View Full Version : New to the Bay Area, need to find a good detailer
grimlock
08-08-2010, 05:33 PM
Greetings! I recently just moved from the Northwest (Portland) down to SF. I have been a pretty active member on the AZ scene up in Portland and I look forward to meeting some Audi enthusiasts down here!
I wanted to get some recommendations on good detail shops down here in the Bay Area. I park my car in a secure underground garage but today I noticed that there was some sort of liquid that had dripped all along the car, possibly a leak from some pipes above [evilmad][evilmad][evilmad]. I've wiped off what I could with water and a mild detergent but there is definitely some residue that will most likely require a clay bar or some polish.
Anyways, a few pictures I snapped of my ride:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0149.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0148.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0147.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0146.jpg
Anthony
08-08-2010, 06:57 PM
Do you both live and work in the North Bay (San Francisco area)? I only know detailing shops in the South Bay (San Jose area).
nunya
08-08-2010, 06:57 PM
AJ's in San Jose gets my vote.
apatchin
08-08-2010, 07:06 PM
from a fellow portlander, welcome to the bay.
where you living in the city?
grimlock
08-08-2010, 08:20 PM
Do you both live and work in the North Bay (San Francisco area)? I only know detailing shops in the South Bay (San Jose area).
I work in the South Bay, so any in the San Jose area would be fine as well!
grimlock
08-08-2010, 08:21 PM
from a fellow portlander, welcome to the bay.
where you living in the city?
Hi! I think Jeremy (from Matrix) mentioned you to me once (at least your moniker). I'm living in the Mission right now. Always good to hear from a fellow PDX'er [:)].
grimlock
08-08-2010, 08:22 PM
Did some quick searching and so far these places look ok:
http://www.mikescustomdetail.com/
http://www.acdetailing.net/index.html
Anyone have experience?
nunya
08-08-2010, 10:17 PM
http://www.ajautodetailing.com/
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NtFoX03bmho/TC0bOWOnpaI/AAAAAAAAqoM/fzmeYk7DlGo/IMG_20100701_154408.jpg
pdxa4
08-08-2010, 10:52 PM
Welcome to the Bay Area...
From someone that loved up in Portland for a long time...
AvanTTix
08-09-2010, 11:10 AM
I've brought both the Avant and the TT to Jim@CaliforniaDetailing (http://www.californiadetailing.com/) in the city, the Avant after I moved from BC and the TT after I bought it used, and they bought came out amazing. The paint felt like glass, the interiors were immaculate. They get to every little corners, places only a freaky/picky car's owner would think off.
will175
08-09-2010, 12:41 PM
Hey I think my post got deleted. Mods did I do something wrong? Sorry if I did.
AvanTTix
08-09-2010, 01:05 PM
One needs to be an AZ Advertiser to offer services... [;)]...
Anthony
08-09-2010, 03:22 PM
I work in the South Bay, so any in the San Jose area would be fine as well!
In that case, I second the recommendation of AJ Auto Detailing in San Jose. It's up the street from the SJ Airport and is where I take my cars.
grimlock
08-09-2010, 04:45 PM
Thanks for all the responses! I spoke with several detailers today and all of them told me that in their experience water or liquid that drips from a parking structure roof usually contains chemicals or minerals that are detrimental to a the paint and can eat through the clear coat. I'm going to take the car in tomorrow morning to a paint shop to have them to an assessment first in order to figure out if the paint is damaged. I'm praying that this isn't going to require something like a full respray. Here are some pics that I snapped with my phone. As you can, see the stuff pretty much got everywhere and isn't contained to a single spot:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0154.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0153-1.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b39/shengliz/IMG_0156.jpg
apatchin
08-09-2010, 05:08 PM
Hi! I think Jeremy (from Matrix) mentioned you to me once (at least your moniker). I'm living in the Mission right now. Always good to hear from a fellow PDX'er [:)].
holy shit dude. that is alot worse than i pictured. did you talk with anyone who works there? let us know how it goes.
yep thats me, got a lot of work done @ Matrix, Jeremy is the man. Mission is a fun place to live! Just hope you have parking spot. Good luck with the detail.
ruphianh
08-09-2010, 09:14 PM
WOW!
AvanTTix
08-10-2010, 10:50 AM
That's crazy... [o_o]...
Did that happen overnight or over a few days? I would totally be pissed off if my car was covered w/ crap falling off the ceiling. Have you talked to the company managing your building?
grimlock
08-10-2010, 11:12 AM
Well, got some encouraging news. I took the car down to German Auto Body in San Jose and Jon took a look. He was actually able to wipe some of the residue off with just some rubbing alcohol. Then he tried a bit of lacquer and that appeared to pretty much take it all off. So at this point it's looking like a detail is going to be the first option. I also stopped by AJ's detailing and he said that they can take it off without having to use an aggressive polish, so I think I might give that a shot.
That's crazy... [o_o]...
Did that happen overnight or over a few days? I would totally be pissed off if my car was covered w/ crap falling off the ceiling. Have you talked to the company managing your building?
It's hard to say how much time it happened over. The last time I drove my car was last Monday, and I didn't notice the stuff until Sunday. I have already contacted the management company of the building. The building and garage is actually brand new, so the developer has liability since there is absolutely no excuse for liquid of any type to be dripping from the ceiling, especially onto parked cars. They have expressed that they're willing to take responsibility though, which is good.
I would say do NOT take it to AJ's. I have fixed many cars that came from AJ's, and would happy to give you referrals as to why they don't go there anymore [;)]. They will do more damage to your car than they will fix it. It will look good for about 5 days because they put a heavy filling glaze, and then once the glaze evaporates off, you will see holograms and swirls that weren't there before. They do not do quality work--they are a VOLUME shop.
Do you take your car to jiffy lube, or to a dedicated audi service shop?
grimlock
08-11-2010, 10:33 AM
I would say do NOT take it to AJ's. I have fixed many cars that came from AJ's, and would happy to give you referrals as to why they don't go there anymore [;)]. They will do more damage to your car than they will fix it. It will look good for about 5 days because they put a heavy filling glaze, and then once the glaze evaporates off, you will see holograms and swirls that weren't there before. They do not do quality work--they are a VOLUME shop.
Do you take your car to jiffy lube, or to a dedicated audi service shop?
Dedicated shop of course [:)]. Car is still under warranty but for all other work I'm planning on taking it 034.