Where to get a car serviced and detailed in Melbourne?

[Ext User(Richard Cavell)]

2002 Mitsubishi KJ series 2 Verada.

Where can I go that won't rip me off and will do a decent job?

[Ext User(David Z)]

Ultratune are good and cheap. Have always used them. As for detailing, buy
some Meguirs cut, polish, and wax and do it yourself - save a few hundred
bucks.

"Richard Cavell" <richardcavell@mail.com> wrote in message
news:1157270020.267648.271680@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> 2002 Mitsubishi KJ series 2 Verada.
>
> Where can I go that won't rip me off and will do a decent job?
>

[Ext User(mark jb)]

> Ultratune are good and cheap. Have always used them. As for detailing,
> buy some Meguirs cut, polish, and wax and do it yourself - save a few
> hundred bucks.

Head down to Supercheap, grab some good carwash, wax and grease remover,
streakfree window cleaner, tyre blacker, upholstery cleaner, good quality
cp&w, and silicone spray for dark exterior plastics and window rubbers. Do
the silicon last after polishing, beware that any spilt silicon is a
cast-iron bitch to remove.

Go over the car with a stiff small paintbrush and a vacuum, shiny up any
visible plastics with generic brand interior shine.
With some elbow grease and a few hours you will end up with a much better
result than a commercial 30min detailer, for <$50 total outlay on material.

-mark

[Ext User(Ben Thomas)]

Richard Cavell wrote:
> 2002 Mitsubishi KJ series 2 Verada.
>
> Where can I go that won't rip me off and will do a decent job?
>

Expect to pay $200 at any of the carwash cafes for a decent detail, not
including cut and polish but should include a steam clean.

Doing it properly will take you all day and I personally have better
things to do with my time. If I was single I'd do it myself but.

Ben

[Ext User(David Z)]

A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
polish and wax and what not.

"mark jb" <nukeleer at internode dot on dot net> wrote in message
news:12flgkh6p6h0r9f@corp.supernews.com...
>> Ultratune are good and cheap. Have always used them. As for detailing,
>> buy some Meguirs cut, polish, and wax and do it yourself - save a few
>> hundred bucks.
>
> Head down to Supercheap, grab some good carwash, wax and grease remover,
> streakfree window cleaner, tyre blacker, upholstery cleaner, good quality
> cp&w, and silicone spray for dark exterior plastics and window rubbers. Do
> the silicon last after polishing, beware that any spilt silicon is a
> cast-iron bitch to remove.
>
> Go over the car with a stiff small paintbrush and a vacuum, shiny up any
> visible plastics with generic brand interior shine.
> With some elbow grease and a few hours you will end up with a much better
> result than a commercial 30min detailer, for <$50 total outlay on
> material.
>
> -mark
>

[Ext User(D Walford)]

David Z wrote:
> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
> inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
> cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
> polish and wax and what not.

Either that or unlike you they actually use their cars.


Daryl

[Ext User(Noddy)]

"David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
>inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
>cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
>polish and wax and what not.

Unlike you, some people actually have lives.

--
Regards,
Noddy.

[Ext User(Ben Thomas)]

David Z wrote:
> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
> inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
> cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
> polish and wax and what not.
>
> "mark jb" <nukeleer at internode dot on dot net> wrote in message
> news:12flgkh6p6h0r9f@corp.supernews.com...
>>> Ultratune are good and cheap. Have always used them. As for detailing,
>>> buy some Meguirs cut, polish, and wax and do it yourself - save a few
>>> hundred bucks.
>> Head down to Supercheap, grab some good carwash, wax and grease remover,
>> streakfree window cleaner, tyre blacker, upholstery cleaner, good quality
>> cp&w, and silicone spray for dark exterior plastics and window rubbers. Do
>> the silicon last after polishing, beware that any spilt silicon is a
>> cast-iron bitch to remove.
>>
>> Go over the car with a stiff small paintbrush and a vacuum, shiny up any
>> visible plastics with generic brand interior shine.
>> With some elbow grease and a few hours you will end up with a much better
>> result than a commercial 30min detailer, for <$50 total outlay on
>> material.
>>
>> -mark
>>
>
>

Even if you vaccuum seats and carpet regularly after just a couple of
years the car would look better after a steam clean.

Ben

[Ext User(David Z)]

"Noddy" <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:44fd5f70$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>
> "David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
>>inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
>>cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
>>polish and wax and what not.
>
> Unlike you, some people actually have lives.

You can still have a life and set aside an hour each week to wash the car.

[Ext User(Ben Thomas)]

David Z wrote:
> "Noddy" <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
> news:44fd5f70$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>> "David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
>>> inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
>>> cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
>>> polish and wax and what not.
>> Unlike you, some people actually have lives.
>
> You can still have a life and set aside an hour each week to wash the car.
>
>

David,
A full detail usually is comprised of a wash and dry, bug and tar
removal, cut-n-polish, vaccuum, and steam clean.

Merely washing your car every week will not keep it in showroom
condition but a full detail will restore even a poorly cared for vehicle
to close to showroom condition.

If you wash and dry your car properly yourself, including interior
clean, it will take much more than one hour.

Ben

[Ext User(D Walford)]

David Z wrote:
> "Noddy" <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
> news:44fd5f70$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>> "David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any* detailing
>>> inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to detail their
>>> cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too lazy to regularly
>>> polish and wax and what not.
>> Unlike you, some people actually have lives.
>
> You can still have a life and set aside an hour each week to wash the car.
>
>
Ordinary washing won't keep a car in mint condition looking like it was
just detailed, some people actually have children or use their cars for
the intended purpose instead of leaving it parked 98% of the time like
you do.


Daryl

[Ext User(David Z)]

"Ben Thomas" <no.sp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:1ko3t3-cu5.ln1@teri.unico.com.au...
> David Z wrote:
>> "Noddy" <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
>> news:44fd5f70$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>>> "David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any*
>>>> detailing inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to
>>>> detail their cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too
>>>> lazy to regularly polish and wax and what not.
>>> Unlike you, some people actually have lives.
>>
>> You can still have a life and set aside an hour each week to wash the
>> car.
>
> David,
> A full detail usually is comprised of a wash and dry, bug and tar removal,
> cut-n-polish, vaccuum, and steam clean.
>
> Merely washing your car every week will not keep it in showroom condition
> but a full detail will restore even a poorly cared for vehicle to close to
> showroom condition.
>
> If you wash and dry your car properly yourself, including interior clean,
> it will take much more than one hour.

What I meant was you set aside an hour each week to do whatever needs to be
done to the car. That hour could comprise of washing, polishing, waxing, or
all 3. If detailing, you can just do half the car each time, or at the
very least only one panel each week. You only have to polish/wax maybe 3-4
times a year.

[Ext User(the_dawg)]

Ben Thomas wrote:

> If you wash and dry your car properly yourself, including interior
> clean, it will take much more than one hour.

I've not even thought of even washing the 'lux, think I
did late last year. It tends to look a little cleaner each
time it rains.

There is a product RGS LABS FW1 (with carnauba)
which is a waterless product I bought 3 cans of on
special since the spammer at the servo gave me a
demo on the 'lux a month or so back and it was quite
impressive. Would want to wash the grit off first though.
Still not got round tuit yet though.

To fully detail a vehicle could take two days by the time
take out seat covers and wash, take out carpet and wash,
take off wheels and wash brake dust from everything, wash
engine, wash underside, polish paint... Big job.

I'd agree once that is done, then make up a cycle of what
gets what treatment each week, which then would only be
an hour or two a week.

Even though my 16 y/o 'lux is filthy ATM, it is dent free,
and the paint is good, so it would polish up well.

[Ext User(David Z)]

"the_dawg" <the_dawggie@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1157624369.049744.163530@h48g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Ben Thomas wrote:
>
>> If you wash and dry your car properly yourself, including interior
>> clean, it will take much more than one hour.
>
> I've not even thought of even washing the 'lux, think I
> did late last year. It tends to look a little cleaner each
> time it rains.
>
> There is a product RGS LABS FW1 (with carnauba)
> which is a waterless product I bought 3 cans of on
> special since the spammer at the servo gave me a
> demo on the 'lux a month or so back and it was quite
> impressive. Would want to wash the grit off first though.
> Still not got round tuit yet though.
>
> To fully detail a vehicle could take two days by the time
> take out seat covers and wash, take out carpet and wash,
> take off wheels and wash brake dust from everything, wash
> engine, wash underside, polish paint... Big job.
>
> I'd agree once that is done, then make up a cycle of what
> gets what treatment each week, which then would only be
> an hour or two a week.

