Full paint restore

[thelawnet]

I have a 2007 Lexus LS460.

It is black.

The condition of the paint when I bought the car was that it looked superficially good, but in bright sunshine there is a lot of microswirling.

Since then unfortunately the car has been hit several times and scratched (now resolved! new job).

The current tally is roughly speaking:

• bonnet - finger-length scratch half finger wide that is not deep at all , and looks it would polish out easily
• passenger side, from the left of the head light all the way back to the fuel filling cap - several hairline scratches, not deep. Also on wing mirror. http://imgur.com/a/mY1zq
• passenger side - on the bumper and just on the very edge of the panel in front - glancing contact with other vehicle - white mark around one-inch wide, six inches long. http://i.imgur.com/zONkZAL.jpg
• driver's door - foot-long glancing contact from car resulting in white mark one inch high. Door possibly very slightly dented but it's not obvious. http://i.imgur.com/tvNzRmw.jpg
• rear bumper - a couple of very minor bumps, e.g., one in the middle of the boot, and another below that. Signs of low-speed impact.
• on points over the paint, minor spots in the paint

Also when I took it to the body shop they noted a smart repair on the rear passenger door which is visible in a different colour. It's not unsightly like the microswirling, however.

Anyway, I would like to get it looking nice - by detailing or whatever. Not interested in DIY.

I took it to the body shop and I was quoted around £900 to fix the damage, but that wouldn't be fixing the microswirling, so it seems a bit of a waste not to get it more perfect.

Any ideas how to proceed, ballpark cost to get a good finish? And do I need some kind of 'protection' (the paint seems very soft) or is that a waste of money?

[ch427]

A decent detailer will come and fully assess/price the job for you so its worth seeking a good local recommendation.

[dtmpower]

£1000 professional vinyl wrap , job done and easy to manage and clean going forward.

[Howard-]

I would say from your photos that with the exception of perhaps this scuff http://i.imgur.com/tvNzRmw.jpg and obviously the dents/dings, that is all easily corrected by machine polishing. For a detailing company to spend a couple of days correcting the paint you're looking at about £2-300. You could then get a smart repair or paintless dent removal company to come and fix the rest for another £1-200. You don't need to spend nearly a grand to get that looking much, much better.

Even the hardest of clearcoats aren't immune to things like scratches from branches and poor washing technique.

[Adamski69]

Hi thelawnet, paint correction would be the best answer, what area of the country are you in?

[PoshTwit]

ch427 said:

A decent detailer will come and fully assess/price the job for you so its worth seeking a good local recommendation.

Absolutely. Or see here for an easily searchable database of fully approved professionals:

www.pro-valets.co.uk.

[thelawnet]

Adamski69 said:

Hi thelawnet, paint correction would be the best answer, what area of the country are you in?

West Surrey. Got a quote from one local chap, he said bring it in, but £300+vat/day for the polishing, and the first date currently 2nd week of July!

[Winky151]

thelawnet said:

West Surrey. Got a quote from one local chap, he said bring it in, but £300+vat/day for the polishing, and the first date currently 2nd week of July!

As the sun comes out & the show season starts, professional detailers will get booked up in advance.

Give Paul a buzz for price & advise. https://shineondetail.com/

[Adamski69]

Hi thelawnet, did you get this sorted yet? PM if not as I know a very good guy in east hants that would be more than happy to have a look at it for you.