probably not the best place to ask this but im at auto geek right now buying some products and im up to $80. this is my first BMW and will be first time really detailing a car myself. my question is, is it worth spending the time and money doing it yourself? im fairly sure i can find a detail place for $50 so wouldnt it work out the same if you only really need to detail twice a year? also would a detail place provide the same service? im just wondering because for almost $100 (including shipping plus im going to need to buy towels still) im thinking i could just have it detailed twice a year and save on time and work. what do you think are the pros and cons since youve been at this a while? no matter what i will be picking up some forever black...

usually the stuff you buy will be enough for you to do 10-15 details

$100 yourself vs $500-750 for 10-15 fifty-dollar details

If you're askin this question I suggest bringing it to the detailer.

I have already spent close to $400 in detailing supplies and tools when I add it all up, and I started last month. The problem is that once you get started, you might as well finish your tool collection because you've already committed (like you're about to) $100.

To do this right you're going to have to buy a polisher, which costs 100$, pads $50, polishes & sealants $60, towels $20. Now I also bought some leather cleaners/conditioners so that's another 50$. Add in all the little things like a very nice pure wax ($30), buying some products that you don't really like using ($30), tire and wheel cleaner (30$) it's going to cost a pretty penny.

Personally, I enjoy detailing my cars and restoring my family's messed-up paint jobs, but I'm no professional detailer and when I get tired, I think "Ah fsck it!!!" and often neglect to polish an entire car (just the top surfaces) or something like that. If you only intend to detail one car, I'd say forget it... Have it detailed at the shop, and buy yourself a good washsoap(costco $9), towels(costco $10), and wax/sealant(klasse sealant glaze or meguiars NXT 10-24$). Shouldn't cost more than 40$ for those maintenance items.

I befriended the guys at a local car wash. If you always go the same place they cut you great deals. I can now go in there and get a full detail inc clay for $25-40. At that price DIY is pointless. I do spray detailer on the car a lot and of course do all the intricate detailing. I have waxed it on a nice day every so often.

probably not the best place to ask this but im at auto geek right now buying some products and im up to $80. this is my first BMW and will be first time really detailing a car myself. my question is, is it worth spending the time and money doing it yourself? im fairly sure i can find a detail place for $50 so wouldnt it work out the same if you only really need to detail twice a year? also would a detail place provide the same service? im just wondering because for almost $100 (including shipping plus im going to need to buy towels still) im thinking i could just have it detailed twice a year and save on time and work. what do you think are the pros and cons since youve been at this a while? no matter what i will be picking up some forever black...

It really depends on YOU. Do you take interest and value in doing things yourself (DIY)? Do get satisfaction of seeing your own efforts pay off?

Just a couple of prudent questions that will determine if it's in your best interest to pay for the service or do it yourself.

I don't think though that your $50 estimate for detailing is valid....at least for a quality detail. For a quality job you can expect to pay a good couple hundred bucks.

If you choose to DIY then you also need to commit yourself and from my own experiences it's worth it! Nothing like quality time spent in the garage with a cooler of brew and the stereo.......... :D

Good luck with whatever you choose.

$50??

many times, you pay for what you get. Try to give the car a lill more love :)

i do like doing things myself. ive just never hada car that i liked enough to want to take care of the paint. i was just wondering if there are people here that take it to get detailed and just wash it. do you think its really necessary to get a buffer machine?

i do like doing things myself. ive just never hada car that i liked enough to want to take care of the paint. i was just wondering if there are people here that take it to get detailed and just wash it. do you think its really necessary to get a buffer machine?

like pretty much everyone on here said, it's all up to you. no it's not necessary to get a buffer machine if you don't like spending time cleaning your car. if you want to take it to a detailing place, remember, like someone mentioned, you get what you paid for. as far as i've had experiences with detail shops, and knowing a few people that work in some, noone will use the really good products discussedon this forum... klasse, p21s, etc. if you decide to do it yourself, you'll be spending a lot less money because if you do some research you'll find out that you have to put klasse on only a few times a year. that means the $300-400 that you spend will last you a few years, unless you're like most people on here and want to detail more often, wax more often or just for the hell of it try new products every now and then. i'm pretty sure that if you detail a few times a year, all your products should last you a while. just my thoughts, hope it helps

p.s.- i don't trust any detail shop, no matter how good they are

We have all kinds of BMW owners on this board. Some just don't like to work on their cars, whether it's maintenance or detailing. They have other priorities (recreation, family, career, etc.), aren't good with their hands, or don't feel mechanically inclined. If you fall into this category and can afford to pay someone to detail your car, I won't fault you one bit. You're supporting a small business, and that's a good thing.

