scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

I was thinking about giving Ebony a Christmas Present this year and getting her professionally detailed. Although I am an amateur detailer myself and take great pride in spending all day rubbing on my car, the job and family doesn't really create much time to do that anymore . So, I was thinking about a professional detail at local dealers OR using what car gurus use in the area for their prized possessions.

Since I was keyed last week, I was able to get my scratch out but now have some swirl marks from all the rubbing, plus some swirl marks in other places.

www.detailwerkz.com is a very highly rated, high end professional detailer locally that does all high end cars. They have great reviews online but are very expensive. Looks like I will pay about $300 for a full detail in and out, deep buff with paint correction using "high gloss" brands? They will come to my house and do it, which is nice and this includes swirl removal which my black car needs desperately, engine clean, interior clean, etc etc. They also pride themselves with using top of the line $1,000 buffers and calibrated buff machines so that they get the swirl marks out guaranteed. You should see the pics of black mercedes on their site!!! Wow!!!!

Local dealers charge about $150-$170 with a loaner car (one day process) but only includes a light polish not guaranteed to get swirl marks or at least the deeper ones I have from my car key job that was done. Includes shampoo and engine clean, etc. Of course the dealer uses cheap stuff and not sure on the machines they use.

Can anyone weigh in on the dealer full detail services at Lexus or any thoughts on paying a high end detailer $300 for their services?

I certainly don't have the time to spend six hours to wash the car twice with dawn to remove old polish and then clay the car, then wash again, then wax, then buff, then high velocity buff scratches out, engine clean, interior clean, etc. They have a team of 3-4 people that do it in two hours for what would take me all day. I figured my time is worth $300/day you know???

I love my Zaino and Meguires stuff, but sometimes you need a real pro with real equipment to do the job.

Solman

I have mixed feelings. Last year I paid $200 to detail my odyssey and was really disappointed by the use of high gloss protectant, both interior and exterior. I would have no problem paying $300 if I could see other cars right after being detailed. On the other hand I find the SC is not that large of a car to detail myself. Two years ago I used dawn and clay bar'd it. Since then I polish every 4-6 mos and use the quick detail 2-3 times a week. Always ZAINO products and always me-never allow anyone else to touch it, especially car washes. I am lucky enough to live in So Cal climate and have a job that allows me the time to baby my baby. I drive it daily (unless it is raining) to work which is 5 miles roundtrip, otherwise, it is always garaged. My Odyssey is my rainy day car and the wife has her infiniti EX.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Thanks John-those are my apprehensive thoughts too, until I saw this site:

www.detailwerkz.com

check out the before and afters on the MBZ CL's and SL's. There are some nice classics on there too (I know you'll like some of them on here)

http://www.detailwerkzdallas.com/paintcorrections.html

Solman

Very impressive web site! I think if I were in your shoes I'd go for it. The cost thing is important to me, but not as important as quality. I frankly have trouble trusting people when working on my SC, hence only lexus dealers for mechanical and myself on wash/detail. Again though, I am fortunate to have the time to do the job right. If I didn't and I had A detailer like that one appears to be, I would have no problem spending $300, especially considering how comprehensive it is.

John

76210Guy

I would be interested to see the outcome firsthand. Given your deep dark black, I bet it comes out looking awesome!

And anyway, its only money, right?

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

This is the car and pictures that got me hooked. OMG!!! Looks brand new...8 year old CL55 that was laiden with swirl marks and stains now looks flawless. You pay for it though! Ouch...

Check it out:

http://www.glossitonline.com/gloss_d...3_mb_cl55.html

76210Guy

WHOA! That ALMOST makes me wish I had kept my Mercedes... almost

Really nice job they did. I bet your ride will look awesome when done.

huy33

Scott Wax over in Arlington, TX is my favorite. He's further than Detail Werkz since I think they're in Frisco but well worth the extra money.

Scott Wax is a one man team though.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

huy-toocool recommended him too based on some dealings he had. Must not be bad then!

I've got some correspondance with both dealers on what they do and the kind of commitment on getting swirls out like I want and let me say that I'm warming up to the dealer plus detailwerkz hasn't responded to my e-mail all day.

I don't get why vendors/businesses spend all this money maintaining a website, paying for cell phones, iphones with data plans, etc. to have e-mail and correspondance digitally with potential customes (especially so called high end, high price places) yet they don't respond!!!! Hellllooooooo...do they know we are not in the best economy right now with nearly 10% unemployment???? Must be nice to not want to get more business. I'm in sales...I'll take all the business customers throw at me!

