E39 M5 wheel re-furb -Lepsons and KDS detail

[Sideways Rich]

Afternoon all,

I've decided to freshen up the M5 starting with a wheel refurbishment, I think Lepsons have a good rep in achieving the original shadow chrome finish.

Has anyone used them, any experiences to share?

I also see they're right next to KDS detailing so I'm tempted to try and get the beast detailed at the same time.

Has anyone here used KDS for a detail, Kent is a fair trek for me, but happy to travel for a good job, and they seem to have a first class reputation.

Cheers
Rich

[Sideways Rich]

Handy, thank you, will check it out.

[Sideways Rich]

shuggett said:

That dosen't need thinking about to be honest,
KDS will do a fantastic job of your car, they will also get Lepsons to refurb your wheels
For you while they have your car.
KDS have doner wheels to put on your car whilst Lepsons have them.
So you get a full seamless service, simples !!

Perfect, will ping KDS an email to see what availability they have.

[Sideways Rich]

sutts said:

I recently treated my Z4MC to a Gold paint correction at KDS and Lepsons refurbed the wheels at the same time. You won't find better outfits.

Looks a cracking job, decision made, will drop them an email to see when I can drop the car in.

Thanks all.

[Sideways Rich]

Jaykaybi said:

I fully recommend both KDS and Lepsons. Money's where my mouth is, but I've also seen a lot of KDS' work on other peoples' cars and it always exceeds expectations.

Thanks very much always good to hear firsthand of other happy customers.

[Sideways Rich]

J-P said:

Sideways Rich. A couple of years ago I had an E92 M3, which had terrible orange peel. I spoke to Kelly at KDS, who told me I could have the car wet sanded. Whilst the car was there he noticed some very slight scuffs on the alloys and recommended Lepsons to refurb them. The job on both counts was utterly magnificent.

I posted some details and pics about the work on PH. See below:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

That is an amazing job, it's incredible the finish he achieved. Can't wait to get mine done now!

[Sideways Rich]

RALEX72 said:

Funny all these recommendations for KDS.

I read some really good things about them on forums, and in magazines. Wanting both my M5 and X5 correcting I gave them a call.

Still waiting for a ring back; from February!!!!

Perhaps drop them an email, contacted them over the weekend and they came back first thing, car is booked in for the end of the month.

[Sideways Rich]

I've been meaning to update this for a while with the results, I think they speak for themselves.

KDS were absolutely first class, I had very high expectations with all the good press they receive on PH however they surpassed those.

Their attention to detail (no pun intended :-)) was exceptional as was their customer service, if you're deliberating don't, just do it!

Some pics;

[Sideways Rich]

thepony said:

Do KDS deal with dents?
Do KDS deal with stone chips ? How do they deal with them ?

Thanks :-)

Would be surprised if they didn't, they touched up a couple of stone chips on the front end of mine.

[Sideways Rich]

nickrex said:

Can you give an idea of cost?

Hi, I went for the Silver detail so paid £680 + VAT for the detail and £428 + VAT for the wheel re-furb at Lepsons, all in circa £1300 VAT included.

When you see the amount of work these guys put in to transforming the condition of the paint it's actually good value in my opinion.

[Sideways Rich]

Jaykaybi said:

With respect, you're thinking about it absolutely the wrong way:

20,000 square foot dedicated detailing unit, a controlled environment that's covered, lit, protected from all the elements...

Every imaginable tool, product and facility invested in and available at all times, rather than a 'one size fits all' approach with no flexibility if your paintwork is particularly hard, or soft, or thin, or whatever...

Extreme security (copious CCTV, bolted iron gates, shutters, alarms and anti-ram posts) and properly registered professional accountability...

PROPER insurance (this is a big, big one, as you would be surprised how few detailers have the level of cover you would reasonably expect)...

All the above plus the fact Kelly has been painting and detailing at this level for a quarter of a century, and has a first-hand, marketing-BS-free understanding of what he and the products are actually doing (backed up with substantial engineering based qualifications)....

It's pretty clear that a man in a van is not a like for like comparison. I know. I considered becoming one, after encouragement from detailing a few mates cars. I was young, and would have been winging it. To a layman, I could get 80% as good results as KDS can get, and I'd charge you 50% of his prices. However, my luck would inevitably have eventually run out. Maybe 50 smiling happy customers down the line I could have burned through your car's paintwork. I would have been screwed. And so would you.

Hear hear!

[Sideways Rich]

playalistic said:

Looks





(except for the super chav illegally spaced number plate)

Firstly well spotted, secondly agreed, my father went through a spate of buying 'under-valued' no. Plates, he asked me to put this one on to 'market' it. Time to remove it, will do this when I sell the car soon.

[Sideways Rich]

[quote=playalistic]
Woohoo. Now it's perfect [/

Indeed, it's impressive the improvement they've made, looks like the car has been re-painted.

[Sideways Rich]

kds keltec said:

Guys

Firstly the car in this thread also had above detailing , the bonnet wet sanded due to poor paint finish that would not polish back with your standard paint correction ( very limited by the amount detailers that know how to or would take on such a job)

deep scratches ,



dull no reflection paint






then wet sanded before machine correction



and after the wet sanding and correction takes place to leave this finish.









and then the seats were re-coloured to bring them upto the condition of the rest of the car ,





I have trained over 120 people this year , with 14 being one 2 one for many days poeple traveling as far a field as Australia , i have noticed a few errors with in all the pro detailers that i have trained so far , and during and after training there is a light bulb moment .

the easiest way (All thou no where near what i demo and describe while training is in these threads)


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


A detailer from a Van i am not and we do so much more than just "detailing"





my view while fully wet sanding nearly new BMW



we even polish the carbon floors of supercars if need be



And this does not come from your standard detailing on our drive way , home garage (but not knocking such as long as the customer is happy with results thats all that matters)





Oh edit to say we did touch in the stone chips on the E39 M5 bonnet too .



Kelly

Edited by kds keltec on Thursday 4th October 10:02

Edited by kds keltec on Thursday 4th October 10:48

Thanks again Kelly, I had extremely high expectations with everything I'd read about KDS, however I have to say the service I received surpassed those and then some! it really did transform the car and freshen it up.

Rich

[Sideways Rich]

E39 M5 said:

i want my car back, looks stunning Rich you've looked after it well

brings back loads of memories and wish i never sold it to you lol

How's it going mate? Yes, definitely worth looking after these, the car has been first class.

Moving abroad so may sell it or store it until I get back, haven't decided yet.

[Sideways Rich]

kds keltec said:

Thanks Rich ,

like to hear feed back like this

You would not know , but i used to own same car , and what a car actually impressed me more than my M3.

Here is my own car that i sold to move forward with business some time ago .







this car i fully wet sanded to give possible finish



leaving this



up close










Why did i sell it i dont know , really should of kept it looking back .

Kelly

Lovely M5, that finish is class, know what you mean re the M5 vs M3, I had an E46 M3 Cab and prefer the M5 hands down, love the torquey V8.

[Sideways Rich]

E39 M5 said:

I'm good mate, been kept busy so everythings going well, how's things with you?

where you off to?

i would have offered to buy it back but since i sold it, i'v bought 2 more E39 M5's because i missed it soo much, i'v got one in LeMans Blue and one in Carbon Black having 3 would be greedy lol

let me know what your plans are pm me if you want.

Will drop you a PM mate.

[Sideways Rich]

Kelly, how often should the car get waxed? Planning a mini winter detail just to keep the amazing finish you guys achieved?