My First "Professional" Detail (Picture Heavy)

[imported_Jonnyboy]

Hello all,



I have been detailing cars for over 20 years. Mostly for fun or for family and friends. Never for money.



Recently I decided to start a part-time business detailing cars. This was my first.



I definately learned a lot about what I had and didn't have......Both in skill and materials



It took me almost 12 hours. Most of my time was spent on the interior. It was trashed. The car only had 40,000 miles on it. The clear coat and paint were in pretty good condition even though it had not been washed since they got the car.



Here is a breakdown of what I used:



Wheels & Wheel Wells



Amazing Roll Off -- tires and wheel wells

Meguiar's Wheel Brightner -- wheels

Meguiar's Hyper Dressing -- tires (light coat)

Griot's Undercarriage Spray -- wheel wells



Wash



Dawn Dishwashing Soap



Engine



Amazing Roll Off

Dressed with 303 Aerospace Protectant



Carpets & Upholstery



Folex -- spot treatment

Woolite 10:1 -- Cleaning

Bissell



Interior and Door Jams



Meguiar's APC+ 4:1

Plastic treated with 303

Odoban (smell on inside of car)

Alcohol & Water 50/50 for windows

Also treated all of the rubber seals with 303



Paint



Meguiars 205 w/Orange CCS pad -- 2 coats

Klasse AIO w/White CCS pad -- 2 coats

Collinite 845 w/Grey CCS pad -- 2 coats



Black Plastic on trunk



I tried everything to bring it back. I ended up having to use Black Wow. I know it won't last for very long, but at least it looks good. (any ideas would be great.) Just so you know I tried "Showroom", Forever Black, Klasse AIO, and 303.











BEFORE PICTURES:

AFTER PHOTOS

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..... give me any advice you have on techniques, products, pictures, anything! Thank you for looking! Jonathan

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

sorry ........ I meant "they"

 

[TLMitchell]

Looks like a pretty good turnaround on a piggy vehicle. Good product selection, good results. I'm surprised you got it done in only 12 hours.

Black Plastic on trunk



I tried everything to bring it back. I ended up having to use Black Wow. I know it won't last for very long, but at least it looks good. (any ideas would be great.) Just so you know I tried "Showroom", Forever Black, Klasse AIO, and 303.

Not sure what you mean by "trunk". The only black plastic I see is the cowling under the wipers. Black Wow can surprise you with it's longevity. I've had superb results with mutiple applications. Best results when the material you're trying to restore is absolutely clean. BW seems to get better after a wash so I give it a light wash between applications. Not as easy to do with a one-shot detail as it is with something that's sitting in your garage. It's still my go-to for distressed pebble-grain black. I've heard good things about PB's Trim Restorer but haven't used it personally.



:goodjob



TL

 

[rrufast]

Looks much better than before.. no doubt about it...



How in the world do people let their cars get THIS nasty inside? Mine is never crystal clean, but geez, the seats in this were disgusting...



Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how people let their vehicles get this bad.. OTOH, it's good they do or there'd be no need for people like is... LOL

 

[sacdetailing]

how much did you chage for this nice detail?

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

Looks like a pretty good turnaround on a piggy vehicle. Good product selection, good results. I'm surprised you got it done in only 12 hours.









Not sure what you mean by "trunk". The only black plastic I see is the cowling under the wipers. Black Wow can surprise you with it's longevity. I've had superb results with mutiple applications. Best results when the material you're trying to restore is absolutely clean. BW seems to get better after a wash so I give it a light wash between applications. Not as easy to do with a one-shot detail as it is with something that's sitting in your garage. It's still my go-to for distressed pebble-grain black. I've heard good things about PB's Trim Restorer but haven't used it personally.



:goodjob



TL

Thank you! The "trunk" part was this long plastic piece that sat on top of the rear bumper to protect it while you load the trunk. It was completely oxidized. I have not tried the poor boys stuff either. I have a 99 4runner with the same problem. I don't know how to fix the oxidized trim. That is why I have so many products to use. :chuckle: Thank you for the help!

 

[twisted007]

not a bad job..

