Advice on what to expect from detailing?

[atalarico]

Hey all,

I have a set of Wet Okole seat covers coming in from the TacoWorld group buy, and after almost five years of abuse, I've decided that I am going to take my 4runner to get detailed. I think I've finally taken care of the big list of functional fixes and now I can start to focus on the cosmetic stuff. There are a number of things I have wanted to do my Runner for years now, and I'm just not sure what's appropriate to ask a detailer to do. I've never had a car detailed before, and I've looked around at Yelp in Denver and narrowed it down, but I also don't know what to reasonably expect to pay for some of these services.

Would anyone be able to give me some advice on whether or not I should get the following done by a detailer or maybe recommend a more appropriate place? Also, if anyone has a detailer they've taken their 4runner to in the Denver area, let me know!


Here's the list of things I think the detailer does:
-Detailing the body and touching up paint chips
-Detailing the interior (should I put off installing the seat coves until after the detailing?)
-Detailing the engine (should I hold off on this until I fix my valve cover gaskets? How much does this usually run? My engine bay is particularly filthy.)
-Tint my front windows to match factory tint, or maybe tint all windows about twice as dark as factory (cost difference between the two?)
-A few minor body repairs (re-attach one of my Limited door panel flare things, bump out a little dent in the bumper, and buff out a little run in with a cement parking lot pole)

Here's the list that I'm not sure I should ask about:
-Powdercoat or matte black paint my 3-spoke rims (I would love aftermarket rims, but I can't justify the expense)
-Rustoleum Bed Liner the Limited flares (inspired by a member's 4runner here)
-Black out my badges, valence, license plate mount


It would be great to have my 4runner smelling and looking new again. It would be even greater to have a professional make it look the way I have wanted it to look for years. I also realize that my truck is 17 years old, has 210k, and there is only so much I can do.

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[T4R2014]

I don't think detailers usually paint parts on your car. Also, the bedliner on your flares will be a pain to keep nice and will look terrible.

 

[atalarico]

I don't think detailers usually paint parts on your car. Also, the bedliner on your flares will be a pain to keep nice and will look terrible.

Got it. It must just be dependent on the detailer. This detailer said to bring factory touch up paint and he'll touch up minor chips for free, which is nice.

Yeah, I have read quite a bit on the flare bedliner issues, but the build I am emulating is CenCalifoothill15's. I don't think he's had too many issues with the method he used.

Anyway, sort of getting off topic, but I appreciate the advice!

 

[atalarico]

*bump* Anyone else?

 

[Twan]

I don't think many detailer are willing to do body work, PPR, or painting. With that said, Aloha Detailing seems to be highly recommended on another forum I'm on.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Post pics dude. This is very subjective.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Got it. It must just be dependent on the detailer. This detailer said to bring factory touch up paint and he'll touch up minor chips for free, which is nice.

Be careful, depending on your car's color it may not match right. I tried this with my grey metallic Pickup and the color match was awful even though it was the "factory" paint. Paint fades over time, but you might get away with it with a white or light colored vehicle. Also, "touch-up" paint does not include a clear coat most of the time so don't expect it to last.

A friend of mine had a Taco touched up on top of the roof and the paint peeled off quickly. What make it worse is that it took the clear coat off the existing paint and actually made it worse than if he had not had it touched up at all.

 

[slapdappy]

basically, you're having the truck thoroughly cleaned and shined inside and out. Have him clay bar it. Makes the paint sooo smooth.
tint fronts to match. Don't go darker all around. Expensive and it looks weird.
yeah, put on seat covers after the detailing.
Yelp is reliable.

 

[MyHigh]

400
That's from a local to me detail shop that does again the loc
Cal Honda, they are one of the top shops around here.
They
Wash
Claybar
Polish
Wax

Inside
Vacuum
Shampoo
Spot stain remove
Condition all plastic

I'm missing something else let me check back
Edit:
So ummm just tried to find their website and appears they closed shop, I'm at a loss they always had great reviews and a lot filled with vehicle. I worked across the street from them and was always suprised at how busy they were.

Sorry I must now find another place.....

 

[KimIsAGuy]

Here's the list of things I think the detailer does:
-Detailing the body and touching up paint chips

I used to work at a high end auto detailer. Detailing have so many aspect to it. For our cars, I'd recommend clay baring it to make the paint smooth, light to medium polish to bring back the color and shine. Depending on how bad your paint is, might require more polishing.

-Detailing the interior (should I put off installing the seat coves until after the detailing?)

Interior, steam clean or high heat extraction would do the work. (Do this over summer so it'd dry better.) With those they'd have to make sure every thing else is clean, it all depends on how OCD you are, I had to go through air vents with a q-tip to make sure the customers see no dust in the car... Deodorize it of course.

-Detailing the engine (should I hold off on this until I fix my valve cover gaskets? How much does this usually run? My engine bay is particularly filthy.)

For us, the car has to stay over over night to have the engine completely cooled down before we wash the engine bay. Not worth it, do it yourself, its not that fancy in our engine bay.

-Tint my front windows to match factory tint, or maybe tint all windows about twice as dark as factory (cost difference between the two?)

They don't do that.

-A few minor body repairs (re-attach one of my Limited door panel flare things, bump out a little dent in the bumper, and buff out a little run in with a cement parking lot pole)

Auto body repair not detailers.

Here's the list that I'm not sure I should ask about:
-Powdercoat or matte black paint my 3-spoke rims (I would love aftermarket rims, but I can't justify the expense)
-Rustoleum Bed Liner the Limited flares (inspired by a member's 4runner here)
-Black out my badges, valence, license plate mount

Paint guys not detailers.

Depending on all the options you choose will cost more. I wouldn't let some amateur detailer detail my cars, let alone wash mine... Because, you can ruin the paint, such as: scratch it, swirls, holograms, diminish some of your clear coat, and potentially lead to clear coat failure. That's caused from improper clay bar, wash, and polish. For my Runner, I just take it out to wash because its been so beat... The BMW, I do all the work myself.

The place I used to work, what I described would cost: $225 (exterior) + $300 (interior) + $50 (engine bay) = $575 total.

 

[I_bRAD]

Leave the seat covers off until the detailing is done, that way you'll have clean seats under your new covers.

 

[BrianSD_42]

4 years later, still no pics. Lame.

 

[wrench.n.wheel]

THIS.

Da heck OP?

4 years later, still no pics. Lame.