DIY or pay someone else?

P

paulgs1000

Elite
 Newcastle upon Tyne
My Zed needs detailing just as soon as the weather starts to improve -question is -

do I buy all the products needed and have a go myself (no experience or knowledge) or

Spend money having it professionally done?

Thoughts / advice? :(
 
I did mine for the first time this weekend. Have a look at my thread for photos. Normally I'd be the first to pay someone to do the job but I'm glad I did it myself. It's a nice feeling to stand back after 2 days of work and say, I did that. It's not perfect by any means, but I'll get better with practice and time.

Material costs were about £70 but they will last a few full detail jobs so if you have the time, try it yourself!
 
Look on youtube. Loads of advice on claying polishing etc..............its a hole new world. :scratchhead:
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ is also a really 'into' it site :(
 
Toe-side said:
Look on youtube. Loads of advice on claying polishing etc..............its a hole new world. :scratchhead:
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ is also a really 'into' it site :(
Click to expand...

+1 loads of info online :thumbsup:
 
Auto detailing is an art form. I've spent the last 30 years developing the skills and techniques in achieving professional results on my own.

So if you've got the passion and dedication to go through the learning curve (and are willing to invest a relatively substantial amount for the right equipment and products), this could become a very enjoyable part of ownership. If not, you will simply never match professional results.
 
Depends what you want to do. Cleaning / claying / polishing is fairly simple to start off with and relatively cheap to get into (though it gets expensive as you get the bug). As others have said, look on line (hint - DetailingWorld.co.uk)

If you want to correct the paintwork - machine polishing the paintwork to eliminate light scratches / hazing, wet sanding etc. then get some tuition and advice. First, its expensive to buy all the bits (paint gauge, orbital polisher or rotary, pads, compounds) and second, if you do it wrong, you could trash the paint.
 
I had mine detailed by a novice with experience, and the difference was significant.

Exactly as PaulG says, if you want to do the basics, then you'll be fine. It's when you start machine polishing, etc - that's when it gets expensive.
 
powerontap said:
Auto detailing is an art form. I've spent the last 30 years developing the skills and techniques in achieving professional results on my own.

So if you've got the passion and dedication to go through the learning curve (and are willing to invest a relatively substantial amount for the right equipment and products), this could become a very enjoyable part of ownership. If not, you will simply never match professional results.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the responses - I will take a look on line to see what is involved but I'm conscious of the above - would like an impressive finish.

Thanks again all :thumbsup:
 
I'm in the same boat. Spent about £350 on a bunch of meguiars kit for every possible job. Plus bits like a snow foam lance, brushes, applicators, microfibres and all sorts. Only ordered it all on Monday and nothing's arrived yet. I'm now toying with idea of getting a das6 pro dual action machine polisher/waxer. I don't think my car needs much correction - sure a good polish will do the job, it'll just be so much easier using a machine.

If anyone has a DA machine you don't want, pm me :D
 
Paul, check this out...http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41865

Some very good advice!

Also have a look at this....http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=190711
I'm going to follow this when I do mine this weekend
 
Thanks Spearman - just taken a look through and got a much better idea now - nice one and all the best for this weekend! :thumbsup:
 
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