Getting my IS detailed today - should I tip too?
02-12-09 | 12:35 PM
#16
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 344
Likes: 1
From: Hi
I'm using a detail specialist and paying about $150-175 for the services above - the guy said he will have every scratch and swirl removed from the car and it will look better than it did when it was new.
He is coming to my office (self-contained mobile detail truck) and doing the car in my parking lot. He said it will be 2 guys and they will take about 2 hours total.
He is coming to my office (self-contained mobile detail truck) and doing the car in my parking lot. He said it will be 2 guys and they will take about 2 hours total.
Is that what they charge where you live?! I had ALL swirls completely removed for $125
02-12-09 | 07:42 PM
#22
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 131
From: NO
When you think about it, $300-$500 is right on for 95% paint correction. True professional detailers charge around $40-$50 per hour and a 3+ step polish done correctly will take around 5-12 hours depending on the condition of the paint.
Believe me, I learned the hard way. I took my black IS250 to a highly regarded car detailer and they charged $175 for a complete exterior paint correction which included wash, clay, polish and sealant wax. They said they will remove all the swirls. The car looked great at first since the wax they used had alot of fillers. Once the wax was washed off the paint was in worse condition than before. Major holograms (buffer trailers) and lots of swirls caused by dirty pads. They had 4 guys working on my car at once and it took them only 2 hours, seriously how good of a job are they going to do?
I'm paying a "real" detailer about $450 to remove the damage done by the previous botched job. A real detailer WILL remove 95% of imperfections and your car will look perfect under any light. Check out Autopia car forums for more info on real pro detailers.
02-12-09 | 11:36 PM
#23
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 1
From: Socal
^QFT
When you think about it, $300-$500 is right on for 95% paint correction. True professional detailers charge around $40-$50 per hour and a 3+ step polish done correctly will take around 5-12 hours depending on the condition of the paint.
Believe me, I learned the hard way. I took my black IS250 to a highly regarded car detailer and they charged $175 for a complete exterior paint correction which included wash, clay, polish and sealant wax. They said they will remove all the swirls. The car looked great at first since the wax they used had alot of fillers. Once the wax was washed off the paint was in worse condition than before. Major holograms (buffer trailers) and lots of swirls caused by dirty pads. They had 4 guys working on my car at once and it took them only 2 hours, seriously how good of a job are they going to do?
I'm paying a "real" detailer about $450 to remove the damage done by the previous botched job. A real detailer WILL remove 95% of imperfections and your car will look perfect under any light. Check out Autopia car forums for more info on real pro detailers.
When you think about it, $300-$500 is right on for 95% paint correction. True professional detailers charge around $40-$50 per hour and a 3+ step polish done correctly will take around 5-12 hours depending on the condition of the paint.
Believe me, I learned the hard way. I took my black IS250 to a highly regarded car detailer and they charged $175 for a complete exterior paint correction which included wash, clay, polish and sealant wax. They said they will remove all the swirls. The car looked great at first since the wax they used had alot of fillers. Once the wax was washed off the paint was in worse condition than before. Major holograms (buffer trailers) and lots of swirls caused by dirty pads. They had 4 guys working on my car at once and it took them only 2 hours, seriously how good of a job are they going to do?
I'm paying a "real" detailer about $450 to remove the damage done by the previous botched job. A real detailer WILL remove 95% of imperfections and your car will look perfect under any light. Check out Autopia car forums for more info on real pro detailers.
02-16-09 | 07:54 AM
#24
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 18
From: OH
I didn't take a before pic, but the 2 guys only took about 80 minutes to do the whole car. I was working at the time, so I didn't stand there and watch them do everything, but he assured me that they did clay, wax and buff. The paint feels smooth, but there are still a ton of swirl marks. He said that he'd recommend 3 steps on top of what he did today (at $50 each step) to get 90-95% of the swirl marks out.
The car looks good and everything was wiped down great. You can definitely see all the swirls still though in direct sunlight.
The car looks good and everything was wiped down great. You can definitely see all the swirls still though in direct sunlight.
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