Hey all,

I've been thinking of starting up a detail shop here in New Jersey. I would like to know if I did actually start this up, how many would like to come down and sample me out?? Here's what the layout would be:

Reg. Hand Wash: $30
Hand wash and dry
Tire Dressing
Windows cleaned Inside/Outside
Vaccum
Dust of All Interior... wood, dashboard, etc.
Polish all Exhaust tips, anything chrome.. etc.

Full Detail: $165
Hand Wash
Light Compound for minor scratches
"Magic"-for dark colored cars... Really brings the shine out!!
Chrome polish
Tire Dressing
Windows In/Out
Interior leather cleaner and conditioner
Vaccum
Polish interior
Touch up Paint-if provided
Dress all exterior black moldings.
*$25 extra will add liquid wax.
*$60 extra will add engine cleaning with gloss. (anyone at the DTM meets at Short Hills saw my clean engine :D )

I also will have various deals.. These aren't the only 2. I just gotta know if you guys would be willing to use me to help baby your cars.

Here is my 10-going on 11 year old car. When I got it the paint was fading and you couldn't even see your reflection. This is what I've done to it ... and this picture is after 50 miles of driving around in backroads.

Thanks guys for all the help and comments you could give me!
http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/MP525i/DSCN0151.jpg http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/MP525i/DSCN0148.jpg

Where is Basking Ridge?

It's real easy to get to. You can go 287 (which is the easiest) or 78. I'm right by the AT&T Headquarters building. If you still don't know, we're right by Morristown and next to Bernardsville.

I would but I detail my own car. :)

That's about 2 hrs for me, from the sounds of it, I'm 10 miles East of Philly down here...

I know..that's the trouble. I know a lot of people on the boards detail their own cars. But don't be so quick to brush it off. I used to think I was doing a great job on my car. Until I got the "detailers eye!" hahaha What people miss and tend to brush off, is the streaks a washmit, towel or even a shimmy might leave behind. With a detail I would do, I get rid of swirl marks and make the paint so delicious to look at, you'd think you could dive right into it.

Example: A 993 Carrera came in, black. By the time I was done with it, you couldn't even tell it was black! As soon as it hit outside, it was like a mirror. All I saw was the reflection of the trees surrounding it.

That's all I'm offering. A chance to make everyone's car look better than when it was first picked up at the dealership. I'll get pictures up as soon as I can to show you what I mean. :)

Now if you offered Zaino............... :)

I've never tried Zaino.. I will have to experiment.

Zymol is the wax I use. Very good wax if you ask me. Still beads up after 2 months of elemental abuse.

now... if you offered discounts bwahahahah i need my car to have some scraches removed and paint chips fixed if you guys would do that!
and i need the moldings restored, they are kind of... running?
your about an hour from me... id hit it:dunno

Alright, sounds good enough. If someone comes in and says they heard about my shop from you, you'll get 25% off the next detail.

Yes, the detail I would do removes scratches, along with touching up the paint... if you supply the bottle. :D

Sorry but I usually do my own... but when I've had to, I've used places for $10.00 Hand Washes (Hillside and Newark) and $135.00 full detail w/ engine (Union). What a cheap bastard I am... :D

Good luck with the venture though.

I still do a much better job than most detailers Ive been to previously. I get many people asking me what color Ive painted my car, amazed at the paint condition, etc at all the shows. But good luck with the shop, there are many people that do that their cars to the detailer. A local detail shop just closed down after a year tho in Metuchen. :(

My thoughts are that most people on here would not go to a detailer, correct? Most of us detail our own cars - that's part of the fun. Most of your clients will probably be people outside of bimmerforums.

i would go to you, i need the paint chips fixed, which i messed up when i did it :( and to get the swirls taken out. i detail my own car, but i just cant get those things done :(

I kinda figured as much. Was worth a try. Hey, if you wanna spread the word, be my guest. :D I'll try to work some kind of deal out where you can get a piece of that pie. ;) Always tryin' to look out for my fellow bimmer buddies.

Oh, I don't think I'll go out of business too. This is only part time from my other job. I'm doing this in my garage, so I'll be saving on rent, electrical, water, etc..etc... Well, hope to see you all at the next meet.

Speaking of which, we should get another Jersey meet set up.. like a real big one like Menlo Park...(stylin' you went to that one). That was a great turnout. Somethin' to keep in mind. ;)

Thanks for all your input guys!

I'm personally getting lazier as I get older (I detailed my way thru college), I just need someone closer to home...

im 17 and im lazy! buti detail my self.

Dave,

You may want to ask Phil to detail it for you. He lives in his driveway, washing his car - day and night it seems. Not during the drought, of course...

are we really in a drought?

true...:)

during the drought, I just goto a place where I can wet, wash & rinse without having to worry about the Water Cops turning me in... :D

and even in the winter time, when all of you are hunkered by your heaters inside your warm cozy homes, I'm outside looking at the glazed ice shell encasing the car after I rinsed it....what's cool is, you can actually watch the ice form as the water hits the cold metal, pretty wild and the car looks like it's coated in crystal or a clear candy coating!

Phil and I are in talks... :D

Hey guys,
Maybe you could go to him if he offered slightly discounted prices?:dunno

I would be down to come buy, my dad and i run a bussiness out of chester called builders distributors group in chester . good luck ,brian