BRH

I bought my 06 TSX before discovering this site with all its great info, and was talked into purchasing 6 discounted "Elite Club" details by the dealership in the price of the car. (A co-worker who owns a CL told me he has had his car detailed by the dealer and that this would be a good deal).

After reading numerous posts about dealership carwashes, etc that were "less than flattering", I still haven't taken my car in yet for one of these details that I've pre-paid for. After trying my own (newbie) hand at claying, polishing, waxing, etc (with a PC), I now see that my car has a good number of swirls in spite of my best (feeble) efforts. So, I think that it's time to have the car detailed professionally.

My question is: Should I take it to the dealer for one of the pre-paid details or am I better off just going to a 3rd party detailer in my area? I figure that since the Acura "Elite Club" detail is essentially free to me, I have nothing to lose -- unless my car ends up being worse off after having been detailed by the dealer, resulting in a 3rd party detailer needing to do more "corrective" work and charging me more than he would have if I had skipped the dealer altogether.

Looking for opinions on whether to try the dealer or just go directly to an independent detailer.

Thanks!

JohnCollins

There are good detailers and not-so-good detailers, as with other things in life. You could have a good or not-so-good detailer at the Acura dealer and you could have a good or not-so-good detailer at a independent shop.

Watch how they work and see if they follow the procedures you see posted here by the experts (not me. . .the experts!).

John

exceldetail

References...........

jdmturtleracin

do it yourself!!! only way to get it the way you want it!!

i spent 5 hours today...

wash, clay, wash, 3m finasse it II, wash, 3m perfect it II, wash then P21S.

i'll have pictures up tomorrow

exceldetail

4 wash cycles? Yikes!

jdmturtleracin

well... gotta wash after the clay bar to get the residue off, then finesse II and perfect II will stain the paint if not removed.... so yeah.... gotta put the effort in, but the car has one of the deepest shines ever, interior is next!!

that's why professional's charge up the booty for a full detail job!

d-rock

ummm some argue if you need to wash after your clay, i usually rinse and dry.

You dont need to wash the car after polishing; just buff off with a nice MF towel

exceldetail

Yuuuuuuuup..........

jdmturtleracin

3m polishes stain/etch the paint if not removed all the way, learned that the hard way.... i just take the extra precaution by do the extra washes!!

exceldetail

Why on earth are you using polishes that allegedly stain paint? And as for etching, that would be expected with a heavier type compound. The only time I wash a car is prior to claying. I then wipe down with MF, or waffle weave if I have elected to clay while washing. Then polish away! Remove polish, hit it with a high pressure air hose to blow of any debris that may have accumulated due to static build while removing the polish. Hit one more time with a MF, then either apply sealant or continue polishing ritual. Wallah (5 hrs later).......