Hi Guys.

I'm on the lookout for someone to wash/detail one of my parent's cars.
Knowing absolutely nothing about this level of car maintenance, what questions should I be asking businesses/people when researching where to go? I don't have the time or the skills to do this myself, nor the inclination to be honest.

Cheers

Michael

Depends on the level of work they want. Although you are probably better asking for personal recommendations, from a local group/forum.

also depends on what car you want detailed, i wouldn't be giving a 250 california to the polish hand wash down the road, "Detailing" is something of a art, not really something you would pay to have done on some run of the mill mass produced car.
If you want 'detailing' then take it to a vehicle refinishers who will bring it up to better than new standard and for which you'll pay a hefty price, which is why you'll need a special car to warrant it. the only one near me i can think of has a wall of customers cars anything from range rover sports to Lamborghinis porsches and classic ferraris, they do little bits on lesser cars but the prices for what they do would frighten the even the average BMW owners wallet.

the question you need to answer is, what have you got and what do you actually want done?

Venters said:

Depends on the level of work they want. Although you are probably better asking for personal recommendations, from a local group/forum.

Click to expand...

It needs to be up to a wedding standard. I'm just after some general questions that I can approach places with, and see what I can come up with there. Then I'll go after local recommendations.

AndyRKett said:

also depends on what car you want detailed, i wouldn't be giving a 250 california to the polish hand wash down the road, "Detailing" is something of a art, not really something you would pay to have done on some run of the mill mass produced car.
If you want 'detailing' then take it to a vehicle refinishers who will bring it up to better than new standard and for which you'll pay a hefty price, which is why you'll need a special car to warrant it. the only one near me i can think of has a wall of customers cars anything from range rover sports to Lamborghinis porsches and classic ferraris, they do little bits on lesser cars but the prices for what they do would frighten the even the average BMW owners wallet.

the question you need to answer is, what have you got and what do you actually want done?

Click to expand...

As I said above, it needs to be up to wedding-class. Not actually for a wedding, just an important event. There are some scratches in the paint from where Dad had a go last time it was needed, and didn't go in circles with the cutting compound

I wish it was a California, but if it was, I probably wouldn't be here, I'd be on a Ferrari forum somewhere instead :yum: Its British, and 6 3/4 litres. That should give you a rough idea what it is....

im guessing aston martin?

the basic things that will sort the men from the boys is if you mention the two bucket method and what they use for drying. If they know what the two bucket method is and use microfibers then you have made a start.

another thing you can ask is what products they use, i dont know if its the same down under but there are a few reputable brands that are commonly used here. I would say what they are but im not sure what the pros are

in general

Auto Glym
Meguiars
Dodo Juice

they are all pretty popular, im sure there are more profesional products but its a start

then you could ask about what stages they do

even home detailers will always use some kind of touch less wash like snow foam before going anywhere near the car with there hands and they certainly wont use a sponge. usually a wash mit of some kind.

that is a start im sure people will add more

off the top of my head Andy Monty knows his stuff

im just an amateur

One of the MOST IMPORTANT things to ask is do they have adequate Liability insurance should they damage your car whist they are working on it.......

No one sets out to cause damage BUT accidents and visits from the feck up fairy do happen every now and then.

I have no quarms using my makita rotary on my own car, But anyone else (family and friends) gets warned before i go near it 9 times ouf of 10 they usually think the scratch/ scuff needs respraying so they have nothing to loose letting me "practice" with my comment that If it goes through to the base coat it will still need respraying so i cant make it any worse :devil:

Past repairs/ thin paint areas (which usually show up with a paint depth gauge) can be just as an important check pre "detail" as some Iron fallout removers and tar removers can adversely affect any previous "smart repair" work...

6.75 and 'wedding class' so it will be a roller or a bentley (probably the former)

like Andy say professional/public liability insurance is a must and any professional outfit should have it.

to be honest an important event unless its the concours d'elegance isn't going to require much more then a good professional valet, and a little bit of paint work.

you could go on forever paying a fortune for having all the body work machine polished. chrome polished, wheels off arches washed and polished, carpets washed. leather treated. i'm assuming its a bentley or rolls so all the interior wood polished. a good valet on this sort of car is probably going to cost a minimum £80 but its all about the extent you want to go to?

if its british then i would be expecting rust to be forming in abundance in hidden places so be wary of this when handing it over to someone with a pressure washer, make sure they have that insurance.

Ok, I have been talking to a professional, whos services I would recommend to anyone up where you lot live, and we have come to decide on a exterior valet with a machine polish, with maybe a wax or sealant depending on cost. Now to go and find someone who can do it well....

Rust isn't an issue, it is an Australian delivered vehicle.

what type of machine polish are asking to be done there are 3 main "types"

there is the filler heavy polish which will remove some marks and hide the rest

an "enhancement" which will remove most marks probably finished off with a filling product to hide the remaining deep swirls

or a Full blown correcton which removes all / most marks and then a wax is applied to the virgin clean smooth paint usually after a alcohol wipe down to remove any polish residue / oils

A mate gets his Porsche RS done by a detailing firm at Brands Hatch.... £350 They use Swissvax.

Where abouts in the UK are you ? and how much are you/they expecting to pay ?

SteveTDCi said:

Where abouts in the UK are you ? and how much are you/they expecting to pay ?

Click to expand...

He's in Australia

:yeahthat:

I found a place, was recommended to it by my grandfather. Took it there for him to have a look at, and its going to be A$100 all in, for inside and out to be done. Its going there in the morning, and this happens to be the weather forecast for tomorrow and also the weekend its being used for.....

Friday 25 May
Summary

Min 6
Max 12
Rain at times.

Cloudy. Rain at times. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. Winds north to northwesterly and light tending westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day.

No UV Alert, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]

Saturday 26 May
Summary

Min 5
Max 14
Shower or two clearing.

Cloudy. A shower or two from the late morning until late afternoon. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h becoming southwesterly and light during the evening.

Sunday 27 May
Summary

Min 5
Max 15
Partly cloudy.

Partly cloudy. Winds south to southwesterly 10 to 20 km/h.

Click to expand...

25 degrees here mate

That must be utter torture for you. Its bucketing down here atm

I'm indoors, A/C on, but yeah, my pasty Scottish complexion doesn't take kindly to sunshine

I still have my singlet and shorts tan

Well, this is the result.




And of course, sods law, I found a really really good valeter on Sunday with a mate, he does most of the cars at our local car museum. I think I will be going there next time.
Thanks for all the advice and help guys.