Detailing - London issues

[Honey Bear]

Hello all,

I'm starting to get really excited about detailing the car. I know it’s very sad but I get more and more excited the more I think about it.

Unfortunately, I live in a part of London where parking is a premium and driveways are non-existent, meaning that i don't have one. Quiet places are hard to find. And clean running water is a necessity.

Can anyone suggest a good location where I have access to water? I don't mind leaving London and making a day trip of it. I did organise a day out to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park with my best friend, this is purely for detailing the merc (inc. paint correction), and his vfr. But water is an issue, as is parking.

I estimate that the merc will take 7+ hours to do (it hasn't been done in a very long time). Therefore journey time is limited. It'll be done the moment the merc comes back to me after having its bodywork corrected in a few weeks.

Suggestions, anyone?

 

[BlackC55]

I am very near QE park.

 

[Sp!ke]

Where in London are you?

 

[Honey Bear]

I am very near QE park.

Do you know if there is any decent space near the BBQs to what I was planning?

Where in London are you?

Clapham, not far from the A3. Hence the QE park idea.

 

[H13BS M]

wow, clean the exterior and complete paint correction in a c class in 7 hours!Thats impressive

 

[Gridlock]

Where's that place that will rent you a bay for £10 a day? Pit Stop? Something like that?

£20 gets you a ramp.

 

[Honey Bear]

I understand I wouldn't have enough time to correct the paint in that time. But I would like to get the routine in. It’s something I intend on do every 2, maybe 3, months. Hopefully within that time I can find time to correct the paint.

The 7 hours is purely a given time scale that I have assigned to work on the car. I'm little bit an*l when it comes to structure and planning. I tend to over plan things. I'm basing time spent working on the car on an average working day minus travel time and breaks.

Sorry if I didn't make that clear in my initial post. I thought it would have been an obvious assumption.

Thanks for the posts guys keep 'em coming.

 

[Honey Bear]

Where's that place that will rent you a bay for £10 a day? Pit Stop? Something like that?

£20 gets you a ramp.

This is the kind of thing I'm looking for as I would love to do some work on the car myself. It breaks my heart to hand her over to someone else just because I lack the tools (and space for the tools). Though I assume it might not be the cheapest option.

 

[H13BS M]

I understnad I wouldn't have enough time to correct the paint in that time. But I would like to get the routine in. Its something I intend on do ever 2 maybe 3 months. Hopefully within that time I can find time to correct the paint.

THe 7-ish hour thing is purely a given time scale that I have to work on the car. I'm little bit **** when it comes to structure and planning. I tend to over plan things. I'm basing time spent working on the car on an average working day minus travel time and breaks.

Sorry if I didn't make that clear in my initial post.

Thanks for the posts guys keep 'em coming.

I wasnt being rude bud, i actually thought you were gona attempt full pc in that time, but i know what your saying.Goodluck with finding somewhere

 

[Sorry Pete]

Where's that place that will rent you a bay for £10 a day? Pit Stop? Something like that?

£20 gets you a ramp.

It's Pit Start garage in Acton, West London: www.pitstartgarage.com

I haven't used them, but I wouldn't have thought they have a running water supply to each bay.

 

[Gridlock]

Pit Start - Self Service Garage - 020 8827 1919

ETA - beaten to it

 

[Honey Bear]

I wasnt being rude bud, i actually thought you were gona attempt full pc in that time, but i know what your saying.Goodluck with finding somewhere

I didn't think that you were being rude. It was my fault for not making it clear.

Furthermore, it was upon reading your posts on detailing your car that has lead me here.

I used to haunt a local fuel station every other weekend. I was even on very good terms with the employees, until it permenantly closed. Now its a rare day when I can wash the car at my girlfriends house. I usually have to use the facilities at hers when her fathers w221 is out.

 

[Honey Bear]

It's Pit Start garage in Acton, West London: www.pitstartgarage.com

I haven't used them, but I wouldn't have thought they have a running water supply to each bay.

Pit Start - Self Service Garage - 020 8827 1919

ETA - beaten to it

Thanks guys for the link guys. I was searching for it but found nothing.

This is just a bit too expensive tbh. For that kind of money I could pay for a full valetting service.

They're still going into my phone book though

Edit: Reminds me of the movie Christine - I can only wish my car was alive, repaired itself and killed the people that harm it

 

[Gridlock]

I can only wish my car was alive, repaired itself and killed the people that harm it

Don't tell anyone, but my Mercedes star is tied to a grenade pin behind the bumper with a bit of string...

 

[Honey Bear]

Should I ever want to destroy a merc I'll try your technique – with the **** around my locale it shouldn’t take too long.
Though I’ve never done it, I can imagine that if someone sharpened the edges to the hood start it might turn out to be quite a lacerating experience

 

[Gareth]

Thanks guys for the link guys. I was searching for it but found nothing.

This is just a bit too expensive tbh. For that kind of money I could pay for a full valetting service.

They're still going into my phone book though

Edit: Reminds me of the movie Christine - I can only wish my car was alive, repaired itself and killed the people that harm it

I wouldn't bother with them personally, I can't imagine they will be happy with you filling their garage bay up with loads of water.

 

[Honey Bear]

I wouldn't bother with them personally, I can't imagine they will be happy with you filling their garage bay up with loads of water.

I know. After looking at their setup it is clear that it is not what I'm looking for. Additionally with their type of flooring, any liquids or fluids become a very serious health an safety risk. It would be stupid to even ask.

It's still a good to know about these types of services.

 

[nigel cross]

Cant you do it round your girl friends house?

 

[Honey Bear]

I can but the whole reason why I'm trying to avoid it is because I want to avoid using the short gravel track that leads to the drive. It's a good idea to have one in terms of security. Not so good in other situations.

There is also a lack of light and space. Meaning I'll have to move the car each time one of her parents wants to leave or come back in. Additionally, it is obvious they don't like me, or at least they don't like their daughter being with me. Overall, leaving out the personal politics, it is a source that I would rather not use nor become dependent of.

 

[H13BS M]

To be fair bud unless you car is a garage queen, you should wait till the good weather! It's gona be hacking it down all weekend.if your doing an overhaul it should be when winter is finally finished and the days are warmer. Atleast then most of the contaminants are off the road then, and makes it worth while!