Detail or not to detail

[PatDanz]

Right then.

So I've made some enquiries re: a detail to my 55 plate Z4 - and have a reputable firm (gleammachine) coming to have a look next weekend, having had a good look at the detailing world forum

However, having washed and waxed the motor this weekend it is already looking pretty smart: I can notice the car wash surface swirls and scratches tro the bonnet, and scratches where I wiped bord poo recently, plus the bonnet is a pig to wax as there seems to be a road residue film that smears depsite rigorous washing - something claying may sort I'd imagine.

However, I'm now gwetting cold feet somewhat after a friend who previosuly worked for a body shop says a 55 plate car shouldn't need paint correction - am I spending £200+ that I don't need to ?!

Could it be detrimental to the body work... or will I see the results and be really glad I got it done?

Any thoughts appreciated !

 

[Mik]

What colour is the car and whats the mileage

 

[PatDanz]

black, 42k on the clock - i'm wondering if only the bonnet and boot need doing... ?

 

[Mik]

I should imagine that spending 200 quid and getting someone else to detail your car would be quite rewarding and the chances are you would be more than happy, But its not beyond your skills.
I had exactly the same dilema with a 40k dark blue metallic porsche with exactly the same swirls and odd scratches all over. I ended up giving it to a local bodyshop for the day and they mopped the entire car, (I was quite happy with the results) I also considered just doing the bonnet and boot as obviously,like you, am thinking they look worse being the flat surfaces and the ones you see reflecting light. However I got the whole car done, The body shop guy described it as being a bit"car washey".
My Porsche was also a 55 plate and I don t think that makes a jot of diffrence,ie; the amount of airborne pollutants and bonded contaminants the car has travelled through in that mileage is quite a few. If when you have washed and waxed,the surface still seems gritty when you run the palm of your hand over it then clay (its amazing and I bet will take s**t loads of grime off) have you clayed before,do it right and keep it wet. Dark colours...nothing more rewarding,but nothing more frustrating !
Mike

 

[Mr Whippy]

£200 for a full correction on the paint doesn't sound too bad, if they come well recommended.

I keep intending to sort my car out, but there is always something else to do. I've done my boot and bonnet, and now given up, again, too busy sorting out seat looms or doing general servicing, or just non-car stuff.
Getting the car in tip-top shape so all you have to do is wash it well (two bucket), and keep topping up the wax is a good start to making your life easier cleaning the car to start with, AND having it looking much better more of the time!

If you have the money burning a hole, and you won't sort it yourself, I'd go for it. You will REALLY notice the difference on a black car of that kinda age/mileage too!

I want to get mine done professionally but have lots of other little car jobs/costs I'd prefer to get done sooner...

Dave

 

[PatDanz]

ok then... i'm convinced ! think it'll be an investment worth making. especially as i'm a bit cack handed and don't fancy doing myself ! might graduate to claying myseld in due course - is the maguires beginner kit any good ? will post up detailing pics in due course !

 

[Ian G]

make sure you take some before and after pics to post.

 

[Aliv6]

200 is penny's! A full correction and propection detail can cost 800+!!!

Black is a pain in the ass to maintain, and tbh unless you've got a good wash technique you won't reep the benefits of the detail!

 

[Herminator]

The Megs claying kit seems to have a good reputation for beginners so I used it myself a few weeks ago.
I was easy enough to do and got a lot of grime off, but I did use practicly all of the supplied detailing spray, even after watering it down a bit. I'd not want to have to pay for a new bottle every time, but then again it's only going to be done a couple of times a year.

 

[R2eys]

Hi, thought I would introduce myself to the forum and section, I am Rob, the above detailer that has been contacted, looking forward to popping over to have a chat with Pat next week, hopefully I can show what improvements are there to be gained and talk through the benefits of maintaining the finish correctly.
I also should add that no budget or price has been discussed, other than in this thread, but an enhancement or paintwork correction detail falls in a little higher than £200.00.
Currently working on a members Z4M, so hopefully a little later I may be able to post up some pics showing the benefits.

 

[Smokin]

The Megs claying kit seems to have a good reputation for beginners so I used it myself a few weeks ago.
I was easy enough to do and got a lot of grime off, but I did use practicly all of the supplied detailing spray, even after watering it down a bit. I'd not want to have to pay for a new bottle every time, but then again it's only going to be done a couple of times a year.

I would NOT water the quick detailer down--it's lubricating the clay. I don't know how it's priced in Europe, but it's relatively cheap here in the US and I use it to clean bird cr@# off the car between washes.

 

[Aliv6]

^Eh! Fella you can use Water as lube! Pro's use a very dilute meg's last touch or even shampoo and water. It's all the same, the Megz quick detailer is just a gimic!

Be warned clayin may make the car smooter but it will make it look worse. Then you are supposed to polish. Clayin is just one stage in the detailing process!

