Is it worth getting the car detailed now or wait?

[kay]

As peeps have said, the detail (really just a case of ensuring a sealant layer is on) is important to protect the paintwork underneath from the winter elements. But as sonny has said, ideal time is just prior to the winter kicking in. I suppose those that have only bought their cars now didn't have that option. You could easily wash, polish and seal yourselves for now. Jetting an expensive detail now might be shortlived due to harsh weather and as someone has mentioned, short days ,cold weather, etc might be an issue for a proper detail now. But new rs4 owners might have little if no protection on their cars right now!

[wolfgang]

Easiest thing is to wash the car and seal the paintwork for now. I use a wipe-on-and-forget sealant called Optimum Opti-Seal. It'll last most of the winter and forms a decent sealant layer between the winter grime and your top coat. It takes 15 minutes to seal the whole car. There is no buffing involved. Just wipe on a very thing layer using an applicator pad. Interim maintenance washes during the winter are a just a quick blast with a pressure washer and I just leave it at that.

[andre3k]

Whilst not strictly relevant, this link below is a v good read (hats off to the fella for undertaking it ):

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s ... ggest+test

My 2p's as follows: It's not completely clear what you're after from a detail, as a detail can be corrective, protective, aesthetic or a combination. As mentioned previously if protection is your main concern there's no time like the present as some of these products will take you thru the winter spell easily. If corrective/easthetic Id wait till the worst of the winter is gone, you'll get to enjoy it more then.



Btw. if interested, there's an equivalent test done for sealants which can be searched for on the site.

[Revolution]

That's cheap! Is that the lot in Pelton (N.E.D.) who are doing that for you?

Last time I had mine professionally detailed it was by Cambridge Autogleam with a thoroughly professional 2 day job and that was £400+ IIRC

Yes, price is correct (maybe theyre doing winter deals at the moment) but i have told them they dont have to take the wheels off to clean the calipers and rims.

Done loads of cars over the years and proper enthusiasts and very fussy!

The guy in charge is called David Brown - worth looking up....I've seen their work on an Enzo once and it was amazing!!

[P_G]

I've been up to see them before and they are well regarded on DW. That said if I have been good Santa will be bringing me a DA6 Pro and some hex logic pads so I'll be doing all this detailing lark myself.

[Revolution]

sounds like fun.........

[P_G]

I could always use your car as guinea pig.....

[FazS3]

Any decent detail companies near the bedfordshire area?

[steve_70]

I would avoid a correction detail in this weather, and leave that till when you remove the protective winter aromour. As others have said, a Winter protection detail is almost a mustand will protect against the elements and salt etc until the better weather comes.

Too much cleaning in this weather can do more harm than good and risk of marring/ swirling through poor wash technique is multiplied considerably... its where practically all swirls/marring are inflicted; Zero touch wash routines such as foaming and jet washing are best way to go to de-risk the washing process. products such as ONR have great value in this weather also with its poymer technologies that trap dirt in the water and hold away from the paint surface.

Mine is being treated to a Winter Full Metal Jacket this weekend. De-salted and Traffic Film removed, then a paint decomtamination, paint cleanising/ Pre-Wax Cleaner,finally will be coated in what IMO is the best winter protection of all..Collinite 845 (same as 476 just easier to apply IMO as is a liquid not paste wax)
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/colli ... d_208.html

The new owner of the Evo also wants me to maintain it and doing all the detailing going forward, so have some holiday now and will be able to give it a winter jacket and have a drive next week in it again

What price have you been quoted to get yours done? Obviously we are in completely different locations, but just as a guide!

Not expecting much change from £250

If Closer, would have come and offered my services...Maybe I can be official forum RS4 detailer

[steve_70]

Easiest thing is to wash the car and seal the paintwork for now. I use a wipe-on-and-forget sealant called Optimum Opti-Seal. It'll last most of the winter and forms a decent sealant layer between the winter grime and your top coat. It takes 15 minutes to seal the whole car. There is no buffing involved. Just wipe on a very thing layer using an applicator pad. Interim maintenance washes during the winter are a just a quick blast with a pressure washer and I just leave it at that.

+1 for OptiSeal

For my winter jacket I always use Colinite 845 http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/colli ... d_208.html

I can vouch for Wolfgang's comments, used all the optimum products on the Evo and love them and recommend to anbody

Any chance to Pic Whore

http://www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=342625

[JHT]

I would avoid a correction detail in this weather, and leave that till when you remove the protective winter aromour. As others have said, a Winter protection detail is almost a mustand will protect against the elements and salt etc until the better weather comes.

Too much cleaning in this weather can do more harm than good and risk of marring/ swirling through poor wash technique is multiplied considerably... its where practically all swirls/marring are inflicted; Zero touch wash routines such as foaming and jet washing are best way to go to de-risk the washing process. products such as ONR have great value in this weather also with its poymer technologies that trap dirt in the water and hold away from the paint surface.

