Lexus ES300 Makeover (3 days)

[OctaneGuy]

(Originally posted on ShowCarGarage.com)

I had this Lexus for a week while the owner went to Hawaii for vacation. I used that time to work on the interior leather, engine bay, and fully polishing out the paint.



The interesting thing about this metallic green paint was that it hides dirt surprisingly well. From this angle, the dirt is obvious, but less so from the front.



As you can see it was pretty filthy. The paint was severely oxidized, the chrome was covered in a layer of dirt and brake dust. The plastic headlight covers were fogged. Scratches everywhere.



Seems every surface was covered in something!

[OctaneGuy]

I used the Leather Interior Cleaner for cleaning the leather surfaces. In this picture, only the armrest was treated, not the seatbacks.



Check out the difference. I wiped half of the armrest here.



Here's I've treated one half of the seat. Look how much cleaner and brighter it is!



Check out this clay! I washed the car, then I clayed for days!!!! Then I polished, and found more rough areas, and clayed some more! I decided to feed my NXT Car Wash directly into my pressure washer.





Clay is toast!





I also clayed the chrome wheels, then polished using NXT Metal Polysh. Hyper Dressing for sidewalls.



For the paint--I washed, clayed, used M80 with the rotary, then M80 with PC, followed by 2 coats of M21 with PC.

Here I'm removing M21



I left a swatch of M21 to show how clear and reflective the M21 applied areas are after buffing with the PC.












The finish is smooth as glass, nearly flawless and beautiful! I took these pix during a break in the rain this morning. Otherwise, I worked in my garage, and moved my 2 clean cars into the rain that were originally in the garage.

[imacarnut]

Originally posted by OctaneGuy

looks like the four legged friend is enjoying your work as well

[SpoiledMan]

Amazing transformation!

What did you use on the headlights? How did the interior come out? Are you going to clean and dress the wheel wells?

[OctaneGuy]

I spent almost 2 days just claying the car. LOL. It was filthy!!! Everytime when I thought I was done, and had polished with M80, I'd come back and feel the paint some more, and find some bonded contaminants--so I would clay some more. Actually it was nice having the time to really be thorough.

I used PlastiX on the headlight cover. Initially I buffed over it with 80 and the rotary when I was working on the paint, but I ended up finishing it with PlastiX and it worked great.

The interior came out spotless. This car actually belongs to my sister in law.

Sorry no pix, but if you see the improvement in the pix above, that's how dramatic all the interior surfaces were.

Good catch on the wheel wells. I didn't dress them. That was my mistake. I used Tire and Trim Gel on the last car I worked on for the wheel wells for dressing.

Because this car was worked on over a period of a week--washed and clayed one day--clayed some more the next, and then it rained for 3 days--I was pretty much working to clay and polish in my garage where it was dry, and cleaning the wheel wells never occured to me.

Guess I have another task the next time around.

Richard

Originally posted by SpoiledMan
Amazing transformation!

What did you use on the headlights? How did the interior come out? Are you going to clean and dress the wheel wells?

[SpoiledMan]

Still an outstanding job man!

[danielsan]

I sure hope the guy appreciates it!

[OctaneGuy]

Oh they will. It's my sis in laws car, but my brother drives it. I picked him up from the airport in it, and he was amazed. I was bummed cause his flight came in at 1:12AM, and there was frost all over the car at that time. But he could still feel the car was better than it ever has been.

Shes coming back tonight at 8pm, so guess we shall see!

Originally posted by danielsan
I sure hope the guy appreciates it!

[Mikeyc]

Another great restoration. I often wonder how detailers worked without clay years ago. I'm also surprised that your brother was able to find you at the airport given that the car looked so different.

[OctaneGuy]

I actually called him when I arrived but he was still inside getting his baggage, so I made 3 trips around the airport before he finally came out, and even then I told him wait at the curb and I'd go to him. He was shocked to say the least.

Thanks for the nice words. Yeah clay is great stuff. I just wish I could buy it by the pound (brick) like modeling clay!

Richard

Originally posted by Mikeyc
Another great restoration. I often wonder how detailers worked without clay years ago. I'm also surprised that your brother was able to find you at the airport given that the car looked so different.

[DetailManiac]

Looks just great, well done

[OctaneGuy]

Thanks!! Too bad we can't "feel" it through the forum! It feels wonderful!!!!



Richard

Originally posted by DetailManiac
Looks just great, well done

[gb387]

WOW! Check that out, looks great! Night and day!

[tomee]

job well done!!!

this pic looks like sperm swimming

[sneek]

anyways awsome job on the lexus!