If it's something I can do myself and save money for other things (like MODS! :D), I'll usually give it a try. I do all of my own detailing. After spending 40 hours a week in a cubicle doing engineering, I find that working on my car helps me to relax. There's something satisfying about fixing something that's broken, or taking a dirty car and making it sparkle.

I'm afraid to add up all of my detailing expenses. :eek:

You dont sound very enthusiastic about detailing the car yourself, therefore I doubt you would do a very good job on it. Its a lot of work, you have to WANT to do it. Its not quite as simple as wax on, wax off. Since you dont seem to keen on buying all the products, and you only want it done twice a year, I think you'd be happier and your car would look nicer if you took it to a shop. DIY isnt for everyone.

I love detailing my car so I do it myself all the time. Nothing like spending a few hours on a nice weekend making my car look new again :)

It really depends on YOU. Do you take interest and value in doing things yourself (DIY)? Do get satisfaction of seeing your own efforts pay off?

Just a couple of prudent questions that will determine if it's in your best interest to pay for the service or do it yourself.

I don't think though that your $50 estimate for detailing is valid....at least for a quality detail. For a quality job you can expect to pay a good couple hundred bucks.

If you choose to DIY then you also need to commit yourself and from my own experiences it's worth it! Nothing like quality time spent in the garage with a cooler of brew and the stereo.......... :D

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Nothing like a good buzz to relieve the pain in your arms :alright

probably not the best place to ask this but im at auto geek right now buying some products and im up to $80. this is my first BMW and will be first time really detailing a car myself. my question is, is it worth spending the time and money doing it yourself? im fairly sure i can find a detail place for $50 so wouldnt it work out the same if you only really need to detail twice a year? also would a detail place provide the same service? im just wondering because for almost $100 (including shipping plus im going to need to buy towels still) im thinking i could just have it detailed twice a year and save on time and work. what do you think are the pros and cons since youve been at this a while? no matter what i will be picking up some forever black...

For $50 you won't get a real detail. More likely you'll have to spend $100-200. I've always said if I was rich I'd pay and have someone do the detailing for me since my back hurts too much when I clean my car. Until I'm rich I'll have to keep doing it myself. It's much more cost-effective.

The products you buy off the shelf will last you longer than 10-15 details. More like 25-30.

I detail exotic cars from time to time for money and there's a big profit margin in it not counting the time you invest in it, of course.

Once you learn how to do it, in 10 years from now, your paint will look fabulous while those who don't will continue paying people like me to do it for them.

Over 10 years, they'll be paying through the nose. ;) But they don't have to lift a finger.

Figure out what kind of person you are and then I say go for it, if you want to do it yourself. I highly recommend having someone show you the ropes. It takes a while figuring out things on your own and developing "the touch."

Sunny

well i picked up a few things. i cant really afford to pay for details and i want to keep this car looking awesome, theres nothing worse than a great car covered in dirt ( didnt mind at all with my trucks). ill be on here with pictures after my first run. thanks for the feedback

If you're ever in the LA area, let me know. I'd be happy to give you some pointers, a demonstration, and what I use. Its very satisfying, for me at least. You will be amazed what a difference a few quality products and a little technique will do to keep it looking better than the local place down the street. Its a time investment over the life of the vehicle. But to many like me, its also pride! :D

Sunny

I don't do the detailing myself to save money. And I don't do the detailing myself because I think I can do a better job that professional detailers. I do it because I like to.

If you don't like it, find someone else to detail your car.

