[dy63]

am i right in saying some people charge hundreds of pounds for detailing cars?

[Dann]

Depends who you go to but yes most do.

[Waspo]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

am i right in saying some people charge hundreds of pounds for detailing cars?

For a good Detailing service expect to pay £250- £500 and even more for the really top top detailing and paint correction services!

Anything less than £150 and they are not doing it correctly!!

[dy63]

Originally Posted by Waspo

For a good Detailing service expect to pay £250- £500 and even more for the really top top detailing and paint correction services!

Anything less than £150 and they are not doing it correctly!!

i was looking at someones instagram yesterday and Stage 1 detail was £350. stage 2 was 500 and stage 3 was £650!!!!!!

prices are barmy for a car wash

[Waspo]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

i was looking at someones instagram yesterday and Stage 1 detail was £350. stage 2 was 500 and stage 3 was £650!!!!!!

prices are barmy for a car wash

Compared with an 'Eastern European Special Grit wash' at £5 then YES Raj, it is!

I had it done on my E46 M3, after a shall we say a 'Mid-Range' detailing, the paint work really really ZINGED. Better than showroom, and i would go as far as to say better than BMW could get it when it rolled out of there factory!!

Was it Worth it???? Hmmmm, have to say yes as i am getting my E90 done soon, but the English, nay British weather is not conducive to making this process last long, especially if it is your daily drive as well.

It is not for everyone, i am the first to suggest, and when you put it in simplistic terms 'Carwash' it does sound a lot, But................................. !

[JJ0063]

If you learn how to look at a cars paintwork condition then it's actually shocking how some cars are presented even brand new.

To the average Joe, you would assume buying a brand new car that when you go to pick it up it will be perfect... No.

When it's come from the factory, shipped, loaded onto a transporter and then delivered to the dealer.. it's gonna be mucky. The cars are then PDI'd and then 'valeted' by the dealer. I've seen many a brand new BMW covered in swirl marks that then have to have £££ spent to fix them.

I totally understand some of the replies on here as I too was naive at one time and thought a clean car was a clean car, but after many hours reading up and viewing Detailing World I now understand why people leave notes on their dashboards saying "DO NOT WASH" when they take their car in for a service, they ruin the paintwork.

Raj you say "Prices are barmy for a car wash" it's not a car wash you are paying for, that 'wash' is the first part of the process, there is washing, decontaminating, washing, tar removing, washing, iron removing, washing, claying, washing, machine/DA paint correcting, washing, protecting, sealing and waxing.. This can take days to complete.

It's not as simple as throwing a bucket and sponge over it and caking it in T-Cut.

It's a huge hobby and profession.

[Yellow_Belly]

Originally Posted by JJ0063

If you learn how to look at a cars paintwork condition then it's actually shocking how some cars are presented even brand new.

To the average Joe, you would assume buying a brand new car that when you go to pick it up it will be perfect... No.

When it's come from the factory, shipped, loaded onto a transporter and then delivered to the dealer.. it's gonna be mucky. The cars are then PDI'd and then 'valeted' by the dealer. I've seen many a brand new BMW covered in swirl marks that then have to have £££ spent to fix them.

I Agree with this!! it was only last week when a shipment of new BMW 4 series coupes arrived at the dealership, I was waiting for some interior trims I've ordered, they were parked inside the showroom with some minor film protection, but oh my god the things were covered in dust, dirt and all sorts of crap!

I'm planning on getting my car detailed at one point, there seems to be imperfections of paint work and scratches. If you realise the process and the result, you get what you paid for. And especially as mine is black, as soon as we get a sunny day here oh swirl galore

[bytejunkie]

is it safe to say this is the baseline.

1. washing
2. decontaminating
3. washing
4. tar removing
5. washing
6. iron removing
7. washing
8. claying
9. washing
10. machine/DA paint correcting
11. washing
12. protecting, sealing and waxing

Its been a while since I've done this and the Iron removal is new to me. any specific products good for this?

I'm planning on doing all of early parts myself, up to and including clay. then i'll let a pro detailer go over it. he'll probably do most of the claying again, but at least i'll have taken the vast amount off.

[Hibbyfor]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

i was looking at someones instagram yesterday and Stage 1 detail was £350. stage 2 was 500 and stage 3 was £650!!!!!!

prices are barmy for a car wash

Mine is going in for a full detail when the weather changes and it's going to cost more than the stage 3 you've listed but it's with one of the best in Scotland and will take a full seven days. I'd bet if I were to sell my car afterwards I'd recoup the money easily.

[Sparky68]

Originally Posted by bytejunkie

is it safe to say this is the baseline.

