06-28-2020, 04:49 PM | #3191 | |
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Just a suggestion – I haven't used the forum myself.
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2017 M240i: 25.9K, 28.9 mpg, MT, Sunroof Delete, 3,432#, EB, Leather, Driving Assistance Package, Heated Front Seats | Sold: E12 530i, E24 M635CSi, E39 520i, E30 325is, E36 M3 (2)
TC Kline Coilovers; H&R Front Bar; Wavetrac; Al Subframe Bushings; 18X9/9½ ARC-8s; 255/35-18 PS4S (4); Dinan Elite V2 & CAI; MPerf Orange BBK; Schroth Quick Fit Pro; Full PPF |
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06-28-2020, 04:54 PM | #3192 | ||
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2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible |
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06-28-2020, 06:07 PM | #3193 | |
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Truth be told, I haven't done anything to a vehicle exterior in over two decades. Just too damm lazy anymore – both to do it, and to take it somewhere to have someone else do it. Still, paint correction, XPEL (or the equivalent), and whatever comes after that are on my to-do list for this car. I'm still buying performance bits, though, so I'm in no hurry.
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2017 M240i: 25.9K, 28.9 mpg, MT, Sunroof Delete, 3,432#, EB, Leather, Driving Assistance Package, Heated Front Seats | Sold: E12 530i, E24 M635CSi, E39 520i, E30 325is, E36 M3 (2)
TC Kline Coilovers; H&R Front Bar; Wavetrac; Al Subframe Bushings; 18X9/9½ ARC-8s; 255/35-18 PS4S (4); Dinan Elite V2 & CAI; MPerf Orange BBK; Schroth Quick Fit Pro; Full PPF |
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06-28-2020, 06:08 PM | #3194 |
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Bavsound Ghost subwoofer install done today! Audio sure whomps now.
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06-28-2020, 08:24 PM | #3196 | |
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So I had to educate myself on this as well. You see my wife and I will never ever have the time to wax and polish and do all that shit ourselves. Secondly getting it professionally done is a hassle as well. You have to take the car, drop it off bla blah blah You know how you see these expensive cars looking all showroom new all the time? Basically they have either done ceramic coating or clear wrapping, or both. So, XPEL clear wrap is a plastic wrap that goes on your car. Ceramic coating is, as the name implies, a coating. The most cost effective combo is getting XPEL on the front (complete hood and bumper, the windscreen frame of the convertible and the side view mirrors, and the front fenders) AND doing ceramic coating on the rest of the car. Ceramic Pro is the only ceramic coating brand I trust; they are the biggest and they have a lifetime warranty. Plus it goes on your CARFAX as a positive! XPEL clear wrap is the only brand that boasts a partnership/endorsement with BMW and you see their ads all the time in the BMW CCA magazine. You will never have to wax or polish again! Bugs will slide right off with some ONR and elbow grease And, and... your car will always look showroom new. (Sorry to hijack the thread guys!) Edit: yes, totally a replacement for all that waxing and polishing crap. Who has time for that? And yes, this is the best thing you can do for your car. Most shops who do this well do this on ferraris, lambos, porsches... and our beloved bimbims |
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Texan2er20.00 |
06-29-2020, 07:27 AM | #3197 |
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I think those clear wraps are like the plastic covers that your aunt kept on the couch. They work, but are perhaps worse than not being covered. Especially the partial-panel sheets - just horrid looking. If you aren't picky enough to really do your own detailing, just use a good poly sealant (or ceramics) and use a detail spray with each wash (I use the Griots line). You wax 1 or 2 times a year (perhaps an additional hour, if that), rest is just wash and dry. Leave the Carnuba and paint-clay for the hobbyists who like doing it. They make a spray-on bug shield that works pretty well too, but you still need to wash the whole thing.
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06-29-2020, 07:57 AM | #3198 | |
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I was like you too; never a fan of putting my car in a condom... till I saw his work! |
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06-29-2020, 08:28 AM | #3199 |
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I'd have to admit that I haven't really gone looking, so perhaps there are great looking versions out there (or, more accurately, invisible options). What I have been shown leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps that is why it was being noted by the owners, though (mostly at track days, where people are sort of glad to have the protection, but knowing it will only pay off once they strip the plastic off). I'd certainly want to see somebody's work first, to be sure it still looks good to you.
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06-29-2020, 10:09 AM | #3200 | |
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You will be surprised how easy it makes life while giving you that permanent showroom sparkle. It is insane. |
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06-29-2020, 11:12 AM | #3201 |
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Take a look at my post on page 139. The right-side picture shows the Xpel wrap front quarter panel vs the waxed door. From two feet away you can't tell it's a wrap. And the stuff really works well, actually amazing when you can remove tree sap or bird crap stains with isopropyl alcohol. My dog tried to dig his way through the hood when we were on vacation when a mouse had entered the engine compartment. A pot of hot water poured direct on the hood and I watched with amazement the nano-technology work its magic and the wrap repaired itself.