Mine is being treated to a Winter Full Metal Jacket this weekend. De-salted and Traffic Film removed, then a paint decomtamination, paint cleanising/ Pre-Wax Cleaner,finally will be coated in what IMO is the best winter protection of all..Collinite 845 (same as 476 just easier to apply IMO as is a liquid not paste wax)
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/colli ... d_208.html

The new owner of the Evo also wants me to maintain it and doing all the detailing going forward, so have some holiday now and will be able to give it a winter jacket and have a drive next week in it again

What price have you been quoted to get yours done? Obviously we are in completely different locations, but just as a guide!

Not expecting much change from £250

If Closer, would have come and offered my services...Maybe I can be official forum RS4 detailer

Steve, Richmond's not really that far for you to travel is it....?!

My god, I salute you guys as I simply don't have the time/patience to spend all weekend cleaning my car (not knocking you guys!), I just want to get out an drive it!!

[steve_70]

I would avoid a correction detail in this weather, and leave that till when you remove the protective winter aromour. As others have said, a Winter protection detail is almost a mustand will protect against the elements and salt etc until the better weather comes.

Too much cleaning in this weather can do more harm than good and risk of marring/ swirling through poor wash technique is multiplied considerably... its where practically all swirls/marring are inflicted; Zero touch wash routines such as foaming and jet washing are best way to go to de-risk the washing process. products such as ONR have great value in this weather also with its poymer technologies that trap dirt in the water and hold away from the paint surface.

Mine is being treated to a Winter Full Metal Jacket this weekend. De-salted and Traffic Film removed, then a paint decomtamination, paint cleanising/ Pre-Wax Cleaner,finally will be coated in what IMO is the best winter protection of all..Collinite 845 (same as 476 just easier to apply IMO as is a liquid not paste wax)
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/colli ... d_208.html

The new owner of the Evo also wants me to maintain it and doing all the detailing going forward, so have some holiday now and will be able to give it a winter jacket and have a drive next week in it again

Not expecting much change from £250

If Closer, would have come and offered my services...Maybe I can be official forum RS4 detailer

Steve, Richmond's not really that far for you to travel is it....?!

My god, I salute you guys as I simply don't have the time/patience to spend all weekend cleaning my car (not knocking you guys!), I just want to get out an drive it!!

Have brother in law that lives in Brixton, so not a million miles away

would need to cover some petrol and costs but other than that I am sure we could work something out for a winter protection detail

@Sevy ...got your PM thanks, replying to it in a minute

[steve_70]

Steve, Richmond's not really that far for you to travel is it....?!

My god, I salute you guys as I simply don't have the time/patience to spend all weekend cleaning my car (not knocking you guys!), I just want to get out an drive it!!

I will PM you some info

[steve_70]

** Warning - impending risk of you falling asleep if you manage to read all this post

[WAFFLE]

Hi all,

wanted to broach this subject before I risk running into trouble with the forum mods or traders/prodeatilers etc on here, I know this is not the best thread to post on possibly and needs to be on one of its own, but just wanted it to be said if thats ok....

I am concious that I am not a Pro and not a trader so I may be stepping on peoples toes if I go about this the wrong way and is totally unintentional; and on other forums you have to advertise as a trader and pay fees to offer services to members etc. which is only fair I guess, I dont want to be seen to pitch on somebody elses turf. However it does seem that there are no real site sponsors or pro detailers on here that i have noticed, but would stilllike to go about everything correctly. My only motive is to offer to members (and maybe qualify as friends over time) a genuine and quality service from a fellow RS4 owner, a genuine enthusiast who has been doing this for several years now across a range of performance cars I have owned, enjoys doing this and is passionate about it and not a wholly money making venture or a trade/ business venture.

So with that said, its really important I build a reputation and trust of users on here and word of mouth; which is more important to me at the moment than just taking peoples money and draggging a skanky sponge across your bonnet and rubbing a bit of cheapo wax into the paint and calling it detailing... thats just valeting and a hand wash etc that you can get from the friendly eastern europeans at the local supermarket/ DIY store etc.

For any services that I offer will be on a non trade basis and friendly member agreement, am thinking for now basing on a bit of my time/ petrol costs and cost of products, which I believe is fair. I would ideally like to devote more time into this, get a website, get some traders liability insurance etc and offer a proper pro/ trader service once I have established myself and proved myself maybe on the forums and the RS community... but for nowmy day job requires more hours than there are in a day and so this is very much a hobby and a passion and helpd me switch off from day job.. when i can.

For any details I would like the permission to take some pics and use it for a bit of publicity please and add the pics to some detailing threads; we all get a win/win as you get a detailing service cheap (very very different from a cheap detailingservice)from an enthusiast who knows these cars and appreciates them and I get to build some trust and reputation please.

Anybody know who the site admins are please so I can drop them a message please, make sure I am notbreaking any forum rules, and if I am how do i resolve.

So now have bored you with all that, thanks

[/WAFFLE]


and happy detailing, whoever does it for you

[Steve_C]

Phew, had to sit in a comfy chair to read all that

If you were closer I'd take you up on the offer, Steve, but you're probably about 3hrs away . If you need any help on the business side (accounts, tax, insurance, website) I can probably help.