A local high end body shop (the best in town) is wanting to charge me $175 to get my swirls and light scratches out of my Redline Roadster. They were very nice folks and are even taping up my top so it doesn't get junk on it.

I did not understand their lingo but they said they would get them out with a number #4 and use 3M.

They also stated that my micro fiber towels and California water blade could cause more swirls.

My 2 questions:

1. Is $175 to steep?

2. What else do I use beside a California water blade or micro fiber towels.

Once they are done, I am assuming I can wash with dawn and start the Zaino process all over again, UGH! Glad I only have 5 coats,

BTW, I have tried Zaino Z-5 with 4 coats and it did not even get anything out.

 

If you plan on insuring that you minimize the swirls in the future (by reducing washing reduced marring, etc.) then it probably is worth the investment. I have a new SB ZR and invested in a PC orbital polisher to do the work myself. (Dealer delivered it to me nice and swirly... )The cost of the polisher, pads, product, etc. - plus the learning curve - are going to be more expensive than what they are charging. I just know that the SB will pick up marring no matter how careful I am - and that tells me I need to learn to do it myself. Autopia.org is a great resource for these types of questions - you might try posting there to find out if the price is right...

Good luck with it - I am starting my swirl removal and Zaino process this weekend.

 

Seems about right on price, but IMO dont let a body shop do it unless they have a detail guy that does it. I have had bad luck with body / paint shops who do this kind of stuff. They just dont put the effort into it.

Usually you can get a professional detailer that does all that plus a polymer or wax. I am sure Kevin Overall will post up as that is his trade.

I recently bought all the equipment (porter cable, pads, polishes, etc) cost was right at $200. I have already done the hood roof and hatch. Very Very nice results! I am picking up my moms car today to work on it for mothers day. It is brand new with only 1000 miles but knowing her it is already swirled to hell.

 

It is a detail guy the head guy is doing it!~

 

$175 is not bad, but I do it myself. It is a little more up front cost and I recommend learning on your beater or an old bumper, might I suggest something black as it is the hardest color to master. I just got my second Z last week and while it only has 205 miles on it, I will be giving it the works this weekend from all the rail dust and the traditional dealer scrubbing. I actually use a DeWalt DW447 instead of the PC, but they are both very similar.
Oh and if you learn to do it well you can actually make your money back, I'm doing a friends Z this weekend and a truck the next week.

 

175 is not steep at all. I have a detailer clean my car a few times in the summer and the detail lasts a LONG time. It also makes cleaning the car much easier when i do it myself.

 

$175 is not bad at all. Since most scratches occur during washing and drying (dirt particles trapped in the cloth) do what I do, dry the car with a leaf blower.

 

Which leaf blower do you recommend

 

They will probably hit it with a rotary using 3M SMR and some glaze. Once the glaze wears off, you'll have swirls and scratches again. Also, the Zaino will not properly adhear to the glaze.

I don't like the california water blade, but I certainly like my microfiber.

What would they suggest other than MF?

I think you should go to autopia.org or detailcity.com and see if you can find a local small detailer. Have him give you a detailed explaination of what needs to be done and some examples of work.

Sometimes, "the best in town" body shop only means the most expensive. It did in the case of my Eclipse. They replaced a rear side window and forgot to glue it in; they did not install window guides in my passenger door so every time the window was down, it rattled.

 

Whats wrong with the California Water Blade? I like mine.

After they detail my car, I plan on washing with dawn and starting the whole Zaino process all over again.

 

IMO, the CWB can trap dirt on the edge.

I usually use a free flowing hose over my car to minimize the standing water. I then use a microfiber waffle weave towel to remove the rest of the water.

What I am trying to say is that if the detail guy covers the paint with a glaze to hide any leftover (or introduced swirls), once that glaze is removed (by Dawn or alcohol), the swirls will be back and you'll be in the same place you are now.

From your history, you've been concerned about these swirls for quite some time and I know you want to have an excellent job done for you. I just have doubts about a detail guy at the local "best in town" body shop.

Hopefully, Kevin Overall can explain this better.

 

I don't care for the blade myself, I always use the hose to sheet off most of my standing water by taking the nozzle off the hose and letting a steady stream of water run all over the surface, this removes about 90% of the standing water. I also never wash in direct sun, only in the morning or afternoon if I have to wash outdoors. 175.00 is not all that bad, BUT I would ask more questions like how many buffing stages is he going to use??? just two, three? know what you are getting for your money. I am doing a multiple stage buff on a black C5 Corvette in a few days and I am charging 100.00 just for the outside (not doing an inside clean up) , I am going to clay bar, then use either 3M Finesse It II or 3M Fine Cut Rubbing compound with one type of foam pad and the Porter Cable, then come right back with 3M Perfect It III Swirl Mark Remover with a finer foam pad, and I am going to wipe the car down all over with denatured alcohol and then doing about 2 coats of Zaino Z-5 and top that off with one coat of Zaino Z-2 Pro with Z-8 or Z-6 inbetween each coat. So as you can see, I spare no steps, I do it right or not at all. But I am rare, most detailers or body shops will do it as quick as possible to get you in and out and top off with a glaze that will hide the swirls just until the car is rained on.

BTW, the way I dry is after sheeting the water off, I use The Absorter to dab up the big water and use a DF towel to dry the car the rest of the way. I do not spend a lot of time drying actually as I always either Z-6 or Z-8 after each and every wash job so as if I miss a water streak mark here and there it is no big deal since I am going to be using the Z-6 or Z-8 anyway................