Had my car detailed (Red B6 S4 Avant)...lots of pictures!
Discussion
Hi all,
My name's Tony and you may have seen me and my cars in previous detailing threads such as;
I've cleaned my white Exige
or
I cleaned my black Elise
however, this time I went all out and employed the services of Kelly at KDSKeltec (www.kdskeltec.co.uk). I've come to know Kelly, a local guy, and every time I popped in to see him I was genuiely stunned at how good he made cars look.
So, I bit the bullet and did it. I'm absolutely over the moon with the results.
Kelly did the full correction detail - so getting all those swirl marks and scratches out using a polising process and then waxing/sealing over the top of it so make it last.
As you can tell from the previous threads, I've always been pretty OTT on cleaning my cars anyway, so when I gave the car to KDS it was in not-so-bad condition anyway (look at the before photos), and any sunday-morning car washer would have been proud to see it. But the difference in the after shots really should be seen to be believed!
Less of the gibberish from me, more of the pictures. I also took the opportunity to get the wheels refurbished, because KDS is next to Lepsons Alloy refurbishment - (none of the scratches on them were from me, I stress, I'm anal about my wheels also!), but took a long time deciding on what colour to get them done (the standard finish is fairly matt), and finally decided on "black chrome, heavy on the silver". It looks neither black, nor chrome, but but looks bloomin good with the mirrors and chrome work around the windows so I'm over the moon.
Now, those pictures....!
First up, wash the car with a snow foam and jet wash...
Then some before shots. Like I say, I was quite proud with how the "befores" looked, but this really does show the difference between "enthusiastic amateur" (me) and pro (Kelly).
Still befores, but here's close ups of the swirls and marks I spoke about earlier. It's these marks that, even when full waxed and gone-all-out by me, still make the paint not quite as perfect as it could be...
and this is what he turns those scratches/swirl marks etc into....shininess!
Oh, and a before and after for the lights, too...!
and, finally, what that actually does to the car newly refurbished wheels as well. As I said, really happy about how it's turned out and I think, in the coming months (and longer) I'll be even more chuffed about how it lasts and how easy it is to clean!
My name's Tony and you may have seen me and my cars in previous detailing threads such as;
I've cleaned my white Exige
or
I cleaned my black Elise
however, this time I went all out and employed the services of Kelly at KDSKeltec (www.kdskeltec.co.uk). I've come to know Kelly, a local guy, and every time I popped in to see him I was genuiely stunned at how good he made cars look.
So, I bit the bullet and did it. I'm absolutely over the moon with the results.
Kelly did the full correction detail - so getting all those swirl marks and scratches out using a polising process and then waxing/sealing over the top of it so make it last.
As you can tell from the previous threads, I've always been pretty OTT on cleaning my cars anyway, so when I gave the car to KDS it was in not-so-bad condition anyway (look at the before photos), and any sunday-morning car washer would have been proud to see it. But the difference in the after shots really should be seen to be believed!
Less of the gibberish from me, more of the pictures. I also took the opportunity to get the wheels refurbished, because KDS is next to Lepsons Alloy refurbishment - (none of the scratches on them were from me, I stress, I'm anal about my wheels also!), but took a long time deciding on what colour to get them done (the standard finish is fairly matt), and finally decided on "black chrome, heavy on the silver". It looks neither black, nor chrome, but but looks bloomin good with the mirrors and chrome work around the windows so I'm over the moon.
Now, those pictures....!
First up, wash the car with a snow foam and jet wash...
Then some before shots. Like I say, I was quite proud with how the "befores" looked, but this really does show the difference between "enthusiastic amateur" (me) and pro (Kelly).
Still befores, but here's close ups of the swirls and marks I spoke about earlier. It's these marks that, even when full waxed and gone-all-out by me, still make the paint not quite as perfect as it could be...
and this is what he turns those scratches/swirl marks etc into....shininess!
Oh, and a before and after for the lights, too...!
and, finally, what that actually does to the car newly refurbished wheels as well. As I said, really happy about how it's turned out and I think, in the coming months (and longer) I'll be even more chuffed about how it lasts and how easy it is to clean!
Hi Tony 
Looking forward to seeing this, surely you're not going to leave it parked where you usually do on that main road now? Some of the yobs that pass by would see it too tempting for a "key'ing" I bet
Interesting that detailing place being next to Lepsoms, quite often I glance over from the train I think "must get my wheels done there some day". Imagined leaving the car there, catching the train to work and picking it up a couple of days later. Now I'd know where to garage it and pick it up considerably shinier as well
Just as a ballpark, what sort of £££'s would something like that cost? It's quite a minor detail job I'd have thought as it was hardly washed with a brillopad before...
Looking forward to seeing this, surely you're not going to leave it parked where you usually do on that main road now? Some of the yobs that pass by would see it too tempting for a "key'ing" I bet
Interesting that detailing place being next to Lepsoms, quite often I glance over from the train I think "must get my wheels done there some day". Imagined leaving the car there, catching the train to work and picking it up a couple of days later. Now I'd know where to garage it and pick it up considerably shinier as well
Just as a ballpark, what sort of £££'s would something like that cost? It's quite a minor detail job I'd have thought as it was hardly washed with a brillopad before...
Moospeed, the cost doesn't really vary by paintwork 'condition' as such (within reason). Swirls are swirls and the process to remove heavier ones doesn't take much longer than removing the finer ones. More relevant is the size of the car and the 'hardness' of the paint. A man in a van will cost a few hundred, someone like KDS will charge around 20% more but by golly it's worth it, he's in a completely different league.
