The iconic 2002 coupe is one of the most notable classic BMWs, but unfortunately, many of them are becoming lost to time. However, in this video we can see a group of detailers attempting to bring one back from the dead, at least as far as its bodywork is concerned.

This particular 2002 was suffering heavily from oxidation, rust, and an overall poor paint finish. The first step to fixing that was a comprehensive wash in order to remove as much dirt and grime as they could to avoid future scratching of the paint.

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Next, while the car was still wet, they cleaned it with a clay bar, which helped to pick up any leftover contaminants the wash might have missed. This step was also done to prevent scratches, as if they were to run a towel, mitt, or buffer over the surface with any of those contaminants still there, they would be dragged all across the paint, which is the last thing you’d want for a job like this.

After that, they removed the rear window, taillights, badges, and miscellaneous trim pieces to not only better clean the harder-to-reach areas, but also remove rust. The latter was done using a wire wheel brush, then finished with rust prevention spray. The trim pieces that remained were then masked off in preparation for buffing.

Finally, we get to the most satisfying part: paint correction. Through extensive cutting, polishing, and measuring paint depth, they were able to take the paint from what was essentially matte to a finish so glossy it looked like glass.

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After the correction was done, they further sterilized the car and applied a ceramic coating to protect the paint and prevent it from ever getting as bad as it was before. They then reinstalled the removed trim pieces, and the job was complete.

It’s worth noting that some of the major defects in the paint and body still remained, but they couldn’t be solved without performing extensive respraying and/or doing major work. That being said, the detailers did an excellent job restoring what they could to pristine condition, and you can watch the full process in the video below.