BMW X5

Background
This car is only 2 or 3 months old and had only been washed safely a couple of times since new.

I have never been a fan of the X5 but I have to say that the new shape is a lot nicer than the previous.

The car was pretty dirty and most of it was quite firmly bonded to the body. I knew the wash routine was going to be fairly time-consuming and tedious.

Some Before pics, taken a couple of weeks before I got to work on it :

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Wash and Clay (3 hours)
The wheels required 2 washes to completely remove all the grime. Many tar spots left over and were ably taken car of with Autosmart Tardis tar remover.
The car must have had over a hundred tar spots all over the paintwork, even above halfway up the rear end. Claying only removed some of them, so out with the Tardis again. Sorted. Car finally rinsed and towel-dried and reversed into the garage ready for taping up.

Paint Condition
There were only very minor swirls evident when examined closely, but it took a while to locate them. No camera on Day 1 but I don’t think I would have captured the swirls on it anyway.

Using the Sonatest paint gauge, the total paint thickness was between 125 and 155 microns throughout.

Machining


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Polish spread with the Mak switched off, followed by:
2 passes at 600 rpm
2 passes at 1200 rpm
3 passes at 1500 rpm
2 passes at 900 rpm.

Machining finished around 2pm on the second day, after having started at 8:30. I took a half-hour break to brace myself for 5 solid hours of glazing, sealant and wax application and buffing.

Prior to glazing, the whole car was given a wipe down with Quick Detailer spray to catch any remaining residues and general dust.

These are some pics before the glazing and LSP stages:


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Glazing and LSP
This is the first time I’ve used CG EZ Crème Glaze. Applied using a red Lake Country 6.5 inch finishing pad.
Spread with machine off, then worked in for two passes at 600 rpm. Then buffed clear.


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Nice product, adding some nice gloss for the remaining protection.
Then followed 2 coats of sealant. Applied to the whole car and then the residue buffed clear. The second coat followed immediately after a 10 minute coffee break.
Then, a coat of wax. Very easy to apply and buff clear.

External Windows
Cleansed and sealed using Jeffs Prime Acrylic all in one.
Window Trims
Jeffs, followed by a coat of 50:50 wax.
Tyres
CG Tyre gel.
Wheel Arches
CG Bare Bones undercarriage spray, then wiped with MF
Wheel Arch Trims and Remaining Black Plastics
CG Fade 2 Black sprayed, then wiped with MF.
Wheels
Cleansed and sealed with Jeffs Prime Acrylic.
Tailpipes
Polished for 2 or 3 minutes using the firm red side of a German applicator pad

Wheels Before and After


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Tailpipes Before and After


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General Afters


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Sorry for some blurred pics. A beast of a car, but one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Although I'd love to be working on another Audi soon LOL!!!

I’d like to thank the owner for their hospitality, generosity and gratitude throughout the weekend.

Thanks,
JOHN

Thanks Chris and Carl.

Carl, I was thinkin about you guys the other day and hope the move went ahead ok. Tell your good lady and the wee man I was asking after them. I wish you all the best mate.

As for the Avatar, I only changed it earlier - now I realise why it wasn't my avatar before!!!!!

Was going to use the S3 instead but I can't because brucer has it as his and it's his car after all. Will have to resort to my own car then LOL.

Cheers:icon_thumright: