Hey everyone,

I got a quote from a renowned detailer in my area for 300$

He said it includes:

- Two bucket wash method
- Rim Cleaning
- Clay bar
- Paint measurements
- 1 Step polish
- Wax

I dont know - I feel as if this is too expensive of a price? Is this normal? He said it will take between 6-8 hours.

 

$300 from most 'high-end' detailers wouldn't get you very much. 6-8 hours depending on the condition of your car probably won't get out much except the most glaring paint imperfections.

That being said, there is a local around these parts that, from what I've seen, does an incredible job for around that price.

 

Yea, this detailer works from his house and from what I've seen, his work is fantastic. I just don't know if thats the normal price for a detail? Never really had one. My car is only a year old but I've managed to accumulate enough swirl marks to compete with a 1992 black honda.

 

Not too much by my standards.

 

Detailing Pricing Guide

As with most other things, the price of automotive detailing varies by quite a wide margin. The cost of having a professional perform a detailing job on your vehicle will vary by geographical region, the experience and reputation of the detailer, and the condition of your vehicle, and your expectations of the finished detail, among other factors. Most detailers will offer a specified package of services that are included in their standard prices, and generally will provide additional services on request for an additional fee.

Many professionals will need 8 - 10+ hours of work ($45-60 per hour) to transform your vehicle back to ‘like-new condition’. A Professional using high quality products may spend over $50 in product use alone; so expect to pay a fair price for the amount of work involved.

Typical detailing and additional services chargeas follows:
· Interior vacuum and hand wash $30 - $50
· Full detail, $350 - $550 (excluding major paint correction)
· Engine detail, $50- $75
· Windshield polishing $50-$75
· Paint Renovation 10 – 30 plus hours (is usually charged per hour)
· Paint touch-up, $50 minor - $200 major
· Headlight restoration $45- $85
· Paint overspray or cement splatter removal, $250
· Black trim restoration, $50 - $150
· AC system cleaning and cabin air filter replacement, $100-$125
· Carpet dyeing, $100 - $250
· Windshield repair, $50 - $100
· Paintless dent repair (PDR) $55 - $125 per dent/ding
The above (US $) figures are only estimated costs and should be used for guidance only as they will vary by location and condition of vehicle

 

So much depends upon the detailer,not the price. It's hard to evaluate price vs value until you actually see the results. Maybe he could offer up some references that would make you feel more comfortable about the price. If he has that good of a reputation, he probably does indeed do a better job with a 1-step process than the competition does with a 2 or three step process.

Even here in Middle America, $250 - $300 buys a good detail [interior and exterior] but usually not any paint correction included.

For a detailer with a good rep, this sounds reasonable.

 

If he is good it sounds like a deal. I start at $350 for a similar detail.

 

Focus more on his process and you'll realize if the price is worth it. Ask to see pictures of his work, website, references, etc. $300 sounds a bit low for exterior detail and 1-Stage polish. If your car has lots of swirls, you'll need more than a 1-stage. Post up some pictures of your car and let's see how bad it is. We'll be able to tell you if a 1-stage would work.

 

Thank you everyone for the replies

He is a reputable detailer, one of the best in my area. Every major forum (e90 post, m3 post, bimmerforums, a5oc, audiworld, audizine) has his work posted. I don't want to give up his name because I don't want him to think that I'm questioning his pricing - I'm fine with paying 300$, I just wanted to know if that is the "norm" for detailing.

He said if I needed a two-step it would be 400$ and a 2 day process. If need be, he'll give me a call and tell me that he must keep the car longer. He said he's not touching the interior of the car though. As for pictures - currently in finals week so it'll have to wait.

 

Price sounds more than reasonable. If your detailer is experienced and using quality products, $300 for a full days worth of professional labor seems like a bargain to me. If your detailer is not very experienced, and not using high quality products, it doesn't matter what the cost of the service is. STAY AWAY! A hack detail job will cause more grief, headaches, and money than just getting it done right the first time.


John

 

Sounds good - thanks a bunch guys. I'll go ahead with this and link his write up to this thread when he's done.

Thanks.

 

A good deal pending results... make sure and post up before and after shots if you can.

 

$300 is a great deal if what you are looking for is 60-70% of the scratch removal. Is your car dark? If it is it will likely need a second, finer polishing step to get a clear finish out of. If he's using a DA polisher he may pull it off. But if says he's using a rotary and the car is dark, unless he has years of experience -

 

 

He actually does use rotary and my car is black haha