Sandi_k

Has anyone used this shop for handwax and detailing?

I tried to contact Phil @ ADS Mobil, and he never replied to my email, and his phone wouldn't accept voicemails. So I moved on.

I'm scheduled to take my FJ Cruiser to Mike's on Friday. So far, it sounds good. They do a clay job, hand wax, detailing, touch up paint, interior and exterior cleaning for ~ $250 for the SUV, and they schedule all day to do it.

I got their info off the SFGate site, where they were in the Top 5 detailers for the Bay Area according to voters. Apparently, they only take in one car per day, and spend all day on it. I'll post results once they're done, but I'm glad to get the car prepped for sale.

More info:
http://baylist.sfgate.com/mike-s-cus...tail/biz/60968

Sandi

phrozen

iTrader: (2)

i live like 3 blocks from there and im about 95% sure he does all work in his driveway. I havent talked to him or seen his finished work personall but he has a car in his driveway every single day

SeOuLiS250

iTrader: (5)

please let us know how it comes out
I need to get a full detail on my car too and I live 5 min away from Alameda

I need a place to remove all my swirls and stuff

Geezr98

iTrader: (1)

i'm also interested in having my car detailed. i live in hercules but am willing to drive. it's hard to bring your baby to an unknown place

kokonutjc

Hand waxing is kool if you want just a shine...
FYI...there are chemicals out there in the market where wax covers up your scratches but when you wash your car again....the scratches reappear

What I recommend is a full color correction detail. This will remove all your scratches and swirls. I do FULL color correction with my cars every 5-6 months and in between I just do regular washes or just even just detail spray (depending how often you use your car). Process that that takes a long time but all worthed in the end.

I called this place (Mike's detailing) and they do mostly hand waxing and they DO NOT do color corrections Basically all your getting is a wash and a shiny car....IMHO If you're gonna pay that kind of money I would go to some place that will do color correction.

just my .02

Jeff

Sandi_k

There is a real shortage of detailing places here in the East Bay, thus my question.

Koko, I don't need a detail job of that ... detail. This is just shining it up for sale or trade-in, so I do want some touch up done, some hand waxing, etc.

The local car washes that offer "hand wax" are sloppy - water spots from the side mirrors, no Black Magic on the undercladding, sloppy cleaning of brake dust, etc. I've been known to detail the detailing when I get the car home. Yes, I can be a little OCD...

The car is only 3 years old, and the paint is in decent shape - just some door dings, one unfortunate egging incident that left an ovoid scratch, and a couple of pits. I want it to look top-notch in the short term, and don't care about color correction right now.

Thanks,

Sandi

kokonutjc

good enough...

Good luck with your sale.

SeOuLiS250

iTrader: (5)

I don't wanna pay for someone to wax my car lol I can do that myself
I want some color correction BUFFING to permanently remove the swirls and stuff

Sandi_k

I can't do it myself. I have RSI issues with my arms, and even washing/drying the car leaves me hunting for the pain pills. Thus the hiring...

SeOuLiS250

iTrader: (5)

that's totally fine~! let us know how your car comes out
it's always good to know some places where I can take my car if I want some good waxing and polishing

Baoser

I got a buffer...haha I plan on doing my own color correction

Sandi_k

OK, all done.

I dropped the SUV off last night, so they could get an early start this morning. I got a call at 6:45 pm, saying they were done.

I went to pick it up, and it looks good! They spent some time with the touchup paint I provided, and spent some extra time on a bad paint issue - my car was egged ~ a year ago, and the shell skidded across the hood, leaving a real down-to-the-base-coat flaw.

Cost was $300. They treated the wheels, the tires, the plastic cladding, and hand waxed the paint (in addition to the touchup efforts). The only downside - no real cleaning of the engine compartment (he said due to EPA problems with hose-and-drain cleaners). They also cleaned the floor mats, the spare tire, the interior plastic, and everything looks good.

FTR, they also provide mobile service, and pickup and dropoff service within Oakland/Berkeley.

It's not something I would pay for every time the FJ Cruiser is due for a wax job, but I can totally see doing this on an annual basis...

Sandi

SeOuLiS250

iTrader: (5)

thanks Sandi for your input
I guess I will try them out when I need someone to wax my car

Ken

Sytfu_IS

iTrader: (4)

Did they buff out scratches if you had any?

Sandi_k

I had chips, not scratches...

So, no.

-S