detailing shops
07-12-2011 | 09:23 AM
#15
Audi Forum - Posts like an A3
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 70
From: toronto
Re: detailing shops
Hey guys,
I just bought a used 2008 Audi TT and the colour is "Brilliant Black" which I assume is a fancy word for Very Black Black.
Anyways......as you may know, black has an arch ******* and his name is "Swirls". The previous owner took care of the car but didn't know the importance and benefits of "DETAILING" as apposed to a car wash.
I made an appointment for Monday (July 11 2011) and requested the following custom package;
Wash, Clay Bar, Polish, Sealant, Wax.....
Keep in mind these steps are supposed to provide you with showroom finish and shine that looks better than when the car was driven off the lot. This is the kind of complete detailing that is completed once maybe twice a year.
I am only concerned with exterior and no work will be done on the inside. I am in the Toronto area and will take many pictures (before and after) and post them with a report. My cost will be $250 for all the mentioned services. Stay Tuned.
I just bought a used 2008 Audi TT and the colour is "Brilliant Black" which I assume is a fancy word for Very Black Black.
Anyways......as you may know, black has an arch ******* and his name is "Swirls". The previous owner took care of the car but didn't know the importance and benefits of "DETAILING" as apposed to a car wash.
I made an appointment for Monday (July 11 2011) and requested the following custom package;
Wash, Clay Bar, Polish, Sealant, Wax.....
Keep in mind these steps are supposed to provide you with showroom finish and shine that looks better than when the car was driven off the lot. This is the kind of complete detailing that is completed once maybe twice a year.
I am only concerned with exterior and no work will be done on the inside. I am in the Toronto area and will take many pictures (before and after) and post them with a report. My cost will be $250 for all the mentioned services. Stay Tuned.
07-12-2011 | 06:12 PM
#16
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
From: Toronto
Re: detailing shops
So I took the car to the shop and a few things to keep in mind before reading the review. The car was "clean" and I took it for detailing mainly for "Swirls".
First impression: Beautiful shine, brilliant finish, colour that pops almost liquidy and at certain angles and lighting conditions it looked like a mirror.
Under closer inspection: It was apparent that the "Swirls" were not as dominant as they were before. It was a very good improvement but it did not eliminate the swirls and from what I hear.....NOTHING WILL!
Overall: At $250 it is a very reasonable price for what they did (wash, clay, polish, seal, wax) and compared to other shops BUT $250 is a lot of money. I would do this once a year (maybe twice is I got a good tax return). If you want to detail your car to get a good shine that is noticeable from far away this is for you but if you want to get rid of the fine line, you will see a difference but over disappointment should be expected.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH SWIRLS especially if you have a darker coloured car.
If you can get a good shine by washing it and waxing it yourself I would recommend you do it at home but its a lot of work.
This is a close up of a BEFORE shot and the swirls I was talking about: Notice right under the light there are little white hair scratches or swirls.
More BEFORE pictures of swirls that can only be seen with bright lights or really close up that no one notices but you probably.
AFTER from far VERY NICE:
AFTER from closeup - A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT:
First impression: Beautiful shine, brilliant finish, colour that pops almost liquidy and at certain angles and lighting conditions it looked like a mirror.
Under closer inspection: It was apparent that the "Swirls" were not as dominant as they were before. It was a very good improvement but it did not eliminate the swirls and from what I hear.....NOTHING WILL!
Overall: At $250 it is a very reasonable price for what they did (wash, clay, polish, seal, wax) and compared to other shops BUT $250 is a lot of money. I would do this once a year (maybe twice is I got a good tax return). If you want to detail your car to get a good shine that is noticeable from far away this is for you but if you want to get rid of the fine line, you will see a difference but over disappointment should be expected.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH SWIRLS especially if you have a darker coloured car.
If you can get a good shine by washing it and waxing it yourself I would recommend you do it at home but its a lot of work.
This is a close up of a BEFORE shot and the swirls I was talking about: Notice right under the light there are little white hair scratches or swirls.
More BEFORE pictures of swirls that can only be seen with bright lights or really close up that no one notices but you probably.
AFTER from far VERY NICE:
AFTER from closeup - A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT:
07-12-2011 | 08:50 PM
#18
Audi Forum - Posts like an A3
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 70
From: toronto
Re: detailing shops
Looks great! Thanks for sharing your pics and synopsis...big improvement.
I don't want to admit defeat yet and have to live with swirls if i have to pay $250...everything i've read suggests that swirls can be eliminated using the right products...i'm going to research some more...
I don't want to admit defeat yet and have to live with swirls if i have to pay $250...everything i've read suggests that swirls can be eliminated using the right products...i'm going to research some more...
07-13-2011 | 02:21 AM
#19
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
From: Toronto
Re: detailing shops
I hear ya,
Let me know what you come up with. From my understanding is swirls can be concealed but never eliminated. The detailing guy said even if you repaint the car, getting swirls is as easy as going through a touchless car wash with high pressure water. Only other option.....silver or white car!
To tell you the truth, the only people that will notice them is the car owner. I hope you find a product. I looked into "Swirl X" by Meguins but turns out to be a gimmicky product.
If you really want to go all out, look into aggressive compounds but that has to be worked with by pros that know what they are doing.
Let me know what you come up with. From my understanding is swirls can be concealed but never eliminated. The detailing guy said even if you repaint the car, getting swirls is as easy as going through a touchless car wash with high pressure water. Only other option.....silver or white car!
To tell you the truth, the only people that will notice them is the car owner. I hope you find a product. I looked into "Swirl X" by Meguins but turns out to be a gimmicky product.
If you really want to go all out, look into aggressive compounds but that has to be worked with by pros that know what they are doing.
07-13-2011 | 05:40 PM
#20
Audi Forum - Posts like an A1
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14
From: TO
Re: detailing shops
Looks great! Thanks for sharing your pics and synopsis...big improvement.
I don't want to admit defeat yet and have to live with swirls if i have to pay $250...everything i've read suggests that swirls can be eliminated using the right products...i'm going to research some more...
I don't want to admit defeat yet and have to live with swirls if i have to pay $250...everything i've read suggests that swirls can be eliminated using the right products...i'm going to research some more...
The swirls were still present... From what I can see in the afters, it looks like he reintroduced swirls and left buffer trails.
Audi's in years past typically have a "hard" clearcoat, meaning it needs a more aggressive polish or a more time consuming process to remove defects.
However I was helping a friend out with a new model A5 and he was claying the car and the clear coat seemed quite soft, making it easier to marr/scratch the paint.
Here is a picture of an 2005 A4 Before and after being polished
* Note there are still a few deep scratches, but the swirls are gone...
BEFORE
BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER WAX
sORRY : Cant flip it...
