Well, as some of you know, I have a tendency to buy broken ass motorcycles and then sell them to people that don't care about the brokenness and are to willing pay me my overpriced asking prices. Well, today I bought my first non-broken-ass bike.
She's a 2007 ZX6R. 8,700 miles. I bought it from the original owner who happens to be a 50-something year old Southern Baptist preacher. That means it was actually broken in, and no serious abuse. It has a couple of scratches for which I just ordered a Colorrite touch-up pen. Other than that, it is very clean. It is bone stock, down to the ridiculous rear taillight/license plate bracket/big stupid flap thing under the exhaust.
I will try to throw some pictures up of the scratches before and after. Other than that, the only changes I may make will be maybe an under tail kit and tinted windscreen. I am keeping everything performance-wise on the bike stockmaybe.
I know the obnoxious green is not for everyone, but I love that shit.

I am heavily considering getting a 335i coupe in the next 6 months. I have always loved them and there power potential. I plan on having it under CPO until 2014 then I will be installing a HPF or Vishnu single turbo kit on it (stock turbos dont need to last past this). My question is aside from the hpfp issue, what do you think about the prospect of long term ownership? If I buy this I plan on keeping it for at least 4 years probably till 120-150k miles.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.factoryfive.com/kits/project-818/">http://www.factoryfive.com/kits/project-818/</a><!-- m -->

So on a whim, last night I thought Id check in on the progress of the new Factory Five mid engine WRX based kit.
I wasnt expecting much since the kit isnt due for release for at least a year (probably more).

I was pretty surprised (and impressed) at their progress. They have already completed the frame and have a prototype. Looks like the body work is almost done too.
I like the fact that this car is their most appealing design (1800lb, MR, 2.0L subaru turbo) is also targeted to be their cheapest and easiest to build. The techie in me really likes that its designed in CAD and solidworks.
Thats an extremely tempting combination and come 2013, there is an excellent chance that I will be clearing out my garage and shopping for wrecked WRXs.




a list of concerns:
-It uses WRX seats. WRX seats are pretty thick and designed for the relatively high riding (even for a compact sedan) wrx, not a low slung mid engine roadster. Hopefully this wont push the seating position and thus greenhouse height up and throw off the proportions.
-weight distribution. the engine is placed very far back in the wheelbase and the entire trans is behind the axle. its going to be pretty rear heavy, which while better than front heavy, might result in a super twitchy spinhappy car.
-Design. I wasnt really impressed with the design contest winners (Scottys was pretty awesome but they didnt pick his). Some of the pics they have posted on the website look like classic Mid engine sports car design so it may end up looking good.
-paint free plastic bodywork. jury is out on this one. I guess it will be nice to not *have* to paint it but it will might look like ass if you dont. perhaps they will have a matte black option
-top? soft top? hard top? it rains sometimes, and occasionally you have to park outside.
-this isnt a concern, more of an annoyance, but FF should know by now that box steel is not tubular steel. Dont call it a tubular frame when its box steel frame. I get it, box steel is much easier to design and weld.

thoughts, love, hate? who wants to help me build this thing?

Even though he probably won't see this for many many days, Congratulations are in order to Dave Allen on the birth of his baby girl. Born last night at 9:30pm. So if anyone is wondering why Dave is missing from the carshow this weekend, you now all know. Haven't seen a name yet for HRH Princess Allen- that's what Rex and I have been refering to her as. Just thought I would share!

I have an OEM catback exhaust that I removed from my 328i. Nothing is wrong with it, I just upgraded. With all the E36's around here I didn't know if someone had a need for it before I tossed it.

SO! As stated previously Premier Shine (me) will be offering some detail specials the day before and day of the show to get your ride prepped and ready!

I will fill in bookings as a first come, first serve basis in the following time slots:

Friday 2 - 4:30 p.m. & 8 - 12 p.m.
Saturday (morning of show) Early bird baby! 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Someone is already reserved for that morning of so I can only squeeze one more in!

Each job will take around 1 hour to an hour and a half to complete and will be done at my garage (le detail center) at my apartment complex at N38.

Packages and Pricing:

Correctional (per panel)..........$15
- machine polishing untill 100% correction is achieved)

Basic Wash.........$35
- tire sidewalls, wheel wells all properly cleaned and degreased, washed using our pH balanced wash, wheels/ barrels also cleaned, tires/ trim dressed. Interior and exterior glass cleaned

Basic Exterior & paint sealant application........$65
- Above wash performed INCLUDING a full clay decon as well as a paint sealant application

Basic Interior...........$25
- full interior vacuum, interior glass cleaned, full interior wipe-down using our degreaser/ all purpose cleaner, gentle leather wipe down, folex carpet spot treatment also available.

COMBINED Basic Exterior/ Interior Package........$80.00

Motor clean/ degrease and dress........$20 (applicable to all packages)

Any questions/ to book please contact me at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:dan@premiershinedetail.com">dan@premiershinedetail.com</a><!-- e -->

Check out the site for examples of my work- <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.premiershinedetail.com">www.premiershinedetail.com</a><!-- w -->

Thanks!
- Dan K.

Herroooo there MM,

This SE Evo 9 belongs to one of our own- Steve! aka- RawrImAMonster

Intro thread here: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=8839&p=182461&hilit=RawrImAMonster#p182461

This job was completed after over 20 hours went into resurrecting the hammered and beat up paint. Heavy swirling, marring and yards of buffer trails and holograms left by a "detailer" was what I was faced with. The correctional process took 4 steps to complete at around 1 hour to an hour and fifteen per. panel. Sometimes I was 8) but when I finally completed and pulled her out I was like :twisted:

The car was COVERED in acid rain and heavy water deposits, including the windows which were hammered. Compounding pad + Glass polish X 3 passes per window helped, but still did not remove all. A large improvement was made!

