[Woody80]

I was walking past a local who was machine polishing their car the other day and asked for tips as the car was gleaming, I mean seriously shiny. He said he details as a sideline and has quoted £120 to do my Le Mans Blue E91 which includes snow foam prewash, 2 bucket wash, wheels, clayed, machine cut, machine polish, hand wax and detail spray. Estimated 8-9 hours of work. That sounds like superb value to me?

Is this the bargain it sounds like? Really want rid of the swirls and want it to gleam!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by Woody80

I was walking past a local who was machine polishing their car the other day and asked for tips as the car was gleaming, I mean seriously shiny. He said he details as a sideline and has quoted £120 to do my Le Mans Blue E91 which includes snow foam prewash, 2 bucket wash, wheels, clayed, machine cut, machine polish, hand wax and detail spray. Estimated 8-9 hours of work. That sounds like superb value to me?

Is this the bargain it sounds like? Really want rid of the swirls and want it to gleam!

Sounds like a bargain to me,I paid just short of double that 2 yrs ago.

I could well have been mugged though.

[gman3msport]

Good price that mate, normal is around the 300 to 500 depending on what work and products they use.

[Kerr]

It is easily 8-9 hours to do all of that, if machine cut means correction, more than likely more plus materials.

£120 is exceptionally cheap, but question is if he is any good?

[Ajerthan]

I was quoted £150 for hand polish and near £500 for machine polish by Arif @ Rainbow Car Wash next to Ace. Proper job though.

Your prices seem incredibly cheap.

Will I be stupid to pay my quoted prices or is that normal.

[dmt335d]

Does sound quite cheap. Have a good close look at his car first, you don't want him to 'cut' too much.
Is he on detailingword?

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by Kerr

It is easily 8-9 hours to do all of that, if machine cut means correction, more than likely more plus materials.

£120 is exceptionally cheap, but question is if he is any good?

He does call it correction service. I have to say his car is really glistening. He's coming over tonight to have a proper look at the paintwork so I'll let you know what he says.

Does seem remarkably cheap from what I've seen via google.

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by dmt335d

Does sound quite cheap. Have a good close look at his car first, you don't want him to 'cut' too much.
Is he on detailingword?

I'll have a look to see if he is. I will also ask what products he'll use.

[windymissile]

Seems like a good price. I'm paying double but having the ceramic protection added. Its a taking 4 days. What will I do without my car for 4 days?!?!
Check out detailing world . Co . Uk.
WM

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by Ajerthan

I was quoted £150 for hand polish and near £500 for machine polish by Arif @ Rainbow Car Wash next to Ace. Proper job though.

Your prices seem incredibly cheap.

Will I be stupid to pay my quoted prices or is that normal.

The £500 from OTRC is more like 4 days of solid work though including products which cost almost the £100 the OP is quoting. It's a different level of service which is why he often has Bentleys, Maseratis, Ferarri, GTR's and porches in the detailing bay

HOWEVER

For what was quoted - if his car looks great I'd say go for it. Just be wary of whether he's doing things like taping up all the plastics and really taking the time. Also ask for some 50/50 shots of his work. Look for polish residue and burns in the plastic, and get an LED torch over the car he's done already to look for imperfections.

The price is great but if someone "goes to town" they an easily ruin your car. A full respray is £2k. Think about it.

Rgds
Dave

[creepy coupe]

I'd try body shops, as in my experience they are cheaper that these rip-off valeting firms. I was quoted £120 for a full machine polish to remove swirl marks on the 635d.

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I'd try body shops, as in my experience they are cheaper that these rip-off valeting firms. I was quoted £120 for a full machine polish to remove swirl marks on the 635d.

Right - but it's a totally different job. It's the layers of wax, glaze etc applied by hand after the machine polish, the full clay before the machine polish etc that cost you - but it's that which stops the swirl marks coming back the second you introduce the concept of rain to the car.

It's a different price as it's a different service - the results of a full valet will last much longer. not saying some companies don't overcharge but you simply can't compare what you get with the two options

[Bomber]

Got an email last week form my local BMW bodyshop containing the following

Full Machine Polish
Series 1 & 3 £120 usual price £180
5,6,7 and all X’s £150 usual price £225

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by MEGA

For what was quoted - if his car looks great I'd say go for it. Just be wary of whether he's doing things like taping up all the plastics and really taking the time. Also ask for some 50/50 shots of his work. Look for polish residue and burns in the plastic, and get an LED torch over the car he's done already to look for imperfections.

The price is great but if someone "goes to town" they an easily ruin your car. A full respray is £2k. Think about it.

Rgds
Dave

I'll have a proper chat with him later then. Think he's doing this as a part time looking to go full time occupation. Seems like a decent bloke from when I chatted to him before.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by MEGA

Right - but it's a totally different job. It's the layers of wax, glaze etc applied by hand after the machine polish, the full clay before the machine polish etc that cost you - but it's that which stops the swirl marks coming back the second you introduce the concept of rain to the car.

It's a different price as it's a different service - the results of a full valet will last much longer. not saying some companies don't overcharge but you simply can't compare what you get with the two options

Thing is Dave,the OP's original quote covered all of that for £120. I can't see who a full days work is worth over £350. The products cost next to nothing, as proved by my brother in-law when he was a car cleaner. The Diamond Bright kits cost the dealer £35 which they charged out at £350 for a Jag sized car.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Woody80

I'll have a proper chat with him later then. Think he's doing this as a part time looking to go full time occupation. Seems like a decent bloke from when I chatted to him before.

Ask him if the products he uses contain fillers and if so why? If it's a proper job he shouldn't need to use them.

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Ask him if the products he uses contain fillers and if so why? If it's a proper job he shouldn't need to use them.

I'll get a product listing from him and do some research/forum trawling!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Woody80

I'll get a product listing from him and do some research/forum trawling!

I treated an area on my car at the weekend which had lots of swirl marks. I used scratch X which contains loads of filler and the results were a transformation. But I know it’s a mask and needs doing properly.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Thing is Dave,the OP's original quote covered all of that for £120. I can't see who a full days work is worth over £350. The products cost next to nothing, as proved by my brother in-law when he was a car cleaner. The Diamond Bright kits cost the dealer £35 which they charged out at £350 for a Jag sized car.

Obviously at £350 it won't be a sideline job.

So firstly the person is going to be paying all his taxes, will have to have insurance to be covered for damage too.

He will have to purchase a lot of gear. Van, pressure washer, paint thickness gauges, lamps, machine polisher plus all of the cleaning stuff.

Obviously what cleaning products you use can see massive variance on price.

I do agree though that many of the detailer do charge too much.

Here is my local detailers price list and you are from £600+VAT for an enhancement. Proper correction is from £900+VAT and takes days.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...e-options.html

They get loads of trade up here.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Kerr

Obviously at £350 it won't be a sideline job.

So firstly the person is going to be paying all his taxes, will have to have insurance to be covered for damage too.

He will have to purchase a lot of gear. Van, pressure washer, paint thickness gauges, lamps, machine polisher plus all of the cleaning stuff.

Obviously what cleaning products you use can see massive variance on price.

I do agree though that many of the detailer do charge too much.

Here is my local detailers price list and you are from £600+VAT for an enhancement. Proper correction is from £900+VAT and takes days.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...e-options.html

They get loads of trade up here.

I had two quotes of £350 to come around my house and do the job. They don't need a unit and it's my leccy.

£900 is fine on a supercar. they charge what they can get away with and I don't blame them TBH. Doesn't make it value for money though.

[$pringy]

Bargain

[Axelf]

Good price its costing me £300 to have mine done and Gtechnic put on... getting discount off my wifes