Detailing/Valeting/paint mopping

[paulguitar]

Hello everyone,




I just wanted to get some thoughts on detailing and valeting.



As can be seen from the attached photo, my newly purchased 944 S2 has quite clearly visible fine scratches, I suppose black being the worst colour for showing this up. has anyone had any experience of paint 'mopping', or perhaps had an 'enhancement detail'? I want the car to look as perfect as possible, but have been quoted anything up to 10% of the car's purchase price, which just seems a silly amount to put into this.



Would a simple valet for 70 quid be the way to go, and can anyone give me an idea of what 'mopping' costs as an extra at the same time as a valet?


I am in Shrewsbury, also any suggestions as to a good place to go would be much appreciated.

[EL Gordo]

honestly, start yourself with a good wash followed by a decent paint cleaner ( hd cleanse or meguiars paint cleaner)

throw in another wash

then a clay bar to remove all the ingrained shite,

then another wash (lots of those in this process)
maybe try some swirl x in there after the clay

wash !

then a quality polish with a really good wax over the top !

meguiars 3 step is good, but I tend to use the cleaner , the polish then a zymol wax so more of a 2+1 step

I like to combine the meguiars stuff which works well but always try to finish with a zymol wax. I am currently trying autoglym super resin polish with zymol over and it works well.

also it is fun, gets you outa the house ! a sense of achievement and you will know your car better after a good 6 hour buff !
there is a bit of an initial outlay but it is worth it and the stuff you have bought will last and let you do it again and again

oh and try the before and after cigarette wrapper test to see just how clean it goes after a good proper clean and makes you smile

[EL Gordo]

oh and get as many old towels as you can get away with from the Mrs, wash them WITHOUT conditioner dry them and then stick em in the tumble dryer when you start the first wash of the car,

then designate 1 towel to each process,

so you have a paint cleaner off towel, a polish off towel and a wax off towel etc,

get them out of the tumbler, warm to commence each part of the buffy process. !

microfibers are hand for small area work but a good fluffy bath towel is great !

save yourself 70 quid and get some free exercise


http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

[JW590]

Your car must have come from the same dealer as mine. My reg is J561 CYF.

Came from Dutton-Forshaw in St. John's Wood, London.

[kongsodoken]

I had mine detailed after a re-spray....5 days woork at autodetox

rates as one of the best things I've done to the car

[paulguitar]

Thanks for the info Gordon, my issue though, is that I live in a development of an old school and my house is in the inner courtyard, making it impossible to actually wash any cars as I am miles from water and other facilities, so I am stuck paying someone else do it.


John, thanks for the info, very interesting. I noticed your 213.000 mile 944 S2 reference in your profile as soon as I started reading tipec posts, and I find that very encouraging! I would imagine you have been through most of the issues we will all have to 'look forward' to by now!

[EL Gordo]

bring it to dorset and I will do it !

[paulguitar]

Well, I will be at JMG end of May for their new owner inspection, if you want to get some 'free exercise'............


Should be nice and dirty from the trip too..........

[EL Gordo]

ah the other end of dorset!

[jabriel]

My black 944 was looking similar to yours last year.

I bought a dual action machine (Das 6 Pro) and various pads and polishes, wax, etc and detailed the car myself. See http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/.

They have a forum where you can get lots of advice if you're unsure of what products to buy or just call the company. They were certainly very helpful when I rang them. (I have no affiliation to the company, just a good experience of using them.)

No doubt a professional could do a better a better job but this is cheaper in the long run (after the second or third session) and more fun than paying someone else to do it.

[Sean Smallman]

There are a few things worth considering before you pay someone to paint correct your car.

It is usually the washing process that causes the damage. So unless you are going to use the two bucket method and a decent wash mitten you will be back where you started after a period of time.

There are only so many times you can have your car mopped with a rotary machine.

Dual action machines are easy to use and are much less aggressive than a rotary. The results are good enough to make it worthwhile and you can use the machine many times.

I have the same issue with my 4S. I kill the paintwork by cleaning the car quickly when on events or holiday. I then DA the car on average twice a year to make it look presentable.

I hope this helps.

[solomk1]

i am able to do paint rectification ...been working at vw for 18 months as a pdi paint rec man ...
worked at toyota car manufacturing in paint shop 17 yrs ..

167 k and many many car washes .were on my latest purchase ..

looking better now ...1 thing i see is no one recommends locking / sealing your paint post repair ..if you dont you have wasted your time ,also diminshing compounds are alot more work but on older paint deffo the way to go ..

dale ..





and this little beauty had been standing in a barn for ever ....

[solomk1]

Hello everyone,




I just wanted to get some thoughts on detailing and valeting.



As can be seen from the attached photo, my newly purchased 944 S2 has quite clearly visible fine scratches, I suppose black being the worst colour for showing this up. has anyone had any experience of paint 'mopping', or perhaps had an 'enhancement detail'? I want the car to look as perfect as possible, but have been quoted anything up to 10% of the car's purchase price, which just seems a silly amount to put into this.



Would a simple valet for 70 quid be the way to go, and can anyone give me an idea of what 'mopping' costs as an extra at the same time as a valet?


I am in Shrewsbury, also any suggestions as to a good place to go would be much appreciated.

If you want to send some more details pics to solomk1@hotmail.com. I will
Happily see what your options are .. And give you some tips