HD2500, 650i, Jimmy, Sebring, Explorer, Accords, GL450, X5, Altima, more BMWs

[Scottwax]

Better have broadband for this one!



2003 Chevy Silverado 2500HD. Weekly wash customer, although the crappy weather most of the summer means I he was more like a monthly customer. At his house, it sits outside with the front end under a live oak so it always has sap on it. I had freshened it up about 6 weeks prior with a coat of Optimum Opti-Seal. It was still looking good and had decent slickness but the hood had a lot of hard water spots, bird droppings, etc from being under the tree. I went over it with my UDM using a Meguiars burgandy cutting pad and Optimum Compound, then a Meguiars yellow polishing pad using Poli-Seal, then topped it with Opti-Seal. I then did the vacuuming, dressed the trim with Ultima Tire and Trim Gel, then went over the whole truck with the new version of Optimum Car Wax. The sun was in and out while taking pics so there is a combination of sun and shade shots.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_front12.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_hood2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_frontend2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_rear2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_side2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_flake2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_2500HD_me.jpg



===========



2006 BMW 650i. Monthly wash customer, he does a really good job taking care of it the other 3 weeks. I had applied Opti-Seal in April and it was holding up nicely, although he uses Meguiars Quick Detailer on it after each wash so I really can`t use this car to judge the durability of OS. Anyway, he asked me to put a `light` wax on it if I had time. I used the new version of OCW.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_650i_front11.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_650i_frontend11.jpg



Poli-Sealed the ML behind the 650 back in April!



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_650i_rear11.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_650i_side1.jpg



I noticed the sun being reflected off the windows of the house next door hitting the 650, so I actually got a flake shot!



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_650i_flake1.jpg

[Rickrack]

Looking good Scott!



How are you liking the new version on OCW??

[Ralliart16]

wow.. that bmw is WET!

[Scottwax]

2003 Nissan Altima. Owned by the sister of one of my weekly regulars. Overall it was in decent shape but the seat fabric Nissan uses sucks up lint and refuses to let it go without a fight!



Optimum Polish using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad and my test sample a mystery Meguiars LSP. Looks good on silver too but not quite the OMG! look on black.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_front1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_fender1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_frontend3.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_rear1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_side1.jpg



Carpets and seats cleaned with BioKleen Traffic Lane Cleaner, vinyl with Woolite/water mix, protected with Optimum Protectant Plus. I followed with a lint roller.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_interior1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Nissan_Altima_silver_interior2.jpg



=============



2007 Mercedes GL450. I detail their `04 Carrera about every 6 to 8 weeks, this GL, not so often. ;)



It wasn`t too bad overall but I was informed the day before that I`d be detailing at their office instead of their house because they had work to there (and on a Sunday, no less!). I was also told the GL wouldn`t be there until noon but he`d have his Porsche there at 11 am if I wanted to wash it. Sure, why not, right? Anyway, noon rolls around and his wife shows up with the GL. I get the whole interior detailed (except dressing it), the exterior washed, tires/wheel wells cleaned and dressed and let her know I was going to grab a quick lunch (it was about 2:30 PM by then). I get back a little after 3 PM and she says she is leaving at 4 PM. :eek: The paint was in pretty good shape (CeramiClear holds up pretty well) so I decided to go with Poli-Seal using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad and buffed it off using the new OCW. I also managed to clean the glass inside and out and dress the leather with Meguiars Gold Class Leather Conditioner before she came out at 4:05 PM, purse in one hand and my check in the other. I told her the only things I was unable to do was dressing the vinyl and the plastic trim along the bottom of the truck. She said next time I detail her husband`s Porsche, just put an extra coat of wax on it and we`ll call it even. :)



A few days later, my brother called me (his wife does marketing for the couple`s law firm) and said they were raving about how well the GL turned out. Made me feel pretty good, especially in light of being rushed and only putting in 3.5 hours of work on it.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_Mercedes_GL450_front11.JPG



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_Mercedes_GL450_rear11.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_Mercedes_GL450_side1.JPG



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_Mercedes_GL450_front21.JPG

[Scottwax]

3 vehicles at one spot. This is the company that gives away (but pays me!) exterior 1 step details to their top performers.



