Does it really cost $500 to detail your own car?

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mvolps22

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I realize you can spend a lot more than $500 but I'm only looking to detail my own car and I'm just wondering if it's worth it or not. I've never detailed a car before so I am starting off with buckets and a wash pad.

Here is my list of things I think I need to buy:
Power washer - $140
Foam Cannon - $30
HF DA Polisher - $60
Backing Plate - $16
CG citrus wash - $7
Megs D101 APC - $14
Speed master brush combo - $35
Famous detailing brush x2 - $20
Griot's rubber cleaner - $12
CarPro PERL - $13
Sonus Trim & Motor - $8
CarPro Iron X - $18
Grit Guards - $15
1Z wheel cleaner - $11
Auto tape - $17
Tire brush - $5
Optimum car wash - $10
6 LC pads - $35
Clay Kit - $24
M105 - $10
M205 - $10
Foam Pad brush - $12
Micro-restore - $10
Microfiber cloths - $50
P21S metal polish - $12
TOTAL = $594 - 15% promo = $505


Am I missing anything?
 
I would skip the pressure washer and foam cannon if you are just starting out. That knocks it down to 350ish. A regular hose with a bucket(s) and grit guards would benefit you a little bit more imo. They will help keep grit on the bottom of the bucket during follow up washes.

I would also add in a quality detailing spray. Such as McKee's 37 high gloss detail spray for finial wipe downs.
 
I see no wax or sealant on your list.....other than that, do rinseless washes, it will take at least $175 off that list.
 
Skip the pressure washer and put that money towards a Griots GG6.

Blow off the Meg polishes and go with HD Speed and top it with HD Poxy.

Get a dozen pads and some good mf towels.
 
Since this will be your first detail I'd suggest to simplify. Wash,clay and an all in one like HD Speed. The Megs D101 can be used to clean your tires,trim and wheels. If you enjoy the work then go ahead and get more
 
I would recommend you pick up something else other than M105 as you are starting out. It has a little learning curve. I would go with Meguiar's ultimate compound over M105 just to get your feet wet in using a compound.

As others have said, you an skip the foam cannon and pressure washer. I would put the money towards wheel woolies over the speed master brush.

You can knock off the Griots rubber product off your list since you have D101. Pick either of those car washes. No need for both. Optimum Car Wash would be a good choice.

Those should save you a few more dollars.
 
Perl can do what Motor Kote can do.
HF backing plates are junk, but better to get a 5" rather than a 6".
 
I would just say depends on your expectations and condition of your car. You don't have to go all out day one if its a new car


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To answer your question bluntly, Yes... I will just say it... I am also newerish and will be breaking that threshold soon. I wouldn't buy all at once. Just buy the basic car wash stuff (no pressure washer), sealant, detail spray, good microfiber towels. You can apply the sealant with a cheap $20 random orbital for now and learn (some may not like that idea but if your trying to start out cheap, its one way to go about it). Though getting the Groits 6 is a good idea. I would keep reading here and you will learn a lot and grow into the products you can associate with. If you buy all this stuff now you will end up buying different brands of the same product because you found something different, this is where it get expensive.
 
polisher
backing plate
medium cut pad
polishing pad
compound
polish
sealant
onr
grit guard
big red sponge
polish removal towels
drying towels
pearl if you must
IronX
clay towel

Onr can be used to wipe down the interior
 
Yes....it can be maybe more...maybe less.

I just did my own, I guess you could call it a paint correction to some degree. I already had a pressure washer. But I spent maybe close to 400. Foam cannon, Iron X, IPA, 14 different pads among two different brands, maybe 30 MF towels of all various flavors, clay bar kit, PC polisher, variety of compounds, polishes, waxes, detailer, 5" backing plate. Yea, easily close to 400/500. But the thing is, I now have enough supplies to do several more polishing's when the time comes.

If you have the patience its well worth the effort and experience.
 
RE: Does it really cost $500...?

That's like asking:
"You're going to spend how much
on equipment, etc. to climb Mt. Everest"?!?!

In other words:
Reaching the peak of detailing-perfection
for your (or another's) vehicle is not always
an inexpensive proposition.


Bob
 
The other thing to keep in mind is this is an investment in the future. Most of these products/tools will last you months if not years. It may sound like a lot of money up front ( and don't get me wrong it definitely is), but you have these tools and products for future use for another detail.

As many have said, start with the basics and grow from there. It took me two years before I jumped on board the DA bandwagon. I am glad I did, but I was able to maintain my vehicles without it. Wheel woolies are awesome, and definitely get some grit guards for your buckets.
 
The forum can help you better if you state A) what is your ideal budget B) what exactly you are trying to achieve? i.e - just a sparkling new car, restoring a beat up daily driver, or making show car perfect paint?

As someone who was in your position a few years ago, if you are looking for an entry level "kit" to get started then I would spend more on a quality machine like the Griots Griot’s Garage 6 Inch Random Orbital Polisher, and buy less of the other stuff. A lot of good products will do several jobs. Don't get caught up in the marketing hype from the product producers - there are many amazing, high quality products, but remember at the end of the day their job is to take the money from your wallet and put it into their wallet.
 
I would buy a different set of products but yes, $500 sounds about right by the time you add up everything. You'll then likely end up spending another $300 to $400 more in additional items that you will either want or find yourself needing.

Look at it this way, it's an investment in tools and products to protect and care for and better enjoy a large purchase. The reality is that on even a $20k $800 which goes a long way in terms of lasting is nothing. Heck, I have way more than that in my cabinet for our personal vehicles, but I bought it over time and have used them all over the past many years.

Welcome to the addiction.
 
1fastTbird said:
The forum can help you better if you state A) what is your ideal budget B) what exactly you are trying to achieve? i.e - just a sparkling new car, restoring a beat up daily driver, or making show car perfect paint?

As someone who was in your position a few years ago, if you are looking for an entry level "kit" to get started then I would spend more on a quality machine like the Griots Griot’s Garage 6 Inch Random Orbital Polisher, and buy less of the other stuff. A lot of good products will do several jobs. Don't get caught up in the marketing hype from the product producers - there are many amazing, high quality products, but remember at the end of the day their job is to take the money from your wallet and put it into their wallet.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies. I forgot to mention I do already have Klasse all-in-one and Klasse Sealant glaze. Would you still recommend the HD Speed/HD Poxy for paint correction over the Meguiar's products?

To answer your questions, I don't know what my ideal budget is, I guess whatever it takes to achieve my goal w/o being wasteful. As with most things I'm sure car detailing has diminishing returns where I can get 85% of the results for 50% of the budget...I think that is the sweet spot I'm after. For instance, someone above mentioned to just use D101 for my rubber cleaner and also that I don't need the sonus motor kote and CarPro Perl. That saves me $20 and I can still achieve the same results. My end goal is to have my new to me M3 looking fantastic with little paint defects and also to protect the paint from future swirl marks. I don't have the car yet and I've only seen it in pictures so I don't really know what shape the paint is in.

A few people are saying to get the GG polisher but I just don't see the value in it when I will use it once, maybe twice a year on my car.
 
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