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

Looks much better than before.. no doubt about it...



How in the world do people let their cars get THIS nasty inside? Mine is never crystal clean, but geez, the seats in this were disgusting...



Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how people let their vehicles get this bad.. OTOH, it's good they do or there'd be no need for people like is... LOL

It was sooooo bad! :soscared: I couldn't believe it. I was just glad the outside was in fairly good shape...... I don't get it either

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

how much did you chage for this nice detail?

I did not know how much to charge, or how much I will charge. How much are you supposed to charge? :nixweiss



She paid me $250. Too much? Too little???? :help:

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

not a bad job..

Thank you!! :grinno:

 

[sacdetailing]

I did not know how much to charge, or how much I will charge. How much are you supposed to charge? :nixweiss



She paid me $250. Too much? Too little???? :help:

wow thats actually pretty damn good

 

[nonsensez9]

Thank you! The "trunk" part was this long plastic piece that sat on top of the rear bumper to protect it while you load the trunk. It was completely oxidized. I have not tried the poor boys stuff either. I have a 99 4runner with the same problem. I don't know how to fix the oxidized trim. That is why I have so many products to use. :chuckle: Thank you for the help!

there's a few threads regarding use of a heat gun on the trim. here's a couple of them http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/126518-favorite-trim-detailer.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/126213-heat-gun-faded-plastics.html

 

[rescuenut10]

nice job. I'm not sure how people can get there cars to get that bad. I like the lettuce in cup holders.

 

[tssdetailing]

I did not know how much to charge, or how much I will charge. How much are you supposed to charge? :nixweiss



She paid me $250. Too much? Too little???? :help:

Incredible job! Reminds me of my first pro gig. a trashed BMW 3 series. look like it had been off roaded and the interior was smoked in like 2 packs a day with ash EVERYWHERE. Time spent on it was agonizing and i left there saying "i need this...and this...and this....and to learn how to do this...."



two little! $350 minimum-that was a BIG truck!!!



Did you polish the paint by hand? take that $250 and GET A FLEX 3401!

 

[tssdetailing]

nice job. I'm not sure how people can get there cars to get that bad. I like the lettuce in cup holders.

it's a chick thing, i can attest to that. My wife's cars have allways been ill kept.

 

[sparklescarwash]

looks pretty good I think 250 dollars was very expensive. I do this for a living and the most we could of charged was 150

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

Incredible job! Reminds me of my first pro gig. a trashed BMW 3 series. look like it had been off roaded and the interior was smoked in like 2 packs a day with ash EVERYWHERE. Time spent on it was agonizing and i left there saying "i need this...and this...and this....and to learn how to do this...."



two little! $350 minimum-that was a BIG truck!!!



Did you polish the paint by hand? take that $250 and GET A FLEX 3401!

Thanks for the kudos! I think a Flex is my next purchase. There have been many jobs I could have used just a little more cut. The PC 7424XP is an amazing machine, but even with the most aggressive pads and polish it doesn't take off or fix everything..... It would be nice to have as backup. :think2

 

[dnadrifter]

looks pretty good I think 250 dollars was very expensive. I do this for a living and the most we could of charged was 150

Not in the detail business, but have always wondered how folks make money spending so much time on the cars, and thinking about what the average person will pay.



He spent 12 hours doing the detail. At $150 that would have been under $15/hr without even considering the products used.

 

[imported_Jonnyboy]

Not in the detail business, but have always wondered how folks make money spending so much time on the cars, and thinking about what the average person will pay.



He spent 12 hours doing the detail. At $150 that would have been under $15/hr without even considering the products used.

Yea, I think your right. $150 is too low. There was quite a bit of time spent + materials. I don't think it would be worth it.

 

[sparklescarwash]

Well I did not mean to offend any body but I am frome tennessee I guess our rates ar a little different. We get 150 process remove seats carpet if needed most of the time not becaus we have a comercial grade extractor clean vents seat tracks door panels steam door jams engine every thing clay buff wax paint fender wells. Like I said not trying to be rude at all I just did not take into consideration that were your frome prices may be higher