M83... and always finish down with a finer polish as it seems you use M105 and that's it... if you need M83, do M83/8006, then M80/8006 or 9006

I have a Dakar 99 M3 so congrats!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

Gosh after clicking the above link and looking at the pictures, why not just wash it, clay it and apply some Tech Wax to it and then drive it like this!

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

haah I just saw the photos as well and all I could think was Estoril looks faded as a color

I still stick with my M80/8006 or 9006 to start recommendation

[synenergy52]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

LOL that's exactly what I did Mike! I have Tech Wax on there right now after doing a Clay/meguiars cleaner wax (red bottle). Though I still want to bring out more shine. The pictures do look slightly better than in real life. I, like many of you, have a very critical eye =) All I have is #83, and M105. And a rotary. So you think M105 isn't too abrasive for this already-shiny finish? I would think M105 would work great but wouldn't I have to finish with a finer polish afterwards?

[synenergy52]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

Yeah I want to bring out more blue in my estoril. Slightly lacking. And unfortunately I park it outside. I'm going to get a car cover for it.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

Using a rotary buffer for what you want to do is kind of overkill.

I would opt for rubbing it out by hand using the M105 with a foam applicator pad and then re-applying NXT Tech Wax.

A person using good technique and that knows how to rub a paint out by hand could rub that car out in around 2 hours.

Going around the car with a rotary buffer and just one product will take at least that long and then you may still have to do a second step before wax. Hard to say because M105 finishes out very nicely.

By hand you could be careful and avoid trim, with an RB you might want to do a little taping-off and this adds more time to the job.

The best way would be to get your hands on a DA Polisher like our G110 and a foam polishing pad and one of our new SMAT products, that way you could work by machine but avoid any of the extra steps associated with a rotary buffer.

[synenergy52]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

You're right I should probably work by hand. I'll try that on a small section with M105. And finish with techwax. Now can M105 be used on already-waxed paint? Or do I need to strip the wax first?

[drew.haynes]

Re: 98 M3 Blue + Rotary + W8006 yellow foam pad + M83?

OT: Love some of your photography.. especially some of the 50-prime stuff.