I worked on this 03 Camry for 13.5 hours this weekend (exterior only), and am really happy with the results. My customer told me that it looked better than it did 5 years ago when she drove it off of the lot, so I'd say she was really happy with my work.
The finish was very dull and lifeless, and had a lot of scratches, door dings, oxidation, etc. First I tested out some OP on a white pad with the PC. It brought out the gloss, but wasn't touching the RIDS. Next I stepped up to a Megs 105/OC combo on a white pad. It was better, but I needed to work it several times to get rid of the scratches. So I switched to the 105/OC combo with a 5.5" orange LC pad, and it came out great. This is a tremendous combination, and it finishes very fine (especially on paint this color). I finished it off with PoliSeal and a coat of P21S 100%.
The rest of the story:
Total work time: 13.5 hours (exterior only)
Wash with NXT
Z18 claybar w/ONR lube
Wetsand w/2000 grit in spots
Megs 105/OC (70/30), orange 5.5" LC pad, PC6
ONR QD strength wipedown
Optimum PoliSeal, grey 5.5" LC CCS pad, PC5
P21S 100% Carnauba wax by hand
Wheels:
Megs APC Plus (4:1) on wheel wells
Megs Wheel Brightener (4:1) on wheels
Sonus Tire Gel
Megs Exterior Trim Detailer on wheel wells
Engine:
Megs APC Plus (4:1)
ONR
Megs Exterior Trim Detailer
ONR QD strength in door jams and trunk lid
Stoner's Invisible Glass on windows
Engine Befores:
Afters:
Mirror damage before:
After (wetsand, 105/OC x4):
Before (lots of scratches and door dings):
During wetsanding process:
Afters:
Headlight before:
After:
Taillight before:
After:
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Lots of clay work ahead!
Before:
Afters:
Before:
After:
Hood before:
After:
Other misc after shots:
The finish was very dull and lifeless, and had a lot of scratches, door dings, oxidation, etc. First I tested out some OP on a white pad with the PC. It brought out the gloss, but wasn't touching the RIDS. Next I stepped up to a Megs 105/OC combo on a white pad. It was better, but I needed to work it several times to get rid of the scratches. So I switched to the 105/OC combo with a 5.5" orange LC pad, and it came out great. This is a tremendous combination, and it finishes very fine (especially on paint this color). I finished it off with PoliSeal and a coat of P21S 100%.
The rest of the story:
Total work time: 13.5 hours (exterior only)
Wash with NXT
Z18 claybar w/ONR lube
Wetsand w/2000 grit in spots
Megs 105/OC (70/30), orange 5.5" LC pad, PC6
ONR QD strength wipedown
Optimum PoliSeal, grey 5.5" LC CCS pad, PC5
P21S 100% Carnauba wax by hand
Wheels:
Megs APC Plus (4:1) on wheel wells
Megs Wheel Brightener (4:1) on wheels
Sonus Tire Gel
Megs Exterior Trim Detailer on wheel wells
Engine:
Megs APC Plus (4:1)
ONR
Megs Exterior Trim Detailer
ONR QD strength in door jams and trunk lid
Stoner's Invisible Glass on windows
Engine Befores:
Afters:
Mirror damage before:
After (wetsand, 105/OC x4):
Before (lots of scratches and door dings):
During wetsanding process:
Afters:
Headlight before:
After:
Taillight before:
After:
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Lots of clay work ahead!
Before:
Afters:
Before:
After:
Hood before:
After:
Other misc after shots:
