Lexus LS430 Makeover
After several years of detailing MINI's, it was about time to start taking my skills to other cars, and what better way than to start with my dad's Lexus?? Heh heh. My father was very happy about my new hobby, not because he thought anything bad about me, but that he knows he will get a free detailing now.
Unwashed

Even with a layer of dust, it doesn't look too bad.
Typical Cobweb

These were all over the car, but most severe on the trunk lid.
Defect

This was on the roof and easily buffed out with a little M83 and my PC.
Truly Mobile Detailing

Here's all the tools I will be using. Hmm, I wonder what's inside that backpack?
Only Meguiar's

Of course it's filled with all the best Meguiar's products I own!
NXT Tire Cleaner

After washing the car, I sprayed on the NXT Tire Cleaner foam, let it sit for 30 seconds, and wiped it down with an old MF towel. I then treated it with Hot Shine. What a difference huh?
NXT Tech Wax Shine!!

Wow, with these photos overlaid, you can really see the difference of the Before and After. I used Swirl Remove 2.0, followed by NXT Tech Wax, and Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax applied and removed with my PC.
Shiny!!

The shine is clearly evident.
Looks Great in Sunlight

Had to make sure my eyes weren't fooling me, so I parked in the sunlight.
Shiny All Over

Yep, really glossy and wet looking!
Different Car, Same NXT Tech Wax

I couldn't resist taking a picture of my MINI's reflection. I used some NXT Speed Detailer just before snapping this pic.
My MINI Reflection

Pulling back a bit so you can see where my reflection was from!
When I first inspected this Lexus, the paint really didn't feel that rough, so I only claybarred the areas that really needed to be treated. I then began with the least agressive paint cleaner that I had which was Swirl Remover 2.0 and my PC, but even after 3 passes, and very slow arm movement, I wasn't getting the results I was looking for. I decided to try my M83 which was almost empty, but just enough to do one part of the car, and the results were definitely better. Cobwebs were reduced by atleast 50%, but it still didn't get them all out. I think I probably will want to use a rotary on slow speed next time--but I gotta replace my broken Harbor Freight one first.
After I finished this car, I felt the paint again, and something must have been wrong with my sensation the first time around because while the paint felt like new glass, the areas I didn't claybar that I thought were fine before were rough!
But most importantly, my father was extremely pleased to see that his car was so wet and glossy looking--something he had never seen before and kept asking my what fancy wax was I using??
After several years of detailing MINI's, it was about time to start taking my skills to other cars, and what better way than to start with my dad's Lexus?? Heh heh. My father was very happy about my new hobby, not because he thought anything bad about me, but that he knows he will get a free detailing now.

Unwashed

Even with a layer of dust, it doesn't look too bad.
Typical Cobweb

These were all over the car, but most severe on the trunk lid.
Defect

This was on the roof and easily buffed out with a little M83 and my PC.
Truly Mobile Detailing

Here's all the tools I will be using. Hmm, I wonder what's inside that backpack?
Only Meguiar's

Of course it's filled with all the best Meguiar's products I own!
NXT Tire Cleaner

After washing the car, I sprayed on the NXT Tire Cleaner foam, let it sit for 30 seconds, and wiped it down with an old MF towel. I then treated it with Hot Shine. What a difference huh?
NXT Tech Wax Shine!!

Wow, with these photos overlaid, you can really see the difference of the Before and After. I used Swirl Remove 2.0, followed by NXT Tech Wax, and Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax applied and removed with my PC.
Shiny!!

The shine is clearly evident.
Looks Great in Sunlight

Had to make sure my eyes weren't fooling me, so I parked in the sunlight.
Shiny All Over

Yep, really glossy and wet looking!
Different Car, Same NXT Tech Wax

I couldn't resist taking a picture of my MINI's reflection. I used some NXT Speed Detailer just before snapping this pic.
My MINI Reflection

Pulling back a bit so you can see where my reflection was from!
When I first inspected this Lexus, the paint really didn't feel that rough, so I only claybarred the areas that really needed to be treated. I then began with the least agressive paint cleaner that I had which was Swirl Remover 2.0 and my PC, but even after 3 passes, and very slow arm movement, I wasn't getting the results I was looking for. I decided to try my M83 which was almost empty, but just enough to do one part of the car, and the results were definitely better. Cobwebs were reduced by atleast 50%, but it still didn't get them all out. I think I probably will want to use a rotary on slow speed next time--but I gotta replace my broken Harbor Freight one first.
After I finished this car, I felt the paint again, and something must have been wrong with my sensation the first time around because while the paint felt like new glass, the areas I didn't claybar that I thought were fine before were rough!
But most importantly, my father was extremely pleased to see that his car was so wet and glossy looking--something he had never seen before and kept asking my what fancy wax was I using??
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