rjt65

Hey guys, I somewhat disagree. If you have a bigger hammer, and it takes one swing and nicely drives the nail in, why use a tiny hammer that takes 100 hits and slowly puts the nail in resulting in a less secure and well driven nail? Look at this video comparing the removal of scratches and swirls on a porter cable and flex. Now I am not dissing the PC, but just look a the video (I've searched the the net over months and spoken to and saw many other videos and forums touting the flex as the best. The PC and the Flex http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/flex_demo.html And as far as suing the car wash, etc.. no my bad for bringing it there and not getting info to stay clear before. I want to do myself and will become a polish king!! B) That's well put. Which is why I think you, rjt65, may need a pro to address your swirl mark issue.

You will see my 100 posts in the thread JGTnewlexus gave u above and started. I made the mistake of taking my car to a car wash (4 days heavy rain and severe pollen drove me to bring to a boars brush car wash) and have a ton of surface scratches. Using product from Autopia, autogeek etc It hides them very well. I plan to polish in the fall after I buy a flex orbital and continue use of ultima and sonus, P21 products etc. good luck!

Ok,but what if you have to get out scratches or a swirl? I got a lot (as previously mentioned due to a !@#$%^ car wash that said only boars head brushs yah right) Never again will be in a car wash! Seems like the FLEX is the best to remove scratches/swirls, etc. (and one step safer than rotary) as it trounced previous champion orbiter the Porter cable. cheers

Well as I have 1 million swirls/scratches (others can't see but I can at the right angles) for me it makes sense. If you have been hand washing and you have no scratches you wouldn't need to really polish with a cutting pad or you could at least use a super light polish with light buffing pads. Look at all the posts in that thread, Detaildoc and others would be best to ask (I too am a newbie getting into the fine art of detailing) I will be claying first than polish than lighter polish. than using the best product (again DDOC suggestion) ultima Paint guard plus and than some carnuba on top I think the light polishing will give you a shine to outshine all others you see, but if you have no scratches I do not think you would need to polish so soon, but ask the experts. cheers

Hmm my previous reply seems to have been lost in a a black hole so sorry if 2 posts come back here. I do see them all the time in my garage door, when I park at stores or at my gym i see my reflection in the glass, i see them in the cars and trucks in front of me at stop lights. Reminds me of when i see them on other cars I say y do they need to be on when it is so friggin bright out? Thus my want to shut them off, but I can live with it I guess! :( What is to get used to? It's not like you see them while you are driving.

Hi Manchester: Just got my Black Obsidian April and mistakenly got it car washed ..SO I plan on getting an orbiter. Look at the flex as the best of both worlds (Orbiter less RPM =less damage than higher powered rotary's) suggest looking into the detailing thread in this forum (ES 350 detailing) http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...5222&st=255 Suggest reading it all but on the last 3 pages alot on the Flex versus the porter cable (previous best orbiter now the Flex) these are expensive orbiters, but watch the videos and see what you want. From detaildoc and that thread: "Here are a couple of great videos on how to use a PC/UDM: http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/pc_video.html http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/menzerna.html and one comparing the PC and the Flex http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/flex_demo.html Good polishing!

Ok thanks. 2008 model pretty sure you can't turn off on the 08's unless you splice and install your own secret switch. Not worth that to me, I wll leave 'em alone.

hmm u have 2008 es? I am pretty sure when I turn all off Auto my DRL's stay on..I will check again to see if that is on the turning stick. thanks all PS - I did see in the other website (Lexus Club) a way to do it by splicing wire adding a cutoff switch, etc but I wouldn't do that (yes u would void all warranties)

Not Direct temperature correlation ..meaning (I live in LI NY) our winters are grey sky, cold less sun... when it is 95 degrees (Like now in this heat wave) it is sunny from 6am to 8:30 PM the DRL I see as no use. when Sky is grey sure they offer some use. sorry to confuse all.

Any way to toggle off the daytime running lights? Whe it is 95 degrees I dont see the benifit, does anyone like DRL's? cheers

