Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[Fobroader]

My $/km is pretty low on the Elantra. We have done approximately 20k kms on it and spent less than $1500 including purchase price, repairs and maintenance. Its going to need some new tires at the end of the summer though.

Not a maintenance cost but related. $42k to fix a minor fender bender on a Rivian. 

https://www.theautopian.com/heres-why-that-rivian-r1t-repair-cost-42000-after-just-a-minor-fender-bender/

These vehicles made by these startups are questionable at best when it comes to repair/replacement parts. This ev motorbike had the same issue, parts are basically unobtanium

 https://youtu.be/IEByCfFavh0?t=781

[Dante]

So at the risk to be called out by some here and  as a one-time treat to the car and myself, I took the BMW to a professional detailer for full paint correction treatment.

I just couldn't resist the curiousity to see what a pro can do with this car....so I have an idea and a reference for the future.

I will still buy a proper orbital polisher and try my hand at it going forward.

Pickup is tomorrow morning so will see if I completely wasted the money or only partially....

[BWII]

Licensed the Fusion.  Gonna drive that 3 yr old premium gas out of it...and unfortunately you can't buy ethanol free anywhere locally (maybe in the US still?) so not sure if I fill it and park it in a month from now or leave it empty...which could be worse.  Who cares...at this point...damn...what a feckin' great car.  Plenty of power, all one needs (despite wanting more, because of course), rides fantastic...still looks fresh and amazing...I still love it.  I even gave it a bath at the car wash.

Any issues getting it moving?  Brakes ok?

Nope...seems ok.  No dragging noises and it coasts fine...still a little concerned I should probably do the calipers...but it'll go to Wpg twice and then...probably park it again for the summer.  Undecided at the moment. (should sneak in to the city and trade it on a motorcycle...hey honey! Look what I have!  )  I just needed an excuse to plate it for the road.  Now if only I could get my garage spot back lol.

[Fobroader]

Licensed the Fusion.  Gonna drive that 3 yr old premium gas out of it...and unfortunately you can't buy ethanol free anywhere locally (maybe in the US still?) so not sure if I fill it and park it in a month from now or leave it empty...which could be worse.  Who cares...at this point...damn...what a feckin' great car.  Plenty of power, all one needs (despite wanting more, because of course), rides fantastic...still looks fresh and amazing...I still love it.  I even gave it a bath at the car wash.

Any issues getting it moving?  Brakes ok?

Nope...seems ok.  No dragging noises and it coasts fine...still a little concerned I should probably do the calipers...but it'll go to Wpg twice and then...probably park it again for the summer.  Undecided at the moment. (should sneak in to the city and trade it on a motorcycle...hey honey! Look what I have!  )  I just needed an excuse to plate it for the road.  Now if only I could get my garage spot back lol.

Uhhh, the motorcycle idea is a fantastic one!! Wife doesn't like it right?? You don't use it?!?! No space in the garage for it!?!? 1000% time to visit your friendly neighborhood Ducati dealer for that Diavel 1260  "sorry babe, car was outside in the weather so long, it shrunk in the sun".

[2JDM]

Upgraded the sway bars in the MX-5 to RX-8 versions. Direct fit with new OEM bushings and aftermarket endlinks. Man what a difference in turn in response and body roll!

Also changed the original spark plugs with NGK Iridium. The originals had FoMoCo stamped on them like many parts on this car due to Ford partnership era.

Love me some fine wire iridiums!

What links did you settle on?

Otherwise...good work!

Settled on the Moog endlinks. 

[BWII]

Licensed the Fusion.  Gonna drive that 3 yr old premium gas out of it...and unfortunately you can't buy ethanol free anywhere locally (maybe in the US still?) so not sure if I fill it and park it in a month from now or leave it empty...which could be worse.  Who cares...at this point...damn...what a feckin' great car.  Plenty of power, all one needs (despite wanting more, because of course), rides fantastic...still looks fresh and amazing...I still love it.  I even gave it a bath at the car wash.

Any issues getting it moving?  Brakes ok?

Nope...seems ok.  No dragging noises and it coasts fine...still a little concerned I should probably do the calipers...but it'll go to Wpg twice and then...probably park it again for the summer.  Undecided at the moment. (should sneak in to the city and trade it on a motorcycle...hey honey! Look what I have!  )  I just needed an excuse to plate it for the road.  Now if only I could get my garage spot back lol.

