Just bought a used car and need some help

**umair** · 07-19-2004, 10:31 PM

I just picked up a 2001 Lexus GS300 in black.

I got a good deal on it but that is because the exterior was not in the greatest of conditions. There are several scratches and lots of chips even. There is one little dent on the front passenger quarter panel from apparently hail or something.

Also some of the plastic bumper looks a little whitish....

So there is a lot of work to be done. I am complete novice and want to see what I can do to make it look better without repainting it. I only want to repaint it if thats my only option.

Assume I have nothing other than:

Meguirs Step 1,2, 3

Some Slick Tire Stuff

Wheel Cleaner

And thats it folks. Please enlighten me. I was looking around for a Detailing 101 document but couldn`t find one.

I`m assuming because of all the chips the first thing I need to do is go to lexus and buy black touch up paint. I really don`t want to repaint the whole thing but man... its not looking good.

**david911** · 07-19-2004, 10:47 PM

I was looking around for a Detailing 101 document but couldn`t find one.

At the top of the page thereis an icon and under it it says [Learn] click on it for 101.

**umair** · 07-19-2004, 10:47 PM

Oh yeah...

The rubber door sealer stripping is also coming off from the passenger`s side. Any ideas what type of glue to use?

Tomorrow is the day... I`m gonna spend all day working on this so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

**umair** · 07-19-2004, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by david911

At the top of the page thereis an icon and under it it says [Learn] click on it for 101.

Wow. Duh. I was looking for that type of link for like an hour. I knew it had to be here some where. I can`t beleive it was that obvious. Thanks. It has a great article on fixing scratches and chips. I`m going to execute that verbatim.

Any idea on the rubber door seal thing?

**NavindraLR** · 07-20-2004, 09:20 AM

well your gonna most liekly need to replace your polishes/waxes... the menzerna polishes work really good on lexus paint, and are really good in general... u should try those out...as for good waxes.. they`re so many out there, so just type in a search and read up about them

**94BlkStang** · 07-20-2004, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by umair

Wow. Duh. I was looking for that type of link for like an hour. I knew it had to be here some where. I can`t beleive it was that obvious. Thanks. It has a great article on fixing scratches and chips. I`m going to execute that verbatim.

Any idea on the rubber door seal thing?

3M makes a weatherstrip adhesive that will work well for your door seal and should be available at your local parts store. It comes in yellow or black.

**l33** · 07-20-2004, 10:23 AM

post some pics of the paint, where are you in jersey maybe some one could help you out.

**umair** · 07-20-2004, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by l33

post some pics of the paint, where are you in jersey maybe some one could help you out.

I`m in North Jersey in Teaneck. I`ll drive by if you are free sometime.

I went to Pep Boys to get some stuff started. I am looking for a citric acid based car wash solution. Any idea what local stores would have stuff like this. I came up pretty much empty at pep boys.

**groebuck** · 07-20-2004, 12:58 PM

Are you planning on doing this all by hand? If so stop and go to www.likenewautos.net out of Howell NJ. Talk to my buddy Dean Laumbach...he can do amazing things.

**umair** · 07-20-2004, 12:59 PM

I`m going to post some pictures soon.

**umair** · 07-20-2004, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by groebuck

Are you planning on doing this all by hand? If so stop and go to www.likenewautos.net out of Howell NJ. Talk to my buddy Dean Laumbach...he can do amazing things.

I would go to a detailer to get it done but I am afraid its going to need extensive touch up paint which I`m probably better off doing myself using the method described in the learning section. I don`t expect a detailer to take up there whole day to touch up a 100 little spots all over the car. His price for detailing is pretty good though.

Thanks for the suggestion.