Interior Detail Advise!!

[paulzone2k]

My 2000 323ci is so damn dirty(especially carpets and leathers). I am planning to pay like $100 for detail wash including inside shampoo, leather clean, armoall...

First of all, what is reasonable price for inside detail cleaning?

For leather, should I let them clean or not? It's already worn and damaged in some areas...

Also, when I turn-on the AC, it stinks! I heard it's the bacteria inside the vent. How do I clean it? Or kill the bacteria? I heard there is spray you can use.. Do you guys think LYSOL will work?

I appreciate your advise...

Paul

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[waynestowels]

For $100, the leather should be included.
MAKE SURE they are using a HWE (hot water extractor) cleaning system. I have seen detail shops clean interior with a water hose, a pressure washer and other "systems" that soak your interior.

You do NOT want your interior soaking wet, as this will cause mold and bacteria which can be VERY hard to repair(depending on the severity).

I always recommend trying the "Lysol trick" first for "vent stink"
Go to a janitorial supply store and get the industrial strength Lysol with bacterial killer.
Spray into the intake vent(usually under the hood, below the windshield), then into the 2 center vents.

Have the setting on fresh air, run the car for at least 20 minutes or more.
You want to reach as far inside as possible to get to the source of the problem.

If this does not work, I will be carrying a specialty product that works much better than Lysol.
It is imported from Germany and is called "Klima-Cleaner".
It comes with a hose to help reach to the source of the problem and I have personally used it with great success. One can is usually enough for 2 applications.

Hope this helps

 

[coyotefreek]

$100 is quite reasonable but it depends on what they do. I dont know what the quality of their work is but if they use actual armorall then I wouldent trust them.

I have reciently been doing my own detailing busness and the following are my prices:
Interior Shampoo (Hot water extractor) and Leather Recondition $80 (about every 4 months)
Full Exterior Detail $25 and another $10 for Interior Detail ( I suggest the Interior about every 4 weeks)
Waxing $30 (I offer Zaino and P21S)

For the interior I do everything with high quality products and I dont just clean the leather I recondition it which softens it and revives its color. The exterior detail is basic, basicaly I clean the car and get into all the little groves. I do every car like it were my own so there is never any swirl marks, I use high quality 100% cotton towels. I suggest the interior every month or so where I shine everything up with the same products mentioned in my guide. I vacuum everything in detail for every wash which is something you will never find anyone do.

Now I have been recently getting into:
Complete Hand Buff and Polish (all by hand) $300

My prices are quite reasonable for the quality of what you get. I mostly just work in my neighborhood which is very rich so I mostly work on Mercedes and BMWs, a couple of Porshes. The Hand Buff I am starting is excelent, unlike using a random orbital you have much less gouging. Doing it by hand is very safe and comes out better. The cost is up there but theatreticaly if they keep using me to wash their cars then they will never find it nessary again as I dont create swirl marks when I wash the car. It is extremely time consuming and I dont do it much. When I do I bring my friend who has done the hand buffing for years and is a master at it.

paulzone2k where are you at in So Cali? Bring your car up to me and I will give you a discount.

 

[Bimmerlife]

 

[paulzone2k]

paulzone2k where are you at in So Cali? Bring your car up to me and I will give you a discount.

I live in Northridge. Where is your business located at? If it's near L.A.(20miles radius), I'll visit your place.

Paul

 

[coyotefreek]

I'm about 60 miles from Northridge.