dealer prep

[Jimble]

I'll let my dealer do their thing and i'll give it a full detail when i get it home, i trust my dealer just to get the muck off.

Just out of interest, is anyone else paying their car detailer to do this for them or are you all doing it yourselves?  Just interested to know what you're paying.  Me, its £175 and he will do 2 separate coats and this includes the outside and all of the inside (seats, carpets, mats).  Plus he will make the car sparkle - and you can't put a price on that! 

If thats for a full machine polish then that seems like a good price, if all he's doing is cleaning and waxing then it's a bit steep.

[CraigW]

Just out of interest, is anyone else paying their car detailer to do this for them or are you all doing it yourselves?  Just interested to know what you're paying.  Me, its £175 and he will do 2 separate coats and this includes the outside and all of the inside (seats, carpets, mats).  Plus he will make the car sparkle - and you can't put a price on that! 

I would be really interested to hear what the average price is for a private detail. The websites I've been on none of them disclose any prices which is a bit frustrating

[matchboy]

I'll let my dealer do their thing and i'll give it a full detail when i get it home, i trust my dealer just to get the muck off.

Just out of interest, is anyone else paying their car detailer to do this for them or are you all doing it yourselves?  Just interested to know what you're paying.  Me, its £175 and he will do 2 separate coats and this includes the outside and all of the inside (seats, carpets, mats).  Plus he will make the car sparkle - and you can't put a price on that! 

If thats for a full machine polish then that seems like a good price, if all he's doing is cleaning and waxing then it's a bit steep.

No, it's the works. He'll spend hours on it - so I don't have to!!

[dubber36]

I asked my dealers not to screw on my plates, rather stick them on instead. It's OCD, but I'd prefer if they didn't drill holes in my bumpers (and they'd probably not place the screws as "evenly" as I would) even if no one ever sees the holes 

I would ask for them to be stuck on, but then remove them and drill them myself at home. The issue that I have with stuck on number plates is that you can't easily take them off to clean behind.

I had no option but to stick the rear one on my Passat tho'. There are captive nuts in the tailgate, but if the plate was bang on central, the fixing screws would have been half on, half off a letter.

[monkeyhanger]

I asked my dealers not to screw on my plates, rather stick them on instead. It's OCD, but I'd prefer if they didn't drill holes in my bumpers (and they'd probably not place the screws as "evenly" as I would) even if no one ever sees the holes 

I would ask for them to be stuck on, but then remove them and drill them myself at home. The issue that I have with stuck on number plates is that you can't easily take them off to clean behind.

I had no option but to stick the rear one on my Passat tho'. There are captive nuts in the tailgate, but if the plate was bang on central, the fixing screws would have been half on, half off a letter.

That's more OCD than Sheldon Cooper!  Don't know anyone who's ever removed a numberplate to clean behind it.

[JoeGTI]

I remember seeing a neighbour doing it years ago and thought he was mental but I'm probably not far off him myself these days. Not quite that bad though 

[Sootchucker]

Sorry, what's wrong with removing your number plate to clean behind it ?

I do it all the time.

 

[allycat45]

Just out of interest, is anyone else paying their car detailer to do this for them or are you all doing it yourselves?  Just interested to know what you're paying.  Me, its £175 and he will do 2 separate coats and this includes the outside and all of the inside (seats, carpets, mats).  Plus he will make the car sparkle - and you can't put a price on that! 

I would be really interested to hear what the average price is for a private detail. The websites I've been on none of them disclose any prices which is a bit frustrating

I have come across this guy who offers New Car Protection detailing in and around Yorkshire. His website quotes £210 for a full clean, sealant, wax and interior as well. I haven't used him yet or even contacted him, but am thinking about it if I ever actually receive the mythical GTI I ordered ! Certainly sounds like he will take more care and do a better job than a quick dealer applied sealant like Supaguard for about the same price that they quote (even though you can knock them down on the price or even get it thrown in)

http://www.reflectdetailing.com/car-valeting-doncaster/new-car-protection/

[CraigW]

This is my plan for when the new car arrives and I'd be interested in people's thoughts.

First of all I have spoken to the dealer and asked them not to hand wash the car so they are going to jet wash it and leave it at that. My understanding is that there will be some residue left on the car just through all the protective sheets that were on it.

When I get it home my plan/thoughts are

1) Hose car down initially
2) Hand wash using the two bucket method with lambswool mit and Meguiars gold class shampoo
3) Hand dry using microfibre cloths
4) Iron-X the entire car to remove any iron particles and any possible left over residue
5) Re-wash car
6) Use Gtechniq C2V3 to seal the entire car and the wheels
7) Still debating this stage - possibly wax car with Dodo Juice Diamond White but not sure if this is necessary

My only plan for the inside of the car at the moment is Gtechniq smart fabric on the cloth seats

Does this look okay or is there a fatal flaw in the plan? I'm not particularly keen on claying the car as I've never done it before and wouldn't want to make a mess of it. I'm hoping the Iron X will be enough. I could also use snow foam but what are benefits of this compared to hand washing or is it just another stage?

Thanks

Craig     

[Buck]

This is my plan for when the new car arrives and I'd be interested in people's thoughts.

First of all I have spoken to the dealer and asked them not to hand wash the car so they are going to jet wash it and leave it at that. My understanding is that there will be some residue left on the car just through all the protective sheets that were on it.

When I get it home my plan/thoughts are

1) Hose car down initially
2) Hand wash using the two bucket method with lambswool mit and Meguiars gold class shampoo
3) Hand dry using microfibre cloths
4) Iron-X the entire car to remove any iron particles and any possible left over residue
5) Re-wash car
6) Use Gtechniq C2V3 to seal the entire car and the wheels
7) Still debating this stage - possibly wax car with Dodo Juice Diamond White but not sure if this is necessary

My only plan for the inside of the car at the moment is Gtechniq smart fabric on the cloth seats

Does this look okay or is there a fatal flaw in the plan? I'm not particularly keen on claying the car as I've never done it before and wouldn't want to make a mess of it. I'm hoping the Iron X will be enough. I could also use snow foam but what are benefits of this compared to hand washing or is it just another stage?

Thanks

Craig 

Craig

I would snow foam first and allow to dwell. This will help shift any heavier dirt/residue

Iron x will be key especially on white as there's likel to be fallout on the car. I would do this after rinsing off the snow foam then wash using the 2BM (remember separate bucket full for the alloys and tyres!)

If you are asking the dealer not to prep your may find wax residue and also marks on the paint/glue residue from the edges of the protective film.

Gtechniq C2 is a great sealant so that's a good choice (I'd take the wheels off and do both sides but that's my OCD!)

I wouldn't wax as this doesn't IMO add to the finish and wax is more dirt attractive than sealant alone.

Just top up after each wash with a spray of gtechniq s quick detailer to keep it