Lexus RX300 - Second Paid Detail!

Pauly6401

Pauly6401

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As I was detailing the Celica last week, the neighbor's son came by and asked how much it would be to do his Lexus RX300 SUV. Since his dad is super awesome as a neighbor and is eternally helping us out and doing favors for us (without us even asking) I told him I would do the outside for $100, and the interior at a later date (for some additional money) since he didn't have the time to be without the car for me to do both, and the interior is pretty rough (it will probably take me almost as long to do the inside as it did the outside, which was 6 hours).

Anyways, I used this opportunity to try out the XMT 360 I ordered, and top it with some S100 wax, which was the first "nice" carnauba wax I have used. Prior to this it's all been Zaino synthetic stuff, so I was curious to see how it compared.

Here's the process I used:

Wheels:
DP Gel Wheel Cleaner
Agitate with random wheel brushes
Dry and apply DP Wheel Glaze, remove with Cobra MF
Dress Tires with Z16
Wheelwells got Stoner More Shine

Exterior:
Wash with Surf City Garage Pacific Blue Wash and Wax,
California Microfiber Sponge w/2 Bucket Method
Clay with Z18 Claybar (red) and Z7 Diluted as Lube
Wash again to remove clay residue
Dry with Ultimate Guzzler
Apply XMT 360 with PC Speed 6
XMT 3 then XMT 360 on hood (deep scratches and water spots)
Buff with Cobra MF Towel
S100 Paste Wax

Trim and Glass:
Mother's Back to Black
Surf City Garage Killer Chrome Perfect Polish
Stoner's Invisible Glass
​
I liked the XMT 360, and liked it even more once I realized that it went much faster and corrected much better with the PC on 6 and not 5. I couldn't get the swirls all the way out until I turned it up, and then it broke down nicely and corrected quickly. Unfortunately, I couldn't get 100% correction because some of the scratches and etchings were pretty deep. Even on the hood, when I used XMT 3 and an orange pad, and then went back over it with 360 on an orange pad, some swirling still remained. I didn't have time to do multiple passes with different products on the whole car, but it is probably 90% better than how it started.

The S100 went on very easily, and removed just as easily. I love how easy it was to apply. It made the blue a bit deeper than just the XMT 360 alone, and gave it a nice, mirror shine. Not quite as "wet" as what I am used to, but certainly acceptable. I'll see the car quite a bit since it almost lives next door, so I can judge how well this combo holds up. For $15, you can't beat the S100 (and I bet you could wax 100 cars with that one can).

Now for the pictures.​
When I got the car this morning:
Lexus001.jpg

Lexus002.jpg


The headlights were cloudy on top (I fixed this with some PlastX):
Lexus004.jpg

Lexus007.jpg


Just washing helped a lot, it had never been waxed:
Lexus008.jpg


50/50 on the hood, left side is finished:
Lexus011.jpg


Completed hood:
Lexus015.jpg
 
2/2

The side only after XMT 360:
Lexus019.jpg


After waxing:
Lexus021.jpg

Lexus022.jpg

Lexus024.jpg

Lexus028.jpg


Signature shot? If you can see the Vette reflected, it's a good job :)
Lexus025.jpg


That's it! I'll be going back to do the interior soon, hopefully. I'm hoping that he's happy, I had to leave the car for him to get since he is working nights right now. I'm always nervous enough about what people will think of the job I've done, but my house wasn't burned down or anything when I got home today so it should be ok :)
 
scale of 1 - 10 how would you rate the s100? I have been thinking of picking it up, your picks seem amazing.
 
nvm i didn't read that last paragraph before the pics.
 
pretty nice detail there.... all that for $100?? Man ur cheap! Not saying that your work is by any means. Also, if you have to wash a car after claying it, your lube isn't good enough! You shouldn't have to wash after claying. Just make sure you apply light to light-medium pressure. the clay should just glide across the paint. to extra force should have to be applied. When I clay a vehicle I do it at the same time as washing it. I wash the area first, then clay it.
 
Looks good! All these nice blue paint details have me considering getting a blue car.
 
