Detailing

[KentBladeboy]

Can anybody recommend a top detailer in Kent/South East corner,  I am drawing a blank

Thanks

[08micsta]

Might I suggest you visit detailing world and ask there? Sure they could be more helpful.

Mike

[mr magoo]

Pardon my ignorance, what actually *is* detailing, what does it do, how is it different from standard cleaning?

Thanks

M

[vaughn]

try here makes good reading 
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php

[KentBladeboy]

Hi Mr Magoo

Typically most car valeters are just that clean and valet. Some are very good others just on the same level as a £5 car wash.

Detailing as a term really comes from Stateside, but the quality guys use this term, and they ultimately detail every part of the car, again theres good and bad, the best are 'anal' and very expensive but the result can be a finish far in excess of what the car was like even when delivered new. (It often comes with a number of paint issues and swirl marks etc). Time for prep can be from a few hours to a few days!!  The equipment and materials they use are probably not viable to the average owner to purchase, but I am looking for a real top level finish, so in for a pound in for a penny so too say.

I have been recommended a guy in Kent, and after a long discussion with him, feel pretty confident in what I am going to get, if anyone is interested then let me know and I will keep you updated as to the result and if it was worth the dosh.

[joesgti]

im detailing the outside of my car this weekend,  (semi detail)

[MikeGTI]

Pardon my ignorance, what actually *is* detailing, what does it do, how is it different from standard cleaning?

Thanks

M

I think what sets apart the guys that do detailing is the fact that they will attempt to correct your paintwork. As well as clean it and polish it etc. These guys will actually machine polish a fraction of a layer of paint or the polishes that sit on top of it off the car. These are were the swirls and scratches etc lie. They then use intensive polish/wax treatments etc to replace that protective layer they've just removed.

I may be incorrect but thats the way I've interpreted it.

Spend some time looking at some examples on the aforementioned website - some of their results really are amazing.

[KentBladeboy]

Mike

Yes totally agree, appears they take a couple of microns off the paint/lacquer level, to get the desired results, all sounds very high tech, but I have always wanted a finish that really looks something special, so I'll now find out if it really is the DB's or not

[MikeGTI]

Try and put some before and after pictures up so we can see the difference they've made.

[mr magoo]

Thanks all.

Is this something you can do at any point in a car's life or should you start early on? Ie, if I was to have the car 'normally' valeted / cleaned for the first year is there any point in detailing it later?

Once you start detailing it do you have to keep on re-doing it? And how often?

Thanks

M