rjt65

HEY MB..... Nice shine! What year is the 300? And why do you only rate it a 6 out of 10 for a detail job? Looks pretty dang good to me. cheers :) I overslept. Start at 5:31 am...Then it was off to cut down trees etc http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=48188

JGT: Good to see ya back.... Some more ?'s for the gr8 detail doc (other experienced welcome to chime in too please) on polishing. I am thinking I will tackle this and buy Flex in the fall. 1) any idea? How thick is the paint on Lexus 350 Obsidian Black (no clearcoat) 2) Would you only Polish to remove scratches or would you recommend polishing every 2 years or so to increase base gloss, etc? 3) Temperature/sun/other environmentals -- Is it bad to do outside in Summer high temp's with sun and heat on the car ?, better to wait until the fall and a cloudy day? would under a tree be better than in a wide open driveway? better to do in a garage I know with proper fluorescent lighting (glad to say I am 80% done clearing garage to get her in there!) 4) with a new car (swirl and lite scratching all over from dumb-!Removed! car wash) is it necessary to clay before polishing? or is that not so beneficial as it is so new? 5) Verify that the proper process would be to: test one area to see if the polish and pad are the best (start with lighter cutting stuff first)..if so proceed, if not increase pad cutting. Than polish whole car in 2' x 2' areas (previous mask tape off all trim, plastic, molding etc), take break drink beer--- than polish whole car with gloss polish like sfx3 or equivalent. than UGP+ and carnuba. the 6) thoughts on using water and alcohol (80% h20 - 20% Alc.) on a MF towel to wipe car after polishing ? 7) for lot scratches from bad car wash is SFX2 the best or would the Sonus SwirlBuster Polish be better? (they call out Black cars for this one also at 25$ versus 10 bux for SFX2) I have to keep the DDOC busy on teaching!!! previous post from DDOC: I recommend Sonus SFX 2 and 3. These are mild polishes that are pretty safe to use, but do the job on any Lexus because of their ultra soft paint. If you get the DAS Pads, I would start with the green pad with SFX2, if that does not work then move up to the Orange Pad, then finish off with SFX 3 and the blue pad (these two are more for increase gloss, they don't really polish) If you get the Lake Country Pad I would start with SFX 2 and the white pad, if that does not work then with the orange pad then finish with SFX 3 and the gray or blue pad.

Congrats and good luck!! :D I have just over 1,100 miles (Late March picked up) with 08 ES 350 Obsidian Black on Black, UL with ML stereo etc. and no issues that a lot of people seem to have found with the 2007 models. I have had a handful times when decelerating where tranny felt funny (flare) but IMHO it was no big deal nor happening often. enjoy! (check out the forum on detailing--do not bring it into a car wash ever! the Lexus paint is so soft that you will get a ton of scratches. cheers!

I don't like the ink feeling on the papers. I have used on previous car and inside on glass/on mirrors and it does work well. I am surprised at finding the glass so easy to clean on my new 350, outside cleans well with Ultima car wash, inside i hardly have to clean. Amazed at this. I Clean with a Good MF towel... little damp is all so far. I also used sonus glass cleaner just once in 7 weeks. (just to try it out since i bought the kit, the glass polish helped to remove a wiper dry burn (my term for the black residue left by a wiper run in between raindrops when I was in a flash hard rain , no rain, hard etc) Nice pics and good luck with the car, when u detailed for 4 hours (I read your profile) what did you use (what products, rotary or orbiter,polishes, sealant clay etc)?

thanks I think there is 2 choices 3 foot and 1.5 foot (Correct me if I am wrong) I like it at the further distance. Just wondering why it would go off sometimes at lights and not all the time. times when it went off, i was pretty far from other cars, other times when cars are closer it stays off. so wondering if there is some other type of algorithm to identify parking versus stopping at lights. cheers You can lower the sensitivity, or the distance at which you want it to start warning you, as it is, the distance is pretty great. I reduced mine.

Hey - just wondering if others have this issue. Sometimes the park assist warning goes off when I stop for lights and there is cars next to me in their lanes. . Most of the time , 99%, it does not go off I could understand if the car was close by but it seems like it is far enuf away to not set it off. no biggie, I just reset the P assist and it stays off after reset. Thoughts?

I also started using derwunder MF towels they work gr8! I sought out other MF towels at local car-care stores and could tell they had very little waffle, were cheaper and thinner. Dang soft paint got me lot surface scratches for bringing it in to a car-wash (Live & learn I guess) but man can I get this baby shining! I also think I see more 10 year old plus Lexus, with original paint that look spectacular than any other old car's out there, so maybe the soft paint wears well over time if properly cared for?

