| Author | Message | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 547 Registered: 6-2002 |
Don't routinely buff your cars. Cars that are well cared for should need it only a few times in their lives. Once when new (but not TOO new... paint needs to fully cure which can take months) to smooth out the factory spray. Once or twice thereafter as the years go by and temp changes, etc warp things and paint shrinks, etc. Keep good (nautral or better synthetic/polymer eg zaino) wax on her, and avoid excessive washings that put scratches in. Always use microfiber cloths, etc. Best! Ben. | ||
| J Haller (Jh355)
New member Username: Jh355 Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2003 |
why thank you dave! j | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1210 Registered: 5-2001 |
Agreed that buffing should be done judiciously and only by experienced personel. My 328 has a couple spots where it has been buffed a bit too agressively in it's past. Passenger door edge and around the exterior door pulls. Better shops would have taped those areas before starting. And like John said, foam pads would be best, reduces the pressure greatly. | ||
| J Haller (Jh355)
New member Username: Jh355 Post Number: 25 Registered: 6-2003 |
Bart Next time look to see if the detail shop uses a foam pad on there electric buffer. It's much easier to obtain constant results using this method. J | ||
| Ken Thomas (Future328driver)
Member Username: Future328driver Post Number: 459 Registered: 12-2001 |
I agree with Bill. Even when I had my junky Pontiac Grand Prix, it would take me 5-6 hours to detail the car because I was so careful and meticulous. I even used Q-tips to get dust out of nooks and crannys in the dash. Of course, at 100k miles people always commented that my car looked brand new  Unfortunately, I no longer have that much time to do a full detail myself on my E55, so I have it done by a local place that does good work. | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1346 Registered: 3-2001 |
If the detailers are buffing your car every time you get a detail, eventually you're not going to have much paint left anywhere on the car. Check the sharper corners and seams... if the guy buffed through the paint on an open panel, chances are he buffed through one of these edges too. Unless you have a paint problem, a good coat of wax should work fine. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1430 Registered: 12-2001 |
I've run the gamut from having the Pateraks detail my car for a magazine shoot at a shocking (to some) price to having my local detailer (who is quite good and does work for one of the authorized ferrari dealers as well) handle it,in half a day. I always insist that no machines be used, even though i understand that in the so-called "compounding" and polishing stages, there is no way to get the surface hot enough by hand. Nonetheless, when i took delivery of the last ferrari, i insisted that the dealer not detail it for this very reason. I agree that its best to do it yourself, and if you are talking about a serious detail once every 3 or so months, i guess that's not too demanding. It still takes me way longer to do than the average local detailer, but i guess there is a reason for that. | ||
| Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Member Username: Dom Post Number: 293 Registered: 11-2002 |
Bart, The best way to detail your car is to do it yourself. Dom | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
Junior Member Username: The_bart Post Number: 204 Registered: 1-2003 |
Since I am going to Pasadena tomorrow, I thought I would have the car washed. Yesterday, another detailer came into my office selling his service. I said why not. This morning I drove the beast and parked it in the lot for the detailer. He did a good wash job. As I was inspecting the job, he asked if someone had recently buffed the car. I said �Yes.� �Well look at this,� he said. �The paint has been burned by someone who does not know how to use a buffer.� Sure enough there is a patch on my left rear fender about the size of a half dollar which looks like crap. Will I never figure out how to get a good detailer? Maybe this guy is the answer. I guess I should roll the dice again. |