Exactly. That's the point I was trying to make. You don't do the whole lot
at once - you do a little each week. Washing a typical car should take only
half an hour perhaps, leaving the other half hour to do some detailing. You
split the car into sections: front, sides, rear, and roof (if its an SUV
then don't bother detailing the roof - most people won't even be able to see
it). If you do one section each week the whole car can be detailed in a
month. Then every 3 months or so you repeat the cycle, starting with the
first section you started with last time.

[Ext User(Ben Thomas)]

David Z wrote:
> "Ben Thomas" <no.sp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
> news:1ko3t3-cu5.ln1@teri.unico.com.au...
>> David Z wrote:
>>> "Noddy" <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
>>> news:44fd5f70$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>>>> "David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>>> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any*
>>>>> detailing inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need to
>>>>> detail their cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were too
>>>>> lazy to regularly polish and wax and what not.
>>>> Unlike you, some people actually have lives.
>>> You can still have a life and set aside an hour each week to wash the
>>> car.
>> David,
>> A full detail usually is comprised of a wash and dry, bug and tar removal,
>> cut-n-polish, vaccuum, and steam clean.
>>
>> Merely washing your car every week will not keep it in showroom condition
>> but a full detail will restore even a poorly cared for vehicle to close to
>> showroom condition.
>>
>> If you wash and dry your car properly yourself, including interior clean,
>> it will take much more than one hour.
>
> What I meant was you set aside an hour each week to do whatever needs to be
> done to the car. That hour could comprise of washing, polishing, waxing, or
> all 3. If detailing, you can just do half the car each time, or at the
> very least only one panel each week. You only have to polish/wax maybe 3-4
> times a year.
>
>

David,
The wash, dry, and vaccuum - the bare minimum - when done properly take
more than an hour.

If you are planning to polish or wax, you MUST start with a clean dry
car, or you will damage the paint because moving the dust around with
the polishing cloth will scratch it.

Polish and wax probably only need to be done twice a year IMHO.

Ben

[Ext User(David Z)]

"Ben Thomas" <no.sp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
news:tsd6t3-nl9.ln1@teri.unico.com.au...
> David Z wrote:
>> "Ben Thomas" <no.sp@m.thanks.mate> wrote in message
>> news:1ko3t3-cu5.ln1@teri.unico.com.au...
>>> David Z wrote:
>>>> "Noddy" <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
>>>> news:44fd5f70$1@news.comindico.com.au...
>>>>> "David Z" <dave@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:bwcLg.23741$rP1.11107@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>>>>>> A car that has been properly looked after shouldn't need *any*
>>>>>> detailing inside or out when it comes time to sell. Those who need
>>>>>> to detail their cars are people who neglected the vehicle and were
>>>>>> too lazy to regularly polish and wax and what not.
>>>>> Unlike you, some people actually have lives.
>>>> You can still have a life and set aside an hour each week to wash the
>>>> car.
>>> David,
>>> A full detail usually is comprised of a wash and dry, bug and tar
>>> removal, cut-n-polish, vaccuum, and steam clean.
>>>
>>> Merely washing your car every week will not keep it in showroom
>>> condition but a full detail will restore even a poorly cared for vehicle
>>> to close to showroom condition.
>>>
>>> If you wash and dry your car properly yourself, including interior
>>> clean, it will take much more than one hour.
>>
>> What I meant was you set aside an hour each week to do whatever needs to
>> be done to the car. That hour could comprise of washing, polishing,
>> waxing, or all 3. If detailing, you can just do half the car each time,
>> or at the very least only one panel each week. You only have to
>> polish/wax maybe 3-4 times a year.
>
> David,
> The wash, dry, and vaccuum - the bare minimum - when done properly take
> more than an hour.

The interior does not get as dirty as the exterior and doesn't need to be
done as often. If you are neat and the only person in the car most of the
time, and not coming in with muddy shoes or what not, then you can keep the
interior looking very clean with little effort. Besides, the exterior is on
show for the whole world , but only you ever see the inside, so what takes
priority?

> If you are planning to polish or wax, you MUST start with a clean dry car,
> or you will damage the paint because moving the dust around with the
> polishing cloth will scratch it.

Yes, thats true. Read my other post (12:17am). You wash the whole car each
week, and then work on detailing one section each week: front, back, sides,
or roof (optional). i.e. one week you polish and wax just one side, the
next week you do the other side, the week after you do the bonnet/front
bumper/guards, etc.