how much does a full color/sand detail cost?

ADHD · 10-27-2006, 10:38 PM

well Ive been to several shops and talked to a couple of pro detailers and got there opinion on my car... Its all about the same... I have alot of fine scratches that the buffer is just not taking out! ive tried several megs compounds and others as well and NO luck..Dont get me wrong my car looks great and there very hard to find but I know their there and its killing me.

I know some of you who feel the same way as i do so I will find a fix to this!! MAintaing a Jet black car is not easy but I will find a good way to maintain for a reasonable cost.. As a few of you may know ive spent lots of cash on several products etc.. Ive gone DETAIL CRAZY>>...My trucks and benz look great but this black bmw is KILLING ME.
I asked a freind if they can see them and a few can some say Im high! I really can see them every time and so can every place ive taken my car to have it quoted..I went to my local place that repaired my hood for a good deal and was quote 1300$ for a full color/sand buff detail...Guaranttiing NO fine scratches at all and NO more Orange peel look in the paint!! Ive been quoted as low as 800$..for basically the same thing from a not so popular shop..
It sounds great to me to get all the scratches out and No more orange peel look.. but is it worth 800$..or should i pay the reputible expensive guy 1300$???? I know some of you will call me crazy and what not but I cant stand these scratches...I have like 4 areas that are REALLY bad...My megs buffer/products got one are clean but no luck on the others..

Driv3r · 10-27-2006, 10:51 PM

well pay what you feel is right, but after a few months, youll be 1300 down and your scratches will be back again...there is no avoiding them..I try my best but in my JB car, there will ALWAYS be a scracth or two appreaing by the next wash (i wash weekly)

pander5 · 10-28-2006, 09:21 AM

Scratches and orange peel are two different things as far as removal. Sctaches are easily removed with the proper methods. I have all but abandoned my PC for a circular as it is much more effective at removing scratches and paint imperfections. I focused on eliminating what was causing the micro scratches in my routine wash and dry methods and have almost eliminated their return after I buff them out.

Orange peel, on the other hand, is truly a more aggressive approach because it is a function of the cleacoat application process and the "lumpy" blobs of clear must be sanded smooth. Orange peel removal is well beyond my comfort level of color/wetsanding although I've seen it done by us "non pros" with incredible results. It's just too scary for me to be that close to potential damage. For me - professional only!

Certainly a color/wet sand will do it for you (i.e. remove both scratches and orange peel) but if it is the scratches that bother you and you can live with the orange peel help is on this board to alter your approach and get the scratches off your paint and help prevent their return.

I'd say the $1300 quote is closer to reality and I'd keep looking for more like him and abandon the $800 guy. Wet sanding an entire car is a multi step process that takes quite a bit of time even by a pro. It should be done right. You do want to isolate how your introducing the scratches in the first place.

I am just like you - if I can see scratches that's all that matters. Once I remove the scratches and the paint looks flawless I don't really notice the orange peel but that's just me.

If you want to share some pictures it would help some of the pro's here assess your conditions.

Good luck and I'll be following your story because I've thought of the same thing myself. Unlike scratches, once orange peel is removed it won't return unless you have the car repainted.

ADHD · 10-28-2006, 01:05 PM

Cool thanks for your help bud!!! THANKS for the response!! I am going to take some close up shots of the damage of my car! and post em up!!
Ya i really cant stand the orange peel look on my car.. it makes it look bumpy like u said..My hood is really bad with it.. Id like to have that flat wet look not the bumpy look..
Im not sure if i can get my camera to capture the scratches because they are so fine but i will do my best!! IN this pic here there is so many scratches just HIDING AWAY!! IT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!! these should just show u how ANAL i am!!

NovaBimmer · 10-28-2006, 02:15 PM

use the $1300 for an exhaust!

jamb · 10-28-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovaBimmer

use the $1300 for an exhaust!

+1

picus · 10-28-2006, 03:53 PM

If marring can be taken out with sanding it can be taken out with compounding. Sanding should be used as a last resort.

As for orange peel, to remove that you *need* to sand, however keep in mind your car has between 12-15 microns of paint, and even a light color-sand is going to remove 2-4 microns of that; which leaves you precariously close to the "dangerzone" to so to speak. If it were me, I would compound it to remove the scratches, live with the OP, and maintain it properly to mitigate futrure marring.

A compouding job will run from $200-$500 depending on your area and the detailer.