Jaykaybi said:
Moospeed, the cost doesn't really vary by paintwork 'condition' as such (within reason). Swirls are swirls and the process to remove heavier ones doesn't take much longer than removing the finer ones. More relevant is the size of the car and the 'hardness' of the paint. A man in a van will cost a few hundred, someone like KDS will charge around 20% more but by golly it's worth it, he's in a completely different league.
Cheers Jaykaybi - and a man in a wolly hat and an elise, 10% more? 
I see what you're saying though... hmmmm.... food for thought cheers.
Moospeed said:
Jaykaybi said:
Moospeed, the cost doesn't really vary by paintwork 'condition' as such (within reason). Swirls are swirls and the process to remove heavier ones doesn't take much longer than removing the finer ones. More relevant is the size of the car and the 'hardness' of the paint. A man in a van will cost a few hundred, someone like KDS will charge around 20% more but by golly it's worth it, he's in a completely different league.
Cheers Jaykaybi - and a man in a wolly hat and an elise, 10% more? Moospeed said:
Hi Tony
Looking forward to seeing this, surely you're not going to leave it parked where you usually do on that main road now? Some of the yobs that pass by would see it too tempting for a "key'ing" I bet
Interesting that detailing place being next to Lepsoms, quite often I glance over from the train I think "must get my wheels done there some day". Imagined leaving the car there, catching the train to work and picking it up a couple of days later. Now I'd know where to garage it and pick it up considerably shinier as well
Just as a ballpark, what sort of £££'s would something like that cost? It's quite a minor detail job I'd have thought as it was hardly washed with a brillopad before...
Hi Steve!Looking forward to seeing this, surely you're not going to leave it parked where you usually do on that main road now? Some of the yobs that pass by would see it too tempting for a "key'ing" I bet
Interesting that detailing place being next to Lepsoms, quite often I glance over from the train I think "must get my wheels done there some day". Imagined leaving the car there, catching the train to work and picking it up a couple of days later. Now I'd know where to garage it and pick it up considerably shinier as well
Just as a ballpark, what sort of £££'s would something like that cost? It's quite a minor detail job I'd have thought as it was hardly washed with a brillopad before...
Nope, it's not left on the main road anymore - and I'm overjoyed about that! Barely 50metres down from my house is Gina's dad's house. He's just moved into his girlfriend's leaving just the other siblings, which means his garage is now going spare. Result! So, I get to park the car in their garage every night now - I'm proper chuffed, it means the finish will not get attacked by stones and crap from the main road; not least, recently, the salt gritters and then salt that gets flicked up by passing cars. It's not mega bad damage, but if you like a nice finish it certainly isn't condusive to one
I've also seen kids walk up the road and run their fingers up every car 
It worked very well having my car at Kelly's and having the wheels done too. The wheel prices are on Lepson's website - you're looking at £280 for plain silver or 320 for a chrome (which doesn't look like chrome - my wheels pictured above are called "chrome" - but just to point out
), anyhow, Kelly's just revamped his pricing structure and so it depends on the level of finish you want - but for a small/medium car (which I assume yours will be classed as, but need to check with K) and for a excellent (but not 100% perfect) correction you're looking at 400-450+vat. And that will be about 5 day's work.Quite honestly, you'll never, ever, spend a better amount on your car - especially in the run up to summer
Plus, and this is the bit I think a lot of people don't realise - although it will look stunning NOW, and for the next week or two, it's the fact that when you wash it for the next year it will look EQUALLY as stunning. So it's not just a one off clean.To clear up wheel prices, as they are not on lepsons site Tony
Asked the owner of lepsons many times why dont you put the prices on your website.
I checked with him if i can publish prices and said of course, so i am lost to why he does not
.
Tony is right i have new price structure to cover every customers requirements and budget this will also list the prices of wheel refurb for lepsons too (still waitng for website update thou) .
here is the quick version for wheel refurb's price list covering the bulk of wheels.
: All prices below are for set of 4 and leaving the car in the hands of lepsons
Painted finishes only
13” – 18” £280 / 19” £320 / 20” £340 / 21” £400 / 22” £420
Painted and polished face finishes
13” – 18” £320 / 19” £360 / 20” £380 / 21” £440
Special finishes (colour coded or chrome style paints)
13” – 18” £320 / 19” £360 / 20” £420 / 21” £440 / 22” £460
Split rim (two piece only)
13” – 18” £420 / 19” £460 / 20” £520
Time: 2 – 5 days
Kelly
Asked the owner of lepsons many times why dont you put the prices on your website.
I checked with him if i can publish prices and said of course, so i am lost to why he does not
. Tony is right i have new price structure to cover every customers requirements and budget this will also list the prices of wheel refurb for lepsons too (still waitng for website update thou) .
here is the quick version for wheel refurb's price list covering the bulk of wheels.
: All prices below are for set of 4 and leaving the car in the hands of lepsons
Painted finishes only
13” – 18” £280 / 19” £320 / 20” £340 / 21” £400 / 22” £420
Painted and polished face finishes
13” – 18” £320 / 19” £360 / 20” £380 / 21” £440
Special finishes (colour coded or chrome style paints)
13” – 18” £320 / 19” £360 / 20” £420 / 21” £440 / 22” £460
Split rim (two piece only)
13” – 18” £420 / 19” £460 / 20” £520
Time: 2 – 5 days
Kelly
Edited by kds keltec on Friday 5th March 12:28
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