1. washing
2. decontaminating
3. washing
4. tar removing
5. washing
6. iron removing
7. washing
8. claying
9. washing
10. machine/DA paint correcting
11. washing
12. protecting, sealing and waxing

Its been a while since I've done this and the Iron removal is new to me. any specific products good for this?

I'm planning on doing all of early parts myself, up to and including clay. then i'll let a pro detailer go over it. he'll probably do most of the claying again, but at least i'll have taken the vast amount off.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine.../prod_726.html

[essex_lad]

Yer I'm talking a fast easy washer for us lazy ones lol.

[shaun335d]

Must be lots of single non parents on here

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by shaun335d

Must be lots of single non parents on here

I think that's your excuse to get out of doing it

For a couple of hours you can make it into a fun thing with the kids, wash the bikes and scooters too, gets them out doors. When I get home friday after being away the kids pester "dad can we wash the cars this weekend - pleeeease??" You'll all end up wet mind....

Unlike the 335i, since new the e63 has only been washed by me, not overly often, every month or so, but always snow foam (which the kids love to do) then jetwash, then lamb's wool mitt, autoglymm shampoo, towel dry. That's it.

Never waxed it, it doesn't need it if it doesn't get ruined by "car washers" and yes, waxing etc is too much time for a family man to justify.

I know if I ever take it to a wash it will be wrecked with TFR stripping acid and dirty sponges and cloths.

(Don't ever say "sponges" in the same sentence as car cleaning!)

Have a look on www.cleanyourcar.com

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

am i right in saying some people charge hundreds of pounds for detailing cars?

But you're talking DAYS of work, not a quick splash.

Any self respecting skilled tradesman needs around £150/day just to cover costs and make a living, and your expensive detailing products are included in the price.

So you're talking £750 / week at that rate..

[bytejunkie]

Originally Posted by Sparky68

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine.../prod_726.html

seen or used this?

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine...prod_1033.html

[windymissile]

Originally Posted by doughboy

But you're talking DAYS of work, not a quick splash.

Any self respecting skilled tradesman needs around £150/day just to cover costs and make a living, and your expensive detailing products are included in the price.

So you're talking £750 / week at that rate..

This is what a lot of people don't understand. It's graft. When I first got my car I paid my detailer the paltry sum of ~£200 'mates rates' for a full correction and protection detail. He had the car 4 days! I have put a lot of work his way since then so it worked out well for him. But still, I would never entertain the thought of so much work for so little money.
It's a craft and you have to have a particular skill set to be good at it.

WM

[mob17]

It is definitely hard graft.

I did a full 2 stage polish detail on my previous car and it total it took my 28 working hours. And i was absolutely knackered.

A proper detail is definitelg noticeable. Even in dark wet weather i noticed positive differences.

[Dann]

I spent 3 days doing a paint correction on one of my old Corsas.

http://www.corsa-c.co.uk/forum/showt...ail&highlight=

[shaun335d]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I think that's your excuse to get out of doing it

For a couple of hours you can make it into a fun thing with the kids, wash the bikes and scooters too, gets them out doors. When I get home friday after being away the kids pester "dad can we wash the cars this weekend - pleeeease??" You'll all end up wet mind....

Unlike the 335i, since new the e63 has only been washed by me, not overly often, every month or so, but always snow foam (which the kids love to do) then jetwash, then lamb's wool mitt, autoglymm shampoo, towel dry. That's it.

Never waxed it, it doesn't need it if it doesn't get ruined by "car washers" and yes, waxing etc is too much time for a family man to justify.

I know if I ever take it to a wash it will be wrecked with TFR stripping acid and dirty sponges and cloths.

(Don't ever say "sponges" in the same sentence as car cleaning!)

Have a look on www.cleanyourcar.com

Sorry got boy at 22 months old and it's not an option to let him help, car would end up worse that putting hot ashes on it.

[shaun335d]

I think it's people own decision how they clean there own cars, some factors may change that by being busy, live on main road or physically can't clean there car. If people want to spend hours each week and hundreds on products that's again own choice. Just because I don't have the time to clean my own car it doesn't mean I don't care about it, if there was more options then maybe I wouldn't be taking it down the road

[Mani59]

I always wash my car myself (snowfoaming, following the 2BWM, etc.), but I was seriously looking at having my car detailed (it just needs a good claying / machine polish); something which I was not comfortable about doing myself.

However, I went to the excellent Meguiars Seminar today and couldn't believe firstly, the results achieved by claying and a machine polish, and secondly, how easy it was to do! It's simple!

So bought some bits including their clay kit from them today as well as their machine polish (online) and looking forward to giving it a go next weekend!

[Digitalize]

A simple machine polish isn't that hard, a full correction is.