Lexus IS300 and AW

**audicoupej** · 06-05-2007, 07:55 AM

Saturday I worked on this 2003 IS300. The color really hides swirls well. It had around 55,000 on it and was in decent shape as far as swirls. The main problem was water spots. The interior was done but was in pretty good shape except for a few spots so I didn`t bother with pics as I was pressed for time. I didn`t get very many during photos either. The color was very hard to photograph.

I tried OHC with an orange LC pad @1500 and it didn`t help with the spots much

I then tried EC/OP with a yellow LC pad @1500-1700 and it looked much better after two passes. I couldn`t remove everything and I didn`t feel safe since the water spots have been there a while. I removed around 90-95% of the water spots.

Final process:

Nxt wash

Blue claymagic clay with Nxt wash as lube

EC/OP yellow @1500-1700 X2 on horizontal panels

OP white @1200-1400

Nxt tech wax liquid (I like it on metallics)

DG AW (I have used this twice on my car and once on this car and I really like it so far)

Exhaust tip polished with EO NvR Dull

Tires had so much dressing from the car wash he uses I just buffed with an old sock to remove the excess and prevent sling. He has new wheels and tires going on very soon anyways.

Interior:

Vac

Vroom APC to wipe down

Water/Woolite for leather

303 to protect

IG on glass

Folex for spots

LGCM on mats with folex

303 to protect

AW on door jambs

The swirls were more than the picture shows, but you get the point

After polishing with EC/OP

Afters:

You can see the Millenium yellow C5 I did last September. I will be getting around to cleaning it up again sometime soon.

I like this color a lot. It has a ton of flake. Hides swirls pretty well, and cleans up nice.

Thanks for looking

Questions or comments?

**joshtpa** · 06-05-2007, 07:57 AM

Car looks great...Watch out for that no parking sign...LOL

**audicoupej** · 06-05-2007, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by joshtpa

Car looks great...Watch out for that no parking sign...LOL

Thanks Josh. That sign comes in handy when I need to beat floor mats against something :chuckle:

**joshtpa** · 06-05-2007, 08:06 AM

Not a bad idea.

**vwgtivw** · 06-05-2007, 08:47 AM

Nice flake pop.

**audicoupej** · 06-05-2007, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by vwgtivw

Nice flake pop.

The flake is insane in this color. It adds a nice color change depending on the lighting.

**awahl63** · 06-05-2007, 09:44 AM

looks amazing!

**kkreit01** · 06-05-2007, 10:48 AM

Looks great. I`ve noticed great flake pop by simply using AW as well.

**mr.ikon** · 06-05-2007, 11:35 AM

awesome looking car. i just did the same car over the weekend.

**audicoupej** · 06-05-2007, 11:59 AM

awahl63: Thanks

kkreit01: I have only used AW this one time on a metallic. I will have to try it on some more.

mr.ikon: I have talked to several IS owners but this is the only one to come through. He wants me to do his brothers month old IS350 soon. :woohoo:

**imported_Denzil** · 06-05-2007, 12:39 PM

I absolutely love the flake on this car. Great job on removing those etchings. You really can`t see them anymore.

**yellohvette** · 06-06-2007, 11:05 AM

Car looks great! I still think the interior was the best part (but I might be a bit biased!)

You did a hell of a job cleaning up those water spots - all 9,238,173 of them! It`s too bad that the previous owner didn`t take better care of the exterior. The color is great at hiding those scratches, but it doesn`t hide the water spotting too well. You should probably buy the guy lunch that referred the car to you (or maybe give him a free detail!)

PS - I think the vette looks sexier! :grinno:

**audicoupej** · 06-06-2007, 11:34 AM

Denzil: Thanks for the kind words. 95%+ was removed

Originally Posted by yellohvette

Car looks great! I still think the interior was the best part (but I might be a bit biased!)

You did a hell of a job cleaning up those water spots - all 9,238,173 of them! It`s too bad that the previous owner didn`t take better care of the exterior. The color is great at hiding those scratches, but it doesn`t hide the water spotting too well. You should probably buy the guy lunch that referred the car to you (or maybe give him a free detail!)

PS - I think the vette looks sexier! :grinno:

HAHA :lol

When he is ready for a detail he will be hooked up

or I`ll just buy him lunch. That is much easier. :p

The Vette is sexier but the Lexus has no swirls :woot:

P.S. :welcome to Autopia finally.