End of Lease Prep (Black) vs. The Kitchen Sink

mgm2003

mgm2003

New member
A co-worker has been after me to clean up his 04 Explorer.



His lease is up this week, and he wanted to spruce up the exterior before inspection.



This SUV has seen plenty of off road adventures (camping, hunting, etc…), sits outside 24x7, and has been ‘well used’ The vertical panels were loaded with scars from brush rubbing the paint, and it had a fair amount of RIDS. I leveled about 75% of the marks, and the ‘eye’ sores will be missed by non-autopian eyes when it’s inspected.



We started at 12:30, and finished up at 3pm. I had help with the wash, and wipe downs, which really saved me A LOT of time.



Process Used



Wash:

Dawn Wash

ACP on the wells & tires

Trans-Mate Wheel Brightener



Polish:

Z18 Clay



HTEC & FPII Cut 4:1 using an Orange LC CCS cutting pad via the Metabo @ 1400RPM.

(on all paint except the roof)



ISO wipe down



Z-AIO x 1 using a White LS CCS polishing pad via the Metabo @ 1200 RPM.





LSP:

Sonus QD w/Carnauba for touch ups on the paint & wheels



Lexol on the trim, tires, running boards



Poorboys NL on the wells



[Before]



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[After]



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Nice job. Any tips or observations on using the Metabo with Orange LC CCS pads? I have both but haven't had a chance to use the pads yet. Are yours flat or curved?
 
pt91 said:
Nice job. Any tips or observations on using the Metabo with Orange LC CCS pads? I have both but haven't had a chance to use the pads yet. Are yours flat or curved?
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Thank You.



I use the 6.5" flat LC CCS pads, and they feel absolutely balanced on the Metabo. I don't care for the feel of them on my PC. The cut is very similar to other LC pads if you've used them before. The CCS pads are a bit more aggressive, but nothing crazy. The foam is denser, and the pad 'floats' over the paint and does it's job. They clean out much better than any other LC pad that I've used in the past too. I was impressed with how well the orange pad finished up on the destroyed Ford paint today. Not *perfect* but good enough for a 2 step for sure.
 
Absolutely great! I just detailed a family members car before they resold it to carmax; actually probably got a few hundred more than it would've before hand.
 
John, The lease company is going to take one look at her and just walk away. Very nice work!



Your thoughts on the ISO wipe down before using ZAIO? I was thinking the cleaning properties of ZAIO would be enough?
 
gmblack3a said:
John, The lease company is going to take one look at her and just walk away. Very nice work!



Your thoughts on the ISO wipe down before using ZAIO? I was thinking the cleaning properties of ZAIO would be enough?
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The main reason for the ISO wipe was to inspect the level of correction from HTEC/FPII.



I don't think you need to ISO wipe the paint before ZAIO at all.
 
mgm121499 said:
The main reason for the ISO wipe was to inspect the level of correction from HTEC/FPII.



I don't think you need to ISO wipe the paint before ZAIO at all.
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Good point! :idea



Thanks for your reply. :2thumbs:
 
Its going to look better than every other car at the dealer... Thier detailers are incompetant. I am currently car shopping with my mom, and I want to cry every time I see a brand new, dark colored car on the lot. So many swirls usually, more than my 20 year old Jeep.
 
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