This 2000 GMC Jimmy was hammered bad. I was told the Jimmy actually belong to the employee`s mom and if it shined, she`d be happy and he wasn`t interested in spending the extra that is really needs.



Optimum Poli-Seal using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad via UDM did a pretty decent job for a one step but obviously, this truck needs way more. But, I do what I get paid to do.



The difference is obvious...



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2000_GMC_Jimmy_half_polished1.jpg



I ended up going over each section twice on the hood but just one time on the rest.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2000_GMC_Jimmy_half_polished2.jpg



Actually doesn`t look too bad standing back 5-6 feet!



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2000_GMC_Jimmy_front1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2000_GMC_Jimmy_rear1.jpg



2005 (or is it a 2006?) Sebring. I hate doing this one. The outside isn`t bad but the interior is disgusting. She has had a water leak in the car since new (when it rains) and the carpet on the passenger side, especially up front, is always wet. The car reeks inside, not to mention she and her daughters are pretty filthy people. Pet hair everywhere, used spoons stuck to the carpet and even snails. Yes, snails. I took a couple cell phone pics.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/pure_filth3.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/pure_filth2.jpg



Took nearly 30 minutes just to vacuum. I had used Poli-Seal on it and the 2004 Ford Explorer that follows a few months back, so this time I used Opti-Seal on them. No problems at all using it in the full sun on a day that topped out right around 90.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_Chrysler_Sebring_OS_front.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_Chrysler_Sebring_OS_rear.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_OS_front.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_OS_rear.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/all_3.jpg

[Scottwax]

2007 BMW X5. Only a couple months old and unmolested by the dealer. ONR wash and Opti-Seal. Pretty easy one for once! Utlima Tire and Trim on the trim. I was hoping to detail his freshly restored 1969 Z/28 but there were some paint issues he wanted corrected first.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_BMW_X5_front1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_BMW_X5_flake1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_BMW_X5_side1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_BMW_X5_side2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_BMW_X5_side3.jpg



Garage shot:



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2007_BMW_X5_hood.jpg



===============



2002 Honda Accord. Owned by an older couple, pretty well maintained except for lots of black dog hair in the back. The new owner wanted all the dog hair out, plus the leather looked a bit dingy. Paint was really good, very, very few issues, most just minor paint transfers.



Optimum Polish using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad and sealed with Opti-Seal. Nowhere convenient for me to move the car in the sun without blocking the parking lot so shade shots it is. Plus, my mechanic had called to tell me my timing belt/water pump job was done, so I had to transfer all my stuff from the PT Cruiser I rented back into my car, drop the rental off, get a ride back to my mechanic (luckily his shop is about a half mile from Enterprise) and I still had an LS430 to wash and wax that I ended up barely finishing before sundown. No time to waste!



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_front12.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_frontend12.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_rear12.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_frontend21.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_rear2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_frontend3.jpg



BioKleen Traffic Lane Cleaner to clean the carpets, Woolite/water for the leather and vinyl. Optimum Protectant Plus to dress.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_interior11.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_interior2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2002_Honda_Accord_interior3.jpg



=============



2003 Honda Accord. Owned by the son of a weekly regular and he has me detail it 2-3 times a year. The interior was messy but not stained so it went quickly. Same process as the `02 Accord.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_interior1.jpg



He had driven through some tar and it was pretty bad. Took a combination of clay, Optimum Wheel Cleaner and even WD-40 to get it all off. Both the dad and I had family obligations later in the day, so to save time after getting the tar off, he said it would be fine with him if I one stepped it and he`d probably have me wax it again before winter anyway. Since I wanted to be sure I got off all the tar, I one stepped the car with Clearkote`s Moose Wax. It definitely eats tar, leaves a slick wet shine and protects about 3 months. I applied it via UDM using a green Swirlbuster polishing pad.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_front1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_frontend1.jpg



I also washed the LX470 you see in the garage.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_rear1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_frontend2.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_side1.jpg

[Todd@RUPES]

I love the Jimmy (I own won just like it!)



Great work Scott!

[Scottwax]

I love the Jimmy (I own won just like it!)



Great work Scott!



I bet your paint is SIGNIFICANTLY better though. ;)

[imported_morarch]

Great as usual Scott. But man, having snails in your damn car, that`s horrible!

[imported_DieselMDX]

great job scott

[Scottwax]

1998 BMW 740iL. Used to be a pretty nice car until he started letting his girlfriend drive it. Both are divorced. She had two kids, he has one and they just had one together. Apparently the kids can do whatever they want in the car and she is just tearing up the paint. Scuffs everywhere, especially the trunk lid. I`ve been told to do nothing but keep some wax on it. He says it is pointless to waste time polishing it out.



Anyway, I had used Zaino Clear Seal on it July 2nd and ONR washed it two weeks later. Since then, either I have cleaned his truck (I do his cars every other Monday) or it has rained, or he was out of town and I even had jury duty once so I am not sure when exactly it stopped beading. He said it went through the local tunnel wash a few times and got washed at the dealer when it was serviced several weeks back. Anyway, based on initial reports of CS`s durability, I wanted to see how the other wipe-on, walk away sealants would work. I applied CS to the left (driver`s side) of the hood, Opti-Seal to the middle and Ultima UGP to the right side, then Opti-Seal to the rest of the car. Visually, CS looked flat compared to the other two, especially UPGP which looks insanely wet upon initial application. After about 90 minutes (I washed his truck, vacuumed the 740, etc), the UPGP and OS areas looked very similar and the CS side had improved somewhat but still lagged behind the other two. The owner says he will be driving the 740 more now until he sells it (he`s been saying that for 6 months now) so hopefully I can closely monitor the 3 products and see how they hold up on this abused, 9 year old car.



I tried to compensate for the concrete, black car and full sun conditions by under-exposing the pics a full stop but.... :(



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1998_BMW_740iL_OS_front1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1998_BMW_740iL_OS_frontend1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1998_BMW_740iL_OS_rear1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1998_BMW_740iL_OS_side1.jpg



=============



2005 BMW 750Li. Weekly wash customer but like the rest, due to all the rain this summer, I was seeing it once or twice a month. I had Opti-Seal`ed it in late April or early May if I remember right and it was still beading decently but slickness was down a bit. Not totally gone though. Still looked pretty good but the hood was looking a little bad compared to the rest of the car. The owner had long ago converted the seperate garage into a studio apartment for his son, so all his vehicles sit under a carport and the hood has been sticking out into the elements. I polished the hood out with Optimum Polish using a yellow Meguiars polishing pad and my UDM. I then went over the whole car with the Meguiars test LSP. I really, really hope this LSP proves to be durable because it looks amazing on black paint! Only two pics, I have more on the next roll.



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_750Li_MegtestLSP_front1.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2006_BMW_750Li_MegtestLSP_frontend1.jpg

[Scottwax]

Looking good Scott!



How are you liking the new version on OCW??



Really nice product. Slicker right away than the orignal, very wet looking and even easier to use.

[kaval]

tremendous work Scott!



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Honda_Accord_MW_rear1.jpg

is that a scuff on the bumper?



that Sebring was disgusting!!!!!!



Again, great job on all the cars, as usual!

[imported_grease]

That GL is a big rig, and you did that much in that little time? Impressive!

What did you use on the plastic mirror housings on the 2500HD?



Another great job as usual!

[inov8ter]

Top notch work Scott!



So what the deal with the mystery LSP of Meg`s???LOL

Any hints?