imported_Detailing Technology
New member
2007 Mercedes R63 AMG
2,134 miles
Black / Tan
This vehicle was about 5 months old and had been put through the automatic car wash weekly since purchased. The owner, a five vehicle customer, couldn’t stomach his wife abusing the car any longer. This was not the car we had on the calendar; he just saw the car under his garage lighting and became ill. The original vehicle, a Gallardo Spyder, was loaned to a client for the weekend. He left the car with me the night before and I got going at 7:00am. The car was solid black and required quite a bit of polishing to remove the nylon bristled broom induced marring from the local car wash. I used my typical schedule of products and procedures.
I build a schedule like the one below prior to accepting and final quoting any work. I share it with the owner so we all know and agree what is going on and when. I will be setting up a web-cam so the owners of the vehicles can login and check progress. (I just moved in to this location and really don’t expect people to login, its just marketing over-kill) Following a clock helps me keep motivated and knowing if I am I the green or the red in my quoting.
INTERIOR: PROCESS – 30 minutes
Blow out debris using compressor
Vacuum / Vapor clean interior
Spot clean with degreaser 20:1 and brush
Dress interior w/ CG Silk Shine and microfiber mitt
Dress leather with Zaino Z-10 and microfiber mitt
Clean windows with Pro-Detailer and waffle weave
WASH: PROCESS – 1 hour
Foam car with Dawn, soak for 5 minutes. Wash using grout sponge
Spray wheels /wells/ undercarriage with degreaser clean with brush and microfiber mitt
Dry car using leaf blower
Clay entire car using Z-7 10:1 as lube
Foam car using Z-7, soak for 5 minutes. Wash with grout sponge
Dry with leaf blower and Pakshak ultra-soft waffle weave
Dress wheel wells, trim, and tires with silk shine and Z-16
POLISH: PROCESS – 2 hours 30 minutes
Tape trim
Polish car using Makita Rotary and 1:4 Optimum Compound / Polish mix (Blue Edge 2000 Wave)
Wipe down using 4:1 alcohol/water mix
Polish car using Porter Cable and Menzerna 106FF (Blue Edge 200 wave)
Wipe down using Z-6
Blow off debris with leaf blower
Clean windows w/ Pro-Detailer
WAX / FINISH / SEAL: PROCESS – 4 hours
Apply Z-5pro w/ ZFX allow 45 minutes to dry (entire car paint, glass, exhaust)
Remove w/ Pakshak microfiber
Blow off debris with compressor (low pressure)
Apply Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Apply Z5pro w/ZFX allow 45 minutes to dry
Remove w/ Pakshak microfiber
Remove Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Blow off debris with compressor (low pressure)
Pinnacle Souveran – panel by panel “spit shine� 2 times
Z-16 on tires – 2nd layer
I was extremely pleased with the results. The interior was basically new and the 106FF finished nicely. I had a few issues with the temperature in the garage and the Souveran, but a few sprays of Z-8 helped resolve the smearing. One thing to note is that this car is a monster in disguise as a mini-van; I believe it has 503HP and 465lb. /ft. of torque. I didn’t drive it other then in and out of my garage as the ground was wet from rain. I need a new car in August of 2008; you can bet this will be on the list.
I included a bottle of Z-8, Z-16, and 2 microfiber towels with the detail should the owner feel like doing some cleaning himself. The dealership which sold the car was going to charge $995.00 (I called to verify) to apply a paint sealant to the vehicle. My quote of $650.00 including a serious recondition was a bargain in comparison. I did spend about one hour longer than I wanted on the car, but this vehicle is BIG.
What seems to sell most jobs to my customers is the fact that I am not putting anything on the paint to hide or cover defects. I polish until the finish needs none of the Z5pro filling properties to be defect free.
A common question I receive is, “How long until it washes off�.
My answer, “I do not apply anything to your paint except near optically clear protection. It is massaged until restored to it's factory delivered state�.
Pictures to follow, I am at work and don’t a have the camera with me.
