Detailer's Domain: 12 Lexus GS350 - Prep for Opti Coat and Clear Film Install

Subject - 2012 Lexus GS350
Requirements - Prep for Opti Coat - Remove old clear film as customer was not satisfied with dealer installation and install new Full Front Clear Film Install

Exterior

- Wheels were prepped with Sonax Wheel Cleaner and cleaned up with various brushes
- Tires were spritzed down with Auto Finesse Citrus
- Wheel wells were cleaned up
- Washed with Auto Finesse Lather
- Auto Finesse Iron Out
- Wash down and rinsed
- Door jambs were cleaned up
- Nano Scrub AutoScrub
- Dried
- Tires dressed
- Masking
- Paint Measurement
- Sonax 5/5 Fine Abrasive Polish - Uber Green Pad - Griots Orbital
- Opti Coat
- Inspection with Fenix, 3m Sun Gun, Infratech, and natural sunlight
- Wheel wells were cleaned and dressed
- Rubber and Plastics Treated
- Exterior windows and mirrors cleaned and sealed
- Exhaust tips cleaned
- Windows were autoscrubed, cleaned, and sealed

Products used

Links to products used -

Auto Finesse Lather
Auto Finesse Citrus - Grime Remover
Auto Finesse Oblitarate
Auto Finesse Iron Out
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner
NanoSkin AutoScrub System
Sonax Fine Abrasive
Opti Coat
Adam's Super VRT
Optimum Metal Polish

Tools used
Uber Wool Wash Mitt
Uber No Name MF Towels
Griot's 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher
Uber Buffing Pads
Defelsko Paint Meter
Fenix TK35
Brinkmann
Kranzle Pressure Washer
Uber Foamer Attachment for Pressure Washer
2 Grit Guard Buckets with Caddies
Uber Firehose Nozzle
Metro Air Force Blaster

Before shot




Prep - Wash - Decon - Wheels Cleaned - Tires Cleaned

Clear Film Removal

The customer was not happy with the clear film installation






Auto Finesse Obiltarate was used to remove the adhesive left over by the clear film



Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner in action


Car was washed with Auto Finesse Lather


Rinse


Wheel wells were cleaned up with Auto Finesse Citrus and a wheel brush


Auto Finesse Iron Out



Some of the panels had swirls/wash marks/marring

50/50 shots





After polishing with Sonax 5/5




Opti Coat


Random clear film shots








After shots (car was finished and picked up in the evening, sorry no outside shots)

 

Looks amazing. Is there a secret technique for removing the old clear film? I'll be removing mine off the front of my Tundra this month for a new replacement. I told the guy doing the warranty work that I would help him out and remove the old one. Any tips? Or just heat it up and pull?

 

Just pull it off carefully. Heat may help it come off easier, but be careful if you are going to use a heat gun.

 

You can use a steamer, if you have one.

 

I love the new body style GS...I drive them all the time during my day job at the dealer. Looks great...nice job.

 

Looks awesome Phil!

heat gun or steamer....Pull TOWARDS you, basically stretching it off...do not pull against the grain or you will get a ton of adhesive stuck on the paint and you will be cursing yourself for the rest of the day. make sense?

 

Looks really pristine now! Great job!

 

nice job

 

Nice work

 

they brought that car across the street from my job nissan,i didnt see nothing wrong with the film

 

thanks guys!

 

great job phil! speaking of Lexus, hopefully you do a write-up on the new LS460 F Sport (i'm sure you'll come across one at some point or time ), that thing looks sick...