First Detail - Lessons learned

[DogParkGuy]

I have decided to detail cars for my neighbors as a side business. I wanted to have a "before and after" car to show potential customers. I asked one of my neighbors if I could detail her Volvo S40 at no cost to her. The car is five years old and has been washed 3 times at a local car wash. Lessons learned? 1. It is difficult to use too much tape to cover trim. 2. Have extra clay available, The picture is not dog cra; it is clay used just on the front end of the car. 3. You will probably underestimate the time needed to detail a car. 4. If the first attempt to remove a paint defect doesn't work, try again. It took me 3 tries to remove a mark from bird droppings. Overall, I would grade the car as a "D" before detailing. After, the grade is "C+".
Here are the before pictures.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvbefore.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvbefore3.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvbefore2.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvdet8.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvbefore4.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvdet3.jpg

Here are some after pictures:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvdet2.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvdet5.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/6192volvdet7.jpg

[Murr1525]

Looks better than just a C...

[ACE]

volvo

Matrixowner, the time you must have spent on that ride alone moves you up to a B. I agree with you about underestimating the time, you can spend 5hrs without blinking an eye. Good job!!

[FromThisSoil]

Yea, time is always an issue.

I take on average about 3 hours to just wash my own car. This includes time setting up and cleaning up and I do the undercarriage, wheel wells, rims, tires, everything...and this is when my car is only a little dirty.

The Volvo looks waaaay better though!

[RWayne]

What experience did you have prior to deciding to go in to the car detailing business?

I bet your neighbor was really happy with the free detail job.

My biggest fear is that I would accidently mess up something then be liable

[Ranger72]

Looks great man! Time flys when your shining... HAHA I spent 8 hours saturday on a mazda miata... again a little miata and it was only the exterior... haha

[Kickin Griffin]

Excellent work, that clay was in a right state! What kind of clay was it? Lovely work!

I know what you mean about the time - I had an Audi A4 a couple of weeks back, notoriusly hard paint and it was a car wash regular so the swilrs were horrifying. Took me three-days with the PC to crack it, with Menzerna Power Gloss followed by IP using the slow-cut method 1' square at a time!