I found this website that highlighted a LS430 detail project. The car cleaned up really well. It looked like a lease vehicle that was lived in by a pack of wolves.

http://www.dndautodetailing.org/2002lexusls430.htm

 

Good lord!! That is an amazing detailing job DD! Are you sure its the same car? lol

 

i only wish i had those skills to detail a car like that! I'm just now considering buying a Porter Cable polisher. Still worried about "teaching" myself how to use it. Maybe my wife won't mind if i play around on her paint (Sienna van).

 

wow thats amazing work man i would totally pay someone to clean my interior like that. LOL

 

I suggest getting a polisher from Griot's Garage product line. gets great reviews and sounds like its easier to use safely.

 

Wow thats awesome, my LS could really use a detail like that

 

How much would a detailing job like the one shown above cost?

 

I'm thinking 150-200.00.

 

More like $250-$300. He needed to use clay bars, compound polish and wax.

I have a small detailing business and that job would probably take about 4 to 5 hours as thorough as he was.

 

It was $600.00... Plus an additional $120 to $180 for the interior detail. Below is the exterior detail pricing... The 3 Step process is what was performed on that LS they did...

1 Step Process $250
Recommended for cars in good condition with very light or no imperfections. Or if you simply want a clay bar, light polish, and sealant applied.

2 Step Process $400
Will remove light imperfections on most paints and moderate imperfections on some paints. Recommended for cars which have been properly maintained.

3 Step Process $600
Will remove moderate to serious imperfections on most paints. Recommended for cars which may have been incorrectly washed and or buffed.

4 Step Process $800
Will remove serious imperfections on cars in bad condition which have been incorrectly washed and or buffed.

 

Wow, I did not know it was that much. But then again that is alot of work and is well worth it.

 

i did a few reconditioning jobs like those...took me alot of hours since i am picky. i don't own a detail business, but i have some professional help from a friend.

i even took apart the car to clean it. right down to take off the whole wheel to clean the fender wells and back of the wheel.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revisi...d=348574948366

 

That's a full day detail

 

Some people give pigs a bad name. It is mind boggling to me just how much damage can be done to the inside of such a beautiful car in a short period of time.

When we were actively looking for a used LS430, we got a sneak peek at a few un-prepped "just traded in" LS430s at our local dealer. Some of these cars were unbelievably dirty. Their owners apparently too lazy or too dumb to at least maximize their trade in dollars by making the car at least minimally presentable by taking it to the $15 quickly car wash. Amazing.

 

Very true- a lot of people don't know what really goes into a detail. Unfortunately- there are "shops" more like glorified car washes/gas stations that throw the word detail around and consumers think that a detail job should cost no more than 100 bucks tops!

Think about it. Just look at that abused LS we just saw, do you really think that the detailer, with all the work needed to restore that car, deserves a lousy 150 bucks? He took a disgusting car and turned it back into an LS. It costs about 4k to paint a car like the LS, (if you want a quality job that the car deserves). Do you see where I'm going with this? The owner of that LS got an absolutely terrific deal.

I am a detailer myself. I don't have my own shop, but do jobs as a side gig. When people ask me how much I charge and I tell them 350 in and out- they look at me like I'm an arrogant SOB. I am constantly having to justify my work to potential customers. Not only am I detailer, but I'm an OCD detailer, which, for once, is a good thing to be when doing a job like this. I would need that car for about 1-2 days for me to do my thing to it.

Consumers need to realize that auto detail is actually an art that is learned, yes an art, and not simply a jiffy lube type skill. Quality work demands experience, and experience demands compensation.

Take a look at autopia.org and you will see what I am talking about. You will see detail jobs that will make that LS, as great as it came out, look like a bargain quickie. (no disrespect- juts trying to prove a point here) We are talking full rotisarie details where wheels come off, all claddding etc. to make the vehicle clean, past what meets the eye.

You know the saying- you gotta pay to play.