toxic

I have done my own detailing on all of my vehicles and I wince when the dealer washes it when the oil gets changed. That's a far as I would go with someone else detailing my ride ....BUT......a professional detailer and I mean a PROFESSIONAL detailer, not just someone who washes, waxes and buffs, is worth their weight in gold and $300 is a fair price. They can work magic on vehicles. What you will see with a lot of detailers is that they will complete the job and after about a month of washing, you will be able to see where they "buffed" out scratches and swirls will magically appear. Re-wax and they will be hidden but not gone. A professional will eliminate the original imperfection and not cause other problems in the process. I am getting ready for a professional makeover on my SC. A lady I work with was having some rock chips taken out of the front of her Lexus and while he was here, the guy agreed to look at what I had to have done. As soon as I pulled up with the SC he said there was no way he would touch it. He said he is confident with any other color other than the Silver Metallic. He pulled up the mix code on his laptop and showed me there were 6 different colors that went in the silver cars. He also said that Lexus uses a very "soft" paint that is a challenge to work with. I have been referred to the same paint guy by 3 independent people in the know on cars and after the holidays I will be calling him up to work on my car. For reference here is what I am having done:
1. Door edges both driver and passanger have been chipped badly and span the length of the doors. This is going to require sanding, filing and repainting of both door edges. Tricky work since I don't want the doors repainted if at all possible except for the edges.
2. Prievious owner "nicked" a wall going around a corner and scratched the front bumper cover. I was told by the guy that did my door ding work (excellent job BTW) that the paint guy he was referring me to could make that disappear with no problems.
3. Neighbors cats decided to lounge on my car when I left the garage door open and I have some hairline scratches on the roof and trunk (If I would have caught them I would have rung their necks!!LOL!!)
4. I have a few rock chips that I want gone, not just touched up. This includes a chip on the hood where someone other than me lifted the wiper blade up and a few touched up spots on the doors that were not done right.
5. Full detail, strip, clean paint, buff, and wax.
Sounds like a lot but I am truly particular about my cars finish and I would be willing to take before and after pics if anyone is interested. Keep in mind, I drive this car, it is not a garage queen.

TOXIC

TooCoolSC

I had a detailer tell me the same thing yesterday morning.

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

I'm going for it!!! I learned more about their training, services, machines and polishes/material used and it's head and shoulders above the dealer. I love the local dealers but with a black car, and especially Pebble Beach with my individual issues I just feel as if it would be better to go with a specialist on this one, you know?

LOL-the owner told me they fix dealer screw ups all the time-wrong speed buffer causing worse swirl marks in the paint, etc etc. Funny

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Detail Werkz and I finally were able to hook up for a Signature 2 Gloss Detail job at my house today.

This was a 3-hour process including:

Wash Twice to strip vehicle of current products
* Clean Tires, Rims, White Walls and Wheel Wells
* 3 Step Process:
1) Clay Bar to Remove: Tar, Road Pitch, Insects and other contamination (will not remove OVERSPRAY)***
2) Apply Premium Machine Polish to Restore Gloss & Condition Paint
3) Apply Signature Gloss using the Flex or 7424 (1-application)**
(Provides protection for 12 to 14 months)
* Clean & Condition All Tires, Vinyl & Rubber
* Vacuum, Interior, Carpets & Upholstery
* Blow our Seat Tracks, Air Vents & Crevices with Air gun
* Scrub all Vinyl Panels, Dashboard, Center Console and Doors
* Remove Interior Stains & Scuff Marks*
* Shampoo Carpets, Upholstery & Floor Mats*
* Treat Leather with Ph Balanced Cleaner and Apply Premium Conditioner
* Polish Wood & Plastic Trim and Apply UV-Treatment Conditioner
* Clean Windows Inside & Out
* UV Protection, Engine Detail

www.detailwerkz.com

Brian Hare is the owner, and did my car personally. I was impressed, especially considering he has done Bugatti Veyrons, SSC Aero and Saleens with the same hands/equipment he is doing my six year old Lexus with!

Brian might be interested in being a vendor/sponsor. He previously was the distributor for Zaino until they were bought out by Mother's. Now he uses Gloss It Products. Very nice stuff. Perhaps a half notch better than Zaino.

So...3.5 hours later, I was impressed. I had hardly any swirl marks, the paint was so deep and crystal clear. Interior was already pretty clean, but looked and smelled good. My two or three areas of concern were mostly taken care of...I've got a touch up spot that is kind of nasty that needs to be wet sanded and re-shot or blended again.

All in all, I'd say there is absolutely another level of detailing...I thought I was pretty good and most people who see my cars comment on how clean they are but this is clearly another level. The machines, the products, the process and the experience were all worth the most expensive detail I've ever purchased (and, oh, by the way the only one I've ever purchased!)

See for yourself...I had lots of swirls before on the hood, trunk and upper parts of the quarter panels from towel washing car washes, etc. Nothing but hand washing or touchless for me in the future with chamois, blades and microfiber mitts. This car has never been this clean! I am very happy.

If DFW folks are interested he could possibly come to our next mini-meet and do a service for us all as a group if you want. He is all into the car clubs!

I'll do some pics from late today, but will take some in the sun tomorrow...I took these at dusk today on an iPhone not very vibrant. Sorry

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

more pics...I will take some in the sun tomorrow for sure

scdroptop

iTrader: (1)

Interesting note: They don't super shine up tires...in fact they put a non-shine product on my tires which he explained I'm "blinging" enough LOL It's NEVER enough!!!