All right, it’s been too long . . . I’m getting my car detailed.
Normally, I’ve been the one to wash, polish, and was my baby. However, with my change in locations, and different times available for such, I’m passing the torch on to a service.
Is there anything in particular I should ask for? I know I want a full wash, vacuuming of the interior, and a polish. Any tricks of the trade I should ask for to bring ot the best in the details?
Don’t go to a car wash place that also offers detailing service. Go to a detailing service that may or may not offer car washes. Compare their services to this place, www.apsdetailing.com
Only things I can think of in my experience with lot attendants (guys who detail cars) that will help is to be nice and slip them an extra $5-10 on top of whatever you’re being charged. Then tell them exactly what you want.
You might want to ask them to seal your paint(you can do this too but if you can’t find the time…). Basically it replaces the need to wax every month or so. Only needs to be done yearly and your car will look like you just spent the day waxing and buffing every day.
Polish is different than wax. If you ask for a wash and polish they might look at you weird. Polish will take out swirls from the paint, sealing and waxing will protect the paint.
I am thinking of getting detailing done on the 2005 CPO Pathfinder I just picked up. Any suggestions on chipped paint? I know this is not a detailing thing, but I figured I would throw it out there to see if anyone had any ideas.
Overall, the paint is in excellent shape, but just thinking about a few spots.
[quote]Kuz wrote:
I am thinking of getting detailing done on the 2005 CPO Pathfinder I just picked up. Any suggestions on chipped paint? I know this is not a detailing thing, but I figured I would throw it out there to see if anyone had any ideas.
Overall, the paint is in excellent shape, but just thinking about a few spots.[/quote]
Depends one what kind of “chips” in the paint we are talking about. Very small chips that haven’t penetrated the depth of the paint will buff out with some polish, but if it’s through the paint not much you can do about it other than touch-ups.
Make sure you remember what service you order. I once asked for Armour All for my tires, and the guy completely forgot to do it. Then acted stupid when I reminded him.
my only tip would be to call in a mobile detailer that also does pain chip repair,wetsanding and paint restoration.
they should be insured also if you go to a car wash thats all you will get is a car wash nothing special.
sure it will look great but if you want a realy pro deep cleaning done and possibly that deep wet mirror finish call in a pro.
yes it is expensive I charge in my shop for paint detail 150.00 an hour but there is special training that one goes through for it.check out local body shops.
I know its a bit weird taking a car to a body shop for a car wash but you will only have to actually detail it once in its lifetime and remember its more of an art than anything.
giving away one of my secerets here but I guess its the internet its not so seceret is it 
great how toos,and this happens to be where I get most of my chemicals
The best part is, at least in my town, at some of the detailing shops, you can also buy crack where you get your car detailed. You can kill two birds with one stone.
[quote]analog_kid wrote:
Kuz wrote:
I am thinking of getting detailing done on the 2005 CPO Pathfinder I just picked up. Any suggestions on chipped paint? I know this is not a detailing thing, but I figured I would throw it out there to see if anyone had any ideas.
Overall, the paint is in excellent shape, but just thinking about a few spots.
Depends one what kind of “chips” in the paint we are talking about. Very small chips that haven’t penetrated the depth of the paint will buff out with some polish, but if it’s through the paint not much you can do about it other than touch-ups. [/quote]
Yeah, it looks a bit into the paint. Not horribly deep, but enough that it does not look like a buff out will do it any good.
Guess I need a pro on the job for touch up!
[quote]Kuz wrote:
analog_kid wrote:
Kuz wrote:
I am thinking of getting detailing done on the 2005 CPO Pathfinder I just picked up. Any suggestions on chipped paint? I know this is not a detailing thing, but I figured I would throw it out there to see if anyone had any ideas.
Overall, the paint is in excellent shape, but just thinking about a few spots.
Depends one what kind of “chips” in the paint we are talking about. Very small chips that haven’t penetrated the depth of the paint will buff out with some polish, but if it’s through the paint not much you can do about it other than touch-ups.
Yeah, it looks a bit into the paint. Not horribly deep, but enough that it does not look like a buff out will do it any good.
Guess I need a pro on the job for touch up![/quote]
if you ca nrun your finger nail over it and catch your nail in it then yes you need a touch up
Question,
I’m getting my sister’s car as hand me down and there are marks from bird shit being left on for a long time and water marks that I can’t seem to get off, what can I use to get the car looking good again?
[quote]-Tiberius- wrote:
Question,
I’m getting my sister’s car as hand me down and there are marks from bird shit being left on for a long time and water marks that I can’t seem to get off, what can I use to get the car looking good again?[/quote]
Wash the car and strip whatever old wax may be on it(you can use dish soap or any specialty paint prep cleaner, this will remove all the previous wax build up and will get you down to the clear coat). Next I would go with a paint cleaning clay and see where that gets you. If you still have swirl marks/stains/etc, try some polish and then evaluate. From there I would go to a professional and look at wet-sanding. But there is a pretty good chance that if you can’t polish it out, there isn’t much you can do without spending a lot of money.