Whats the cost of an average detail?

T

technomafia

New member
Im taking my car to a Car Wash/Detail place that was highly recommended by a friend. Its definitely an upscale Car Wash/Detail spot. The owner put several million dollars into the place in the last couple years. Just for an exterior Clay, compound, polish, and wax he's charging $100. Isnt that cheap for all that work?
 
For just the exterior its a little low but nothing crazy assuming its a regular size car and where the location is.



Most likely hes using some all in one compound, polish, and wax product so hes prob just claying and than going to the AIO
 
I wish you well.



Out of the several million $$$ that the owner put into the place, I wonder what % of that he spent insuring that his staff really know how to polish paint.
 
gmblack3a said:
I wish you well.



Out of the several million $$$ that the owner put into the place, I wonder what % of that he spent insuring that his staff really know how to polish paint.
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I understand what your saying. But my friend who recommended it had a severly oxidized old mustang that this guy cleaned it up really well. I didnt see the end result myself, just going by this kids word. My car isnt nearly that bad just has fine scratches, swirls, and hazing. He says he can completely remove the scratches and hazing but the swirls will eventually come back. Thats the main reason why im taking it to him because I need someone to correct the scratches and hazing. Then he just told me to follow up with a wax every couple months which I have no problem doing on my own.
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
$100 would get you a simple wash and wax or seal from me and many other detailers. I think that price is crazy. Where are you located?
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The guy said it would take about 3 hrs. Is that an enough time to do a quality job?



im in jersey. Thats what alot of these big Car Wash/Detail places charge. I use to work at one about 10 years ago and thats what they would charge. Except they didnt clay your car.
 
WMD-DFW said:
Swirls shouldnt come back unless hes using a filler
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thats what I dont understand. How can you remove scratches but only fill swirls? He's defintely pretty positive he can remove the scratches, but said he'd only be filling the swirls I believe.
 
technomafia said:
The guy said it would take about 3 hrs. Is that an enough time to do a quality job?



im in jersey. Thats what alot of these big Car Wash/Detail places charge. I use to work at one about 10 years ago and thats what they would charge. Except they didnt clay your car.
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3hrs is enough time to do a 100dollar job
 
I would also doubt he put a million dollars into the place, the guy would need to do so much volume to recovery from that it would be really shoddy work or its justa little over the top
 
WMD-DFW said:
I would also doubt he put a million dollars into the place, the guy would need to do so much volume to recovery from that it would be really shoddy work or its justa little over the top
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im talking the whole facility. the car wash, the detail center, the oil change center. The actual car wash part that your car rides through is beautiful with all new equipment. Definitely the nicest ive ever seen and ive been into cars and cleaning them since I was a kid. The place is on a busy highway here in jersey with alot of people that have money living in the surrounding towns. Its actually right next to Bada Bing, the strip club that was in the Sopranos, lol
 
well the most important thing is getting some overspray off and scratches removed. So I guess its worth it



So whats the average cost guys? One professional detailer that I know for sure does great work cuz Ive seen the end result myself charges $600. I cant swing that now so thats why im not going to him, maybe in the future though. But is that price a little high for exterior only?
 
For a basic polish and wax is $120 for me, thats about 3hrs but if you got overspray and scratches (which I dont see how the scratches are going to come out and the swirls wont) would be more
 
technomafia said:
well the most important thing is getting some overspray off and scratches removed. So I guess its worth it



So whats the average cost guys? One professional detailer that I know for sure does great work cuz Ive seen the end result myself charges $600. I cant swing that now so thats why im not going to him, maybe in the future though. But is that price a little high for exterior only?
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I'm gonna guess that after 3 hours, 1.5-2 hrs of that being "polishing" nothing will be removed, only filled.



Scratches are usually the deepest defects (sans deep water spot etching) on a paint/clears surface. So if they are truely removing the scratches, they will cut into the clear deep enough to remove the other defects as well. Then at a minimum they will have to perform 2 more polishing steps to remove the smaller defects that the compounding step left behind.



$600 is average for an exterior correction from a skilled detailer who does not rely on fillers. True correction takes time.



I would suggest going to the skilled detailer and paying his rate for a wash, clay and one step polishing/LSP. Yes it will cost more then $100, but your paint won't incur: glaze, buffer trails, ect. Then when you are ready for the full treatment take it back to the skilled detailer.
 
It all depends on what you are wanting from it. He most likely will not get it swirl/defect free and probably will use an AIO product. As long as he knows enough of what he is doing and not do a lazy job, it will probably come out as you want it to, but I would not expect paying a 100 bucks will get you anywhere close to a full correction. I have a feeling that you will like the results at first but then down the road realize what you got for a 100 bucks. Whether or not you will be happy, we wont know.
 
You would be better off having this company just clay and wax the car. Anything more sounds like it's over their head and the results might even be worse than before when you look at it in the sun or after one wash.



John
 
technomafia said:
thats what I dont understand. How can you remove scratches but only fill swirls? He's defintely pretty positive he can remove the scratches, but said he'd only be filling the swirls I believe.
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It will cost you more than $100 for true swirl removal. More like starting at $250 and 5 hours for two polishing steps if the swirls aren't too bad.
 
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