In the detailing forum on here is a very big thread on detailing for Lexus (350 but applies to all). I too have the Black UL and mad a bad mistake bringing it to a hand wash with boars head brush's' now i have a million surface scratches. (only me th owner can see them..but they are their) I plan to buy the Flex (looks like the highest RPM orbiter) and polish these babies out few months from now. Good luck!

The only difference I see is that the ones on the bumpers appear a little thicker, I also have molding on my wheel-wells. I am thinking of adding 4 foot spikes from my wheels, battering rams in front and back. I cannot seem to park far enuf away from fools!

I used to use rain-x all the time, , if you keep up with re-application, fine, , If I fell behind re-applying found it to get detrimental and smudge. I started using the add-in to the windshield wiper fluid, that seemed to help. I found the wipers so good on my new Lexus i rally do not need the rain x. So it sounds like all use OEM blades, when do you get them and do all buy from the dealer/service or online? cheers

IMHO better to have the space used for the IPOD (MP3) than having to run the cord out of the armrest storage. I threw out all my cassettes (2 loaded cassette storage box's few years ago). I have been reestablishing my old collection of albums and cassettes at your music.com (was 5.99 now 6.99 per CD) Plus I have a lot of mp3's. when I get some time I plan to put some MP3 in native data to see how that works in the ML. anyone using native mp3 format? cheers

Agree with SW03ES- Looking at my PDF of my dealer invoice--ultra NAV is part of premium plus..not even UL. Does it have Pan. Roof, upgraded alloy wheels etc..? Maybe you meant it has some of the features of a UL? ers and good Luck. Still sounds like good deal... Here is the listing of Features for prem plus and UL... PT Premium Plus Package 2,480 - All Features of Premium Package, Plus: Driver's seat: Power thigh cushion extender Lexus Memory System extends to front passenger's seat (x-Lumbar) Rain - sensing intermittent windshield wipers with mist cycle - Intuitive Parking Assist System 500 ...uses ultrasonic sensors in the front and rear bumpers of the ES350. - Lexus Navigation System, Voice Activated|DVD based w/ Compass (En,Fr,Esp) 2,650 Rear Back-up Camera provides driver w/ image of rear while backing up. 7-in. LCD touch-screen | Centralized information display - Bluetooth® Cellular telephone technology IPO - Premium Package (1,280) - Heated and ventilated front seats (640) - Bluetooth® Cellular telephone technology (300) 3,410 42,025 UL Ultra-Luxury Package 5,380 - All Features of Premium Plus Package, Plus|or: Semi-Analine leather-trimmed interior Panorama glass moonroof(s) Power rear sunshade 17 x 7-in Graphite-polished alloy wheels (F|S|Spare) - If your car does not have nav it does not have the UL package unfortunately. $34,600 would be way more than $3200 under the MSRP of a UL model, they MSRP for almost $45k. Sounds like a pretty good deal though.

Hey JGT: Some updates:still raining 4 days a week on LI here and the dang Pollen!! Anywhooooo...... had to wash after 3 days rain pollen this Wednesday... and added in 1 coat UGP.... so rained Thursday nite and all day Friday... Not much time this AM so wanted to just detail (Ultima detail spray) dried off top car from rain started detailing and whoa rain spots on the hood!!!!!! So after detailing trunk, I ran in got my ONR and washed it with no rinse in like 7 minutes...dang so quick I used the bucket on my wifes truck too! stuff works gr8 just know the wash mitts and gr8 and so quik, .MF buff towels get dirtier than if rinsing and using ultima wash. Point is the ONR will be a real benefit this winter.. In addition the EZ brush is spectacular for the wheels . I highly recommend both!!

Agreed I am not interested in racing nor blinding speed in curves or turns. My last car - Maxima was the SE model (Wider axle, larger tires, etc.) versus the GLE, and I wish I went GLE. Previous firms bumps in the ride now are not even noticed. My drives are mostly short in nature -- park run errand. unpark go to next errand, drop kids off-pick up few friends etc. so FWD gets me in and out better. Also in NY 4 seasons rain ice snow fWD has worked for me for my 20 years of ownership. But, based on the thread and others sounds like RWD is better in snow than it was 10 years ago, so maybe will look at in x years when I get new car. all You hit it right on the head man, for your info guys, the es was not designed to be a porsche 911, its a luxury sedan, if youre a person who wants to punch the gas all the time or make 140 mile per hour turns you dont buy a es. The ES is for comfort and luxury and ample speed, why do you think it has 4 doors. Its the same thing with this guys who lower a 4 door accord and put body kits on them. Its a family sedan , Jeeez. You want a race car dont buy a 4 door. It just induces autism. LOL Exactly, If you want a performance car don't get an ES. Not designed for performance at all. The idea that FWD is dangerous is ridiculous. Anybody out racing a FWD vehicle is trying to win a Darwin award IMO.

