Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

[s word]

I think this will be my first full correction post. All my pictures are from my cell phone and most are taken the wrong direction. Please forgive.

This was my first time working on this car. I have never worked with paint quite like this.
The 2006 Acura RL had extremely soft paint. If the edge of the megs mf towels touched the paint it scratched. This was the most delicate surface to work on.


Any feedback appreciated

Issues with paint
Horrible swirling and holograms with hard water spots on the entire vehicle.

Time
Well over 13 hrs of paint work alone, the soft nature of the paint comboed with the hard water spots everywhere made this a tuff one for me

Process
G110v2 with yellow pad and M105, M101...no progress
G110v2 with DAMF cutting pad and D300...barely started to work
G110v2 with DAMF cutting pad and M105...some progress but water spots still holding.
G110v2 with DAMF cutting pad and M101...this was the winning combo

The water spotting was extremely caked on, the customer must park in the sprinkler daily and hadn't waxed the car in over a year.


To polish I went with black pad and M205.
To finish black pad and megs Black Wax.

Before
The hood


The water spots and swirls
[IMG][/IMG]

Rear door and panel
[IMG][/IMG]

Rear door
[IMG][/IMG]

Front fender and hood
[IMG][/IMG]

After
Front fender
[IMG][/IMG]

Only Fender complete here (some water spotting remained by hood gap to be removed when doing hood)
[IMG][/IMG]

Vehicle owner looking at fender
[IMG][/IMG]

Hood and fenders completed
[IMG][/IMG]

Sun shot
[IMG][/IMG]

This was a two day process. So the customer brought the car back. First day hood and fenders, next the rest.
Panel 50/50
[IMG][/IMG]

When customer brought car back for second day, I saw this.
No wonder the car had hard water spots everywhere. The car was brought back 24 hrs later.
Funny thing was this spotting would not remove with detailing spray, I had to use M205 on black pad to remove it. Which is weird because it was freshly waxed the day before.
[IMG][/IMG]

I didn't have too much time for photos when customer came to pick it up. Here are the few final sun shots I have.
[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Again sorry for the wrong direction and non quality photos.

[Marc08EX]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

That's just some nasty swirls and water spots. You brought it back to life! The after pictures look amazing. The paint looks a mile deep and extremely wet! It looks brand new!!!

The pictures speak for itself. No need for better quality camera.

AMAZING job Chris!!! Keep it up and post more of your work!

[Detailing by M]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

Very nice save! That car was trashed and she's still trashing it by parking it next to the sprinklers? What's up with that?
You did a great job and I'm guessing you'll be detailing this for her every week? lol.
I don't understand her parking in the same spot.

[s word]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

That's just some nasty swirls and water spots. You brought it back to life! The after pictures look amazing. The paint looks a mile deep and extremely wet! It looks brand new!!!

The pictures speak for itself. No need for better quality camera.

AMAZING job Chris!!! Keep it up and post more of your work!

Very nice save! That car was trashed and she's still trashing it by parking it next to the sprinklers? What's up with that?
You did a great job and I'm guessing you'll be detailing this for her every week? lol.
I don't understand her parking in the same spot.

Thanks guys.
Marc, you know I text you this is my Marc inspired work. I never do epic details like this. 13 hr on paint work is usually something I would pass on.
But this car needed help and other than a few of you here I have no clue who would be able to help her.

Yeah looks like the sprinklers will be getting the best of this car. I warned about it but I guess if she wants to thrash my work it is up to her.
I gave every warning and advice possible to prevent this. And looks like in 24 hrs it was all lost. I somewhat despise (in a nice way) this soft paint. As much as I'd like the frequent work this stuff is a real headache. And I'd hate to charge more for soft paint, it really eats time.

[STRIFE]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

Wow, that was some nasty stuff to correct, great job there!

Did u think of trying M101 with the meg's burgundy foam pad with the DA?

[s word]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

Wow, that was some nasty stuff to correct, great job there!

Did u think of trying M101 with the meg's burgundy foam pad with the DA?

Thanks Strife.
The thought came and went because I don't own a burgundy pad set. I intended to buy one to try because I was thinking the same thing as you, but in the interest of time and availability I used DAMF system instead.
In the 101 class Stoops doesn't recommend the use of burgundy pad...can't recall all the reason why. I only have burg. set for my DA power system and I definitely would not use that to correct a whole car, especially this car.

[STRIFE]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

IC...so it's recommended to use M101/ burgundy pad (or any cutting pad) to address serious defects only?
I wish I lived close to the MEG's H/O to attend the clases

[s word]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

IC...so it's recommended to use M101/ burgundy pad (or any cutting pad) to address serious defects only?
I wish I lived close to the MEG's H/O to attend the clases

The only recommendation I know is that Stoops said not to bother with burgundy pad in 101 class. He didn't mention it with any product combo just the pad itself.
I may have heard this way out of context or forgot the reasons why. I believe it marred the paint or hazed it heavily but I honestly can't recall. I just know I don't own one because what I heard that day.

M101 is definitely intended for use on foam, but it is like a secret weapon when used with DAMF.
My car has really hard paint and the simplest stuff wouldn't correct out. I used DAMF and M101 and it leveled all my issues and with ease.

[STRIFE]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

Hmmm, looks like test spots will be in order....I'm pretty sure other members will chime in shortly.
I do have lotsa MF pads and a bottle of M101

[s word]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

Hmmm, looks like test spots will be in order....I'm pretty sure other members will chime in shortly.
I do have lotsa MF pads and a bottle of M101

Id like to have another option because although the DAMF did the job well, i feel like it was harsh on the paint. especially this soft paint. it would be a cool test.
Also after today i will no longer own my g110v2. I am passing it on to a friend starting in detailing. 21mm RUPEs is arriving today as its replacement.

[thepanchmx]

M101 and mf cut disc? I guess thats aggressive, soft paint can be corrected with polish pad and m105 right?

[s word]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

M101 and mf cut disc? I guess thats aggressive, soft paint can be corrected with polish pad and m105 right?

It honestly will depend on your paint, but for most swirls and scratches that combo works great. My issue was the deep hard water etching that occurred. The pads were barely doing anything and I was applying substantial pressure.
I'd never suggest to jump to M101 and MF cut disc right away. My test spots showed this combo to be best. Considering I used an aggressive method and it still took 13 hrs I would hate to see the time if i kept trying with pads.

This car was very severe. At first glance it didn't look bad but soon as I touched it with the first pad I knew what I was in for.
The real winner of my combo has to be M205. It came through and cleanup up the paint with very minimal passes.

[s word]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

I may be able to pick up some burgundy pads this weekend and do half my hood with those and M101, the other half with M101 and DAMF. Would this test be of interest?
I can maybe look for additional hazing or correction steps when using one or the other. My car is a weird silver/champagne/metallic (VW light brown metallic) so it may not show swirls well. I could try it on my wifes hood, she has a blue honda pilot.
But I am down to do the test and shot a couple photos if there is interest. I would be doing the test using my Rupes because I sold my g110v2 and recently bought another one that hasn't been delivered yet.

[STRIFE]

Re: Lexus RL waterspotting and swirls

YES, please share the results...thanks

soo jealous of your new DA, i'd buy one but I have a brand new g110v2, GG6, GG3.....