good start.. u r hooked in.... Excuse my boldness but I would suggest to add (from these posts I filtered these out and use them and i did like 4 add on to autopia order and they still honored my discount ) EZ brush (gr8 for rims, tires and the wheel well) Order some quality MF towels (need them to dry, wipe up excess product, glass interior etc) Microfiber Towels - Pack of 3 (have 10) - for carnuba wax , polish sealent,et al. note: get waffle type for glass. When you wash your MF's do not use powder detergent. I recommend you wash them with Woolite Original (liquid). Do not use bleach or fabric softerners. Wash them in warm or cold water and hang them out to dry. Try not to put them in the dryer, but if you have to, dry them in low. Also the towels from the online detailing stores are far superior to ones from Lowes home depot etc. Sonus Der Wunder Drying Towel 2-pack – to dry car-24$ autopia Sonus Der Wunder MF MIT autopia -6$? Gr8 washing mitt Also for your next order stock up on ONR (Optimum no Rinse) gr8 wash for the times you (Like for me Winter when freezing) need to wash but do not have a hose available. just put in bucket wash and use MF towel to dry no rinsing works gr8. The towels and MF mitt get a lot dirtier with no rinsing and 2 warnings- Ultima WASH- when first opening remove the clear plastic inner cap too before tipping over to pour. It fell out wasting 1/4th of my bottle when i first tried to squeeze in bucket...same happened to JGTnewlexus 2) UGP + - use 2 squirts on the mf applicator it is tempting to over use .if you see streaking on your car u r using too much..just wait 12 hours than use MF towel to remove streaks. OK to drive the car after an hour they say it helps cure it. amazing how little u use to do the whole car. Also the p21s carnuba wax is gr8 but I found out from ddoc that the p21s 100% is the better wax, lasts longer. But I use this wax (will use till gone) and it works gr8.

link to lexus bluetooth http://www.lexus.com/models/LS/accessories/bluetooth.htmlone is supported but not for transfer of contact ino etc. I find using phone to initiate dialing easier anyway especially with complex Audio Conferencing #'s that require pauses hard stops codes etc. My top 5 I manually programmed in. cheers

Hey Dunno if this was anywhere but all a note on removing the carpet mats in the 08 350. stumbled on it myself. Usually a real pain in the !Removed! when removing mats to vacuum bang them out etc. the hooks are so good that it is tough to remove. I was popping the hooks out each time and re-inserting. On some they were tougher than others to get out and I was hoping tht this would not break them. couldn't find a way to easily lift them off until--------------- I found that by rolling the carpet (from top down) in a tight roll right up until the end it creates a perfect angle to easily lift off the mat without struggling with the attachment pins or taking them out of the floor. Reinsert back the same way. So duh on me for not getting this sooner !!

yah $129 order that and run! ddoc got it the 12$ one. I am assuming u picked up the case price.. I see that alot when doing searches on autopia click on search link and a case price comes up hidden in the description when u click but than see price look for small print) . I did the same with the all in one cleaner, and got linked to case $$$. Man, just saw NY state (arrggh) going to start making large inet sellers (amazon sued them but do not know that status) charge NY state sales tax. Just go the vacuum in under the gun with free tax and shipping. think/hope autopia and others will be too small to be effected by this, uggh! it is targeted at Amazon dang I use them lots! Got free super saver shipping , ordered vaccuum last week and it will arrive today or Tuesday, amazing no tax no shipping and saved and JGT-- I figure go for all ASAP!!! get her over the shock. Otherwise extending it out over time will slowly get them crazy, like the Chinese water torture! ;) ... see spending time...comments first, than aren't you done buying stuff yet, than maybe an 'accidental' spilling of smelly coffee or Chinese food in your car... hmmmmm (I already warned my wife I am getting the detailing stuff - FLEX orbiter in the fall-setting expectations!) My wife bought a 'bust duster type DYSON' for home..it is good cost $12 plus tax more than my vac., than but charge is for only good 6 minutes and to big to get into tiny crevices... I couldn't take using that in my car anymore!! a mans car is equivalent to wifes makeup clothing and house purchases IMHO. Me and my car deserve this stuff!!!

Blame the dang Detail DOC, JGT, SWOS and others that got me hooked and spending all the money I negotiated off the car in supplies for it!! and still have to order the flex and accessories! ($300 plus) I am providing much amusement to a neighbor who laughs seeing me multiple times a week cleaning my car. Add in a black on black and u get more of a challenge to keep it clean. Can't wait to park next to a Black GS at my gym Monday Morning and see the my car outshine his carwash version .... hahahah

Hey all. JGT- finally got the carnuba on the car ...good for you. Try waxing ithe whole car soon,will look gr8 and different. After washing wifes truck after my car today and seeing no beading (she leaving in an hour) I threw on some UGP + and it looked gr8. I cant wait to get the flex and polish her car in a few months. I just did my P21 Carnuba after the wash today (i didn't get the 100%-got the older p21 but still looks gr8)... a few weeks with wax on the wheels made it so easy to just clean rims with the Ultima Washer washing every week, and put wax on the wheels rim again today as i waxed the whole car. I have to say the 3 weeks since first waxing wheels it really works gr8. Have not had to use the p21 cleaner, but just use the ez brush with leftover ultima car wash as very little brake dust sticks to the rims with wax on them! AND I AM PROUD TO SAY MY CAR IS IN THE GARAGE FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wILL HELP MY WAX LAST LONGER YEAAAAA!!! I actually just use Sonus 4 in 1 Total Cleaner diluted at a 30:1 ratio and it works great. You spray it on and leave it for a few minutes and it gets rid of that stuff really well. I've heard Meguiars is also good, but I have never tried it. Thanks ddoc!!! I tried the Ultima Quick Detailer Spray today as I was washing my car! I worked but it wasn't necessarily spray and wash...those darn bugs! Hey rjt, I used the P21-100% today (on my front hood only) and it really looks good! I think it takes off marks and leftover bug marks better than UPGP. Plus, the shine was very good (not as glass like but now I know what ddoc means by saying a deeper shine...it was dark when I finished and didn't take a pic but I could only notice the difference up close). However, on the rest of the car I used the UPGP - man is that easy and leaves a glass like shine! Detail #6 in the books since I have been able to (weather) in March/April (or whenever it was).

