The Infiniti QX80 Opportunity
I was scrolling through limosforsale.com, doing some research, when I came across this Infiniti QX80.
At first glance, it looked like it was in decent shape. But I knew this vehicle — and more importantly, I knew the seller. I had purchased the Audi from the same gentleman before.
I already knew what I was looking at — window issues, water intrusion, and the same underlying problems the Audi had.
I called him up, and because we had done business before, we were able to make a deal right over the phone.
For me, I felt like I got a great deal. But for most people in this industry — especially those who cannot do the work themselves — this would not have been a good deal at all.
Realistically, this vehicle could easily cost around $50,000 to fully rebuild if outsourced.
Because I handle nearly all of the work myself, I can do it for a fraction of that cost. But make no mistake — there is still a cost. It’s my time, my energy, and my physical effort. And that is something most people don’t account for.
What I Was Really Walking Into
The body of the Infiniti QX80 was quite the sight to see — and it needed a significant amount of work.
The bottom rockers and the stretch panels were completely gone. Those had to be fully refabricated from scratch.
The top rails were in very rough condition, and both side windows were completely delaminated.
There was also water intrusion, but thankfully not nearly as bad as I had expected. That was a huge positive.
Unlike some of my other projects, the electrical system had not been completely exposed or destroyed, which made a big difference moving forward.
The first step was clear — remove the windows, get the vehicle into the body shop, and begin the refinishing process. It was a major undertaking, but I knew exactly what needed to be done.