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2012 BMW 7 Series Review

HARD Lifestyle — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:55:24 +0000

It seems like it was only yesterday we took apart our very own BMW 750Li in order to outfit it with a set of slick Dub wheels which we custom painted using a ‘Copper Chrome’ finish effect. Though the BMW by itself stood out from the crowd, the copper chrome wheels and trim effect put it in a class of its own.

Now 5 years later, this 7 Series is still BMW’s flagship sedan.

Review by Kurt Ernst, – Motor Authority

“Despite the passage of a few years since then, the 2012 BMW 7-Series has managed to age gracefully and we’d still call the big sedan one of the best that BMW has ever produced.

We’re partial to the styling of the current 7-Series, which does away with the sometimes awkward proportions of the previous model, built from 2002 – 2008. Performance is better on the new version as well, and the 7-Series manages to feel much lighter behind the wheel than you’d expect it to.

Inside, there’s plenty of room to carry three passengers, or four on shorter trips. Headroom is ample, even for rear seat passengers, and even standard-wheelbase cars have a generous amount of rear seat legroom. If you prefer more room to stretch out and read The Wall Street Journal as you’re driven to the office, the 7-Series comes in an extended-wheelbase (Li) version as well.
As you’d expect from BMW, its latest range-topping sedan comes standard with all the amenities that luxury shoppers demand, including rich leather upholstery and ample quantities of polished wood. If it’s high-tech you want, BMW offers the 7-Series with a heads-up display and night vision, too.

BMW builds a 7-Series model for almost any luxury sedan shopper willing to put down the $71,000 price of admission to the model range. Even the base 740i, with its 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, in-line six, produces reasonable acceleration while returning up to 25 mpg on the highway. Opt for a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8 variant, or the 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V-12 found in the range-topping 760i, and acceleration is impressive, although buyers will pay the price in fuel economy. If you want the best of both worlds, BMW offers the 4.4-liter V-8 in an ActiveHybrid version, which can sprint from 0-60 mph in under five seconds while returning up to 24 mpg on the highway.

While the 740i may have a starting price of $71,000, the sticker price rises quickly as you add option packages or move up the model range. If you want the range-topping 760Li, it starts at over $137,000, and loaded-up with options can top the $160,000 price point.”

Check out the HARD BMW 750Li Project

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Los Angeles is Burning

HARD Lifestyle — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:37:16 +0000

In an effort to bring awareness to the devastating effects of fire, we have put together a collage of images and videos of the most recent Los Angeles fires. With the potential millions of dollars in damage, it only makes sense to protect your home and keep your family from losing everything. Re-evaluate what you can do to prevent being another statistic. At HARD Lifestyle we understand the importance of fire prevention and have introduced a NEW tool not available to the public until recently. We are talking about Inferno Fireproof Paint. Yes paint can and has been formulated to stop fire in its tracks therefore protecting your valuable property from being destroyed in the event of a fire.

Inferno Fireproof Paint has been recently put to the test on Discovery Channel’s TLC show “Paint Misbehavin” where Steve Flanagan of HARD Lifestyle used an arsenal of fire implementing tools to attempt to burn down a wooden structure (representing a home) that had been coated with the Inferno Fireproof Paint. With each attempt at burning though the Inferno coating, and with temperatures easily reaching 2000 degrees F the crew of HARD Lifestyle proved without a doubt that this product does exactly what it was designed to do, no matter what the instrument of destruction used.

After viewing these fire images, be sure to check out the Inferno Fireproof test clip at the bottom of the post and see for yourself how a simple coat of PAINT can keep you, and your family from losing everything in such a devastating event.

For more information on Inferno Fireproof Paint please visit http://www.hardlifestyle.com/inferno.html

The Station Fire in Los Angeles as seen from space.

Smoke-filled skies hang over Dodger Stadium and downtown Los Angeles from the Station Fire.