10-27-2006, 10:38 PM	#1
ADHD Brigadier General 254 Rep 4,201 Posts Drives: F30 328i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Magic Mountain iTrader: (38) Garage List 21 M540i [0.00] 07 e90 335 [0.00]	how much does a full color/sand detail cost? well Ive been to several shops and talked to a couple of pro detailers and got there opinion on my car... Its all about the same... I have alot of fine scratches that the buffer is just not taking out! ive tried several megs compounds and others as well and NO luck..Dont get me wrong my car looks great and there very hard to find but I know their there and its killing me. I know some of you who feel the same way as i do so I will find a fix to this!! MAintaing a Jet black car is not easy but I will find a good way to maintain for a reasonable cost.. As a few of you may know ive spent lots of cash on several products etc.. Ive gone DETAIL CRAZY>>...My trucks and benz look great but this black bmw is KILLING ME. I asked a freind if they can see them and a few can some say Im high! I really can see them every time and so can every place ive taken my car to have it quoted..I went to my local place that repaired my hood for a good deal and was quote 1300$ for a full color/sand buff detail...Guaranttiing NO fine scratches at all and NO more Orange peel look in the paint!! Ive been quoted as low as 800$..for basically the same thing from a not so popular shop.. It sounds great to me to get all the scratches out and No more orange peel look.. but is it worth 800$..or should i pay the reputible expensive guy 1300$???? I know some of you will call me crazy and what not but I cant stand these scratches...I have like 4 areas that are REALLY bad...My megs buffer/products got one are clean but no luck on the others.. __________________
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10-27-2006, 10:51 PM	#2
Driv3r Colonel 182 Rep 2,355 Posts Drives: 2006 E46 M3 ZCP Join Date: May 2005 Location: Miami Beach, FL iTrader: (8) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	well pay what you feel is right, but after a few months, youll be 1300 down and your scratches will be back again...there is no avoiding them..I try my best but in my JB car, there will ALWAYS be a scracth or two appreaing by the next wash (i wash weekly) __________________ 2006 E46 M3 ZCP 6SPD-Interlagos Blue - 6SPD - SSK - AA Headers -AA Tune - Navigation w/ Splashscreen Mod - 3M Crystalline Series 60 - Carbon Splitters - Swissvax Treated - Bridgestone 2012 Yamaha FZ8 - Matte Black/Grey - Michelin Pilot Pure 2CT - Vortex Rear Sets - Yoshimura R-77D & Fender Delete - Spectro Race Oil - GP Reverse Shifting
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10-28-2006, 09:21 AM	#3
pander5 Special Forces - Discretion is superior 32 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Sapphire Black Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	Scratches and orange peel are two different things as far as removal. Sctaches are easily removed with the proper methods. I have all but abandoned my PC for a circular as it is much more effective at removing scratches and paint imperfections. I focused on eliminating what was causing the micro scratches in my routine wash and dry methods and have almost eliminated their return after I buff them out. Orange peel, on the other hand, is truly a more aggressive approach because it is a function of the cleacoat application process and the "lumpy" blobs of clear must be sanded smooth. Orange peel removal is well beyond my comfort level of color/wetsanding although I've seen it done by us "non pros" with incredible results. It's just too scary for me to be that close to potential damage. For me - professional only! Certainly a color/wet sand will do it for you (i.e. remove both scratches and orange peel) but if it is the scratches that bother you and you can live with the orange peel help is on this board to alter your approach and get the scratches off your paint and help prevent their return. I'd say the $1300 quote is closer to reality and I'd keep looking for more like him and abandon the $800 guy. Wet sanding an entire car is a multi step process that takes quite a bit of time even by a pro. It should be done right. You do want to isolate how your introducing the scratches in the first place. I am just like you - if I can see scratches that's all that matters. Once I remove the scratches and the paint looks flawless I don't really notice the orange peel but that's just me. If you want to share some pictures it would help some of the pro's here assess your conditions. Good luck and I'll be following your story because I've thought of the same thing myself. Unlike scratches, once orange peel is removed it won't return unless you have the car repainted. __________________ M3 + trailer hitch = oxymoron
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10-28-2006, 01:05 PM	#4
ADHD Brigadier General 254 Rep 4,201 Posts Drives: F30 328i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Magic Mountain iTrader: (38) Garage List 21 M540i [0.00] 07 e90 335 [0.00]	Cool thanks for your help bud!!! THANKS for the response!! I am going to take some close up shots of the damage of my car! and post em up!! Ya i really cant stand the orange peel look on my car.. it makes it look bumpy like u said..My hood is really bad with it.. Id like to have that flat wet look not the bumpy look.. Im not sure if i can get my camera to capture the scratches because they are so fine but i will do my best!! IN this pic here there is so many scratches just HIDING AWAY!! IT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!! these should just show u how ANAL i am!! Attached Images __________________
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10-28-2006, 02:15 PM	#5
NovaBimmer Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 273 Posts Drives: Jet Black e90 325i 6MT Join Date: May 2006 Location: Central NJ / Villanova iTrader: (0)	use the $1300 for an exhaust! __________________ e36 325i jet black 5MT \| e90 325i jet black 6MT
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10-28-2006, 03:53 PM	#7
picus Brigadier General 127 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	If marring can be taken out with sanding it can be taken out with compounding. Sanding should be used as a last resort. As for orange peel, to remove that you need to sand, however keep in mind your car has between 12-15 microns of paint, and even a light color-sand is going to remove 2-4 microns of that; which leaves you precariously close to the "dangerzone" to so to speak. If it were me, I would compound it to remove the scratches, live with the OP, and maintain it properly to mitigate futrure marring. A compouding job will run from $200-$500 depending on your area and the detailer.
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