nlpamg

Part 1

So, last weekend I washed and waxed the w203 with the usual Meguiar's NXT Wash and Meguiar's NXT Wax, the only difference is that instead of using the sheepskin wash mitt I had always used from the MB dealer, I was using a brand new BMW sheepskin wash mitt.

I like NXT, it's easy to apply and remove and looks great right when you put it on. but, it doesn't last worth **** and sometimes it globs up and gets into the nooks and crannies of the car where it's hard to take out...

Here are some pics:

rlee02135

looks nice!...should remove the front plate
any new mods to the M3?

nlpamg

Part 2

This weekend, some of the supplies that I ordered FINALLY came in. I ordered an in-line water softener canister so that hard water spots/stains don't settle on the car and a different kind of wax--Poorboy's Natty's Paste Wax Blue. The Blue version is specially formulated for dark colored cars and comes highly recommended by the guys at M3forum.

I washed the M3 with some BMW orange car wash solution (it came with the convertible top care kit that I bought for it) and then waxed it with the Natty's.

Well, I don't notice a difference in the two car wash solutions, except one of them cost me a lot more than the other, but the Natty's I think is better than NXT. It's harder to apply and remove, but it does go on more solidly and it doesn't glob up and go into the nooks and crannies. Hopefully it'll last. Also, the in-line water softener did make a pretty big difference, there were no spots or hard water stains on the car...

Here are some pics:

14cue

i need sunglasses.

nlpamg

Part 3

So for both cars, I use American Racing Metal Polish and American Racing Wheel "Wax" (I also use Eagle1 NevrDull for the exhaust tips). For the tires I use Meguiar's High Endurance Gloss Gel (I still use some old applicator's I got from an Eagle1 Tire Gel thing).

Below is a pic of the M3 wheel, I didn't photoshop anything on this pic and you can see how shiny it is...

Then, there are pics of them together.

nlpamg

thanks man! I want to remove the plate sooo bad, but the idiot dealer put 6 holes in the bumper! I need to get it filled and resprayed...

no new mods, I ordered smoked corners and will be getting new SMG paddles soon, but the next major mod will probably be the Magnaflow exhaust system, but I'm still not too sure yet...


thanks man!

splinter

Looks very sharp. Two fine machines. A driveway to be proud of...

M230K

nice sig that black grill.. the M3.. your set for the summer have a good one

KIRA

https://mbworld.org/forums/off-topic/177701-should-ve-gotten-bmw-nsfw.html

did they wash ur bimmer?

Blake P

Both rides look incredible Phil. There's one thing that would make both of them even hotter, but we both know what that is so I won't even bother...

anthuny85

slaaaam em...lol....damn they both look soo clean..i remember with my 00 civic coupe, nxt always made it look soo good, the black looks so deep and glossy, when done with 2 coats. ever thot of getting the cf grilles for the m3, for the chrome surrounds?..itll match the C!..both blacked out...exhaust...le manns race eisanmann ftw!

Ryanr317

Looks awesome. Anyone ever try Menzerna products? I tried it on mine and it came out great. I had a lot of swirls and it reduced them dramatically.

drexappeal

Please remove the non-related m3 pictures from this forum. They are off topic!....LOL...j/k dawg.

Cars are lookin' great. Hey, I was gonna say for next weekend, we should meet up at your pad before goin' to Ikea (so we can test my car). Lemme know.

nlpamg

haha, thanks guys!

Drex, I'll give you a call and we can figure something out...

anthuny, as for the CF grills, I'm not feeling them that much, I think I like the contrast for now, but we'll see...

Arn560

I bet the neighbors looked at you funny till they saw the finished products. A job well done. Makes you wanna stand back and see what money well spent can get you.

rpayer

I use the NXT wax too. I agree with you completely... The NXT wax looks awesome right after your done but it doesn't last too long.

nlpamg

yup! probably wondering why I'm sitting on the concrete wiping **** off of the wheels!

yeah, and makes you want to take pics to remember the moment!

yeah, it looks great but then you get disappointed after a week or so when it's basically gone...

EUROtimon

how much for a car wash ?

nicee mann...love the shine

Buellwinkle

The issue with NXT Tech Was is not that it doesn't last, actually it lasts a long time for me. The issue is that it's not as hard as other waxes so the slick feeling and shine don't last as long as some hard waxes but is still there, still protecting the finish. What I do is use NXT as my first coat of wax, and then put a really hard wax on like Meg's #16 that shines for along time. It's all a trade off, NXT is very easy on/off, it protects for a long time but max shine and beading don't last more than 2-3 weeks. Meg's #16, a lot more work to use, shine lasts 6-8 weeks. Now I park indoors all the time, at home and at work so I get a lot more life out of waxes than people that park outside all the time, the times above are for when I park indoors at home and outdoors at work. Also, try Meg's #21, it's similar to NXT but a pro formulation. I find it's almost as easy to use as NXT, it's formulated for buffer application so won't gum up your pads and lasts about twice as long as NXT.

nlpamg

cool, so even though its not shining anymore, it's still protecting, that's good to know...

so it would be sort of a sealant or so? first layer and then some sort of better wax... I wanted to try the poorboys EX-P sealant next before waxing, but putting nxt and then the natty's may be a plan...

anthuny85

try putting one good coat of NXT on first..then garage it..after 24 hours apply a second coat of NXT, it takes about 24 hours for the polymer beads to attach well to the paint...the second coat after this wait period will definitely seal it better and also clean up a lot nicer. if you apply the second coat right after the first coat...with NXT your basically jus rubbing off the first coat b/c the polymers havent set yet.

bmwm3e46

The cars look great, i wish the weather were nicer here, your pics make me want to go wash my cars! In terms of your black mb grill, i know you said you had the stock one painted, but are there any retailers that sell the oem grill already painted? I'd like to keep my stock grill so i can always go back, and it's so much less of a hassle to buy things pre-painted.....

nlpamg

thanks man!

no! that's what sucks, there's no market like the BMW kidney grills being prepainted or made out of ABS (so they don't get chipped) for us MB guys...

but, I got a great deal from a fellow member on his old 2005 grill. so, I actually have two grills for the w203, this one that's painted black and the oem one too (for long trips so the black one doesn't get the rock chips).

cool, I'll try that out! thanks!

bmwm3e46

that's too bad, i bet many mb owners would buy pre-painted grills no...but i guess your idea is a good one, maybe i'll do the same, look for a cheap used one and just have that one painted, thanks

viprsx

damnn..shineyy as hell..