Trying to get that metallic POP! 2001 Lexus GS300

[joel5150]

First off, A little history. I did not wash, QD or anything for about 2 weeks. I also made the mistake of parking it under a pine tree and then staying at a party for about 8 hours. Needless to say, had little clear pitch dots all over my car. I also had those yellow dots from I have no idea what, but the combination made me dread washing my car again since I had done so much to it last time I washed it.

I had washed, clayed, cleaned, polished, and waxed, all with Meguiar's products the last time, finishing with 2 thin coats of NXT Tech wax. I thought it looked great.

So I got ready to do the deed yesterday, Used NXT Gen Car Wash and had filled up the bucket, and then started spraying down the car. As I am wetting it down, I notice that EVERYTHING, and I do mean everything, pitch spots, yellow dots and all are just popping off the paint as I spray them with water. And you guys know that those yellow things are a PITA to get off your paint. I ran my hand over the paint as the water was cascading off it and it felt like I had just clayed it. I was so amazed!

Anyways, so I washed the car, applied DC#2, then a coat of NXT Tech Wax. I let the car sit till this afternoon (about 20 hours) and then applied some Gold Class Paste Wax.

I was in a shaded area, and so I went and pulled my car back into my parking spot in the sun, and WOW! I think it really made the metallic fleck pop out.

What do you guys think?

Hood


Rear Side


Trunk



The pics don't do the color justice, so I cut a section out of an original to show you before resizing.

Detail

[C32 AMG]

So, which products do you think letting those stuffs out? Wash, claying, polish, NXT wax OR NXT Car Wash???

[joel5150]

I think the last coat of was did it. The Gold Class. It really made the color look rich and brought out the flake in the paint.

It is funny also, I thougt that a wax with distillates would not be good over the NXT Tech wax, but it seemed to enhance it. I think.

[C32 AMG]

Originally posted by joel5150
I think the last coat of was did it. The Gold Class. It really made the color look rich and brought out the flake in the paint.

It is funny also, I thougt that a wax with distillates would not be good over the NXT Tech wax, but it seemed to enhance it. I think.

Do you mean the Gold Class Clear Coat Wax has some cleaning abilities?

[joel5150]

Well, I don't know about cleaning ablities, but it says on the lable that is contains petrolium distillates. I am guessing to help in the drying process. All I know is it made a dramatic difference in the finish. I originally bought it because I thought it would give the NXT Tech Wax a little more staying power.

Her is another pic. It would have been clearer but the sun was at a bad angle and made it look a bit hazy. But you can see the sweat on my head. It was a bit warm outside

[Beercan31]

I am not a paint specialist but I did sleep at the Holiday Inn.

I have noticed that metallic colors "pop" differently. I do not know if this is due to the size of or the amount of flake in the paint.

From my experience the color that seemed to show the most "pop" was a Electric Blue Pearl Coat on a 2003 Chrysler pt cruiser

I have also had the opportunity to do a Dodge caravan that is Forest Green , Even though the green did "pop" it did not pop as much as the blue.

In your photo's where you show your before and after resizing I see that the metallic has"popped" the medal flake shows up very well even for the photo. Your car may have been kept in such a good shape that the paint never had a chance to fade or oxidize and you would not see the pop as expected.

As for your car I think it look awesome, The reflection is crystal clear and to get a light color to show what you have done is a feat in it self.

Hope I helped
Keep up the good work
Keep us posted.

[hirosh]

i know what you mean about just seeing the metallics pop out at ya.

i did my mom's altima with #80 and then NXT x2 and i got this:


IMO, i think it's in the prepping the paint for the wax, and obviously you did a great job on that. well, it could be that or the NXT.

[gb387]

Originally posted by Beercan31
I am not a paint specialist but I did sleep at the Holiday Inn.

I have noticed that metallic colors "pop" differently. I do not know if this is due to the size of or the amount of flake in the paint.

From my experience the color that seemed to show the most "pop" was a Electric Blue Pearl Coat on a 2003 Chrysler pt cruiser

I have also had the opportunity to do a Dodge caravan that is Forest Green , Even though the green did "pop" it did not pop as much as the blue.

In your photo's where you show your before and after resizing I see that the metallic has"popped" the medal flake shows up very well even for the photo. Your car may have been kept in such a good shape that the paint never had a chance to fade or oxidize and you would not see the pop as expected.

As for your car I think it look awesome, The reflection is crystal clear and to get a light color to show what you have done is a feat in it self.

Hope I helped
Keep up the good work
Keep us posted.

Beercan... I have noticed the same thing, not to sure what the difference is. I know someonw with a White Pearl Metallic Lexus and it doesn't "pop" like other metallics that I have seen with the NXT.


joel5150... Looks real good! You are not kidding when you say "pop"!