where do you buy the OEM blades from? Internet, Dealer-service shop, other? what do they run you (assuming the heavy overcharge as it is Lexus ) cheers

Howdy all: Just wondering. with new car love the wipers. they do not smudge, clean all water etc. One of the thing annoying me with my old car, was the crappy replacement wipers, I tried all the brands I could buy from all stores, never happy. strak the rain after few weeks on, etc. If I did not upgrade the car, I probably would have tried those ones came out last year on-line or on tv...(Rain guard--forget the name-same co. that makes the wipe on rain protector and stuff to bead off the windshields) Anyway, where does everyone get their replacement wipers ? Online, dealer auto body store? cheers

Interesting ..never thought of waxing the windows. What type wax are you using? Carnuba? I just waxed my wheel rims for the first time to help prevent brake dust sticking on. cheers quote name='saabkyle04' date='May 9 2008, 07:37 PM' post='307291'] My ES350 has been mostly outside for the past 2 semesters during my freshman year at college, except when I go home, then it is in the garage. now that summer vacation is here it is garage kept. I periodically waxed my windows to prevent acid rain buildup and waxed it once every month or so. you can't tell whatsoever that it has even been outside :P I take extremely good care of it :D

Dang fat fingers meant to put CLAYING duh... thanks for catching that Not after cleaning, but after claying.

Hello: Congrats and good luck. I have just got back into car detailing when I bought my new Lexus ES 350 Black with Black interior, (and the !@#$$ hand wash boars head Car wash scratched the !@# in surface scratches/swirls). I would suggest you visit a thread in this same sub-forum on detailing. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...c=45222&hl= It is many pages but worth a read. One thing (Detail Doc) advised was to always polish by machine after a cleaning. I would also suggest the Ultima PG+ sealant which can be used before wax or just left on. This stuff is fantastic. It lasts much longer than Carnuba or other wax's, and applies with a MF applicator with a few drops the whole car can be done. Just wipe on no buffing (unless u put on too much let it dry 12 hours than buff). the other set of product I love is the Sonus Cockpit detailer. -Really cleans the dust off my dash without the oily 'armour all' look. (Plus UV ray protector) Also looking forward to using ONR - Optimum No Rinse Wash. This will be my winter washing technique. Also someone stated the MF towels/applicators online from autopia, autogeek.net etc were better than ones store bought (Lowe's, HD, etc) and I compared them and agree. One other thing, the Meg. Hot rims wax is acid based. I used it on my wifes expedition as her wheels were sho/dirty and it worked great. If your wheels are clean I would suggest staying away from acid cleaners. I am trying out the PS21 water based cleaner (good for any wheels) this weekend as I just got my latest inet shipment of supplies. You will see a whole other list of great ultima and sonus, p21 etc products in that thread. enjoy!

Just wondering how many people have their new 350's garaged versus in the driveway or street? Mine is out all the time, I am in the midst of cleaning up the garage to get it in there. cheers all

No problem no loaner needed. With this beautiful car go out to a nigh-club, hook up , aqnd get someone to drop u off and drive you around for the day That's good to know, thanks! I'll definitely make mention of those things! The only issue would be the loaner car because I'm 18 and I don't believe I am allowed to take one :P

Hey: A just did one coat of PG+ this weekend after wash. and I have to say (3 weeks since 3 coats pg+, than carnuba) it looks gr8. the Pollen dusts seems to come off much easier with this as topcoat than wax. So easy to put on but 2 questions: 1) PPG - Much easier than wax (wipe on -off-buff) besides the look, any reason to ever carnuba again or just use PPG + from now on ? (of course i will carnuba again-but this is so much easier to apply just wondering what wax gives above PPG+ ) 2) Had some streaking after application, mostly on the hood I am wondering if that is due to using too much PPG+ ? Buffed it out next day with MF towel no biggie. cheers

Back in the day when I was a youngin' Had a car (Yellow LM Capri with a 'cuda hood) whacked up with bad dents and which I bondo'd up ( ... friends called me Bondo man.) Bondo's and red-leaded the heck out of it. never made it to paint and polish though, sold when I got a cool Camaro from my uncle). Friend of all trades showed me how to pull out dents and body fill'er up. (PS - Bondo = Body filler) So when I get my flex I will be finalizing my total car body work fulfillment, wonder If I can get college credits!

thanks guys. I will try the wax, carnuba. I have used ACID in past with no issues too, but am trying to stay water based on my new 350. cheers all

Hey DDOC and others: what are you using to clean the wheel wells? Not much room for a brushthinking i might use my ez brush when i get it, thoughts?