Over the years I've been to many car dealerships for various things as we all have. Every now and then I spot the car washing guy in action and I'm disgusted. In general, all I see is a guy with a brush on a stick scrubbing the crap out of the cars whether they be customer vehicles that have been serviced, trade-ins, or just vehicles on the lot (sometimes just a pressure washer is seen).

Obviously we all know this is part of the reason relatively new cars have the paint defects that we work hard to remove.
My question is, do any of you think that a dealership, used or otherwise would pay a detailing business to wash/clean up their cars - even if it is just cleaning up a trade-in or lease vehicle that needed more care once they get on the lot?

As my side business I have done pretty well, but can't help but think that some dealerships "need" my services from time to time - like a thorough clean-up of a trade-in for instance. I have to assume since I see these guys washing the cars with a sponge-on-a-stick that they simply don't care.

As an example of how this affects them -
My father was looking at CPO Jaguars and found what appeared to be a nice 2006 S-type. They let him test drive it for a day. When he took it back to them, he brought the sales manager out to the car, took a paper towel and wiped it across the dash to reveal black crap and dirt. The interior was filthy! There was even dog hair on the ceiling. Especially for a high-end place like Jaguar, that kind of thing can seriously turn customers away from these cars because, to a degree, it shows signs of neglect from the former owner and lack of care from the dealer to at least try to clean it up to make it presentable.

Anyways (sorry for the rant), does anyone think it would be worth my time to mention my services to any local dealers?

I have heard that they pay very little. You would be better off doing it yourself and making much more money while you are at it.

Not too sure about the pay but your work would definitely be an asset. If your work really is top notch, I would think you would command the floor most people nit pick on the finer details like scratches.

Dealerships will pay as little as possible and once you set your bare minimum price there will be another guy who will undercut you and you will be replaced. Most people buying cars are not detailing enthusiasts and accept "dealer" work and the low quality car washes provide. Most people do not know what swirls marks are and think a coat of wax makes their vehicles look brand new. If you can establish a relationship with a dealer to have constant work then you at least know each week you have steady income.

Dealerships will pay as little as possible and once you set your bare minimum price there will be another guy who will undercut you and you will be replaced. Most people buying cars are not detailing enthusiasts and accept "dealer" work and the low quality car washes provide. Most people do not know what swirls marks are and think a coat of wax makes their vehicles look brand new. If you can establish a relationship with a dealer to have constant work then you at least know each week you have steady income.
Very true.

Personally, I was and still am a detailing, and in general, a car crazy person. I was all about the swirl free finish, and even did some side detailing jobs while I worked full time. Well, I eventually started working for a BMW dealership, and it DISCUSTED me the way they washed and 'detailed' cars. Even the hired detailer and his possy did not do work that met my expectations! I tried recomending better brands that would actually save them money and do a better job, but alas, it just never got through.

The reason for all this lies much in the way the dealership is run. Each 'department' has a budget, and if the department doesn't see value in something, they won't go for it. Realize that probably only .001% of cars that come through even a BMW dealership are swirl free, and that the rest only want their car quickly washed, vacumed, and to be on their way. That, coupled with the fact that the dealership themselves know very little about paint care as they are generally not detailing gurus like us, and know just as much as everyone else (which as we know isn't very much), it is no surprise why they do what they do. For the .001%, they will just not ask for their car to be washed. For the rest, they will get a clean car that looks great in their eyes, which in the end, is all that really matters.

Now of course this doesn't justify bad washing and buffing techniques, and that is a whole different story. I know when me and the other porter wash cars, we make sure that we do the best possible job with what is given to us. The guys across the street at another dealership may have a different perspective though.

I'd like to put some more insight through, but I am still at work right now, and want to head home!

ive found that you get a few salepeople cars and do them and offer them like a 10% referral fee to everyone he leads to you. Also, contact dealerships and you could be the 'exclusive detailer' meaning you work on there high end trade ins or new cars to get the top notch for saleing

Funny you say that. I was looking at 335s at the dealership to trade my e39 on and ALL of them even though new had dealership installed swirls. All of them. Depressing to see the guy in the back wipe brake dust off the wheels dry, then use the same MF to wipe something off the paint. I don't get it. I guess the most of people don't really notice or care.
-Nick

...Most people do not know what swirls marks are and think a coat of wax makes their vehicles look brand new....

I'll be honest here...I was one of those guys :rolleyes
I'm really glad I decided to start hanging out in this forum to learn what to do (and not to do)
Thanks to all of you :)

If it's going to bring extra income/business...go for it. But if you are already set up with a steady clientele list and are not overwhelmed with backed up customers, don't bother.

The problem with dealerships is they have guys that work by the hour 8 bucks and hour. They couldnt care less about there job performance. But if they would hire me and pay me 30 an hour, i would defiantly give the customer the extra push to pull the plug on a 50k bmw