Just bought Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Kit

umi000 said:
Hmmm, three to four hours seems a bit... quick for all that.
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Totally agree. And it's not only the "speed": also the cost (Full Details starting at 125 USD)...

But if the OP thinks it's a good deal, let him: it's his paint...
 
Just got the phone call, Its done. Took him about 5 1/2 hours. I'll update with pictures after I pick it up, My ride is busy right now so it'll be a couple hours. I got references from a local forum saying this guy is the best in the area. I have complete faith in him.
 
Got good news and bad news.

Good news, He did everything he said he would do. He does one car at a time and has 2 other guys who help him out. All three work on the same car. He showed me what he uses to buff and its made specifically for car detailing, so no harsh compounds. He uses a dewalt buffer with a wool pad. The car finish is smooth and clear as glass. Some of the scratches came out, other scratches were too deep.



The bad news, The swirl marks are so deep that regular buffing won't completely remove them, I would need to take it elsewhere to have it wet-sanded.

Other than that, The car looks show-room new.

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Swirls are caused by the wool pad.... They're called holograms. In other words you went to a hack that is considered body shop status. He doesn't know how to polish. Polishing will bring the swirls out. You can't one step with a wool pad without leaving some kind of micro marring.
 
There are different grades of wool pads. He uses lambs wool. The swirls aren't any better or any worse before I took it in. This guy has people bring in expensive European cars on a daily basis, anything from Jaguars to BMW's and Bentley's. I guess they're all idiots, eh?
 
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No, but that detailer is full of $#!^. It doesn't matter the grade of wool, it will leave micro marring or in your case as you see them, swirls. And swirls are the easiest to get out. I've never heard of someone wetsanding to get swirls out unless it's like corvette hard clear or something.
 
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Well, I'll apologize. I feel like an ass, I had so many good references for this guy and I ate it up like a true noob. I will contact BBB certified autobody repair shop tomorrow and make an appointment to have the car checked over and get an estimate. I checked everything you guys said out online, and you're right. I'll drop by his place tomorrow and he damned well better be insured.
 
Good luck. To a degree you are dealing with two different streams of thought (pure/perfectionist detailing vs. body shop detailing) and the discussion with your body shop guy will seem on the order of debating which religion is better than the other.

He did what he normally does. The only way you can get anything from this shop legally is if there is a written guarantee you were going to end up with a swirl-free finish. If it isn't written then it is simply misaligned expectations; and from here let the negotiations begin. You did say the swirls are no better or worse compared to the state it was in prior to you dropping it off.
 
If its just halograms and swirls, an experienced person and some foam pads can get them out.
 
I talked to a more knowledgeable detail shop in the area. They referred me to a professional body shop and also said if the other place has insurance they have to pay for it. I have my receipt and I signed no contracts of any kind. Just a casual chat and made an appointment. I called a local Realtor told me body shops recommend the place and told him to cancel his appointment.
 
Sounds like you paid $150 for a wash and wax if the swirls are still there. Live and learn.
 
Naw, I took it back and he got his buffer out and went over the hood again. I let him do it, Just more money he has to shovel out.
 
Well I got an estimate from one body shop to do the job right, $250. I am going to go a few different dealerships and get second opinions, mainly so this guy can't squirm his way out of giving me my money back, if he does I'm taking it to court. It rained friday and today, I noticed the water isn't beading so he didn't wax it as he said he would. His website also states the service I payed for would remove shallow scratches and swirls in my clear coat. I got a good look over on my vehicle today, he rushed and did a very sloppy job. The shallow scratches are still visible, the shop that gave me the estimate informed me they should be been buffed out. He also didn't wash the vehicle after buffing as he said he would. I have a buddy at work who is friends with a guy in the process of opening his own body shop, hes been doing this for over a decade and he owes my co-worker a favor so he might be able to get him to testify on my behalf if I take this to small claims court. Either way, I'm not gonna let this moron get away with it.
 
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Texarkana said:
Tell ya what, start your own detailing shop, stay in business for 25 years with enough profit to open up another location and a mobile detatailing van, then you can come tell how long it takes to detail a vehicle, sound like a deal?
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To the OP, I'd say at the very least you owe someone a PM. The guy was trying to help you and you were a <insert inappropriate word> to him. Not cool
 
Never mind.

Texarkana,
You have a pm. I deleted my message here and sent it to you via pm. I'm just trying to help you. All you have to do is ask around on this forum for someone in your area that you can trust to fix your mess.
 
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I just used it on our new Prius; I agree be generous with the lubricant spray.
 
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