Hacked up GS300, S550, Z06

Scottwax · 08-25-07, 10:23

2005 Lexus GS300. It was at the law office I am doing several cars for over the next few weeks. Two step exterior details and full interior details for a set price. Extra work = extra money. I wasn't too thrilled to see this Lexus in the full sun. Rotary holograms all over it! I wasn't sure if I could remove them AND leave an LSP ready finish in one step. Here you can see I have polished the right 3rd of the hood using my UDM, orange Swirlbuster cutting pad and Optimum Polish:

Close-up shot:

Pulled back so you can see the whole hood:

2/3rds polished:

All polished:

Front door polished (same as above, UDM, orange and OP):

Both doors polished:

Same process as above here too. As you can see, there is still a very light trace of halo swirling left, so I ended up using Poli-Seal with a blue Swirlbuster finishing pad and buffing off the excess with Optimum Car Wax. I had to use an after shot of the hood because by the time I got back around to the fender to finish it with OPS/OCW, it was in the shade.

Just UDM/orange/OP

After UDM/blue/OPS/OCW

Finished shots:

Leather/vinyl cleaned with Woolite/water and carpets with BioKleen's Traffic Lane Cleaner. Dressed with Optimum Protectant Plus.

Scottwax · 08-25-07, 10:40

2007 Mercedes S550. I actually did this one two weeks ago but took the after pics today after an ONR wash. I was out of film when I did it initially. He had parked it at the airport under a crepe myrtle tree while he was in the Bahamas for nearly two weeks. For those of you who don't know crepe myrtles, they rain (literally!) sap when they are in bloom. It left an unbelievable mess on the hood as you can see in this cell phone pic.

After an ONR wash and Meguiars white clay, I used Optimum Compound and a yellow LC cutting pad via PC, and I really had to lean into it to cut through the sap. I followed with Zaino Z-PC using a white LC polishing pad and sealed the car with Opti-Seal, which I had used on it about 6 weeks prior.

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2007 Chevy Corvette Z06. I see this one twice a month and typically wax it each time. Two weeks ago I used Opti-Seal and this time I used Ultima Paint Guard Plus. When I used OS side by side with UPGP, the Ultima side initially looks wetter but when cured several hours later, they look the same. This time I compared fresh Ultima vs fully cured (two weeks, no driving in the rain, ONR wash) Opti-Seal and there was little difference. For that reason, I believe them to be equally good in the looks department. Now the question is which lasts longer. Won't know by this Vette though, he likes it freshly waxed.

Overall, both OS and UPGP look really wet and glossy on the Z06's black paint but honestly, I think carnaubas still look better (my car in the background has Carnauba Moose on it). Tough getting really good shots on the concrete in full sun, I closed it down a stop and a half (under exposed) but it didn't help that much.

hXc drummer23 · 08-25-07, 11:14

It's a shame. I always see holograms on higher end cars. I see them on Infiniti's, Lexus's, Lincoln's, etc. all the time.

Nice work though.

Radian78 · 08-26-07, 12:16

Those cars look great! I love the sparkle in that Lexus paint, and the first hoodshot of the vette is money!

Also interior of the Lexus looks brand spanking new. I need to get me some of that carpet cleaner.

Setec Astronomy · 08-26-07, 07:02

Scott, these partially-finished hood shots and stopped-down pics are really destroying your reputation!

Nice work!

jdoria · 08-26-07, 07:05

Great job as always.

UPGP vs. opti-seal rages on. I am still a Z5pro / Nattys' Blue guy on black. I was about to buy some UPGP and try it on my new car, I may not.

1 Clean WS6 · 08-26-07, 08:31

I love looking at your details Scott!!

a.k.a. Patrick · 08-26-07, 09:42

Hot damn Scott, that Lexus is beautiful. I love Lexus Paint....Did you work in direct sun? You need an EZ up my friend......for situations just like those. I would have been dead yesterday without one....Between heat, humidity, and now rain, they really pay for themselves in short order.....Course you may not have room in that compact of yours?
Sweet work, naturally!