Spring Cleaning: Mystic Blue 06 Gets Cleaned, Polished and Waxed (long post)

AMR · 05-13-2008, 12:49 PM

So after two years and almost 39,000 miles, I decided a good cleaning was in order. I also thought it could be a good chance to give Griot's Garage products and orbital polisher a try. I was nervous at first about trying a machine, had always done it by hand. So here are the details...

Products:
- Griot's clay bar, machine polish 3 and machine wax.
Griot's 3" and 6" orbital polishers (glad I bought both, the 6er would've been too big for the bumper and other tight areas/surfaces).
- P21S tube polisher (forgot the name, and I threw the tube out yesterday when it was spent) to polish the exhaust tips)
- Lots of cotton terry towels.

Process:
- Wash the car, dry.
- Used the clay bar by hand to start the waxing process. It's amazing how much dirt and grime is latched on to the surface of our cars. The clay bar got so dirty and black, I had to use another piece.
- Applied the polish using the orbitals (orange Griot's sponges). Remove the polish by hand using the terry towels. Don't wait until it's dry, it's a nightmare to remove when dry. Again, it's amazing how much dirt there is on these paints. The sponges would get gray after doing just two panels. So I washed them in water after every couple of panels.
- Applied the wax using the red sponges. By now the dirt is gone, didn't have to wash or switch sponges. Did the entire car at once, went to bed and woke up in the morning to remove it after it had dried. It was like "uncovering" a brand new car all over again. It makes the whole thing worth it!!!!

Very happy with the products and process. The one lesson learned is to use the clay bar more carefully around the 3M protective film. I have it all over, rear deck, bumpers, etc. and it's a pain to remove when it gets stuck on the edges of the film. I left some as I was too tired to care. I still need to clean the inside, dress the tires and then I'm done. Overall, it took a total of 8 hours to finish this, I split it over three days (I lose interest after a couple of hours, so spreading it helps me get these projects done).

Enjoy the pics and let me know if you have tips for next time (next up is the 330's big sister pictured below).

EmPower · 05-13-2008, 12:53 PM

Whats the M5 like. Is the steering and hadling as precise as the 3er? I love my 335. Its a go-kart on steroids. Its low enough and wide enough and stiff enough to simulate a go-kart.

Anyway, I am originally from Boston. keep your fingers crossed for the Celtics!!!

Tallest · 05-13-2008, 12:59 PM

that color is special order? dont think we have this on Individual and i havent seen it anywhere actually! Reminds me a bit of Avus blue. It is such a nice color though, better then blurple Montego by miles, and on par with LeMans Blue. Great looking M5 there too and nice job on clean up, just wish you posted bigger pics!

AMR · 05-13-2008, 05:28 PM

Hi, the M5 is great, it's a whole other experience. I bought the 330 after the M5 and completely unexpectedly. Saw the ads for the then newly released 3 series, decided to test drive it and felt like they did their homework and couldn't resist signing up for a 3er. There's only one car that distills everything BMW stands for and it's the 3 and I walked away from the test drive wanting one. They can make M's, 7's, X's etc. but only the 3 is the true representative of "BMWness". The 335 is great, I test drove one and was going for it until I heard about the 1 series and decided to wait.

AMR · 05-13-2008, 05:32 PM

320what, it was a metallic color option on 2006's, it's not offered anymore. The Individual program has not been rolled out in the US on 3's. Mystic blue looks like it was replaced by the Deep Sea Blue on the 5's and Montego on the 3's. I just tried the Build Your Own on bmwusa.com and I don't see Mystic anymore.
I posted fairly large pics, but they got downsized. I'll try something different next time.