Onto the good stuff

Products/ tools used:

Products:
CG Citrus Wash and Clear/ Dawn wash
Sonax FE wheel cleaner/ Megs WB 15:1
Megs APC
Uber Fine Clay
ONR
Zaino Z12 Clearview Glass Polish
Sonax Glass Cleaner
303 Aerospace Protectant
Adams VRT dressing
Megs 105
Menzerna Power Finish
Menzerna Super Finish
IPA 30%
CG JetSeal 109

Tools:
3 Wool wash mitts
SV brushes- wheel, Pneu
Uber Spoke wheel brush
0000 steel whool
PC air compressor
Flex DA
PC DA
Various backing plates
Surbuf R series MF pads
Uber Green foam
Uber Orange foam
Uber yellow foam
LC 3 in. yellow foam
LC 3 in. orange foam

Wash process:





Shot of the heavy deposits and etchings:



heavily oxidized lenses:








Megs APC sitting and breaking down the bugs






Pulled inside and Clayed- surprisingly not too much picked up


The Correctional process

One pass of Megs 105 on a Surbuf R series MF pad
One Pass of Megs 105 on a yellow foam pad
One pass of Menzerna SIP on an orange pad
One pass of Menzerna 106fa on a green pad
Average time per panel- 1 hour to an hour and a half



Some nasty befores
























Glass:





50 / 50 glass:



50 / 50's!





After:



Before:


After:





More 50 / 50




Spoiler











Rocker 50/50 - these puppy's were both hammered:
Left before- right after






Door surrounds- polished all 4 stages by hand:


After:


Pillar before:



After:






Another



I was pressed for time at the end of day 2 so I was unable to get afters of the other side of the car or the rear but here is some pics of before!






MMMMM rotary tails






Spoiler before- probably the least damaged exterior piece of the car




Trunk lid- pretty hammered:


2 IPA wipedowns later, then an application of some JetSeal 109:



Afters:































Thanks for looking!
- Dan

I need 20 people to fill out a survey for me here http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AQAU3EB for my Survey of Mass Media class.

It's only 6 or 7 questions, but has a little to do with car commercials. Very basic questions.

I appreciate any and all help on this.

Hey MM,
This past weekend (and throughout the week) I had the pleasure of working my magic on MM's own SVT Terminator Cobra owned by Matt (fiveoh2go).

Products/ tools used:

Products:
CG Citrus Wash and Clear
Sonax FE wheel cleaner
Lexol pH
LeatherMasters Foam suede and alcantara cleaner
Megs APC
Uber Fine Clay
ONR
Adams #1 metal polish
P21s Polishing Soap
Eagle One Nevr Dull wadding
Sonax Glass Cleaner
303 Aerospace Protectant
Adams VRT dressing
Folex Spot treatment
Megs 105
Menzerna Power Finish
Menzerna Super Finish
IPA 30%
CG JetSeal 109

Tools:
3 Wool wash mitts
SV brushes- wheel, Pneu
Uber Spoke wheel brush
0000 steel whool
Ridgid shopvac
PC air compressor
Flex DA
PC DA
Various backing plates
Uber Green foam
Uber Orange foam
Uber yellow foam
LC 3 in. yellow foam
LC 3 in. orange foam

Before correction:






























RDS on the driver side lower rocker:




Jet Seal sitting



Afters:














































Thanks for looking!
- Dan

Hey all, spent around 20 hours with this Imola Red E46 M3 that received a full correctional detail/interior treatment as well. The car had some pretty moderate defects and swirls, only real main concern was the 4 and a half foot long key mark that I had to fill in with touch up paint using the blob technique, let sit for 24 hours, wetsand and then polish out.

Total time to complete 20 hours

Products/ tools used:

Products:
CG Maxi Sudz 2
CG Citrus Wash and Clear
Sonax FE wheel cleaner
Bleche White sidewall cleaner
Leatherique Rejuvenator oil
Megs APC
Uber Fine Clay
ONR
Tarminator
P21s Polishing Soap
Eagle One Nevr Dull wadding
Sonax Glass Cleaner
Zaino Z12 Glass polish
303 Aerospace Protectant
Adams VRT dressing
Folex Spot treatment
Megs 105
Menzerna Power Finish
Menzerna Super Finish
IPA 30%
CG JetSeal 109

Tools:
3 Wool wash mitts
SV brushes- wheel, Pneu
Uber Spoke wheel brush
0000 steel whool
Ridgid shopvac
PC air compressor
3000/ 2500/ 2000 grit paper
Megs sanding block
Flex DA
PC DA
Various backing plates
Surbuf R series MF pads
Uber Green foam
Uber Orange foam
Uber yellow foam
LC 3 in. yellow foam
LC 3 in. orange foam


Not much taken during the interior or wash/ decon process, pics begin from correction, pressed for time so there is a lack of afters.

Paint defects found:


























After correction



Afters:


















From the photo shoot- <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jacobaaronphoto.com/#">http://www.jacobaaronphoto.com/#</a><!-- m -->!














Short film I had made (the same people who did the photo shoot made) <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.jacobaaronphoto.com/#">http://www.jacobaaronphoto.com/#</a><!-- m -->!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PToEpzSTEZQ

Vid with flybys and in car acceleration coming soon! :thumbup:

Thanks for looking!
- Dan