Smartshine detailing And gtechniq - advice and reviews?
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm wanting to get my tvr fully detailed and paint protected following a full strip and colour change early 2015. Colour is now Toyota blackish red, a great colour that fires red metallic when the sun hits it.
Trouble is being a tvr and hence fibreglass the paint is naturally quite soft hence the gtechniq to try and give it a little chance to be harder.
Had a nice chap out yesterday for a quote called Harvey, from smartshine detailing in Bedford who quoted 750 to have the car 2 days. This will be a full snow foam wash, clay, full paint correction then 2 stage gtechniq finishing with the crystal serum on both the body and the wheels.
Firstly does this sound about right? Anyone used him before? He comes highly recommend by a friend and had done numerous high end supercars but I just want to make sure before handing over my own p&j. Any other thoughts on the products and or alternatives?
I'm wanting to get my tvr fully detailed and paint protected following a full strip and colour change early 2015. Colour is now Toyota blackish red, a great colour that fires red metallic when the sun hits it.
Trouble is being a tvr and hence fibreglass the paint is naturally quite soft hence the gtechniq to try and give it a little chance to be harder.
Had a nice chap out yesterday for a quote called Harvey, from smartshine detailing in Bedford who quoted 750 to have the car 2 days. This will be a full snow foam wash, clay, full paint correction then 2 stage gtechniq finishing with the crystal serum on both the body and the wheels.
Firstly does this sound about right? Anyone used him before? He comes highly recommend by a friend and had done numerous high end supercars but I just want to make sure before handing over my own p&j. Any other thoughts on the products and or alternatives?
He isnt located on the Gtechniq Accredited Detailer list http://gtechniq.com/detailing-services/
List may need to be updated though, he would need to be accredited to use Crystal Serum and give you the warranty
List may need to be updated though, he would need to be accredited to use Crystal Serum and give you the warranty
Edited by jayplay28 on Sunday 17th January 12:07
Thankyou for that. I swear he mentioned crystal serum yesterday but it could have been exo as looking on his website that's what he states - http://www.carvaletingbedford.com/
Hi Tony
Can't comment on the company/man in question but price wise for a 2 day detail seems about right.
I have used a guy on here (paddy328) a couple of times, he is mobile and works on a lot of the Aston Martins for members. Highly recommended, he is approved for the Crystal Serum and having had that put on the blue Vantage I was very impressed with results and in the few months after that I had the car for it certainly was hard wearing and seemed to repel a fair amount of the crud that used to stick to it before the treatment.
After your previous problems I hope you are pleased with the new paint job, queue an excuse for you to put up a few photos to show it off.
Kev
Can't comment on the company/man in question but price wise for a 2 day detail seems about right.
I have used a guy on here (paddy328) a couple of times, he is mobile and works on a lot of the Aston Martins for members. Highly recommended, he is approved for the Crystal Serum and having had that put on the blue Vantage I was very impressed with results and in the few months after that I had the car for it certainly was hard wearing and seemed to repel a fair amount of the crud that used to stick to it before the treatment.
After your previous problems I hope you are pleased with the new paint job, queue an excuse for you to put up a few photos to show it off.
Kev
I've no personal experience of the company in question, however his website isn't particularly straightforward which to me isn't a good first impression.
As Jay said above he doesn't appear to be Gtechniq accredited so shouldn't have access to Crystal Serum, however Crystal Serum Lite is launched at the end of this month and is available to anyone so he may be referring to this.
In terms of cost I'd say this is towards the upper end of the scale for a 2-day Detail including coating application.
ATB
Chris
As Jay said above he doesn't appear to be Gtechniq accredited so shouldn't have access to Crystal Serum, however Crystal Serum Lite is launched at the end of this month and is available to anyone so he may be referring to this.
In terms of cost I'd say this is towards the upper end of the scale for a 2-day Detail including coating application.
ATB
Chris
Thanks guys - Given the luck I've had with my car paintwork (Kev knows what I mean) I'm naturally a little cautious over who I use and spend my hard earned with. Not saying theres anything wrong with this company but I'm not as confident as I was a couple of days ago.
Kev - the chap you mention is based in Warwickshire - do you know if he still covers our area?
Kev - the chap you mention is based in Warwickshire - do you know if he still covers our area?
Panic not people, I'm here lol. Just got back after a little road trip for 4 days, doing an enzo and a Db9.
As for harvey, i wouldn't ever bad mouth another detailer, but he is not one of the ones i would recommend to people if i couldn't do the car, plus as far as i am aware, he doesn't have access to crystal serum.
The price however, is quite fair. I charge £350 per day and i would charge an extra £200 for the crystal serum. I do work longer days than most detailers though and typically do 14 hour days. Kev is right in that i travel nation wide, i just need a decent sized garage and a water and power supply.
Im happy to offer advice on products and people if needed.
Francis
As for harvey, i wouldn't ever bad mouth another detailer, but he is not one of the ones i would recommend to people if i couldn't do the car, plus as far as i am aware, he doesn't have access to crystal serum.
The price however, is quite fair. I charge £350 per day and i would charge an extra £200 for the crystal serum. I do work longer days than most detailers though and typically do 14 hour days. Kev is right in that i travel nation wide, i just need a decent sized garage and a water and power supply.
Im happy to offer advice on products and people if needed.
Francis
I must point out that like the normal crystal serum, serum light is best applied the day after it has been washed. Should the sealant come into contact with any water, it will instantly cure and smear on the paint, which will need polishing off straight away. This is one of the reasons it wasn't sold to the public, as if some bloke applied it on his driveway straight after washing the car, he would be in a whole world of trouble.
Thanks Paddy and point duly noted about recommendations.
Do you have any thoughts on my local (authorised Gtechniq) detailer Warman detailing – based in Rushden?
More than happy to give you a call otherwise but I’m pretty much at top budget so after some advice first and foremost.
Do you have any thoughts on my local (authorised Gtechniq) detailer Warman detailing – based in Rushden?
More than happy to give you a call otherwise but I’m pretty much at top budget so after some advice first and foremost.
Edited by Zippee on Friday 22 January 14:53
paddy328 said:
Always glad to help. Give Andy a call and see what he can do for you or I'm happy to come to you or give you any advice you may need.
Thanks Paddy. Booked in this weekend with Andy and leaving it with him for a few days for a full paint correction and crystal serum application. My garage is way too dusty at present for this sort of thing hence I needed to take it rather than have it done mobile. daryloffsetdetailing said:
He can use Serum Light, which is basically 80% of what the normal Serum is. You don't need to be accredited for that. You can buy it online easy peasy.
Yes it can be bought online by anyone, however if its applied by a Gtechniq accredited detailer it comes with the Gtechniq WarrantyGassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff