There are frequently questions about paint issues - swirls, holograms and buffer trails. Here's what a bad dealer can do and what a good detailer can fix.

 

My car looks pristine, however, if I decide to keep it after the Lease, or during the Lease decide to plan to buy it after the Lease, I'll probably get a Paint Correction anyway once my car is due to detailing. I wouldn't do one of the $1K+ ones though, just crazy. I'd probably do one of the $200-$400 ones I've found near me that seem to do great and very in depth work.

 

You don't need a $1k paint correction but remember that a proper job will take at least a full day. Once you divide the cost by the hours worked then it isn't too bad.

I suspect that MB was in the $300-400 range but don't just go to some random detailer (pun intended) - get recommendations from a detailing site like Autopia.

 

Just bought a PC7424XP w/ some Uber pads and CCS pads. I also bought Menzerna Super Intensive Polish and I already had Menzerna's final polish (or similar, the designation is PO85rd; works wonders on small scratches and can be applied by hand; doesn't even leave microswirls on the black pillars!). The kit I bought also had 2 extra polishers by Pinnacle. I bought it because I want to do a full paint correction on my S550, or at least reach my true goal of 75% correction. Hopefully, I'll be able to correctly use the machine, but in the end, the PC doesn't really mar the paint like a rotary, so I guess I'll be okay. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm glad I bought the right stuff (I think...)
Regimen for the S550 sometime next month:
- Full wash w/ Turtle Ice and Uber Wash Mitt v. 2.0, Sonax
- Clay bar (meguiar's w/ quik detailer; only going to clay hood, fenders, rear)
- PC7424 w/ Menzerna SIP (orange pad, setting 5) followed by Pinnacle #2 (if swirls remain w/yellow pad and setting 5), and then followed by PO85rd (setting 4 or 5, blue or yellow pad)
- Quik wash using Gilmour Foam Gun and mitt again
- Glaze w/ Menzerna glaze (still deciding on this step...) (white pad)
- Zaino Z5 (white pad)
- Meguiar's Ultimate Wax (probably Quik Wax version) to top it...
I plan on using Zaino's cotton white towels and the blondes for wax and zaino, although the PC also comes with 2 microfiber covers.

Hopefully, this will work lol

 

I use a Flex DA and Griot's DA. I get great results with the Menzerna products and also use the Meguiar's 105/205 combo as well. 205 is a great final polish.

 

Who's your favorite detailer in the Washington area who can do a good quality paint correction?

 

RajaVentureshield - you can tell that he also does clearbra based on his username.

Raja does an outstanding job and is very sane in his pricing. His shop is roughly where rt 7 intersects 28 - what's that, Herndon? Chantilly?

 

Ah. Virginia-land. Across the river. It's all the same once you cross the river

Thanks for the referral though I'd love to get my car completely detailed with paint correction and sealed with a good quality wax in time for the tree sap and bird poo season...

What is the name of his shop?

 

I think its Herndon. We have used him for clearbra - he is a great guy and car nut to boot.

 

Yep, Raja is a good guy. The only company "name" he goes by is "Raja Wentureshield" because he uses 3M Ventureshield clearbra.

He's done three of my cars and has replaced a piece I scratched on my rear bumper without cost.

Being a car guy doesn't hurt either.

 

Thanks so much!

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...+ventureshield

Looks very impressive. Have you tried this Ventureshield thing? This is the first I've heard of it. I was planning to just do a full detail, paint correction, and wax... I did not find much online about him doing paint correction work. Just wanted to make sure that's one of his specialties...

 

I've had Raja install Ventureshield on three cars now and I'll keep getting it. It really only makes sense on a nearly new car without too many chips.

 

So is the whole theory behind this is that it protects the clear coat and that if there are any blemishes you can get rid of them by removing and reapplying the ventureshield? Would this offer any protection from door dings?

 

Yes the clear film protects the paint from chipping. It is not thick enough to protect from door dings.

 

You can install the film on door edges to prevent self inflicted door damage. I also have it on the top of the rear bumper to prevent scratching the paint when you put stuff in the trunk.