2,134 miles
Black / Tan
This vehicle was about 5 months old and had been put through the automatic car wash weekly since purchased. The owner, a five vehicle customer, couldn’t stomach his wife abusing the car any longer. This was not the car we had on the calendar; he just saw the car under his garage lighting and became ill. The original vehicle, a Gallardo Spyder, was loaned to a client for the weekend. He left the car with me the night before and I got going at 7:00am. The car was solid black and required quite a bit of polishing to remove the nylon bristled broom induced marring from the local car wash. I used my typical schedule of products and procedures.
I build a schedule like the one below prior to accepting and final quoting any work. I share it with the owner so we all know and agree what is going on and when. I will be setting up a web-cam so the owners of the vehicles can login and check progress. (I just moved in to this location and really don’t expect people to login, its just marketing over-kill) Following a clock helps me keep motivated and knowing if I am I the green or the red in my quoting.
INTERIOR: PROCESS – 30 minutes
Blow out debris using compressor
Vacuum / Vapor clean interior
Spot clean with degreaser 20:1 and brush
Dress interior w/ CG Silk Shine and microfiber mitt
Dress leather with Zaino Z-10 and microfiber mitt
Clean windows with Pro-Detailer and waffle weave
WASH: PROCESS – 1 hour
Foam car with Dawn, soak for 5 minutes. Wash using grout sponge
Spray wheels /wells/ undercarriage with degreaser clean with brush and microfiber mitt
Dry car using leaf blower
Clay entire car using Z-7 10:1 as lube
Foam car using Z-7, soak for 5 minutes. Wash with grout sponge
Dry with leaf blower and Pakshak ultra-soft waffle weave
Dress wheel wells, trim, and tires with silk shine and Z-16
POLISH: PROCESS – 2 hours 30 minutes
Tape trim
Polish car using Makita Rotary and 1:4 Optimum Compound / Polish mix (Blue Edge 2000 Wave)
Wipe down using 4:1 alcohol/water mix
Polish car using Porter Cable and Menzerna 106FF (Blue Edge 200 wave)
Wipe down using Z-6
Blow off debris with leaf blower
Clean windows w/ Pro-Detailer
WAX / FINISH / SEAL: PROCESS – 4 hours
Apply Z-5pro w/ ZFX allow 45 minutes to dry (entire car paint, glass, exhaust)
Remove w/ Pakshak microfiber
Blow off debris with compressor (low pressure)
Apply Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Apply Z5pro w/ZFX allow 45 minutes to dry
Remove w/ Pakshak microfiber
Remove Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Blow off debris with compressor (low pressure)
Pinnacle Souveran – panel by panel “spit shine� 2 times
Z-16 on tires – 2nd layer
Start Time 7:00am
Finish Time: 3:00pm
Total Time: 8 hours
Charge: $650.00
Finish Time: 3:00pm
Total Time: 8 hours
Charge: $650.00
I was extremely pleased with the results. The interior was basically new and the 106FF finished nicely. I had a few issues with the temperature in the garage and the Souveran, but a few sprays of Z-8 helped resolve the smearing. One thing to note is that this car is a monster in disguise as a mini-van; I believe it has 503HP and 465lb. /ft. of torque. I didn’t drive it other then in and out of my garage as the ground was wet from rain. I need a new car in August of 2008; you can bet this will be on the list.
I included a bottle of Z-8, Z-16, and 2 microfiber towels with the detail should the owner feel like doing some cleaning himself. The dealership which sold the car was going to charge $995.00 (I called to verify) to apply a paint sealant to the vehicle. My quote of $650.00 including a serious recondition was a bargain in comparison. I did spend about one hour longer than I wanted on the car, but this vehicle is BIG.
What seems to sell most jobs to my customers is the fact that I am not putting anything on the paint to hide or cover defects. I polish until the finish needs none of the Z5pro filling properties to be defect free.
A common question I receive is, “How long until it washes off�.
My answer, “I do not apply anything to your paint except near optically clear protection. It is massaged until restored to it's factory delivered state�.
Pictures to follow, I am at work and don’t a have the camera with me.
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