With an average cost of $200-$300, one has to consider the long-term value of auto detailing. Won’t the wax wash away after a few washes? Won’t those freshly shampooed carpets be trampled on soon after the service? The seats, cup holders, map pockets…all will get dirty again.

Are the improvements of a full detail simply temporary? They’re not. Here’s 4 reasons why.

1. Prevention and repair of paint failure. Have you seen a red car that turned pink? A black car that turned gray? Even worse…a relatively young (6-10 years old) car with paint that’s peeling away? Regular waxing can prevent these conditions. Applied once a season (twice in the summer), the UV protection of wax prevents the fading of paint pigments and delaminating of paint materials. Most neglected paints (excluding peeling paint) can be repaired with a combination of buffing, polishing, and waxing. Consider this oxidized Mercedes 300E:

190E: Hood pre-polishing

190E: Hood pre-polishing

 

190E hood after buffing, polishing, and waxing.

190E hood after buffing, polishing, and waxing.



 2.  Stain removal.  Grease, food, dairy, coffee, soda, glue, paint…all the things you transport in your car can potentially stain interior surfaces.  Detailers are equipped with chemicals and machinery to remove MOST stains:  battery acid, gasoline, and certain food dyes (if left untreated for too long) require replacement of carpets and/or seating surfaces.  The water rings and beverage stains in this SUV’s rear seat were removed with a commercial strength steamer.  Consistent (every 6 - 12 months) detailing will remove interior stains before they become set and permanent. 

Stained Saturn Vue Seat

Stained Saturn Vue Seat

 

Saturn Vue seat after steaming treatment

Saturn Vue seat after steaming treatment

 

3.  Prevention and removal of brake dust staining.  Brake dust buildup–if not treated–can become permanent.  Many cars 5+ years old (BMWs are particularly sensitive to brake dusting) have permanent brake dust staining that cannot be removed.  Pro detailers use a combination of industrial-strength cleaners, brushes, and pressure washing to remove heavily caked on brake dust from your vehicle’s wheels. 

Heavy brake dust build up in BMW wheel

Heavy brake dust build up in BMW wheel

 

BMW wheel after chemical treatment and pressure washing.

BMW wheel after chemical treatment and pressure washing.

 

4.  Water Spot Removal.  Water spots on paint and glass surfaces are common and very difficult for the do-it-yourselfer to remove.  Professional car detailers use a combination of compounds, chemicals, buffing, and polishing to permanently remove water spotting.

Audi A4 window with hard water spot stains

Audi A4 window with hard water spot stains

 

Audi A4 window after water spot removal.

Audi A4 window after polishing

 

Thus, it’s clear that a professional car detailer can make permanent improvements to your vehicle that maintain its like-new appearance during your ownership and preserve its value when it’s time to sell or trade it in.  In fact, one could expect a large % of their investment in detailing to be returned to them when their car is sold.

View 40+ photos and even a video of our work at Ace Car Reconditioning here.