Car detailing

[Ken_Code]

I’ve got my car booked in for front-end PPF in a couple of weeks, and would like to make sure that the paint that it’s going onto is in good condition, so assume that what I need done first is having it “detailed.”

I’m aware that this is likely a totally naive question, but is there any way to tell if it’s needed other than asking a detailed?

The paint looks good to me, but I’ve no idea if it could look much better, and don’t particularly want to spend £500 if it’s not really going to make a noticeable difference.

The car’s a four year-old Ferrari with 6,000 miles on it, and seems to have been very well looked after.

There also seem to be a few different treatments available, at different prices. As someone who generally just gets their car washed, I’ve no idea what makes sense. I’ll ask the guy at the detailers, but would appreciate some input from here too.

[shtu]

Leave it to the person installing the film. Surface prep is part of their job. (and also means there's no wriggle-room at a later date)

[Ken_Code]

They’ll only be doing the parts that the film is going on, if Ivwant the whole car detailed they won’t want to do that, and I prefer it done before the film goes on.

[alscar]

They are the professionals but you are the customer.
If you want your whole car detailed and then only parts covered by PPF that is your call and they will price accordingly.
No point in having PPF on an unprepared surface - you’ll just be sealing in imperfections.

[Ken_Code]

alscar said:

They are the professionals but you are the customer.
If you want your whole car detailed and then only parts covered by PPF that is your call and they will price accordingly.
No point in having PPF on an unprepared surface - you’ll just be sealing in imperfections.

I don't understand, sorry. I am having PPF applied by a company that does only PPF. Separately I am asking for advice here about having my car detailed by a car detailing company.

[the-norseman]

Take it to a petrol station at night under the lights, you will see all the swirl marks then and that will confirm it needs polishing.

[alscar]

Ken_Code said:

I don't understand, sorry. I am having PPF applied by a company that does only PPF. Separately I am asking for advice here about having my car detailed by a car detailing company.

My bad then.
Personally I would want one company to do both.
Unless they are in the same location getting your car detailed first ( if that’s what is needed ) then driven elsewhere for PPF seems a slight risk.
I’m not a huge fan of PPF but car dependent have had it.
My Exige was detailed , PPF whole front etc then ceramic coated elsewhere on the body.
My R8 detailed and then ceramic coated all over with no PPF etc.

[alscar]

Sorry should have added as your Ferrari is already 4 years old I’ve no doubt any detailer will tell you it needs doing obviously !
Once they show you the swirls under ultra violet light you’ll be convinced too.
The bit I don’t understand is why you would get PPF done without detailing unless the installer is actually “ detailing “ the bonnet first ?

[RazerSauber]

Get a well reputed detailer to do the detail first, then have PPF on. You get what you pay for too, so don't skimp on a £50 polish when you've got a vehicle of significant worth having a fair few quid spent on PPF.

[Ken_Code]

alscar said:

My bad then.
Personally I would want one company to do both.
Unless they are in the same location getting your car detailed first ( if that’s what is needed ) then driven elsewhere for PPF seems a slight risk.
I’m not a huge fan of PPF but car dependent have had it.
My Exige was detailed , PPF whole front etc then ceramic coated elsewhere on the body.
My R8 detailed and then ceramic coated all over with no PPF etc.

This is for my Portofino, and I’m getting the front and the sills done. It’s quite low, and I’ll likely be putting quite a few miles on it.

[Alex_225]

For the PPF to adhere the surface would have to be prepped and completely grease free, so panel wipes or similar I'd assume.

If the paint needs to be detailed as in decontaminated and swirl correction, that may be considered a different job as it's cosmetic but not essential.

I'd ask the person installing the film if it's part of the service. If the paint does have any blemishes (swirls/small scratches etc.) they would be trapped under the PPF and may bother you. If you're not fussed then it likely won't cause you an issue.

[Deep Thought]

alscar said:

Ken_Code said:

I don't understand, sorry. I am having PPF applied by a company that does only PPF. Separately I am asking for advice here about having my car detailed by a car detailing company.

My bad then.
Personally I would want one company to do both.
Unless they are in the same location getting your car detailed first ( if that’s what is needed ) then driven elsewhere for PPF seems a slight risk.
I’m not a huge fan of PPF but car dependent have had it.
My Exige was detailed , PPF whole front etc then ceramic coated elsewhere on the body.
My R8 detailed and then ceramic coated all over with no PPF etc.

+1

On the remote off chance something goes wrong with the PPF, the installer has noone else to try to move responsibility to.

[LittleBigPlanet]

Personally (and what I did), I'd take the car to a company that can do the entire process--why use two firms?

I had my RS6 ceramic coated and PPF applied to front-facing areas (the whole car was of course machine polished etc before applying the PPF>ceramic coat).

[drmotorsport]

I would be looking for a company that does the paint correction as well as the PPF so it's a one stop shop and they are on the hook for any overall imperfections. The car may just only need a single stage polish, but depending on condition a more involved 3 stage compounding paint correction procedure.

[shtu]

The way the OP was written was a little confusing. You want the whole car done first, fine. But,

Deep Thought said:

On the remote off chance something goes wrong with the PPF, the installer has noone else to try to move responsibility to.

I too would want one outfit to do the entire job.Otherwise, in the event of a problem,

Detailer - It's that rubbish film he used, it's not installed properly, blah blah blah.
PPF Fitter - It's that dolphin-tears polish he used, the surface wasn't prepared properly, blah blah blah.

Treat it as one job.

[Ken_Code]

LittleBigPlanet said:

Personally (and what I did), I'd take the car to a company that can do the entire process--why use two firms?

I had my RS6 ceramic coated and PPF applied to front-facing areas (the whole car was of course machine polished etc before applying the PPF>ceramic coat).

I’d booked in with a company to do the PPF before thinking about getting it detailed, and don’t now want to pull out of that.

[shtu]

Ken_Code said:

I’d booked in with a company to do the PPF before thinking about getting it detailed, and don’t now want to pull out of that.

Well, that sort-of negates the entire thread. It's a PH bait-and-switch classic...

- Ask for advice.
- Exclude key info.
- Get sensible advice.
- Reveal key info, decide to ignore sensible advice.

Put your big boy pants on and find a firm that can do the whole job.

Also, gone off the idea of DIY? https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[alscar]

Ken_Code said:

I’d booked in with a company to do the PPF before thinking about getting it detailed, and don’t now want to pull out of that.

Problem is detailing first is the important piece.
Personally I’d be going back to them and say you’ve been thinking about detailing first so is that something they can do or recommend someone else they work with.
I’ve not heard of many companies that just do PPF in isolation.

[Zetec-S]

You admit you usually just get the car washed and other than thinking that the paint looks like it's in good condition, you admit you don't really understand the process or know if it really needs it.

At a rough estimate your garage is worth anything from a quarter to half a million. You are paying for PPF on a 4 year old Ferrari which has to be worth at least 6 figures. Yet you're hesitating over a couple of hundred quid for a professional to detail it?

I'm not having a pop at you, and appreciate that people who are (relatively) wealthy don't tend to get there by spunking money up the wall left, right and centre, but surely for peace of mind it's worth spending the money on. If you're going to the trouble of PPF then you might as well do it properly rather than having regrets further down the line.

[Gericho]

I think the PPF company will apply a degreaser that could remove the wax/ceramic protection done by a detailer. You want paint correction and then PPF applied immediately after ideally.