2011 Lexus IS250 F Sport - Paint Correction, CQuartz UK Edition + Opti-Coat 2.0 Application

[Zelfiris]

Been waiting forever to post this up!

This is actually my first paint correction for 2014 and I have been spending a lot of time on it. In between my breaks I have been detailing other cars or waiting on rainy weather to pass. I think the whole process was over 2 months long until I finally completed it. I'm the 2nd owner of this beautiful F Sport Lexus and it's my daily driver. Unfortunately it was washed by Lexus dealership several times before it came to my hands.. so I just do what I do best.. polished away!

Here's my process:

Exterior Wash/Decon
Tires/ Wheels - Nothing! I will show everyone in another thread..
Foam Presoak - Dp Xtreme Foam + Griot's Foam Gun
Wash - CarPro Rest + Shmitts
Iron/Tar Removal - CarPro Trix
Paint Decontamination - ONR + Fine Grade Autoscrub Mitt

Paint Correction
Compound - Rupes Zephir /w Rupes' Blue MF Pads via Rupes LHR15ES and Rupes LHR75e
Polish - Rupes White Diamond /w Rupes' White Foam Pads via Rupes LHR15ES and Rupes LHR75e
Coating Prep - IPA Wipedown x2 + CarPro Eraser
Roof + Rocker Coating - Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0
All other paint panels + headlights/taillights - CarPro CQuartz UK 2014

Foam Wash


Initial Condition


Swirls and deep scratches


During Compound






50/50 shot after polish


Rocker


Pretty much the whole car is in the same condition


After






Roof - Before


Roof - After


I decided to coat the roof and rocker with Opti-coat instead of Cquartz UK. I had opti-coat on my previous car and I was very happy but I have been reading on Cquartz for many months and it brings an effect to darken the paint. I had to try it.

Roof - After Opti-coat 2.0


Bumper - Before




Bumper 50/50


After


Getting ready for CQUK 2014!


Another shot before CQUK 2014 application


After shots in the sun






Look at that gloss!




Last one


After thoughts
After polishing the whole car it really made me thought twice about maintaining a black soft paint car for a daily driver.. and its parked outside with winter every year.. Sigh lol
I should also mention it was my first time I applied CQUK and I think I applied it a bit thick.. wiping it off was not easy but I learned from trial and error from my experiences

Thanks for viewing, I hope everyone liked it!

[ulrads1]

Very nice work, the paint looks wet now. How hard would you say that CQ is to apply?

[Zelfiris]

Very nice work, the paint looks wet now. How hard would you say that CQ is to apply?

Thanks!

I would say it is a bigger learning curve to apply CQUK compared to Opti-coat.

Opti-coat you can apply onto the panel, smooth down the high spots with your applicator and come back 3-5 minutes later with one towel buff any spots not flashed out. After that, keep the car dry for an hour and you're good.

CQUK you have to be mindful of the temperature and how thick you are applying the product. I found I had to wipe down immediately after every panel at 22 degrees Celsius and I was still smearing product around as I was wiping. I believe I tossed away 5 MF towels and 4 applicators (from buffing ad applying CQUK). After that I waited 1.5 hours and applied reload. Then I prayed for the weather not to rain for 24 hours since I park outside. I believe I will have less trouble applying CQUK next time again.

Overall I like both products and their results

[sproketser]

Wow , top job on the F Sport mate ! Nice pix .

[zmcgovern45]

Looks awesome Love seeing other 2IS's on here.

[bowles1231]

Nice turn around. Car is melting!

[Zelfiris]

Wow , top job on the F Sport mate ! Nice pix .

Looks awesome Love seeing other 2IS's on here.

Nice turn around. Car is melting!

Thanks!

Also thank you Zach and Corey for answering a lot of questions regarding CQUK. It definitely helped with my purchase decision and the application

[CDot]

Great work!!

[Zelfiris]

Great work!!

Thanks!

[tigerwash]

That's a lotta work but it looks great!