5 Hour Amateur Detail on IS300 SportCross

[OctaneGuy]

We just bought a preowned 2003 Lexus IS300 Sportcross for my wife. I spent about 5 hours detailing it. Steps were as follows: Dawn wash, Claybar, NXT Wash, PCDA NXT Tech Wax, Quik Detailer for touch up.

Condition of paint wasn't bad before hand. This car had 5,500 miles on it, but the dealership did a lousy job of "detailing" it, and there were numerous clear coat scratches on the rear quarter panel. I used Scratch X and my PCDA to buff these out.


BEFORE
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/sportxb4.jpg

AFTER
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/sportxafter.jpg

The BEFORE pic is kinda rigged I admit. It looks very dull from this angle. It was definitely glossier, but no where as nice as what it looked like afterwards. We visited the inlaws later that evening and my brother in law---who used to do new car sales asked me how much I spent to get it detailed. LOL

http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0504.jpg
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0506.jpg
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0507.jpg
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0509.jpg
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0520.jpg
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0523.jpg
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0524.jpg

Outside the dealer with my MINI
http://www.littlemini.us/gallerypix/lexus/DSCN0444.jpg

Btw, that dealer advertising stuff where the license plate goes were promptly thrown in the trash after these pics were taken. :D

[SpoiledMan]

Good work and nice car! I have my sisters black IS300 sedan on the calendar for this weekend and I hope it comes out as good as yours did!

[Marc08EX]

Great job! It looks really wet especially the hood shot.. Although I would have not recommended washing it with Dawn..

Next time, maybe you can apply some polish before applying wax.

[OctaneGuy]

Thanks SpoiledMan! OOOh, the black IS300 is beautiful. I'm sure it will look great--take lots of pics--before and after (in the sun!)



Originally posted by SpoiledMan
Good work and nice car! I have my sisters black IS300 sedan on the calendar for this weekend and I hope it comes out as good as yours did!

Thanks Bri!!

I did the Dawn wash simply cause I had no idea what was on the car from the previous owner and or what the dealership had done to prep the car. After claybarring, I used the NXT Car Wash and that's what I will use for the rest of the cars life.

I'm curious though---since I'm using NXT Tech Wax, what kind of polish are you suggesting?

Thanks!!!

Richard



Originally posted by Bri
Great job! It looks really wet especially the hood shot.. Although I would have not recommended washing it with Dawn..

Next time, maybe you can apply some polish before applying wax.

[DETLMAN]

Nice job Richard !! I hope all is well with your family and the new baby!

You really should have cleaned those white mini wheels while you were at it :D :D :db: :db:

You know I am just messing with you about the wheels, Very nice job.

[OctaneGuy]

Thanks! My new baby is now 4 months and 17 pounds big! OMG, he's not a fat baby, but he's big! He's the kind of cute little thing that women of all ages break down and say how adorable he is everytime he goes out in public. It's kinda funny, all the attention I get--especially since most people think he's 8 months to a year old!

Here he is at 2 months
http://www.3forces.com/lukas/gallery/pix/DSCN8976.jpg
Looks like he's in a hole!

http://www.3forces.com/lukas/gallery/pix/DSCN3910.jpg

A couple weeks later
http://www.3forces.com/lukas/gallery/pix/P1010360.jpg

Funny you mention my white wheels! I had previously parked my car on the other side of the street until the dealers broken sprinklers came on and showered my whole right side of car! With it being 100 degrees outside, the cover was covered with water spots, so I actually wiped down the entire car and wheels and all, but I took a picture from the dirty side. LOL


Originally posted by DETLMAN
Nice job Richard !! I hope all is well with your family and the new baby!

You really should have cleaned those white mini wheels while you were at it :D :D :db: :db:

You know I am just messing with you about the wheels, Very nice job.

[DETLMAN]

Nice! Glad everything is ok. Its been quite a while since I have heard from you.

[OctaneGuy]

I've been laying low, doing a bunch of MINI stuff. Been mostly working on a product for MINI's I've put tgoether that's being sold through NorthAmericanMotoring.com

http://www.Vacucam.com

I should be a bit more active, especially here on the forums over the next few weeks. I got a new car care toy I just bought that I want to show, but not until I've taken my pics. :D

Good talking to you!


Originally posted by DETLMAN
Nice! Glad everything is ok. Its been quite a while since I have heard from you.

[scrub]

Very impressive work. As for polishes, if you feel like it, try #81 Hand Polish (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/product_detail.cfm?parentURL=index_pro.cfm&sku=M-81) .

90210 Detailing has a catchy ring to it.

Good luck.

[Marc08EX]

I would recommend Deep Crystal System Polish (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/product_detail.cfm?sku=a-21) or Show Car Glaze (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/product_detail.cfm?parentURL=index_pro.cfm&sku=M-07) or Hand Polish (http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/product_detail.cfm?parentURL=index_pro.cfm&sku=M-81).. All of these would bring out the shine in your Lexus but needless to say, it's already shiny and wet-looking! Keep up the shine man! :)

[GSRstilez]

Wow!

Wet, reflective, and a plethora of metallic flakes :bounce

:xyxthumbs for getting a Lex Wagon.

