Which Car Grooming Centre to Recommend?

[Heynsl]

Anyone has experience in sending their cars to grooming centre to clean/polish/wax for them?

Which car grooming centre to recommend, what are the products they use, how much they charge and how long they will guarrantee the shine to last?

 

I am pretty lazy in doing the polish/wax so think of sending my car to a groomer to do the work.

[Silgt]

I won't give any clear recommendation publicly on this forum as I have not yet come across one that met most of my basic criterias. However, below are some useful pointers that you should look out for when shopping for a detailer...

 

1) look at the quality of work done (from the completed cars) by the detailers at close range and under the clear sunlight.

 

2) ask the detailer how would they correct any of the paint defects found on your car?

A good and experienced detailer will be able to tell you on the spot what they can and will do to eliminate those defects. I have seen many detailers who will use polishes which will fill in those swirls and make it look shiny. This type of paint correction is temporary and after a few wash, the swirls will return (akind to pasting a wallpaper over a hole in the wall...a fast, easy and cheap way to get you out of their door!!!)

 

3) a detailer holding a rotary polisher does not necessary mean they are good. I have seen one (pretty famous shop too) who use a rotary with downright dirty wool pad only for removing wax/sealant (mother of God!!!!!) and the guy with the polisher was holding the rotary at a 45 degree angle!!! This type of detailer you can stay away from as it shows lack of proper knowledge and training and almost guarantees you buffing swirls no matter how "experience" the polisher is!

 

4) don't believe those detailers that promise you 18 months shine without washing your car etc etc. It is nothing more than a marketing gimmick. I can assure you no such technology existed yet. What you are paying for is nothing more than a maintenence contract and you will have to send your car to them for regular "re-application". Any good detailing centre can do the same job for you, and charge you less $$$!

 

5) money is a deciding factor but should not be the be-all-and-end-all criteria (if you are looking for a good detailing job)...a good, thorough professional work done by a well trained pro are never cheap (if they are, then they are cutting corners somewhere, guaranteed!)

 

6) after you have decided which detailer to go to, remember to set aside at least 30mins to inspect the work done under the sunlight and at close range. Get them to correct any unsatisfied work done immediately and don't accept any excuses! You are more likely to see them more willing to do any correction before you part with your money than after.

 

A little bit if homework done before spending your money will save you tons of headaches later...hope this helps

[Xcalibur]

Yo Heynsl

 

I am using services from Prime Auto Care.

They have a few pkgs (grooms both exterior, as well as interior), the most ex one includes engine clean, cost ard $800+?

As for the products, its trade secret. The groomers told me they themselves duno what brand is it, cos it comes to them in typical plastic bottles.

The good thing about such grooming centres is that they are conveniently located at shopping ctrs, e.g. Great World, WestMall, Wisma, Queenstown SC, Tiong Bahru, etc. I.e. I can go shopping or catch a movie (of cos on wknd per entry parking) while they give my car a spa session. It usu takes ard 2hrs.

And of cos the car gives showroom shine after that.

 

From my experience, if it is the 1st time u join them, they will recommend a high end pkg. Upon renewal, they will propose to you some real good deals, like mine, ard $6O+ per session.

 

Exercise discretion. Before I signed up, I went looked around. Most of them do hard sell.

 

My 2ct worth to share.

 

Thanks and have a great wknd!

 

xc

[Silgt]

As for the products, its trade secret. The groomers told me they themselves duno what brand is it, cos it comes to them in typical plastic bottles.

 

shouldn't that be a red flag and make you wanna turn and walk away? if they tell you it is a "trade secret" then chances are that they are probably hiding something, or using inferior products or just plainly have no idea what it is? (if that's the case, how are they to know how and what to use to do a proper job???)

 

...just imagine if you go in for an oil change, the workshop refuse, won't or can't tell you the type and brand of engine oil they are putting in??

Edited July 30, 2005 by Silgt

[Xcalibur]

Hi sILGT

 

Thanks for pointing out. But the reply is the same when I asked the same questions at other branches. The furthest they went is by telling me the products are from Germany. And yes, God knows? Maybe another one else here reading this can share?

 

hahahaa... well anyway, the workmanship is satisfactory, at least to me.

However, I do agree that there is another school of thought, e.g. from my mechanic, asking me how much can they do (or rush) in 2 hrs? Grooming services from his workshop typically takes around half a day. Of cos one of the reason I din go to my mechanic is his ulu location at Sin Ming. Shopping ctrs provides a more ideal location where at least I can shop and enjoy the aircon while waiting for my car to be done up.

 

I guess some of the factors we need to consider are:

 

-cost (pkg)

-convenience (location)

-workmanship (see the results of other cars they have finished polishing before you sign up?

-service and attitude (you only know the true colors usu after you signed up.

 

 

xc

[Silgt]

...his ulu location at Sin Ming

 

hey I live near Sin Ming leh

 

seriously, a typical thorough professional job (interior, exterior and fault rectification) will take more than 6 man-hours. Those 2 man-hours job are nothing more than a quick wash and wax. But then again if the cost v result are satisfactory to you, then that's what counts!

[Xcalibur]

yo silgt

 

alamak, i stay in jurong mah....

hahahahaa..... so very far for me, esp to go there, let him groom my car and then I got to find my way out to somewhere jalan....

But i do agree with you, those mechanics spend more time than typical 2hrs one. Better quality as well...

 

:(

 

xc

[Jazziegirl]

hi, you might want to try out Mr Lim's services. He does mobile polishing. see here: http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=300912

 

he comes to you, that makes it quite convenient cos you can be at home and he will be in the mscp doing.

 

Have tried his services before, to me, quite solid and the best part is, he's very willing to share his knowledge/tips on maintenance of the shine!

 

oh, and just to add, the quality of his work, when i felt jazzie's bonnet and all... waaaaaahhhhh, melt!

Edited July 30, 2005 by Jazziegirl

[Mdfaz]

thanks jazziegirl for the info..

 

from the thread, i sense that Mr Lim is giving good value for money! and he comes to my place.. maybe i wanna give it a try

[Silgt]

I sense that Mr Lim is giving good value for your money in return for an honest, no fuss job done

 

However, if you paint need more than just a quick wash & wax, you will need to look for alternative, coz I don't think Mr Lim use a machine polisher or compound/polish your car, so for the 1st time, you may still need to go to a pro grooming centre (the cavaet mentioned above applies). After that can use Mr Lim for regular maintenence...

Edited July 31, 2005 by Silgt

[Mdfaz]

actually i did system6 when i first got my ride. went there again for re-treatment and paid $60. but wasn't really satisfied...

 

this one is $40, plus he comes to my place. that is already attractive. plus the feedback about his job is very good. really considering it