Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches W. Great Lakes Professional Detail ?'s

I'm contemplating getting a complete professional detail done on my car for the spring. The only place I know about is a Turtle Wax carwash/detail center in Bloomingdale. Does anybody have a favorite detailer or know of some place they really recommend? I know Turtle Wax is a big name but I also want a place that will pay special attention to my car. Will Turtle Wax do that? I know they charge about $150 for a complete detail so that is about what I would be willing to spend somewhere else if it is recommended by one of you guys. I live in the Elgin area but commute to the Wheaton area so anything near that range of area's would be great. Please let me know what you all recommend. Thanks.

Adrian

I'm contemplating the same thing, and do not know who to really trust.

Did anyone ever get a professional detailing at Hollis Bros? Steve Jenkins used to work there.

Anybody?

do it yourself!!! the weather is nice/1 id help you guys out but you all live far from me

I guess if I had the time, the place, the equipment and the skills to do a professional quality job inside and out then I would but I don't. Surely you guys have heard rumors of reputable places?

Delta Sonics? I only know of places near me, which is far from Dundee.

Theres a place over by me that i have been going to for years. They clean everything. All for 120. I would recomandend them to anyone. Its called Randys auto clean. its over by 6 corners

I have a very good piece of advice on this,do it yourself. im dead serious, sure a detailer knows whats goin on, and will do it quick, but ive seen alot of places mess up. Maybe not right after but 1 or 2 months after i see swirl marks poor buffering, etc.. i ve seen the same place do a great job on one car and a bad on the other. If i were you, id do what i did, take the 150 bucks or whatever and buy the cleaners and wax yourself. itll prob cost no more than 80 bucks for everything top of the line. it will take time and extra muscle, but it will look good. just clay it, then use a paint cleaner, then polish then wax(not all has to be done the same day). zymol is good, people on here think zaino is better, but there both good. and the buffer thing is overrated. definetely overrated, thats where the detailers mess up, its not easy to do, and usually not neccesary.as far as a good detail shop, i dont know. ive always done it myself, and it looks very good.

lmfao i know the place they are great, thats where my brother took his porcshe be4 he wrecked it.

agree with BIGS!!! I have never used a buffer on my car...it's black. I started the first few years with Meguiars products. Lately I've tried Zaino...it's a good product, espcially when combined with a good 3M product. I washed it at least twice a week in the sping/summer/fall, always did a quick polish job after that, then full detail once a month. Washing included vaccuming as needed, leather polish on the seats and cleaning the engine. Every spring I totally clean the ENTIRE car, underside included.

A couple of quick tips...

1. always use good quality towels to dry your car, only made is the USA 100% towels, never cheap china towels that say they are 100% cotton and aren't. When drying, dry everywhere...Door sills, under the hood, the trunk lid area...EVERYTIME YOU WASH THE CAR DO THIS!! This is crucial to maintaining good looks.

2. Never wash your car in the sun, if you really have to make sure you only do a section at a time and rinse the WHOLE car after each section. Once complete with washing and rinsing, take the nozzle off the and let the water run over the entire car starting with the top. This will leave less water on your car making it easier to dry.

3. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wash/dry/polish/wax your car using the circular motion. This is the number 1 cause of swirls marks. Use long straight strokes. Up and down on the sides of the car & back and forth on the top surfaces. Yes it's a little more of a pain in the a** but the results are stunning. Basically the idea is to go with the lines of the car.

4. NEVER LET ANYONE touch your car...period. Don't let the dealer/mechanic touch your car, make sure you always tell them never touch the paint job. Park your car away from everybody. If dust in on your car and someone wipes thier hand on it or brushes up against it, they just scratched your paint.

If there are any doubts about the above statements, ask the people at Chicago CEG who have seen my car in person. It's not 5 years old and still looks new!

I could go on forever about washing/cleaning car tips. If anyone wants a more detailed version, just ask.

rainshdw