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06-30-2020, 09:33 PM | #3202 |
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I ordered these over the weekend in a 19x8.5 squared set up with +38 offset. I'm on Dinan lowering springs with the Dinan front and rear sway bars and the bump stops. |
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07-01-2020, 07:54 AM | #3203 |
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I had a clear wrap on my 135is, not the whole front, mostly just the forward-facing bits. After a couple of years you could see at the boundary that the plastic had yellowed differently from the paint. I'm sure it would have been unnoticeable had I had the whole front done, back to the doors.
On my M240, I was going to have it done but the installer insisted that I drop it off for a day or two and I wasn't willing to do that, at least in part because there was no reasonable transportation from his shop. So I went without. So far, no harm, but it only takes one stone to change that story. |
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07-01-2020, 09:20 AM | #3204 |
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I have mixed feelings about clear-bra, after working in a shop that specialized in the stuff. It definitely slows the aging process at first by blocking rocks and other debris from ruining your paint.
However, I also found that after 4-5 years, occasionally street parkers would have to have it taken off because it would start yellowing and cracking pretty aggressively (yes, even good 3M or xpel). While it saves your paint from chips, as the material hardens the bra, itself will chip. It's also just an absolute nightmare to remove. Because most people elect to not wrap an entire piece in the stuff, you also end up with an unsightly line after removal where the film was. It does protect from UV, and as a result anything not covered in it ends up a different color. I'm not the kind of person that cares too much so at the end of the day, I found it not worth it to install on my cars unless I wanted them kept for only a short while. Otherwise, I just live with the rock chips and a small touchup pen. Ceramic coat is great though. Would recommend that to anybody who can't find the time or doesn't care to spend every weekend washing their car. Ceramic coat + touchless wash = great looking car with minimal effort. Great for those of us without garages. I still wax over it regardless. It's like the entire car is covered in rain-x.
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07-01-2020, 11:33 AM | #3205 | |
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Absolute silliness to wax over ceramic coating. Please feel free to Google this: "Can I wax over ceramic coating?". Feel free to post on Reddit /r/autodetailing NO ONE will recommend waxing as it kills the coating and essentially defeats the purpose of getting ceramic coating in the first place. You also get these terrible TERRIBLE raised spots. With ceramic coating, you do it once, and you do it right, and then continue to renew your coating every year or so. Also, clear bra is NOT for street parkers. Or for folks who don't have access to filtered water. I guess that would apply to ceramic coating as well. If you are short on cash, skip the bra or worse yet that half-bra, and get a coating. If you park on the street, nothing will protect you. |
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07-01-2020, 11:38 AM | #3206 | |
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I'm not DA'ing some thick wax, constantly rubbing off the coating. Quick detailer is all I use. I don't care about shine, I care about protecting my car from the Colorado sun. Besides, it's a 2 series not a 458. Edit: Anyway if it's still wrong, I'll stop when I get it. The people who put on my ceramic on the last car said it was fine.
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Last edited by GoldfishRT; 07-01-2020 at 11:45 AM.. |
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07-01-2020, 11:40 AM | #3207 | ||
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07-01-2020, 11:49 AM | #3208 |
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No worries. I understand the passion - buddy of mine has a Porsche who's super into making his car the shinniest on the block. It's definitely noticeable how nice it looks, you'd never guess it had 80k on the clock, but it's also an insane amount of work so I can't blame him for being equally passionate. He used to freak about me using one bucket to wash my cars haha.
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07-01-2020, 11:54 AM | #3209 |
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I had my M235i ceramic coated. Not quite as happy with it as I thought I would be. But I also may have been expecting too much.
If it protects the paint and finish, then I can live with that. I guess I was expecting it to stay cleaner longer in between washes and all that. |
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07-01-2020, 12:49 PM | #3210 |
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I spray Griots "Best Show Detailer" after a drive, works great for bugs, dust and light road dirt. (you could hit with light hose spray, then wipe with above)
SerenVox, those Titan 5's look sick, can't wait to get my black ones. |
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07-01-2020, 11:41 PM | #3211 |
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Did the final "going out of warranty" checks to it. 50k mi... its holding up alright I guess. Lots of failing trim pieces thus far, covered by warranty, and the headlights getting a ton of pits and cracks, but mechanically it's great. Always look forward to driving it, even though it's seemed to develop a bit more turbo lag in the past while.
It's great how darty and eager these cars are. It's like a grown up Abarth 500. Pic because who doesn't like looking at a 2er. |
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07-01-2020, 11:53 PM | #3212 | |
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