Photo: Shannon Farren/KFI News

An L.A. County Fire Dept. Firehawk helicopter makes a water drop in Little Tujunga Canyon Tuesday where the Station Fire was threatening homes and ranches. (Eric Leonard/KFI NEWS)

An L.A. County Fire Dept. Firehawk helicopter maneuvers in Little Tujunga Canyon where crews were working Tuesday to protect several ranches and homes from the Station Fire. (Eric Leonard/KFI NEWS)

Photo: Shannon Farren/KFI News

The charred remains of a pickup truck and gas cans sit near a burned garage August 31, 2009 near Acton, California. The out of control Station Fire has burned more than 85,000 acres and has forced thousands of evacuations as nearly 10,000 homes are threatened.

The Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest nearly doubled in size Sunday night, threatening 12,000 homes in a 20-mile-long stretch of flame and smoke. Photo: Timothy J. Vrieling

Photo: Timothy J. Vrieling

Photo: Aron Bender

Station Fire in Los Angeles. Photo: Louis Katz

Station Fire smoke plume as seen from Granada Hills, Balboa Blvd and Devonshire.Charles Wolf

An S-2 air tanker drops fire retardant behind a home on Angeles Crest Highway Friday as flames from a fire burning in the national forest threatened hundreds of homes. (Eric Leonard/KFI NEWS)

Firefighters watch as an air tanker drops fire retardant behind homes in the La Canada foothills Friday. (Eric Leonard/KFI NEWS)

Station Fire from Sunland/Tujunga. ‘We have watched fire started east and steadily burned through canyons around us. We are now nearly covered by fire lines for about 180 degrees to north.’Matthew Paige

Inferno Fireproof Paint is put to the test Hollywood Style on Paint Misbehavin TLC Show. For more information on Inferno visit http://hardlifestyle.com/inferno.html

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Paint Magicians Turn-out Cloaking Cop Car On Paint Misbehavin, TLC

HARD Lifestyle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:21:25 +0000

Jeff Mersey and Steve Flanagan prepare to paint The Cloaking Cop Car while filming the Paint Misbehavin Television Show on TLC.

Laying out the HARDWAY PATROL Logos Steve and Jeff get started on first applying the vinyl to the cop car doors.

Insuring the HARDWAY PATROL Logos are in place, Steve and Jeff quickly lay down the vinyl turning this ordinary Escalade into a black and white police unit as seen on TLC’s Paint Misbehavin Show.

Jeff Mersey checks out the “To Serve and Profit 911″ Logos for placement on front fenders of the police car.

To Serve And Profit 911 logos find their way on the front fenders. These too will play a part in the cloaking cop car project.

Steve makes some final vinyl trimming and the police car will be ready for the color changing Heatwave Paint.

HARDWAY PATROL Logo

Jeff Mersey loads up his paint gun and goes to town as he paints the vinyl doors with the Heatwave Paint.

Now That’s HARD!

www.hardlifestyle.com

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Automotive Custom Painting

HARD Lifestyle — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:50:22 +0000

Ice-T’s Bentley GT

A car with a custom paint job is one of life’s true pleasures. It’s like being the kid with the best bike in the neighborhood or the biggest piece of birthday cake. Whether you drive a 64 Impala, a Bentley GT or a Lamborghini Murcielago, a great paint job will take your vehicle from ho-hum to head turner.

Actually creating a great custom paint job takes skill and finesse. Automotive painting is one of the most arduous and painstaking tasks in crafting an automobile. It can also be one of the most costly. If you are on a budget, there are options for you. Some paint shops can deliver a good paint job for a fair price. Your other option is to take on the task yourself. If the paint job is a success, you’ll have even more to brag about: a hot set of wheels AND a “do it yourself” tale to tell.

Achieving a great paint job is a step-by-step process. You simply can’t rush automotive painting. Follow the basic steps of preparation, primer application, blocking, final paint coat and detail application. This can seem like a daunting task for any beginner, but the entire job can be completed in just a few days.

Prepare

Before you begin, check with local bylaws and regulations regarding the use of spray paint in homes and enclosed areas. The last thing you need is a legal holdup delaying your painting job.

