This is a write up from a car I did a few weeks ago.
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
Start Time 7:00am
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.
opcorn:
