3rd party car detailing: Emporer's New Clothes?

[looAMG]

I'm not convinced over the effectiveness of polishing a clear coat of paint.

Polishing the actual metal makes sense but the scale of improvement caused by polishing something already smooth and shiny seems too small to be worth the effort.

You would be very surprised at what difference it can make, maybe not so much on a brand new vehicle but on something that has had its fair share of weathering, use and washes it can make a big impact.

For instance the below picture is of a section of a bonnet that i had cleansed, de-contaminated, clayed and then corrected using some meguiars compound and a DA, this was only the first stage of the correction. I had masked off the section to get a clean line to show the difference, hopefully you will see that the improvement is fairly obvious.





Now if you keep in mind that every one of those little scratches detracts from the shine and finish of your car it can make a BIG difference once you have corrected a significant amount of them.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I guess it comes down to priorities.

If my business, family, house, garden or friends had no need for me then I might find time clean the car.

This never happens.

 

[Doodle]

But I would not use a power washer. In the first place, unless you're exceptionally careful how you direct the jet (and even if you are), you risk grinding the dirt into the paintwork. Secondly, you can't help getting water into areas where it's not supposed to go.

I suggest the best practice is to use a gentle spray to loosen the dirt, and then wash.

It depends on how you use the washer - the increased pressure behind the nozzle allows you to generate a much flatter fan to push away the dirt/suds. It also causes the water jet to break up more readily - within a couple of feet the stream has turned to a fine mist so it's actually *less* likely to push into the paintwork.

What happens if it starts raining on the motorway, do you pull over and wait for it to dry up?

 

[Alex225]

I started the other way around in that I began hobby detailing probably around 2006 when I bought a brand new Megane RS. I wanted it to be as good as could be for as long as possible and decided I'd not be using car washes again.

So I read up on claying, polishing, waxing, sealing, glazes etc etc and ended up buying so many different products.

If you have the tools and time, then you can achieve the same results as a professional detailer. If you have a well lit garage you'll have the ability to spot and correct with a DA/rotary polisher swirl marks and the like, resulting in an amazing finish. You're then in a position to apply a long lasting sealant etc. So yes, with homework and the tools you can achieve the same results as a pro.

Sadly 'professional detailer' seems to be a term that is over used and there are many people out there charing a lot of money for what is essentially a mediocre service. Probably the equivalent of what I do, on my driveway at home....as a hobby.

Then you have the likes of Ed at Divine Detail, someone who've I got to know through another owners club and the only person I've ever let loose on my cars. In fact I bought my CLS63 from his other half's father so I knew it was well cared for.

I have see the level of detail Ed goes into. Cleaning engine bays, removing wheels, cleaning arches, protecting interiors let alone making paintwork look absolutely perfect.

There's hobby detailers, theres professional detailers and sadly there's those who think they're professional detailers.

 

[BernardB]

What happens if it starts raining on the motorway, do you pull over and wait for it to dry up?

I realise that this is to ridicule my argument, but it deserves a serious answer: not the heaviest rainstorm can get near the penetrative power of a jet wash.

 

[CLSMark]

This is my 23 year old car after being detailed. The process started with a snow foam wash then a paint correction followed by application of Gtechniq Serum light. The glass and soft-top were also given a treatment but I have forgotten what this was. The process took 4 days. My detailer did explain to me what he was going to do before I agreed for the work to be done.

Holy hell. It's like a mirror

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Holy hell. It's like a mirror

You look like a blue 124?

 

[CLSMark]

You look like a blue 124?

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Like it

 

[Doodle]

I realise that this is to ridicule my argument, but it deserves a serious answer: not the heaviest rainstorm can get near the penetrative power of a jet wash.

Just seeking confirmation of your logic process, which should be suffixed with "if you choose to operate it in the required fashion to do so". A rainstorm is indiscriminate in its aim.

I would offer to give you an empirical demonstration, but I suspect you won't take me up on it.

 

[zoros]

Keep it coming guys. One born every minute and money for old rope for my brother who is creaming it in. Can't believe there are still intelligent people out there spending hard earned dosh on a scam of this scale.

:bannana:

 

[developer]

Keep it coming guys. One born every minute and money for old rope for my brother who is creaming it in. Can't believe there are still intelligent people out there spending hard earned dosh on a scam of this scale.

:bannana:

Perhaps you're struggling with the basics, not us .

 

[Alex225]

Keep it coming guys. One born every minute and money for old rope for my brother who is creaming it in. Can't believe there are still intelligent people out there spending hard earned dosh on a scam of this scale.

:bannana:

Perhaps you shouldn't gauge this entire aspect of car ownership based on your brother. Personally it sounds like he is scamming people for top end money for a mediocre service. Not dissimilar to many many industries.

Doesn't mean to say others are doing that or aren't offering a genuinely good, high end service.

 

[ftb]

Keep it coming guys. One born every minute and money for old rope for my brother who is creaming it in. Can't believe there are still intelligent people out there spending hard earned dosh on a scam of this scale.

:bannana:

Oh shut up already.