Really depends on the paint, I would say 9 out of 10 times you need to claybar the car. In detailing you pay for what you get, if you want it done correctly then It takes time to do it right!

 

Apparently some guy/vendor that's addicted to detailing doesn't know. Seeing as how his base detailing package includes wax and polish but no claybar.

Edit: He charges $100 extra for claybar alone. Lol.

 

In terms of an exterior paint correction on the vehicle; The costs really reflects on the finish and level of restoration you are looking to achieve with said vehicle. The costs also reflects on the skill level of the Detailer, and if they are truly knowledgeable and not just a valet/ hack detailer offering a "wash and buff". If someone is charging you 80 dollars for a whole exterior correction, you have to think twice. I have seen cars "cleaned up" with buffer swirls left all over each panel because it was worked on by an untrained so called "professional". In this line of work, it REALLY matters on what you pay for what you get. Most people are not knowledgeable enough about automotive paint care and correction, so they give their trust in the detailer to know what they are doing. But in reality, the majority of detailers around also do not possess the proper knowledge on automotive paint care and correction even though they solely believe they do because they claim to have been doing it over XX amount of years.

What really reflects the price is what you, the customer, is seeking. Some customers would be completely satisfied with some work that I would be absolutely appalled with. I would get the vehicle inspected with the chosen automotive professional and get their opinion on how much care the paint requires and how much time will be spent. Some professionals offer set pricing for a standard sized vehicle or package, and some charge by the hour. The present condition of the vehicle will also reflect the pricing. The price is noticeably different from those professionals who are valued for their time and attention from those who just try to knock out as many cars a day in a shop doing the basic "buff and wax" routine. The price you are going to pay will reflect the level of perfection you seek and the knowledge of your professional.

Now with that said, if you are looking for the minimal paint correction process on your vehicle, then I would be estimating around $200 dollars as a start for a average sized sedan. Deeper scratches and heavier defects will of course require more correction and time, which in return will be at a higher cost.

I always tell everyone to NEVER let the dealership wash their car for one of those "complimentary" car washes if you care for your car. What seems to be routinely "complimentary", will actually inflict enormous amounts of damage to your car's exterior. Just a single bad wash is enough to undo 40 hours of work on the exterior of the car.

But the surface micro marring from using brushes to wash the car can be saved.


Every detailer/Automotive Exterior Specialist has their own set of procedures they practice in their work. The actual question should probably pertain to how meticulous and thorough your professional is, how much they are being paid for their time, and ultimately how heavily the exterior paint is infested with surface contaminants. If the surface of the paint feels like fine grit sandpaper, then it will definitely take a lot more time going over each section multiple times to remove most of those surface contaminants compared to a vehicle that is clay barred multiple times a year.

It is generally suggested that you clay bar your car twice a year and have it fully detailed annually, depending on the environmental conditions the vehicle is exposed to. Surface contaminants can be acquired daily, depending on the environment of your route. The longer you leave it untreated, the more it will build up and adhere to the surface slowing biting into each section of your car. Horizontal surfaces will have a lot quicker surface contaminant build up than vertical surfaces. In my practice, I would never put any LSP (Last Step Products ie. Sealants,Waxes) on a vehicles exterior without a clay step if my name is going on it.


He either is the definition of the hack detailer, or a bay area connoisseur that I have not yet met. If he offers exactly what you have stated in that order, "wax then polish", then that is harmful and appalling. Im sure hes not on here though, since we do not have such vendors.

 

LOL $100 for "extra" claybar? Not sure what that means? Basically with claybar, you keep going on one section until it is done...not a "once over" and then do it again. Pretty much meaning, if it doesn't feel like glass, you aren't done or you need a more serious correction.

I find that I usually only have to clay once a year and it is part of the full detail, but I also keep my paint very well maintained. The better you take care of it, the easier it is to keep it that way longer.

 

Personally if I don't need any correction done to remove swirls or whatnot I will do the detailing myself. I only clay twice a year, and instead of waxes I use sealants instead which also last me longer. Then again I'm pretty picky about paint swirling and micro scratches so I don't clay that often and I use a specific wash method. Didn't have the money to clear bra the front of my car when I picked up my WRX and I ended up paying for it with a fairly nicked up bumper due to road hazards, but I like to think I take pretty good care of the rest of the car.