 

[Smokin]

^Eh! Fella you can use Water as lube! Pro's use a very dilute meg's last touch or even shampoo and water. It's all the same, the Megz quick detailer is just a gimic!

Be warned clayin may make the car smooter but it will make it look worse. Then you are supposed to polish. Clayin is just one stage in the detailing process!

Er, I'm not a fella and I'm definitely not cheap. I know for a fact Meg's Quick Detailer cuts bird poop off the car, removing all that uric acid in the process. I'm not a pro and don't pretend to be one, just know what works for me.

 

[R2eys]

^Eh! Fella you can use Water as lube! Pro's use a very dilute meg's last touch or even shampoo and water. It's all the same, the Megz quick detailer is just a gimic!

Be warned clayin may make the car smooter but it will make it look worse. Then you are supposed to polish. Clayin is just one stage in the detailing process!

Spot on mate, I normally dilute it to either 1-1 or use heavilly diluted shampoo for clay lube.
Couldn't tell you whats in the quick detailer but would imagine it's diluted Last touch and not likely to be much different.

 

[R2eys]

Right then.

However, I'm now gwetting cold feet somewhat after a friend who previosuly worked for a body shop says a 55 plate car shouldn't need paint correction - am I spending £200+ that I don't need to ?!

Hi Pat, without appearing to sound rude, you friend in the bodyshop is talking rubbish, I have needed to correct swirls and marring on vehicles that are box fresh from the manufacturer, so a 3-4 year old black car is likely to have a fair amount of defects no matter how well you have looked after it, bodyshops are often the worst to advise in vehicle finishing.
There is different levels of correction available, if only light swirling then only a light finishing polish is often needed, this would only remove a very minimal amount of clearcoat thus having no detrimental affect for later polishing or ownership.

Here's some samples of the Z4M I've been working on today, this arrived to me to be corrected after a bodyshop had tried to finish the paint down,









I look forward to meeting you on Saturday and we can talk further and hopefully settle any doubts or questions you may have.

Thanks
Rob.

 

[PatDanz]

Wow ! Can't believe the difference !

I agree with what you say re: bodyshops - especially considering the guy I spoke to hadn't even seen the car or realised it was black... Think my reservations were based on previous bad experiences of a bodyshop polishing my old Alfa Spider to near destruction - they took the paint down so thin it started to flake a few weeks later - eek !

Clearly machine polishing is a specialist job - but in the right hands can make a good car look superb: look forward to seeing you Saturday and seeing what wonders you can work with the new motor !

PAT

 

[davidch]

Hi Pat

Just a quick post to put your mind at rest. I have had Rob detail/correct my M3 and now my Z4M and the work on the M3 was nothing short of amazing. 8)

To be honest a detail is the best thing you can do to your car.

I have now sold the M3 ( and just bought another one ) and to prove Rob's work sold the car.

I had so many viewings and offers on the M3, but being Carbon Black shows up any imperfection I withdrew the car for sale (was getting tired and bored of people).

I then had it detailed by Rob and after a few months, put it back up for sale, It sold that day for MORE than I priced it! I had 3 people look at the car that day and they all said it was the cleanest M3 they had seen. Each buyer had looked at over 10 each.

I really can't recommend Rob enough and I have a few pals that Rob has looked after and each of them are over the moon with his work.

 

[Mr Whippy]

I have needed to correct swirls and marring on vehicles that are box fresh from the manufacturer

I've seen some terrible stuff too, but I'm not so sure it's the manufacturer that messes them up, more the people in between the factory and the dealer, be that a large distribution centre for the country or the individual dealers.

A workmate bought a nearly new Toyota a while back in black, looked fine but needed a clean, and some other small work, so he went and complained and when he got it back it was all lovely and clean, but the holograms and swirls in the bloody thing


Nice work there though, I think it's well worth doing on a black car, as the difference is stunning and really noticeable. Then just sort out a good wash process and top up wax and it should stay looking good AND be easier to maintain/clean, AND look better alot more of the time... all + points for black cars.

If I'd have had a black one it'd have been done by now, but silver hides it enough for me to get away with it

Dave

 

[jamiec]

Rob hope you put that one up on detailingworld!

 

[Herminator]

The machine polishing definetly looks worth it, I'd get it done if I could afford it but that will be a long way off for me.

I noticed my Z has been a lot easier to clean recently after a clay, light polish (by hand did nothing noticable) then waxed with Dodo Juice. The surface is much slicker. It has made me notice lots more marks on the paint though and some of the stone chips seem to have whitened with the wax in them, which I really need to sort but don't want touch up pen blobbyness.

How long would it take for a pro to do just the machining stage? and how much would it cost? Just a polish to sort out the scratches, not a de-orange peeling (however nice it would be) Anyone in the Durham area?