05-13-2008, 12:49 PM	#1
AMR Private 5 Rep 53 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Spring Cleaning: Mystic Blue 06 Gets Cleaned, Polished and Waxed (long post) So after two years and almost 39,000 miles, I decided a good cleaning was in order. I also thought it could be a good chance to give Griot's Garage products and orbital polisher a try. I was nervous at first about trying a machine, had always done it by hand. So here are the details... Products: - Griot's clay bar, machine polish 3 and machine wax. Griot's 3" and 6" orbital polishers (glad I bought both, the 6er would've been too big for the bumper and other tight areas/surfaces). - P21S tube polisher (forgot the name, and I threw the tube out yesterday when it was spent) to polish the exhaust tips) - Lots of cotton terry towels. Process: - Wash the car, dry. - Used the clay bar by hand to start the waxing process. It's amazing how much dirt and grime is latched on to the surface of our cars. The clay bar got so dirty and black, I had to use another piece. - Applied the polish using the orbitals (orange Griot's sponges). Remove the polish by hand using the terry towels. Don't wait until it's dry, it's a nightmare to remove when dry. Again, it's amazing how much dirt there is on these paints. The sponges would get gray after doing just two panels. So I washed them in water after every couple of panels. - Applied the wax using the red sponges. By now the dirt is gone, didn't have to wash or switch sponges. Did the entire car at once, went to bed and woke up in the morning to remove it after it had dried. It was like "uncovering" a brand new car all over again. It makes the whole thing worth it!!!! Very happy with the products and process. The one lesson learned is to use the clay bar more carefully around the 3M protective film. I have it all over, rear deck, bumpers, etc. and it's a pain to remove when it gets stuck on the edges of the film. I left some as I was too tired to care. I still need to clean the inside, dress the tires and then I'm done. Overall, it took a total of 8 hours to finish this, I split it over three days (I lose interest after a couple of hours, so spreading it helps me get these projects done). Enjoy the pics and let me know if you have tips for next time (next up is the 330's big sister pictured below). Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-13-2008, 12:53 PM	#2
EmPower Captain 148 Rep 926 Posts Drives: 2014 X5 xdrive 35i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Whats the M5 like. Is the steering and hadling as precise as the 3er? I love my 335. Its a go-kart on steroids. Its low enough and wide enough and stiff enough to simulate a go-kart. Anyway, I am originally from Boston. keep your fingers crossed for the Celtics!!! __________________ 92 Mazda Mx6 (sold), 00 VW Jetta (sold), 07 BMW 335i (sold), 10 VW Jetta (sold), 14 BMW X5 35ix (sold), 18 VW Jetta (totaled), 19 Audi SQ5 (sold), 20 Audi S6 (sold), 22 Audi SQ5
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 12:59 PM	#3
Tallest Major General 1587 Rep 6,437 Posts Drives: 911 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 911 [10.00]	that color is special order? dont think we have this on Individual and i havent seen it anywhere actually! Reminds me a bit of Avus blue. It is such a nice color though, better then blurple Montego by miles, and on par with LeMans Blue. Great looking M5 there too and nice job on clean up, just wish you posted bigger pics! __________________ 997.2 F30.F11.E86.E90.E90.E36
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 05:28 PM	#4
AMR Private 5 Rep 53 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Hi, the M5 is great, it's a whole other experience. I bought the 330 after the M5 and completely unexpectedly. Saw the ads for the then newly released 3 series, decided to test drive it and felt like they did their homework and couldn't resist signing up for a 3er. There's only one car that distills everything BMW stands for and it's the 3 and I walked away from the test drive wanting one. They can make M's, 7's, X's etc. but only the 3 is the true representative of "BMWness". The 335 is great, I test drove one and was going for it until I heard about the 1 series and decided to wait.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 05:32 PM	#5
AMR Private 5 Rep 53 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	320what, it was a metallic color option on 2006's, it's not offered anymore. The Individual program has not been rolled out in the US on 3's. Mystic blue looks like it was replaced by the Deep Sea Blue on the 5's and Montego on the 3's. I just tried the Build Your Own on bmwusa.com and I don't see Mystic anymore. I posted fairly large pics, but they got downsized. I'll try something different next time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote