Need to prep car for sale!!! zip 92707

harvard4 · 04-29-07, 06:58

We need to post a stickie in this forum for detailers listings with the following info to minimize repeat questions, and will make it easier to get to know everyone:

1. Zip Codes Service
2. Services Specialized In/Services Offered
3. Pricing Menu
4. Availability/Hours of Operation
5. Common questions answered.
6. Types of Products Used.
7. Before and after pics if no website.

As for me:
I need to sell to fund my startup. 2003 MB E320 in Pewter Silver. Has light Swirls, a semi deep scratch by door handle, and on the hood, some damage from a thrown egg =(

Aside from that, it shouldn't be too bad.

I am right next to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Thanks!

OctaneGuy · 04-29-07, 11:38

If you can bring your Benz to my shop is in Placentia, I can help you out. Placentia (57/91) and isn't that far from you. Egg damage will need touch up as the shards of egg shells causes paint loss...no amount of buffing will fix that. Check out my shop and work at ShowCarDetailing

Samples of work can be seen here
Show Car Detailing - ShowCarDetailing

I use Meguiar's Professional Mirror Glaze for polishes and Prima Car Care for synthetic wax and maintenance. My zip is 92870 and I'm open Monday through Saturday, though next week I will be travelling to North Carolina for a national event.

harvard4 · 04-30-07, 01:05

How long will the process take? I'm assuming I'll have to wait at your location.

OctaneGuy · 04-30-07, 01:23

You can drop the car off and leave it overnight or you can wait. How long will it take? It depends on the condition, and that can't be determined until it's actually seen. If you want the swirls to be 100% or 99.9% gone, it will take more time. If you just want the paint to feel smooth as glass, have lots of gloss and reflection, and don't mind have some swirls still there, that will take less time. Do you need the engine to be detailed? Do you need work on the interior? How bad is it?

harvard4 · 04-30-07, 12:40

I will not be able to drop it off overnight. Engine does not need cleaning - nor does interior look bad. It's pretty new aside from the scratch/egg and light swirls.

I need it prepped for a private sale.

OctaneGuy · 04-30-07, 01:00

Well based on your description, the buffing part shouldn't take more than 2 to 3 hours including finishing with a coat of wax. Do you need it washed and clayed? That's about 1.5hrs in addition.

Scratch/egg repair is dependent on how long it takes for the touch up to dry before sanding. Of course, anyone can just put on touch up paint and be done with it, but I don't do that. In fact, it drives me nuts to see bad touch up paint especially on metallics. In most cases, no touch up looks better than bad touch up.

My process has two applications of touch up. First application is wetsanded down, and touchup is reapplied, and sanded down again, before being blended and buffed. The result is nearly seamless. That is assuming that the scratch can't be buffed or wetsanded out in the first place, but like I said, for an egg--you will have to add paint, not remove it, to make it look better.

If you've already got a buyer for the car, and you're not looking to try to increase the resale value of it by making it look better than it currently is, then it sounds like the priority is on what's cheapest and fastest, but if you don't have a buyer yet, and are concerned that these defects will diminish the potential value for a sale, then you need to decide then maybe doing a more quality job is in the cards.

Richard

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvard4

I will not be able to drop it off overnight. Engine does not need cleaning - nor does interior look bad. It's pretty new aside from the scratch/egg and light swirls.

I need it prepped for a private sale.

harvard4 · 04-30-07, 01:49

Thanks for your all your input! I suppose I will have to drop it off. I can't sell anything i'm not 100% happy with.

I'll call your shop to drop it off sometime this week.

harvard4 · 04-30-07, 01:50

btw, you guys wouldn't happen to have a decent camera on hand? =)

OctaneGuy · 04-30-07, 01:53

I shoot all my pix with a Nikon D70s DSLR. So no problem about documenting the car. As far as scheduling, can we make it for next week?? I'm jammed up right now as I said in my first reply that I'm leaving to North Carolina for a national car event on Wednesday, to return on Sunday (May 6)

harvard4 · 05-02-07, 01:25

i'll drop it off on Monday. mind if i set up my laptop and work from your shop? =) i would love to see your work in progress.

otherwise please direct me to a bookstore nearby =)

thanks! i'll shoot you a call or instant message when your back in town!

OctaneGuy · 05-02-07, 01:34

Monday is fine! Let's talk via PM for a couple of details regarding the paint. Please bring your laptop. I've got WiFi. Thanks!

Richard

harvard4 · 05-11-07, 10:11

Some finished pics from ShowCarDetailing.com.