05 King Ranch Expedition Makeover

[Magic]

I had a large task this past weekend, in the form of an Expedition. This was by far the largest vehicle I have ever detailed, but I was determined to make it shine. When I first met with the customer she wanted me to "Throw on a coat of wax". As I began to educate the customer, she really understood that just a coat of wax wasn't going to make it perfect. After I explained my process, she was convinced she needed an Extreme Makeover.

By the end of our conversation she knew what she wanted.
1. Remove swirls
2. Remove scuffs and scratches
3. And just to bring it back to a showroom shine.

My kind of customer!

As always customers bring me the vehicles in the dirtiest condition.

I washed the vehicle with GC Car Wash Shampoo
I removed all the road tar with GC Bug & Tar Remover
After inspecting the finish I proceeded to Clay
I then use #80 on the entire vehicle
Spot Treated with Scratch X
I polished the finish with #7
And waxed it with GC Wax

Here are the before and afters:

I first had to wash car to see what condition it was in. I'll never uderstand why someone pay's $55,000 for a vehicle, and drives it around like this:

After washing the vehicle, this is what I found

[Magic]

Before and afters:

[Magic]

[Magic]

[Magic]

And the Finished Shots:






Cant forget a shot of the tools



Start to finish about 7 hours... Enjoy

[Tom Weed]

Nice work! You made a huge difference, I bet she really liked it.

So, tell me how tired you were when you were finished...

[TKDDAD]

Magic, that's an amazing job !!

Did you use PlastX on the headlights?...they look simply awesome....and the wheel wells ?...what did you use there??

[matt colvin]

Excellent job Magic!!

[RZ Autodetailing]

looks like you did some magic on that expo...bet your legs were tired from going up and down that latter....ive done many expo, navies, and escalades by myself and i know how exhausting a big vehicle is ..but great job , bet she comes back to you again..

[mrdj]

Great job!

[Magic]

Thanks for the compliments guy's.. She was really happy with the results. She stated that the vehicle never looked that good off the showroom floor, and she would see me again in 6 months.

Did you use PlastX on the headlights?...they look simply awesome....and the wheel wells ?...what did you use there??

Healights:
Washed with GC Car Wash
Plastic X on a 8006 (Yellow) pad
I used my PC on setting 4 *** Less then 5 minutes for both lights

The wheel wells:
Rinsed
Safe D-Greaser
Agitated with Brush
Rinsed
Sprayed with Hyper Dressing and walked away (Mixed 3:1)

[gb387]

That is a great improvement! Like the before and after of the scratches. Nice work, I agree spend lots of $$$ it should be cared for.

PS I have to get one of those Stanley "Meguiars Product and Accessory Organizer".

[Detalnewb]

Re: 05 King Ranch Expedition Makeover

Originally posted by Magic

I washed the vehicle with GC Car Wash Shampoo
I removed all the road tar with GC Bug & Tar Remover
After inspecting the finish I proceeded to Clay
I then use #80 on the entire vehicle
Spot Treated with Scratch X
I polished the finish with #7
And waxed it with GC Wax

Nice work!

I sometimes wonder about ScratchX prior to 80 or the other way around...

[steveo3002]

you say 7 hrs, did you touch the inside or engine?

[Magic]

Originally posted by steveo3002
you say 7 hrs, did you touch the inside or engine?

I didn't touch the engine. I offered that service and she declined.

As for the interior:

Quick Interior Detail on Dash, and Clean Door, and Instrument Panels
Vacuumed the entire vehicle, including the seats
Cleaned Interior Glass


I don't really offer interior services. I do as I described on all vehicles, and leave the upholstery alone. Most people have there interior filthy, and I just choose not to deal with it. It's just not my thing! I specialize in Paint, and leave the carpet stains, and shampoo service for someone else to deal with. It doesn't seem to bother my customers. This was a $350 job, and I just don't see spending another 2+ hours on the enterior and being able to charge too much more.

I do offer a Leather Treatment, but I tell my customers that the inside need to be cleaned out (just trash), or I won't do the service on it that day.