[OctaneGuy]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments and the Polish suggestions. While the IS300 looks pretty good right now, I think I'm going to try some polish on my MINI. Unfortunately, this is the car I've learned what NOT to do on paint. :(

re: GSRstilez
I never knew how rare the IS300 SportCross was until we saw one at a Lexus showroom, and found it was already sold--having arrived the night before, and there were already 2 other people clamouring for it!

We really lucked out finding this preowned one with such low miles and being sold by the same dealer that sold it originally.

:D

[dbunting]

Here are some updated pictures of OctaneGuy's car that I took last week. :)

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/c3/IS300_01.jpg

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/c3/IS300_02.jpg

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/c3/IS300_05.jpg

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/c3/IS300_06.jpg

[rs200]

Wow very nice pictures:xyxthumbs

Great choice in the GGP IS SportX :db:

[FlaresideLariat]

whoa, what kind of pictures are those? Special professional looking pics.

Very cute baby btw! :D

[OctaneGuy]

These were taken by my very good friend and fabulous photographer Dave Bunting who is an admin over at NorthAmericanMotoring.com

He is available for hire!! :D :D

If you notice the first picture has a MINI emblem front plate on it. I did that for two reasons.

1.) It's a tribute back to OUR favorite car
2.) To make sure people don't think these were taken for a Lexus ad. LOL.

Richard


Originally posted by FlaresideLariat
whoa, what kind of pictures are those? Special professional looking pics.

Very cute baby btw! :D

[dbunting]

Thanks guys. Glad you like the pictures. :D

As OctaneGuy mentioned, we both have MINIs. Here are some clickable pictures of my MINI after recent Meguiars detailing sessions.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/photos/inmotion17_thumb.jpg (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/606/1279inmotion17.jpg) http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/photos/inmotion18_thumb.jpg (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/606/1279inmotion18.jpg) http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/~dave/photos/inmotion19_thumb.jpg (http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/606/1279inmotion19.jpg)

Hopefully the rain we're having here goes away soon. I'd like to be able to get out and take some more shots this weekend.

[OctaneGuy]

The first time I replied to this post, I THOUGHT you were referring our Lexus as a baby. :D

Then I realized I posted a pic of my son! Thanks!! He turned 9 months as of yesterday..OMG, I just realized we missed his doctors appointment this morning...EEEK

Here's another pic of him taken at Christmas
http://www.3forces.com/lukas/gallery/pix/lukas_xmas2004.jpg



Originally posted by FlaresideLariat
whoa, what kind of pictures are those? Special professional looking pics.

Very cute baby btw! :D

[FlaresideLariat]

Originally posted by OctaneGuy
The first time I replied to this post, I THOUGHT you were referring our Lexus as a baby. :D

Then I realized I posted a pic of my son! Thanks!! He turned 9 months as of yesterday..OMG, I just realized we missed his doctors appointment this morning...EEEK

Here's another pic of him taken at Christmas
http://www.3forces.com/lukas/gallery/pix/lukas_xmas2004.jpg

Yep, your son not the car, hehe ;)

[Vandelete]

truly great pictures! :xyxthumbs

[foris2]

Rigged or not, you still did a great job! :bow

[benhui86]

awesome ride!! look at all the metalic flakes poping out of the paint!!

[lig]

Looking good. Always liked the SportCross. :)

[OctaneGuy]

Want to buy it? LOL. My wife wants something bigger like an RX330. EEEEEK. I'm completely serious!

Richard


Originally posted by lig
Looking good. Always liked the SportCross. :)

[lig]

:)

Next car is for the wifey. She wants an Infiniti FX. I dunno what it is - I have a soft spot for wagons. I'd really like an S4 wagon but she won't have a wagon even though the FX is essentially a tall wagon! :D

Gotta pass - but it sure looks nice.

[OctaneGuy]

Heh heh, understood. I think if we had the money, we'd go for an FX as well although she says she would settle for a Murano as well, LOL. I agree though it basically IS a tall wagon! LOL. The S4 wagon is very nice!!

While I love driving the Sport Cross, I can only have one toy, and I still love my MINI more, so I gotta let her have the CAR she really wants. If only our Sport Cross had the looks of my MINI, I'd be cool with it. LOL.

Lots of power, smooth ride, great handling, more cargo space, looks good, but for some reason, it just doesn't give me the happiness that I have whenever I look at my MINI.

:xyxthumbs

Richard



Originally posted by lig
:)

Next car is for the wifey. She wants an Infiniti FX. I dunno what it is - I have a soft spot for wagons. I'd really like an S4 wagon but she won't have a wagon even though the FX is essentially a tall wagon! :D

Gotta pass - but it sure looks nice.

[lig]

:)

Keeping the wifey happy pays off, Richard.

Good luck on you car endeavours.

[OctaneGuy]

Ha ha, yeah you got that right. I'm trying!!!! LOL. I guess I'm also not looking forward to detailing an SUV, her Sport Cross is big enough. LOL

Richard


Originally posted by lig
:)

Keeping the wifey happy pays off, Richard.

Good luck on you car endeavours.