Dust2Glory said:
pretty nice detail there.... all that for $100?? Man ur cheap! Not saying that your work is by any means. Also, if you have to wash a car after claying it, your lube isn't good enough! You shouldn't have to wash after claying. Just make sure you apply light to light-medium pressure. the clay should just glide across the paint. to extra force should have to be applied. When I clay a vehicle I do it at the same time as washing it. I wash the area first, then clay it.
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Well, for people I know $100 seems like a good number, especially since I haven't been doing this for long. Also, while I will eventually switch to charging by the hour, I wouldn't want to do that until I get fast enough to not overcharge people for the work I am doing. I am still a bit slow, though getting faster. 7 hours for a Celica with one hour on the interior, to 6 hours for an entire SUV (exterior only), that's some improvement. I just don't want to drive up a price due to my inexperience and inefficiencies.

I'll be picking up some clay lube with the next order I think. I've been using half of a capful of car wash in a spray bottle (per Zaino's recommendation), but that might just add to the residue I generate (since it suds up a bit when I clay). Any recommendations, or just use the water and soap already on the vehicle?
 
Vehicle looks nice and you sure made that blue look much, much sharper. The difference the wash made was quite notisable and the wax gave it that extra POP!

You know, 6hrs for that SUV is not bad at all. I just finished my Lexus SUV and I took two days to get my vehicle looking the way I want it to look. So your not doing to bad, I consider my self to be very slow but the results speek for them selves. So don't think that slow is bad, nothing wrong with wanting to get quality over quantity ;).

Vehicle looks great and love the way the blue seems to glow, job well done.

Thank you for sharing with us.
 
Super job! The 50/50 shot of the hood shows a huge difference!
 
m4gician said:
How did you apply the plastix?
Click to expand...

I just used a cotton applicator pad to apply it to the headlights, and then used a terry cloth towel to buff it off. I had to do it 2-3 times because of the yellowing and some areas were cleaning up faster than others.
 
The 50/50 was very dramatic. Looks great overall and congratulations on picking up your 2nd detail.
 
For clay lube get ONR, or DP 4-2-1. It will same you ALOT of money. Even the 32 oz. bottles diluted will last a very long time. Great job on the detail, I like the Lexus blue. I am just starting to detail for money also. I am doing the same thing you are, charging about 100 bucks until I get faster.

Mike
 
The hood shot was great! nice shine and wetness too!, around my area folks are so cheap that 100.00 bucks is to much. I charged by the hour and a few times i quote around 160.00 for a exterior only, but all they say is the car wash only charge 49.00 bucks and I say is go right ahead and have them do it. These folks see my Mazda and want the same treatment but they don't understand how long it takes and the products that one uses, even when i explain to them on what i will do, they can't get it in their heads. Nice work Pauly!:cheers:
 
Great detail, Paul! Love the 50/50 shot. Definitely made that blue deeper and nice reflections. Saw them flakes too!
 
zoomzoom mazda5 said:
The hood shot was great! nice shine and wetness too!, around my area folks are so cheap that 100.00 bucks is to much. I charged by the hour and a few times i quote around 160.00 for a exterior only, but all they say is the car wash only charge 49.00 bucks and I say is go right ahead and have them do it. These folks see my Mazda and want the same treatment but they don't understand how long it takes and the products that one uses, even when i explain to them on what i will do, they can't get it in their heads. Nice work Pauly!:cheers:
Click to expand...

Well, I have been lucky so far. Since I have only been dealing with people I know, they are all interested in a good finished product and the time it takes to do it. Also, they are more well off so $100 is no big deal to them, which helps. If I was dealing with the general populace it might be tougher, though living in Florida should provide enough wealthy/retired people to keep you busy. I'm hoping that by doing nicer vehicles like Lexus, Vettes and the like I can develop a reputation for higher-end work (and I really, really want a stab at the Gallardo I keep seeing driving around these parts).

On the flip side, a young airman that I work with just bought a 4th gen Firebird that needs a lot of work (including complete respray in parts) so I am going to help him for free.

Good luck in your business! Are you doing it full-time or on the side?
 
Why don't you pulled rank on the airmen and have him do it and you watch! (joking), I retired in 94 and got call back after 9/11. Spent 1 yr in the mountains of the former taliban (afghanistan). I worked a reg. job and just do some detailing on the side. Hopefully i'll get some folks who want to make their rides wet and shiny. Thanks on your post! ......Angelo......RET. USAF. E-7, CCT.......:cheers:
 
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