Detailing - load of tosh

[Deleted member 113659]

Can't believe some are comparing the skill level of flying a plane to being able to polish a car.

Totally agree Lee. Any old fool can fly a plane, takes real skill to wipe bird s**t off a car

 

[Simon_M]

Macho Grande?

 

[gr1nch]

This thread has made me think about the detailing I'm planning on getting my new car delivered in March. I'm glad the OP brought it up. Clearly cleaning a car properly (inc wheels off) is a lot of work and that will need to be paid for.
I had already planned on not taking the dealer up on their offer (about £500 for an S Class) as it is generic, used dealer-branded OEM products, which is a red flag for me. I much prefer seeing what the exact product is, much like pills from the doctor that don't have Dr Smith's Flu Treatment on the box. I'm going for a specialist independent detailer who has a lot of excellent, genuine-looking reviews. He will clean and protect the finish and I'm fine if he calls it detailing - it is not just cleaning!

Have folks here any paint or wheel protection products to recommend?

This thread has also made me think about getting value for money. And I'm glad there are others who do so too, as well as the edge cases that have enough money to pick the most expensive quote every time (I don't and suspect never will though!)

Not worth knocking the OP. I'm reading his intention to encourage us to be "buyer aware" with some material costs so we can assess the charge as being mostly labour for a better value assessment - not a bad thing IMO.

 

[C43AMG]

I have just had the CL ( W216 ) detailed which took the detailer seven days. He has done many Forum cars and is highly recommended and I can assure you he did not charge £100 an hour. Each to there own OP and as John said a very strange post!!

 

[foxy52]

£600 for 4-6 hours work?

That's what plumbers charge where I live.

....456k me !!!.. I was born in Fulham.. sooo expensive there these days compared to the 50,s and 60,s. when I grew up .... u can get a boiler plus 7 rads and get em fitted for 2k in North Norfolk ....cheap as chips to live here :bannana:...foxy52

 

[Dogbreath]

Fairy liquid,bucket, sponge, Autoglym Leather, new magic tree.... and change out of £20 .... job done....

 

[markwibbs]

If its a new car detail, the costs should be lower as there is less prep to do, though most detailers would prefer the car to be handed over to them with the protective plastics etc removed and before their valeters had a go at it.
You'd expect one of the latest Glass ceramic coatings to be applied for less than £400, given that its a big car. Wax wont last as long, polymers not as long as ceramic.

Depending on where you are one of these guys can do the job for you extremely well:
Kenotek Valeting Products from More Than Polish

(Some Merc porn on there too)

 

[ftb]

Can't believe some are comparing the skill level of flying a plane to being able to polish a car.

I know what you mean. That being said I can fly a plane, although a very small one, but I can't polish a car. Find the process too time consuming and generally pointless. Concourse and showroom, yes. Daily use in mixed weather... you will be in the garage every night. Wash it with a bucket or use a local wash, done.

 

[SpoonJar]

I remember one of the motoring forums I was a member of years ago. They used to have a detailing section and some of the cleaning routines would read like this -

Spray car with citrus degreaser and rinse off.
Snow foam and leave to dwell.
Rinse off snow foam.
Wash car using 2 bucket method with grit guard and lambs wool mitt.
Rinse car using ph neutral water.
Spray on drying aid and pat dry using waffle weave microfiber drying towel.

I won't go into the claying, polishing, sealing, waxing, wheels, glass, interior and engine bay as we'll be here all week typing.
Just wash the thing for Christ sake.

 

[Yugguy]

Macho Grande?

I've never got over it.

 

[BTB 500]

Just wash the thing for Christ sake.

Indeed, but using two buckets is hardly a big deal and will definitely help keep the paintwork looking good if you plan to keep the car.

 

[Druk]

Just wash the thing for Christ sake.

Indeed, but using two buckets is hardly a big deal and will definitely help keep the paintwork looking good if you plan to keep the car.