Cleaning the car is your next crucial step. The car must be spotlessly clean and free of dirt. Use detergents to clean the car top to bottom, and then follow up with grease removers. After the car has been cleaned, it’s time to begin sanding. An air sander (preferably a dual-action sander) should be used to remove the old paint from the car. This kind of sander will not cause body damage because it removes paint without digging like other sanders and grinders. Every trace of paint must be removed to create a perfect palette for your new paint job. Automotive detailing tape or even duct tape can be used to cover and protect other parts of the car, including plastic moldings and windows. In addition to removing the old paint, all traces of rust have to be sanded off. Rust will spread if ignored or untreated, and the last thing you want is body rot happening beneath your new paint job. You can repair minor body flaws on the car’s surface using fillers. Shape the compound with care using a sanding board, then follow up with a glazing compound. This step will help to ensure a smooth-as-glass finish on your ride.

Mask

KMK DJ Bobby B “High Rider”

After the whole car has been initially cleaned, then sanded, a final cleaning takes place and the vehicle is ready to be masked. In this step, every part of the car that shouldn’t be touched by paint is covered and protected. Remember, you will be using high-grade automotive paint that doesn’t wash off with water. Cover your windows, every light and reflector, all window rubbers, all chrome, tires, wheels, door handles, wipers.. take a good look and what needs to be masked. If you don’t want even the tiniest bit of over spray on it, cover it up! The tools and materials needed for masking are available at automotive supply warehouses and hardware stores.

Prime

Priming is an essential step to providing a good foundation for your new paint. A flawless prime coat will help you to achieve a perfect paint job. Valspar epoxy is a good primer choice, combining dependable filling capabilities with minimal shrinking. After the primer has been applied, a second coat in a contrasting color should be applied on top of the first layer. This will serve as a sanding guide. The primer should be sanded to a smooth finish, but don’t sand too vigorously or you could actually damage the body of the car. When the priming is complete, a sealer is applied and a final sanding takes place.

Finishing off

50 Cent Chrome Lamborghini

In finishing off the automotive painting, it is essential to achieve uniform color. The spray gun should be held ten to twelve inches away from the body to avoid streaks and runs. This is necessary when applying the basecoat, final coat and clear coat.

Regardless of the type of car you drive, a new custom paint job can turn it into a real showstopper. Automotive painting can be a time consuming task, but you can do it if you take it step by step.
For the latest custom paint products you can use with your project check out www.hardlifestyle.com/paints.html.

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The Alternative to Chrome Plating There is a new technology taking the place of chrome...
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The Alternative to Chrome Plating

HARD Lifestyle — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:35:01 +0000

There is a new technology taking the place of chrome plating with the ability to chrome metal as well as non-metal surfaces (plastic, fiberglass, wood, glass, virtually any surface).

Used in a wide range of industries chrome plating has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Regulations designed to protect against the safety and environmental hazards of hexavalent chrome have increased the cost of chrome plating and burdened facilities performing plating services. Conventional chrome plating has several limitations and cannot be used to chrome plate many surfaces. While industry downsizing and consolidation has led to the closure or offshore relocation of as many as half of the chrome plating shops in North America due to EPA regulations. Europe is ambivalent and Asia is largely unconcerned with regulating chrome plating pushing much of North America chrome plating overseas. The need has arisen for an alternative to chrome plating that does not have the environmental and safety issues of conventional chrome plating.

The Gemini Chrome System is one such custom coating alternative that offers a new and evolving technology based on chemical metalizing. Chemical metalizing uses a chemical process instead of an electrical process to attach metal to a substrate. One advantage is nonmetal as well as metal can be chrome plated (plastic, fiberglass, wood, virtually any surface). There is also more flexibility in the parts making for fewer failures due to flex. The added flexibility is due to the thinness of the coating. With conventional chrome plating the thickness of the different layers of metals applied does not allow for flexibility this can result in a failure of the part. The process does not use hexavalent chromium the main environmental problem of conventional chrome. It can also be tinted to achieve colors such as gold, black chrome, even red, blue or green. This revolutionary chrome process has the durability comparable to that of a high-end industrial or automotive finish.

The Gemini Chrome System is a viable solution for most chroming needs. To learn more or find out if our process could work for you please contact us at www.hardlifestyle.com or email at info@hardlifestyle.com.
Gemini Chrome System Video

http://www.hardlifestyle.com/imperial_chrome_star_wars_video.html

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