World of car detailing?

Off-Ramp
23

Any detailer worth a crap that’s doing paint correction will have detailed before and after photos that they can provide. If he doesn’t, I’d put him in the dog puke category.

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24

Is that what de-swirling is called? :smiley: I’ve always wondered what that meant. (well, I didn’t wonder enough to ask the Google).

25

Yah, that’s the more proper term. Would cover de-swirling, scratches, clear coat issues, etc.

3 Likes
26

I just put “paint correction” into the search box on Groupon and got this:

27

Weren’t you just saying you wish you were more promiscuous?

5 Likes
28

The detail department at the place I normally get my car washed will do a wash, orbital buff, clay bar, high speed polish, and wax (not sure if I got the sequence right :stuck_out_tongue: ) plus detail the rest of the exterior for $300.

They need the car for 5-6 hours.

I think we have a plan.

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29

Sounds like a good price for all of that.

30

Almost too good

31

Generally car wash places are not very good at detailing.

You really want to go to a specialist or not go at all.

A bad detail will actually make things worse.

What’s your goal here?

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32

I can almost guarantee at that price that the car will be covered in holograms from the orbital when you get it back, especially if it’s a car wash type place that offers “detailing”

1 Like
33

I realize that perfection is an unreasonable expectation at this price point.

It’s a separate staff in a dedicated building. The detailing business doesn’t even share business hours with the car wash (I could only have this done M-F / 8-5).

I’ve never had this specific service done there, but I’ve been happy with what their detailers have done on other vehicles over the course of ~15 years.

Noticeable improvement on the swirls in my black paint, for a moderate amount of money and without a lot of effort or time on my part.

34

There’s seeking perfection and there’s avoiding making things worse. There are a lot of detailers that don’t make things better.

You might consider looking to see if there’s any discussion about that place on www.autopia.org

35

I understand the distinction and the risk.

The risk of a shitty job is there no matter who I choose, and I don’t have the interest or ambition to spend a lot of time searching for a better vendor (I’m more inclined to do nothing.).

I appreciate everyone’s comments, and if you guys think that doing this right is a $1,500 exercise, then my $300 plan is obviously fraught with too much peril.

36

I don’t think you have to worry or that is that low of a price. The place I go to for everything and is considered among the best (there is always a 2 month wait) charges $550 for a single stage paint correction and wax/sealant. And another one I used in the past that is highly regarded starts at $300 for exactly what you described.

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37

Thank you for the reference point. Helps a lot.

38

That sounds better. Take pics!

39

If you haven’t already, have this conversation with the person in charge. They won’t necessarily do the work themselves but they can instruct what compound to use. Based on your description, sounds like a low level of abrasiveness should do the trick but the person on the ground with the most knowledge should make that decision

40

Thanks. That’s actually how I got the price.

It’s not just a line item I picked from a menu board; I had a manager take a look at the car, and that’s a custom quote.

2 Likes
41

Any suggestions for good car detailers in the Pasadena/Glendale/Burbank area? Willing to go a little farther into the “valley” but preferably not past the 405.

42

How did everything turn out? Pics?