Hey fellow Motorers.

I wash my MINI regularly but want to get a REALLY GOOD detailing. What are the top two or three things that signal you got a really good, quality detail job and your money was well-spent?

Thanks for sharing!

John
DrivingMyMINI
www.DrivingMyMINI.blogspot.com
@DrivingMyMINI

 

Well if it needs a claybar treatment (which it may if you have never done it) I would use the baggie test and see if it was done. Also I would look carefully at the finish under florescent light and make sure any swirls (if there were any) were removed.

 

Thanks for the info! BTW...SWEET MINI you ordered!

 

You are in the right play ground. Just spend a weekend wading thru Detailing 101 paying special attention to the teachings of Octaneguy/Richard Lin, the resident detailing guru. Also, visit his website at: http://www.showcardetailing.com/

 

That questions really depends on what you are prepared to spend. I run my own detailing business and say your only looking to spend $100 then you would prob only get a wash/wash and maybe an interior wipe down. if you have defects in the paint they will still be there. If you are looking for paint correction and agree to a price and the level of correction, then for instance if you pay for a full correction, i would expect the car to corrected at least 85% At least the car should of been washed correctly, clayed, iron x etc. IF this is done just feel the paint it should be very smooth unless there is oxidation in the paint.

 

okay, you got me.

What is the "baggie test"?

 

It's just using a thin baggie to test for contaminants in the paint - here is one description from a detailing site:

The Plastic Baggie Test

Sounds funny, I know, but don’t discount the practice just because it involves a sandwich bag. Here’s what you’ll need: your hand, a clear plastic bag (preferably those thin ones that don’t have the ability to close) or a piece of cellophane, and your car.

1. Place your hand inside the baggie or on-top of the cellophane.
2. Gently (!) glide your hand and plastic across your car’s paint.
3. Analyze what you are feeling. Do you feel little bumps that you can’t see? Is the surface perfectly smooth?
4. Determine if you need to clay. If you felt bumps, it’s time.

So what are the bumps, you ask? Typically when you do the plastic baggie test, what you feel are airborne contaminants (debris) that have been embedded into your paint. These contaminants are usually microscopic, which is why this 10 cent test works so well. Things like sap, rock shards, dust and pollen all can get embedded into your paint’s porous clear coat; and the best way to remove them before they end up causing scratches, swirls, and holograms? Claying. Give the test at try, your mind will be blown, and your car will thank you.

 

What Jake said is correct, but you can just glide your hand across the paint to see if it needs claying. If you have never clayed the paint before it will defiantly need doing. its the same as paint a car without wiping the dust off, your basically waxing the cars paint but there is still contaminants on the paint so it will not last as long. I also suggest trying Iron X or another type of iron remover. The product is great for removing iron particles.

 

Thanks everyone (and thanks for explaining the Baggie test (I didn't want to admit I wasn't familiar with it...☺).

 

Baggie test is a good one to see if you got a good detail. Thats a solid way to test for surface contamination

also look for wax or polish in the body seams or around the trim

most people clean the door jambs because that is obvious. check your gas cap area. Real **** guys like myself get in there with all purpose cleaner and little brushes

 

Really **** guys wouldn't have let it get that bad in the first place.


I'll bet you winced every time you had to open that to fill 'er up.

 

definitely not mine. that was for a client. in my tacoma you could rest your sandwich in there its so clean

 

That is exactly what I thought but I couldn't resist the implied barb.