Autoglass have agreed to foot the bill for the strip and I'm picking it up tomorrow. Joy of joys this looks like it has finally come to a legitimate close.
Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
- Start date
My bolster was bothering me for so long. I was planning on getting Furniture Clinic to see to it at £120 but they've upped their minimum call-out fee to £175 now and I said sod that, plus Wick convinced me that the colourant kit was worth it.
So, got this:
To work on this:
Which resulted in this, and this is before the paint has fully dried and not had the super seal sprayed on yet:
What a fantastic piece of kit, and it only cost £40. There's loads of product left too for future use.
So, got this:
To work on this:
Which resulted in this, and this is before the paint has fully dried and not had the super seal sprayed on yet:
What a fantastic piece of kit, and it only cost £40. There's loads of product left too for future use.
It comes with instructions and they also have videos on their site so yup, it's pretty simple to follow. The Leather Prep I used after the Alcohol Cleaner, the prep is s solvent cleaner and literally rubs off colourant. Once it starts to transfer on to the cloth or pad you know it's time to start colouring with the airbrush.
Link: http://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Colourant_Kit.php
on the lower tab things click "Car Colours" and select your car then choose the colour as appropriate.
Link: http://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather_Colourant_Kit.php
on the lower tab things click "Car Colours" and select your car then choose the colour as appropriate.
All hail Wick 
The above took about 30mins, the process was sped up as I trailed the hairdryer out between the 3 colourant layers. The long process will be the super seal layer, in a couple more hours once the paint is fully dry I'll spray the seal on and leave overnight.
I think the best decision I've made so far has been choosing a car with red leather if anything 
Even without heated seats it provides the psychological illusion of being warm on a cold day. It also looks quite alright I guess!
Even without heated seats it provides the psychological illusion of being warm on a cold day. It also looks quite alright I guess!
I've had all black in the old car so I absolutely didn't want to go the same combo again!
If I could change one thing though it would probably be have laguna seca blue outside. Such a lush colour!
But then a red cabin might clash with it...
That 911 could be in for a world of pain!
If I could change one thing though it would probably be have laguna seca blue outside. Such a lush colour!
But then a red cabin might clash with it...
That 911 could be in for a world of pain!
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Tell him to send them a Tweet, usually gets things rolling when landline methods take their time!
And here it is after leaving it over night, it's still not 100% dry, but dry enough to get in and out carefully:
I think I opted for the wrong super seal though, I chose Satin and it's ever so slightly shinier than the OEM finish on the surrounding leather, or maybe this will blend to match as it dries to 100% I'm not sure, will observe and if it doesn't then will apply some rubbing alcohol to fine the seal down a bit then apply a feed. Otherwise just buy the seal bottle in matte variety and apply that.
Either way, no real issue now that I know how all this works!
I think I opted for the wrong super seal though, I chose Satin and it's ever so slightly shinier than the OEM finish on the surrounding leather, or maybe this will blend to match as it dries to 100% I'm not sure, will observe and if it doesn't then will apply some rubbing alcohol to fine the seal down a bit then apply a feed. Otherwise just buy the seal bottle in matte variety and apply that.
Either way, no real issue now that I know how all this works!
The daylight hitting it makes it look shiner than it is too but yeah, once it's 100% dry it should be more matte still but I have a feeling I should have ordered the matte super seal, not the satin, which is a half way house between matte and gloss!
Will see how it ends up once totally dry.
Will see how it ends up once totally dry.
I think it's hard to tell, though I don't think BMW state what finish is on it really either. Nappa leather has a soft satin-like sheen to it anyway though but I'd say it's more matte than satin when new 
Aye Dakota is a nice leather, I may be wrong but certain colours are only available in certain colours I think?
Weather strip bought and installed, Autoglass have been sent the bill
Weather strip bought and installed, Autoglass have been sent the bill
Hmm what was the leather in my 318Ci? I don't think it was Dakota as it felt inherently different to Dakota in other cars I've been in and liked. Is the standard E9x leather Dakota? I didn't like the texture in The standard E9x but the E46 standard leather was nice as was the standard in the 5 and 6 series.
It's all too confusing
It's all too confusing
Yeah Nappa is so smooth and soft. It's the main reason I haven't wished I had heated seats, it warms up so quickly that it negates the need for heating I find.
Merino is higher quality than Nappa isn't it? Need to sit in a Merino specced interior one day!
It's not like I'm going to take out the one I keep in the glovebox now, what would the neighbours think!
Edit*
Autoglass update!
They've said £12.13 is too small an amount to transfer via BACS so asked if I'd prefer a cheque, or alternatively they can post me £25 of high street vouchers (this in addition to the £75 excess being refunded currently too).
I've asked for the vouchers, I CBA to get to the bank to deposit a cheque for £12.
All is well that ends well I suppose?
Edit*
Autoglass update!
They've said £12.13 is too small an amount to transfer via BACS so asked if I'd prefer a cheque, or alternatively they can post me £25 of high street vouchers (this in addition to the £75 excess being refunded currently too).
I've asked for the vouchers, I CBA to get to the bank to deposit a cheque for £12.
All is well that ends well I suppose?
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The airbrush gun will come in handy for other little DIY projects around the home too, simply fill the glass bottle with whatever and off you go! Just keep it away from the face, it's quite easy to accidentally press the trigger
Not me
Have I missed my 5 minutes of TV fame?
Also, here's why you should never use the wrong MF cloth when wiping dry or buffing!
Look at the bonnet! thankfully it's mostly the bonnet so will machine polish that easily enough and learn from my mistake.
Have I missed my 5 minutes of TV fame?
Also, here's why you should never use the wrong MF cloth when wiping dry or buffing!
Look at the bonnet! thankfully it's mostly the bonnet so will machine polish that easily enough and learn from my mistake.
Given your usual high standards, you should be ashamed to even be posting that photograph
Son, I am disappoint.
Harsh
Can I redeem myself with a mint engine bay picture?
I think it's unavoidable on these dark colours. Everyone always says how hard dark metallic is to keep spotless and I'm realising how true this is. The saving grace is that I've yet to apply a full coat of SRP to the paint which is designed to mask away swirls and release a deep gloss. Then that's protected with a thick wax like 476s. This is how I had the 318Ci for 5 years and that car looked so glossy and swirl free. Just top up the 476s layer once or twice a year to keep the SRP doing its thing. Obviously this will only help so much, but at least it won't offend the eyes in the sun!
I usually always make sure my drying towel is damp before beginning to dry the car. This stops the dry parts of the towel from potentially swirling the surface. Due to being in a rush as of late I've neglected this part and a couple times used another MF as my main one got dirty or fell on the floor etc.
Good excuse for a respray!
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Yeah Howard, as I say a couple times it has dropped and I've had to use another MF! Schoolboy error.
Tripple looks absolutely amazing? Looks like a mix of all the good bits of everything. Safe to apply 476s after?
Tripple looks absolutely amazing? Looks like a mix of all the good bits of everything. Safe to apply 476s after?