2002 Lexus SC 430 / Paint Correction and CQuartz SIC ceramic - 🌴 A Miracle Detailing

[Merlin]

2002 Lexus SC 430 / Paint Correction and CQuartz SIC ceramic - A Miracle Detailing

2002 Lexus SC 430 / Paint Correction and CQuartz SIC ceramic - A Miracle Detailing
This was an extreme makeover on a twenty-one-year-old vehicle
​

Inspection:
DeFelsko PosiTest DFT Paint Thickness Gauge for ferrous/non-ferrous metals
DeFelsko 200C3-G PosiTector 200 C3 Advanced Ultrasonic Coating Thickness Gauge

Lighting:
ScanGrip MultiMatch 8 and MultiMatch 3 color from 2500k to 6500k. ScanGrip Sunmatch 3

Machines:
RUPES Bigfoot iBrid Nano Long Neck
RUPES BigFoot LHR 75E Mini
Rupes 21 with a Rupes 5" Backing Plate

Correction:
Lake Country HDO Blue Correction Pad - 5 1/2"
Lake Country HDO Orange Correction Pad - 5 1/2"
Meguiars M101 and M110 Ultra Pro Speed Compound

Polishing:
CARPRO Gloss Finishing Pad - 5"
CARPRO Reflect High Gloss Finishing Polish

Tools:
RYOBI Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer
MTM Hydro PF22.2 Professional Snow Foam Cannon
Metro Air Force Master Blaster

Cleaning Products:
CarPro IronX Snow Soap / Poorboys Super Slick & Foam Pre Wash Snow Foam
TUGA Devil Special Wheel Cleaner

Last Step Products:
CQuartz CQuartz SIC ceramic coating on paint, and wheels
CQuartz Dlux Wheel and Trim Coating on plastic trim
Sonus Trim and Motor Kote (Dressing Engine Bay)
CARPRO ReTyre Tire & Rubber Cleaner (cleaning tires)
CARPRO Darkside Tire Dressing - (dressing tires)

Please watch the 360 walk-around video - Click bottom right YT Gear to set 1080p HD w/audio

Hood Shot

Front Drivers Side

Rear Drivers Side

Rear Passenger Side

Front Passenger Side

The Front

The End

Thanks for Looking!

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Any questions please feel free to ask.
Please post any feedback in a reply.
Questions/Feedback is truly appreciated.

 

[BrentinLouisville]

Stunning work.

What goes into your decision with to use SIC or one of the Pro only coatings? Or does it come down to what the customer is willing to pay for?

 

[Merlin]

Stunning work.

What goes into your decision to use SIC or one of the Pro-only coatings?
Or does it come down to what the customer is willing to pay for?

Thank you!

A little of both actually...

1) The condition of the paint.
If I see the vehicle and feel (no matter what I do) the paint will not obtain the level of correction worthy of a Pro coating.

For me to use CQuartz Finest Reserve or CQuartz Professional the paint needs to be polished as perfectly as it can be.
If I don't feel the vehicle will be Pro coating material when it is polished then I steer the client to a consumer coating.
The preparation standards are high to use a Carpro CQuartz Pro coating. I always want to achieve a higher standard with a Pro coating.

2) Cost
Preparation is the key! More time is needed to achieve a premier paint finish. Time is money.
Using a consumer product actually allows me to offer a more "budget-friendly" ceramic coating package.

I always try to do my best but sometimes you just can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
I feel I always underpromise and over-deliver. When you know it's going to be 100 times better but not a "show car" finish I don't go Pro.

On another note...
I have done a few that were an "extreme makeover" and when I was done I could have gone with a pro coating.
At this point, calling the client and letting them know I could upgrade, they have the original quote $$$ in mind.

 

[BrentinLouisville]

Thank you!

A little of both actually...

1) The condition of the paint.
If I see the vehicle and feel (no matter what I do) the paint will not obtain the level of correction worthy of a Pro coating.

For me to use CQuartz Finest Reserve or CQuartz Professional the paint needs to be polished as perfectly as it can be.
If I don't feel the vehicle will be Pro coating material when it is polished then I steer the client to a consumer coating.
The preparation standards are high to use a Carpro CQuartz Pro coating. I always want to achieve a higher standard with a Pro coating.

2) Cost
Preparation is the key! More time is needed to achieve a premier paint finish. Time is money.
Using a consumer product actually allows me to offer a more "budget-friendly" ceramic coating package.

I always try to do my best but sometimes you just can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
I feel I always underpromise and over-deliver. When you know it's going to be 100 times better but not a "show car" finish I don't go Pro.

On another note...
I have done a few that were an "extreme makeover" and when I was done I could have gone with a pro coating.
At this point, calling the client and letting them know I could upgrade, they have the original quote $$$ in mind.

That makes a lot of sense, thank you.

 

[Merlin]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you.

Sadly, not every car I do is a good candidate for a professional coating.

 

[Merlin]

Wow, your work is amazing, as well as the other pieces I've seen on your YouTube channel.

It turns out that clients always expect maximum results for minimal cost, without considering the condition of their vehicle's paint.
And with older cars, it always takes more time, materials, and money to get them looking their best.

Thank you!
That is very kind.

I always/only quote upon inspection of the vehicle at my shop.
I let 'em know what I can do and the time it will take to do it.
I know my shop's costs and quote labor/materials accordingly.
In the end, my name goes on every vehicle I do.

 

[Eneaspaino]

How do you balance customer expectations for maximum results with budget constraints, especially when dealing with older cars that require more time, materials, and effort to achieve the desired outcome?

 

[Merlin]

How do you balance customer expectations for maximum results with budget constraints, especially when dealing with older cars that require more time, materials, and effort to achieve the desired outcome?

It's relative to customer expectations and their budget. Not every vehicle I do is a professional coating candidate.


Preparation is the key!
I let folks know a one-step polish is going to yield different results than a three-step paint correction and polish.
Paint correction is the most time-consuming part of the process. (Short version - Time is money)