Keep in mind, there's a difference taking it somewhere to have it washed and waxed for an hour and leaving the car with a detailer for half a day. Both are loosely called the same thing but the only thing they share in common is water.

Steve, doing it yourself can be better than the professional detailers with the right products and a little bit of knowledge. Pros do it for profit. The only cost effective way to make it perfect is to do it yourself!

Sunny

Keep in mind, there's a difference taking it somewhere to have it washed and waxed for an hour and leaving the car with a detailer for half a day. Both are loosely called the same thing but the only thing they share in common is water.

Steve, doing it yourself can be better than the professional detailers with the right products and a little bit of knowledge. Pros do it for profit. The only cost effective way to make it perfect is to do it yourself!

Sunny

another route you may want to look into is detailers in your area that are willing to do your car for some money. like sunny said, many of us love taking care of our cars ourselves so i'm sure you can find someone that will do yours for a lot less than a pro would charge and still do a great job.

I got a quote form a pro...$60 for just a wash, $120 for a wash, wax, etc. you are way better off doing it yourself, spend the 100 bucks on the products, and use them for 8-12 details. you can save alot of money..

For $50 you won't get a real detail. More likely you'll have to spend $100-200. I've always said if I was rich I'd pay and have someone do the detailing for me since my back hurts too much when I clean my car. Until I'm rich I'll have to keep doing it myself. It's much more cost-effective.

dude, i keep telling you i'll cut you a deal! :stickoutt

i do detailing, like everyone else, because i love it. i love seeing a car that's been through the elements and turning into something that looks better than when it was first picked up at the dealer.

that's why people come to me for details. i have a few people from this board get their bimmers detailed by me. if you have a passion for something it will show in your work.

if you think detailing is a chore, then i would say save your money and have someone else do it.

doing a detail half @$$ed will only give you the same results.

but hey, give it a shot. if you like spending the time with your car, you might find a new hobby. :D

-mike

Whatever you do, make sure it is done right! For $50 I can guarantee that it won't be done right. A decent detail is anywhere from $120-300.

I agree for $50 bucks you will get a wash, wheels cleaned, a quick vacumm, windows and probably a spray wax or a quick detail....I guarantee that you won't get the jams fully cleaned out, vents, carpets cleaned, leather treated etc....I'm sure you get the point.

Good luck.

I love detailing my car so I do it myself all the time. Nothing like spending a few hours on a nice weekend making my car look new again :)

Ditto, feels good when your done detailing your car, or a customers car.

It really depends on YOU. Do you take interest and value in doing things yourself (DIY)? Do get satisfaction of seeing your own efforts pay off?

Just a couple of prudent questions that will determine if it's in your best interest to pay for the service or do it yourself.

I don't think though that your $50 estimate for detailing is valid....at least for a quality detail. For a quality job you can expect to pay a good couple hundred bucks.

If you choose to DIY then you also need to commit yourself and from my own experiences it's worth it! Nothing like quality time spent in the garage with a cooler of brew and the stereo.......... :D

Good luck with whatever you choose.
Are you kidding me, I just dont plain trust any of those places. The guys are getting payed 8.00 an hour and they dont care. They use old chamois , tied with careless efforts = scratched paint, and a few good scratches along the way.

If you drive a 2005 honda accord, and your a family guy. Thats great , take your car to a car wash. If your spending your time trying to learn about a car and think of your self as a car lover, you obviously will want to learn all steps and procedures to perfecting your paint and look.

Moral of the story , ive had bad experiances with other older cars and car wash places. But my old 328is and my m3 were my personal pride and joy.

good luck

ok so i was way off on thinking i could get a cheap detail for $50. it doesnt take 10 different people to tell me i was wrong after i already said i was going to try it myself, gat damn!!

ok so i was way off on thinking i could get a cheap detail for $50. it doesnt take 10 different people to tell me i was wrong after i already said i was going to try it myself, gat damn!!

Don't ask for advice then get mad when you get it from more than one person, that's what most people are looking for: a variety of advice in which to pick what they like from. That's the best benefit of such a huge forum.