Lexus is200 enhancement detail

[butler2.8i]

On Friday I did an enhancement detail on a Lexus is200, this car is not really looked after and only get’s driven through the car wash when the owner can’t see through the windows anymore, but should be kept looking good now as I’m going to look after it once a month. The paint is only single stage and is very oxidized and swirled, the bird lime has left some heavy damage in some area’s which I wasn’t able to sort this time round but I will revisit again.

Products and equipment used

Dodo Lime prime
Uber microfiber towels
Uber drying towel
3m yellow pads 150mm 75 mm
Valet pro bilberry wheel cleaner
Valet pro tyre gel
Valet pro orange pre wash
Meg`s hyper dressing
Meg’s hyper wash
Meg’s last touch
German applicator
Menzerna 203s
Autosol metal polish
00 grade wire wool
Ultra fine blue clay bar
Various wheel brushes
Makita rotary polisher
Karcher pressure washer
Noodle wash mitt
Sheepskin wash mitt
Microfiber drying towel
Snow foam gun
3m masking tape
Finish kare 425
Red moose machine glaze
Jetseal 109
Megs 16 wax
Megs APC

The car before I start

[butler2.8i]

I started by giving the car a spray down with the orange pre wash to try loosen some of the bird lime and other general muck, this was then blasted off with the pressure washer and then the car was given a thick coating of foam made up of a strong mix of Megs APC to try and break the muck down a bit, badges, grills and gaps cleaned with a small detailing brush.















Whilst this did its stuff I cleaned the wheels using the bilberry wheel cleaner and various wheel brushes and the noodle wash mitt, these alloys have really seen better days as the paint has peeled off and the alloys are very corroded in places. The owner is going to get the wheels powder coated at a new company that has just opened up in the town.






This was then blasted off with the pressure washer, and then the car was given another coat of APC foam and washed using Meg’s hyper wash and the 2 bucket method and a sheepskin wash mitt. The car was then rinsed off using a open ended hose and left wet before claying using Meg`s last touch and clean your car’s ultra fine blue clay bar then rewashed using the same method and dried using a spray of last touch and uber microfiber drying towel.








Various marks around the car noticed as I had worked my way round the car claying

[butler2.8i]

Car was then taped up using 3m masking tape, a couple of quick 50/50 using the lime prime and 3m yellow polishing pads before getting on with the rest car








Then started to work my way round the rest of the car

[butler2.8i]

After polishing my way round the car with the rotary the hard to reach areas under the spoiler and behind the handles were done using Menzerna 203s and the red side of a German applicator. Then given another coat of snow foam to clean off polish residue. The car was then given a coat of the Red moose machine glaze again using the rotary polisher and a small finishing pad, this was done a panel at a time and buffed using the uber microfiber towels.



















Exhaust wash polished up using Autosol and 00 grade wire wool

[butler2.8i]

Some reflection shots








The wheels were given 2 coats of Jetseal 109 and the arches where given a coat of Meg`s hyper dressing and the tyres giving a coat of Valet pro tyre dressing.

Leaving me with this.

[timk81]

I don't normally pay attention to car washes but that was impressive. Is there money to be made in the business? How long did it take?

[butler2.8i]

I don't normally pay attention to car washes but that was impressive. Is there money to be made in the business? How long did it take?

Some people make money from it but i mainly do it for friends/family as it helps me chill out after being at work all week.

[timk81]

Some people make money from it but i mainly do it for friends/family as it helps me chill out after being at work all week.

just wait til you have kids!

[butler2.8i]

just wait til you have kids!

Already got one, 17 year old son so means i`ll have another car to look after soon

[timk81]

my wee fella's only 4 and a half months so you've a fair bit more time on your hands