washing cars at a dealership

Depends on the dealer. Where I work every car gets a hand wash, clayed with a nano skin towel, polish if necessary, and wax. Takes them between 1 and 2 hours a car. New cars come out pretty good considering they never get touched before they are sold and used cars are decent. Dealers are trying to sell cars, not show car finishes that 99% of buyers will soon put through an auto car wash.
 
I've learned everything I know from this site and practicing the way things are done generally by the forum members. I can do a 3 step correction on most any car I come across.

I also work at a detail shop that does a bunch of the major dealerships in the area. It's very thorough but it's not necessarily safe. Some practices that I use day to day would, and do, cause myself and many others here to cringe.

I got this job because I love to detail cars. I knew what it'd be when I signed up for it but it's something I love doing. Sure it's not exactly how I do it but I think that if you're going to work FOR somebody, you can't expect them to be doing exactly what you're looking for. On the flip side, I think most people on here, aside from the autogeek employees and a few others, started their businesses by themselves because they wanted to do things their own way and actually fix what these rapid fire, high volume shops have done.

I'm not saying that I dislike my job or anything because that's my next point. When I was hired on , they were looking to expand into personal vehicles and higher end work. I think it's important, and definitely not just with detail work, to join and company that is currently looking to expand their services, target market, and company as a whole.
 
AeroCleanse said:
Detail your own cars, go and get some formal training as a detailer, so you will learn from someone that knows what they are doing.
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It may not be possible for him to go get "formal training".

So what's he do until then? I'm sure many of us learned on our own vehicles. The question is can he obtain the skill necessary if he stays at his current job, while only practicing on his car? If he chooses to go that route,...how long will it take him? Clearly longer than if he became employed at a dealership or detail shop.

As for your last statement, you're implying the dealers don't know what they're doing?

That's debatable. What's your standard for 'knowing what they're doing'? And are all dealers the same, from Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz in Newport Beach to Joe's Pot Lot in Virginia?
 
I mostly learned while I was employed, using my own vehicle and test pieces/panels to learn more difficult skills like sanding and how to properly use a rotary buffer. I am just saying that if he has a job that pays better than what a dealership will offer then don't give it up yet. He can obtain a part-time position at a dealership or with a detailed and learn the majority of what he needs to know to work on his own in a year or less. Also, saving the money to become properly trained in abldvanced skills is a very feasible option along with the ones listed previously.
My idea of knowing how to detail is knowing and doing the basics properly, and having a passion for what you do. Most shops lack the proper trading and passion IMO, which is why most go through employees at a high rate. One used dealer I did work for had a capable detail shop, but they lacked basic of keeping it simple and doing things properly, consistently. For instance, their clay bars were stored in a gallon jug with a large hole cut in the side. They were all full of contamination and stuck together. Not something that looked appealing, nor like a proffesional shop. The skill the guys had with a rotary came from about an hours worth of training that the detail shop "manager" gave them. These guys are so unskilled with a rotary that the dealership outsources scratch "removal" to some guys that use power drills to "remove" scratches while instilling cookie cutter marks on every vehicle they touch to include Mercedes. Sobriety say you can't learn from a dealership environment is not true but, to say you can learn a ton of what not to do is highly true. It would just be sad to see someone seeking proper detailing skills here on AG go to a dealership to start off his training with improper/bad techniques. As long as someone goes into an environment know how to distinguish proper from improper techniques then they should be okay; and stay informed and up to date on the forums.
 
DaVinciAutoSpa said:
It may not be possible for him to go get "formal training".

So what's he do until then? I'm sure many of us learned on our own vehicles. The question is can he obtain the skill necessary if he stays at his current job, while only practicing on his car? If he chooses to go that route,...how long will it take him? Clearly longer than if he became employed at a dealership or detail shop.

As for your last statement, you're implying the dealers don't know what they're doing?

That's debatable. What's your standard for 'knowing what they're doing'? And are all dealers the same, from Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz in Newport Beach to Joe's Pot Lot in Virginia?
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I've worked at a few dealers and they are the same, no matter what cars they are working on. They are more concerned with cost than quality. They treat a $150,000 car the same way they do a $20,000 car.

One wash bucket for the whole day, brushes to wash the car with, acids for cleaning wheels, silicone tire dressings. I have yet to see anyone clean the wash brush and they leave it standing on the floor, picking up who knows what.

The last dealer I worked at sold Porsche, Volvo, Maserati, Jaguar and Land Rover.

Are all dealers like that? Well I am sure there a few exceptions to the rule.

People that learn at car dealers pick up bad detailing habits.
 
IMO what i think you should do is keep your current job. Starting out as a mobile detailer is no easy task. Especially if you are in an area flooded with mobile detailers. So keep your current job so in the beginning you will have a steady cash flow.

To gain experience id recommend contacting the mobile detailers in your area and asking them if you could work for them as an apprentice.

There are enough horror stories on here of how dealerships do more harm then good by just simply washing a car. You dont want to learn from those jokers.

If its experience you seek practice practice practice. Now i dont know what tools you currently have so ill assume bare minimum. Get a Porter cable polisher wolfgang duo kit from the site. The tool its self is very safe and is nearly impossible to destroy paint with. Pad selection and compounds are another story. Once you get that you will have questions. "How do i do" and "what is the best" will be coming out of your mouth left and right. We will be here to answer your questions.

Just my .02
 
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