So this is the car after a weeks trip south to Loughborough to visit me old mum. Somewhere during the journey we used that carpark otherwise known as the M6 and had the pleasure of getting tucked in behind a gritter between J18 down to J16.





So...did i use the two bucket method or not? Not bloody likely. It went through the Tesco carwash like it always does.

On the subject of Detailers: Two weeks ago I was at the NEC Show and approached a detailer (from Stirling) on the subject of removing some of the orange peel from the paint (there's a disgraceful level of this on a 212). Cutting to the chase I was in Stirling last week on business so went along to his shop. A full cutback of the lacquer and re-polish to show standard for the full car...how much do you think?




£6000. THOUSAND!

I asked if this included the thrice distilled gnats-piss protection or some other snake-oil remedy. Fell on deaf ears that did

£6000. hahahahaha.




.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Hehe. Fantastic Derek.

 

[developer]

I remember one of the motoring forums I was a member of years ago. They used to have a detailing section and some of the cleaning routines would read like this -

Spray car with citrus degreaser and rinse off.
Snow foam and leave to dwell.
Rinse off snow foam.
Wash car using 2 bucket method with grit guard and lambs wool mitt.
Rinse car using ph neutral water.
Spray on drying aid and pat dry using waffle weave microfiber drying towel.

I won't go into the claying, polishing, sealing, waxing, as we'll be here all week typing.
Just wash the thing for Christ sake.

I have some sympathy with your frustation Mr Spoonjar - here's my process, taken from the above:

Wash car using 2 bucket method with grit guard and lambs wool mitt.
Rinse car using DI vessel.

That's it.

The 2 buckets and grit guard make sense, and the de-ionised water is such a time saver, particularly on a black car, that it also makes sense.

As for the claying, polishing, sealing, waxing, wheels, glass, interior and engine bay - I've never had to do any of these.

However, in my case there's the GTechniq upfront of the above.

 

[HB]

That's as dirty as your mind !

I 'll wash it for you, bring it round and I'll stick my Karcher up its ar5e!

 

[merc85]

Man thats dirty lol

 

[dejongj]

Alex 225. Thanks for a constructive response.

I would add however, that my brother employs/employed several detailers who charge anything from £500 to £1000 for a detailing/paint correction, call it what you want.

The MAXIMUM time he spends on any car (because time IS money) is 10 hours and this is normally associated with his higher prices for obvious reasons!

On the whole and because he has tested the market, his 'rates' are more or less £100/hour. [Minus all the materials which amount to about £50 (for him)).

He admits that this is a total rip off but there are no end of punters willing to swallow the dazzle and hype attached to this cottage industry (and it is a small industry). He provides a service and propaganda provides the clientelle - end.

Good luck to you and your fraternity for being very entrepreneurial and dynamic. I wish you true success in your endeavours.
BUT never ever try to kid a kidder!

Why is £100/hour a rip off? Say I earn a lot more per hour than that, I gladly pay someone else so I don't have to spent the time. Naturally I would assess the market and the quality of the work, but hey it is supply and demand.

I really don't see the issue, and especially not why it is a rip off.

 

[HB]

Why is £100/hour a rip off? Say I earn a lot more per hour than that, I gladly pay someone else so I don't have to spent the time. Naturally I would assess the market and the quality of the work, but hey it is supply and demand.

I really don't see the issue, and especially not why it is a rip off.

And Hello to you too !!!

Looking forward to your posts !!!!

 

[BTB 500]

So...did i use the two bucket method or not? Not bloody likely. It went through the Tesco carwash like it always does.

Most automated car washes aren't actually too bad. I use the one at our local Sainsburys from time to time.

But if you're going to hand-wash a car then using 2 buckets makes a lot of sense. You should see the grit at the bottom of the rinse bucket afterwards.

 

[dejongj]

And Hello to you too !!!

Looking forward to your posts !!!!

LOL Don't hold your breath if all the responses are as constructive as yours