:lol just ordered from amazon.... my last big buy will be the 200 $$ plus flex..but I will wait until roadwork is done.. Me and wife racing to deplete $$$$ me car and detail Supplies---wife getting new molding, chandelier, and other stuff for home (not mentioning all the clothes for her and daughters) haha That's exactly what I use. It is great. You can use the blower side to blow out excess water from the mirrors, the grill, areas around the trunk, etc. Get it from Amazon, that's where I got it from. That thing is super strong.

Vaccum cleaner? Has seen this on some websites and I think in this forum... Metro Vacuum VNB-83BA Vac N'Blo Auto Vac - Metro Vacuum..... Like over 200$ on autopia found for 138$ on amazon. What r u guys using? ciao

DDOC: 4 in 1 Sonus? Can't seem to find that product, saw an all in one interior... do you have a link for it? For bad bird !Removed! stains on wifes truck i used the sonus paintwork cleanser (small dot) wiped on than all came off real nice... cheers I actually just use Sonus 4 in 1 Total Cleaner diluted at a 30:1 ratio and it works great. You spray it on and leave it for a few minutes and it gets rid of that stuff really well. I've heard Meguiars is also good, but I have never tried it.

I have heavy foot disease as well so tend to get on the lighter side for MPG. BUTTTTTT,, In my 2008 ES 350 avg 19-22 short around town 27-30 when taking long trips now. when I first got it i was getting a lot less, due to low tire pressure. Bought a digital reader from sears, I was low (looked ok, one tire a little low). Once I put it up in all tires to proper range, I jumped up in MPG average. check the tires, let us know if tire pressure is low. cheers

thanks as always ddoc.... u will get me up to snuff in no time, so really thanks for always responding. hers is some info I found on the net.$45 or so... for an attachment for the flex to use any size pads. 4" or 6".. limited run hope available soon..might be other places to get it. So what spots might be difficult with 6 " pads on the 350? test the new Flex Adaptor specifically designed so you can use all sorts of pads ! Pads will be perfectly centered (so no more off center pads which cause even more vibration )to the machine which in turn wear the bearings out very quickly. http://edgepadsonline.com/e2kflco.html http://youtube.com/watch?v=FykiFauXtB4

Thks JENunnez.....think 4 months of hell will apply here. kerosenes?... hmm thinking there should be a better product, I don't have kerosene and prefer to use a bottled product I think. We shall see.

YES no doubt.... I love love love my 2008 ES 350 Ultra Lux-ML stereo-nav, etc.... No problems for me. I was going to buy a volvo s80 or Infiniti M35 than for the hell of it, I went into local Lexus dealer --few days later --drove away. the whole experience was my best ever from the salesman to pickup and my first service when i had blow out from a sharp object on a back tires side. Test drive it, check all out before buying. Think the 2008's are a lot less problematic than 2007's. good luck!

Hey DDOC.... Thanks and WOW for that Camaro revitalization you should be getting lunch for lifetime. amazing. Machine on the detail? Some more ?'s 1- Y did you use both the flex and Ultima Detail Machine? Y not just flex? 2- when you polish 1-2x year do u use sfx 2 all the time or sometimes sfx 3, or both each time ? 3- If using sfx 2 would you bother to follow up with coat of sfx 3 or go to wax or ugp next. 4- ARRGGHHHHHH--- No pain no gain - Found out that in a few weeks, a 4 month project will start-- ripping up my street and 3 other streets by me will occur. they will redo all driveway aprons, curbs, repack dirt base, rgb, and blacktop. 10 days i cannot use my driveway so will have to park around block or somewhere. The dust will be like the wild wild west, potential blacktop drippings oh no! having dirt streets for weeks ugghhh So I will be challenged any advice on how to battle this and stay clean? I will have to wait now to get the flex and as it makes sense to polish after this crap occurs. Car cover maybe, any suggestion's on product to take black top or tar off the car just in case? cheers PS - what do you buy from packshack , versus autopia or autogeek?