Uhhh, the motorcycle idea is a fantastic one!! Wife doesn't like it right?? You don't use it?!?! No space in the garage for it!?!? 1000% time to visit your friendly neighborhood Ducati dealer for that Diavel 1260  "sorry babe, car was outside in the weather so long, it shrunk in the sun".

As a fellow imbecile...I concur with your sentiments.    I'm just all over the place on what I want or think I want. 

[ArticSteve]

So at the risk to be called out by some here and  as a one-time treat to the car and myself, I took the BMW to a professional detailer for full paint correction treatment.

I just couldn't resist the curiousity to see what a pro can do with this car....so I have an idea and a reference for the future.

I will still buy a proper orbital polisher and try my hand at it going forward.

Pickup is tomorrow morning so will see if I completely wasted the money or only partially....

What did it cost you?  I need something done soon on the Mustang.

[rrocket]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

[Dante]

So at the risk to be called out by some here and  as a one-time treat to the car and myself, I took the BMW to a professional detailer for full paint correction treatment.

I just couldn't resist the curiousity to see what a pro can do with this car....so I have an idea and a reference for the future.

I will still buy a proper orbital polisher and try my hand at it going forward.

Pickup is tomorrow morning so will see if I completely wasted the money or only partially....

What did it cost you?  I need something done soon on the Mustang.

If you ask me, a lot!!! A whooping $1,000 when all was said and done....Never again! Not on an old BLACK car anyway....deep scratches didn't come off but just better. Where the paint was ok, it came out really nice.

It was supposed to be $750 but when it was all done he asked for $1000 and I didn't question it.

$150 was for headlights - that was a gain as they look way better than what I could accomplish myself last year. He ceramic coated the headlights too... I hope they last....

The paint correction itself was supposed to be $600.

He did some extra things - ceramic coated the front bumper (painted last year), polished the exhaust tips, applied paint sealer (he recommended instead of ceramic coating), did the fog lights too...

[Jaeger]

That's not a bad price at all for the full works. Problem is, you can only accomplish so much with paint that is in really bad shape. 

I had my 2019 done when I purchased it a year ago. Paint was in decent shape, but full of microswirls - previous owner was a fan of automated car washes. Detailer called me in to look at the hood when just one quarter of the surface had been done. The difference was astonishing. And totally worth the money (I paid half again more) to see the car brought to better than new.  And with the ceramic coating, it is SO easy to maintain.

[Bubba]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

Beautiful car.  One of the few FWD cars with the right proportions.

[Firm]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

Looks great, it's a ton of work, so I bet you're glad it done. Time to move onto the S8 now 

The A5 is a very well styled car IMO.

[Dante]

That's not a bad price at all for the full works. Problem is, you can only accomplish so much with paint that is in really bad shape. 

I had my 2019 done when I purchased it a year ago. Paint was in decent shape, but full of microswirls - previous owner was a fan of automated car washes. Detailer called me in to look at the hood when just one quarter of the surface had been done. The difference was astonishing. And totally worth the money (I paid half again more) to see the car brought to better than new.  And with the ceramic coating, it is SO easy to maintain.

Yeah, for sure. The guy did a great job based on what he had to work with... Absolutely no complaint there. Car looks 100x better now and unless you really look up close and in the right light, you won't see most of the imperfections left (tiny brush scratches here and there). Besides, 99% of the time you won't even see the big scratches as the car gets dirty 5 minutes after I wash it....

It was my hope that he can do some magic and get rid of more.... $1000 worth on an 13 years old DD with its fair share of previous battle scars? Most likely not, but I did it anyway because I wanted to restore the car at the best possible condition. No regrets there....
It's a year round DD after all not a show car.

[blur911]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

Beautiful car.  One of the few FWD cars with the right proportions.

FWD?

[Shorlaw]

That's not a bad price at all for the full works. Problem is, you can only accomplish so much with paint that is in really bad shape. 

I had my 2019 done when I purchased it a year ago. Paint was in decent shape, but full of microswirls - previous owner was a fan of automated car washes. Detailer called me in to look at the hood when just one quarter of the surface had been done. The difference was astonishing. And totally worth the money (I paid half again more) to see the car brought to better than new.  And with the ceramic coating, it is SO easy to maintain.

