Automotive Care & Detailing Discussions on washing, waxing, polishing, detailing, cleaning and maintaining the beauty of your Lexus.

2007 Lexus IS250 Detail

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-16-09 | 05:23 AM
  #1  
Chris@GlimmerGlass's Avatar
Chris@GlimmerGlass
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default 2007 Lexus IS250 Detail

This one was cut short b/c of weather. I thought I'd have it for a couple days, but due to some rain (in nj? rain? NO!) the owner decided to pick it up a day early in order to garage it and bring it back early next week to complete the interior.

The paint wasn't in the best shape. Loads of swirls. Fair amount of contamination on the paint too.

I started this one w/ the wheels. Optimum Power Clean on the tires and P21s Wheel Gel on the rims, which I let sit for about 25-30 minutes before washing. Used the EZ Detail Brush to get the inner barrels (how did I ever clean wheels w/o this thing before!?). Wheels cleaned up nicely, but the road rash was still going to be noticeable unfortunately.

From here, moved on to the paint. Hit it w/ Poorboys Bug Squash and P21s Total Auto Wash to pretreat. Foamed it up using Citrus Wash n Gloss and washed away the dirt w/ an Ultimitt. Grit Guards were of course in the bucket

Clayed using a gray, light cut bar and some Luber for the clay to slide on.

From here it was time to start polishing. I did 2 passes of Meguiars 105 on an orange light cut pad before doing a pass of Meguiars 205 on a white polishing pad. This whole process seemed to have knocked out about 90-95% of defects. After just the initial pass of M105 it was at almost 90%. nice.

Topped off the paint w/ P21s Concours Look Carnauba Wax (man, I forgot how easy this stuff is to use!)

Tires got treated w/ OPtimum Tire Shine (owner wanted a dry look, and I think OTS is the closest to this). Bare Bones in the wheel wells.

And that pretty much covers it! Heres the pics to correspond to the process. I ran out of sun and daylight to get any good afters... hence the reason theres only 4 after pics



bleh. dirt does accumulate behind license plates!


There was some gum or something that kicked up here. Used 3M GPAC here.


P21s TAW at work


After being foamed down, the soap was doing its thing.




Claying is important!!


Lots of swirls! oh my








After just one pass of M105, things were looking up. still did a second one after this before the 205.





Now, all cleaned up! Looks much better this way








Last edited by Chris@GlimmerGlass; 09-16-09 at 05:29 AM.
Old 09-16-09 | 08:34 AM
  #2  
PaPaHoFF's Avatar
PaPaHoFF
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 1
From: Long Island
Default

This is Patricks car? Looks good
Old 09-16-09 | 12:24 PM
  #3  
Chris@GlimmerGlass's Avatar
Chris@GlimmerGlass
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default

Originally Posted by PaPaHoFF
This is Patricks car? Looks good
You guessed it! Yes, this is his car
Old 09-16-09 | 01:00 PM
  #4  
Red Bully's Avatar
Red Bully
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 902
Likes: 1
From: new York
Default

Nice good job
Old 09-16-09 | 01:32 PM
  #5  
PaPaHoFF's Avatar
PaPaHoFF
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 1
From: Long Island
Default

What happened to his wheels lol?
Old 09-16-09 | 06:06 PM
  #6  
Rides Low's Avatar
Rides Low
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: NY
Default

looking really good
Old 09-16-09 | 06:43 PM
  #7  
tmf2004's Avatar
tmf2004
5% Club. Killing it!!!
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,942
Likes: 64
From: FL
Default

No Swirls... Nice..
Old 09-16-09 | 06:48 PM
  #8  
crapoud's Avatar
crapoud
Driver
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: FL
Default

That looks great!!
Old 09-16-09 | 09:48 PM
  #9  
415mm's Avatar
415mm
Rookie
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: ca
Default

looks good. what wax?
Old 09-17-09 | 05:16 AM
  #10  
Chris@GlimmerGlass's Avatar
Chris@GlimmerGlass
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by PaPaHoFF
What happened to his wheels lol?
Good question! Looks like he definitely got in to a losing battle with a couple of curbs though, lol.

Originally Posted by 415mm
looks good. what wax?
THanks! I used P21s Concours Looks Carnauba Wax. Definitely an awesome wax. Super easy to use and it looks fantastic!
Old 09-17-09 | 06:05 AM
  #11  
Whit45's Avatar
Whit45
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: NC
Default

Looks great Chris! BSP is about as hard or maybe even harder than black to keep scratch and swirl free, because of its deep reflective gloss. What do you charge for that type of paint detail? Once again nice job. Whit45
Old 09-17-09 | 08:13 AM
  #12  
Evil Teo's Avatar
Evil Teo
Lead Lap
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,540
Likes: 10
From: NJ
Default

dam looks like it came out of the dealership. nice work chris. if the is is250 is not his DD dam i feel bad for the hyundai.
Old 09-17-09 | 02:51 PM
  #13  
MrG4Life's Avatar
MrG4Life
Lexus Champion
CL Folding 100000
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,304
Likes: 1
From: DE <---> NY
Default

I do not recall seeing if a foam gun was used if so, how long do you keep the foam on car? Do you let it "soak" for a few minutes before using your wash mitt to clean?

Looking mighty good Chris.
Old 09-17-09 | 06:20 PM
  #14  
mikez's Avatar
mikez
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 5
From: NJ
Default

Good job Chris!

Patrick never washes his car, and now you did all the hard work for him

Did you mean his volks had some battle with the curb? Or the 17" oems?

I curbed one of his OEM 17" when I borrowed it, dont tell him He doesn't know cuz I curbed it where he curbed it before haha
Old 09-17-09 | 06:43 PM
  #15  
Chris@GlimmerGlass's Avatar
Chris@GlimmerGlass
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Default

Originally Posted by Whit45
Looks great Chris! BSP is about as hard or maybe even harder than black to keep scratch and swirl free, because of its deep reflective gloss. What do you charge for that type of paint detail? Once again nice job. Whit45
Thanks! Yea, they were pretty evident on this paint. It looked SOOO good once it was done though. I kept staring at the gloss and depth it had

Originally Posted by Evil Teo
dam looks like it came out of the dealership. nice work chris. if the is is250 is not his DD dam i feel bad for the hyundai.
Thanks Teo!! The Hyundai was in rough shape for sure, but hey, thats what DD's are for



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:04 AM.