 

So here's the basic service that particular detailer offers:

I don't see anything that would suggest a claybar would be done prior to the "single step polish" and wax applications.

Now for $100 more you get...

So $100 more and 2 hours of extra labor gets you an exterior claybar and an extra step of polishing.

Good deal or no? Lol

 

I go to Mickey's Auto Detail in East Oakland and they charge around $120 for clean in/out, claybar, and wax. Done in about an hour and a half, mostly because I go early on a Tuesday morning and 4-5 guys work on it at the same time.

Is it a Ferrari-level "correction?" No way. In my case it's also a car with barely 4000 miles on it so I don't need or have the cash to pay someone to detail it with a toothbrush and whale-chamois.

 

I just had my X5M detailed by resident i-clubber Drew at Auto Salon Works

Amazing job. He's located in the Belmont area on the peninsula.

He's now my go-to guy for detailing.

(you can see the magic he worked on my x5 on his site)

 

I hope you've read my post! Lol. As stated, it all depends on the customer. If you are satisfied and content with what you have invested your money in, then thats all that matters. The more or less knowledgeable you are about detailing will also define what you expect out of the work.

My standard car wash without any polishing, already takes at least 4 hours for an average sedan. Any polishing will start with at least 8 hours. And the price difference isn't huge either.

Just remember that paint correction is paint restoration and there is no respraying involved because that would pertain to body work. Paint is very thin and delicate, even from higher end manufacturers. There is only so much on the surface that you can fix, and there definitely is a point of no return. Some people invest in the appearance of their vehicle for protection in the long haul.

Id skip the chamois too. It is recommended to use a waffle weave drying towel or a super plush microfiber drying towel for the safest drying technique.

 

Yeah, I just mean that I'm in the boat of people that are happy with a decent job and not the sort of customer looking for absolutely zero swirl marks or evidence of any bad washes in the past. Maybe when I can garage-park it everyday and it's not my commuter car.

 

Honestly - I would consider $225 to be a bargin for that much work.

I know a Concour's level detailer that charges $450 for his basic interior/exterior package.
Of course the guy is also on contract for the Blackhawk museum so you can imagine his level of work is pretty insane.

 

There's gonna be a detail company up at BAM.

 

You're absolutely right about the customer's level of satisfaction being directly related to their knowledge of paint and detailing. I expect my detailer to have an extremely high degree of attention to detail and proficiency with the tools of the trade.

A hack detailer can absolutely DESTROY your paint in a matter of seconds with a polisher if they don't know what they're doing.

However finding a qualified person to detail your car is tricky, as there is no ASE type credentials for a detailer like there is for a mechanic.

 

True story, that is why the consistency of knowledgeable detailers out there is scarce. Automotive paint technology is still fairly new, even though it has remarkably advanced within the last decade and will continue to evolve as new chemical technology and products are created. To have a certified class or academy for this would be require a person to go to take classes for a long time. Although some big name brands do offer certified courses and workshops to learn how to use their chemicals properly, and share some family secrets/techniques. In order to provide confident and proper services to paying customers, a professional should owe it to themselves and their clients to keep up with todays ever evolving paint correction and protection technologies, and discoveries. At the very least they should know and understand how to use the specific products they utilize in their own detailing arsenal. There is the common knowledge that the general should know and there is the higher level detailed expertise. You would be surprised if not appalled by the level of misconception and misinformed "general knowledge" there is out there.

 

I can detail...I work for Aloha Detailing out here in Colorado but I'll be out there for the generic BAM time frame.

I won't be bringing a buffer but I will certainly have the right equipment for a wash, clay, and seal. I've been at this for 3 years now with someone who has done it for 20, so I do know what I'm doing. I've also done a fair share of members on here and SubaruForester.org, so they could vouch for me. PM me for details, I was charging $100 to do the exterior of a Forester and could do like 3-4 a day.

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