Spring cleaning

[Digitalwave]

I haven't detailed the E36 since the month I got it and it was long over due. Palm Beach has severe water restrictions because of our drought so I haven't been washing it a lot lately either. A friend of mine took pictures with my camera as I detailed the car. He didn't start taking pictures til I was done with the body, so there are no pictures of the process.

Add love bug season into the mix and this is what I started with:





The body very close to being finished:





Me polishing the exhaust:



Spot cleaning the rims:



Most of the products (overall cost is more than some have spent on their E30's :loco: ):







Exterior finished, besides adding the trim back on:



Trim installed:





Starting on the interior:



Half way through the interior:



No finished pics since it started raining and we called it a day. But at least she's clean and protected for the summer now.

[backtrail69]

I LOVE a freshly detailed car, even e36s. I can't wait to move back home for the summer and do mine (eta DD).

[Jean]

Good work. The exhaust tips are half black though

[Erick]

It doesnt matter how many times you wash and detail it.... it's still an e36. :p

[DarkWing6]

There is that saying....how does it go?

Oh ya, you can't polish a turd. :p

[Il Duce]

what's that e30 doing in your driveway?

and what are you gonna do w/ that front end? I remember you were talking about some aftermarket lips and such...

I love your paint TJ. that color is sweetness.

[A.LACK]

M3 mirriors would make your car look 10X better.

[Digitalwave]

Front end will be getting an M-tech bumper with who knows what front lip/splitter, but something. I don't really care for M3 mirrors, plus I really don't want to make it look like a complete M3 replica. I'd rather go with some smaller cup mirrors.

[8atman]

looks great man!!!! I love cleaning and detailing the rewards are so worth it. My buddy and I have about the same amount of detailing gear as you haha. If your gonna do it right you got to use the right stuff.

[Il Duce]

and the e30 in your driveway...

[nando]

what did you use to polish the exhaust tips? I need to do mine..

[Jand3rson]

What are you using to clean your rims, TJ? It looks like Purple Power (same thing as Super Clean). If it is, I would stop using that stuff on your wheels. It will start to strip the clearcoat off of the wheels, and then the paint. Right before I took mine in to get powdercoated, the guy at the shop was showing me several areas of where the cleaner was starting to eat through the finish, and I was using it pretty diluted.

On another note, the car is looking very hot! I like the BMW Motorsport inserts in the side trim, too. I wish E30 side moldings were more flat and had a provision for those so we could use them. I always thought they were really cool looking.

[Mystikal]

Use BMW wheel cleaner (dealer item). It kicks so much ass, especially the current formula (which only released last year). It's also cheap.

-Jay

[Jand3rson]

Use BMW wheel cleaner (dealer item). It kicks so much ass, especially the current formula (which only released last year). It's also cheap.

-Jay

That's what I've been told by a few others, too. Great thing about powdercoating? ANYTHING comes off with soap and hot water. :D

[Digitalwave]

what did you use to polish the exhaust tips? I need to do mine..

Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish. Any metal polish usually works fine though. I got this cause it was only $4-5.

Josh, I was using Purple Power but its really just to spot clean certain spots. I know its harsh and I didn't even dilute it, but its really all that will get off certain stubborn spots. I only use it on the rims once or twice a year. Other wise its just normal car wash soap to clean the rims.