Yeah, for sure. The guy did a great job based on what he had to work with... Absolutely no complaint there. Car looks 100x better now and unless you really look up close and in the right light, you won't see most of the imperfections left (tiny brush scratches here and there). Besides, 99% of the time you won't even see the big scratches as the car gets dirty 5 minutes after I wash it....

It was my hope that he can do some magic and get rid of more.... $1000 worth on an 13 years old DD with its fair share of previous battle scars? Most likely not, but I did it anyway because I wanted to restore the car at the best possible condition. No regrets there....
It's a year round DD after all not a show car.

I paid $500 for what I think he said was 2 stage wet polish and wax on the XKR and was blown away by the results.  I have basically zero experience with detailing though, so maybe someone else would still see a lot.  He pointed out numerous things before that he was unsure he'd be able to fix, but to my eyes (even with my glasses on!) were completely gone.  It had 8 or so obvious door dings that you could see/feel and it's like they were never there.

[Blueprint]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

Beautiful car.  One of the few FWD cars with the right proportions.

FWD?

FWD architecture with AWD, although the engine is placed longitudinally here.

[Jaeger]

That's not a bad price at all for the full works. Problem is, you can only accomplish so much with paint that is in really bad shape. 

I had my 2019 done when I purchased it a year ago. Paint was in decent shape, but full of microswirls - previous owner was a fan of automated car washes. Detailer called me in to look at the hood when just one quarter of the surface had been done. The difference was astonishing. And totally worth the money (I paid half again more) to see the car brought to better than new.  And with the ceramic coating, it is SO easy to maintain.

Yeah, for sure. The guy did a great job based on what he had to work with... Absolutely no complaint there. Car looks 100x better now and unless you really look up close and in the right light, you won't see most of the imperfections left (tiny brush scratches here and there). Besides, 99% of the time you won't even see the big scratches as the car gets dirty 5 minutes after I wash it....

It was my hope that he can do some magic and get rid of more.... $1000 worth on an 13 years old DD with its fair share of previous battle scars? Most likely not, but I did it anyway because I wanted to restore the car at the best possible condition. No regrets there....
It's a year round DD after all not a show car.

   I'm sure it is in the best shape now that could be hoped for.

[blur911]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

Beautiful car.  One of the few FWD cars with the right proportions.

FWD?

FWD architecture with AWD, although the engine is placed longitudinally here.

Yeah, I guess, I just remember seeing the longitudinal engine.    Did they sell many (any) in FWD in Canada?

[OliverD]

The Audi is finished. Looks spectacular. So difficult to photograph how "white" the paint now looks.

Beautiful car.  One of the few FWD cars with the right proportions.

FWD?

FWD architecture with AWD, although the engine is placed longitudinally here.

Yeah, I guess, I just remember seeing the longitudinal engine.    Did they sell many (any) in FWD in Canada?

The A5 was never offered here with FWD IIRC. You could get a FWD A4 here though.

[Dante]

That's not a bad price at all for the full works. Problem is, you can only accomplish so much with paint that is in really bad shape. 

I had my 2019 done when I purchased it a year ago. Paint was in decent shape, but full of microswirls - previous owner was a fan of automated car washes. Detailer called me in to look at the hood when just one quarter of the surface had been done. The difference was astonishing. And totally worth the money (I paid half again more) to see the car brought to better than new.  And with the ceramic coating, it is SO easy to maintain.

Yeah, for sure. The guy did a great job based on what he had to work with... Absolutely no complaint there. Car looks 100x better now and unless you really look up close and in the right light, you won't see most of the imperfections left (tiny brush scratches here and there). Besides, 99% of the time you won't even see the big scratches as the car gets dirty 5 minutes after I wash it....

It was my hope that he can do some magic and get rid of more.... $1000 worth on an 13 years old DD with its fair share of previous battle scars? Most likely not, but I did it anyway because I wanted to restore the car at the best possible condition. No regrets there....
It's a year round DD after all not a show car.

   I'm sure it is in the best shape now that could be hoped for.

Besides, no one can play smart arse and call me out that I did a poor job if I was going to do it myself  ..... I actually took it to a very reputable shop (one man operation) which happens to be in my area. Very nice guy, car enthusiast and BMW owner (E46) too....