Auto Detailing After Summer Fun

Whether you drive a minivan, sports car, custom show vehicle, or a tank, it’s recommended that you get auto detailing done at least twice a year as part of your vehicle maintenance. And one of the better times to get detailing work done by professionals is at the end of the summer. An end-of-summer, back-to-school detail is never a bad idea, after all. 

What makes the detailing difference? A professional detailing is levels up from a regular car wash, providing a white glove service where more care is taken than people imagine resulting in a safe, fresh, clean, and protected look that is unrivaled. 

When you go to a car wash, you leave the work in the hands of an automated system. Automated washes will create marring which is the light scratches and swirls you see, especially on a black finish in the sunlight shown in this picture. Even when you use a touchless automated wash, the chemicals used are extremely harsh to your vehicle’s finish, which will result in dull unprotected paint, susceptible to the elements. Then for the interior, there is nothing more than a quick once over with a vacuum, and wipe down with towels that have been used on multiple other vehicles that day, spreading germs. With a professional detailing, your vehicle will be good-as-new in its cleanliness, and it will last for a much longer time, too. 

There are more than just superficial benefits to auto detailing. Professional detail jobs will extend the lifetime or resale value of your vehicle through preserving the surfaces such as paint, glass, wheels, plastic, upholstery, and carpets. Professionals meticulously remove substances that will damage the vehicles surfaces, then a protectant is applied which helps guard from the elements and contaminants.  

There are two different types of auto detailing: Interior and exterior. 

A professional interior detailing offers much more than just a vacuuming and wiping down the dashboard. It’s here that the detailers will scrub, brush, steam, shampoo, condition, and vacuum to protect your vehicle and the people in it, while restoring the old glory of that “new car smell”. Your carpets, floor mats, seats, dashboards, and more will all be treated with air-compressors, steam cleaners, and other “surgical” tools to ensure a fresh clean feeling, smell, and look. 

A professional exterior detailing goes above and beyond what you get with a machine wash. The Two-Bucket Hand Wash Method with a mild pH neutral automobile soap is the only right way to wash your vehicle. The process continues with clay barring to remove oxidation, polishing to remove marring or fine scratches, and premium paint sealants are applied to protect the finish, while enhancing shine and depth of your paint. From the smaller details of a tire dressing or immaculate door jams to larger things such as engine cleaning and smooth sleek surface, you’ll notice a night and day difference.

End of summer detailing can be a game-changer for how you view your vehicle maintenance. Preparing your vehicle for the upcoming fall and winter with a strategically-timed detailing can be a big move. Getting a professional detailing every four to six months is the recommended frequency, and will pay off big time in the long run. 

Whether you’re heading back to school or just need to prepare for the fall and winter car-wear, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at 360 Express Collision & Detailing for a professional detailing towards the end of this summer so that your vehicle is prepared for the upcoming seasons. 

Preparing For Your Lease Turn-In

End of Lease Inspection

Reaching the end of your lease can be a stressful time or an easy time-it all depends on the crucial few weeks leading up to your turn-in date. You’ve probably driven your leased car for two, maybe three years now, and it’s doubtless the vehicle has gained wear-and-tear throughout your time in it.

It happens, and lease inspectors know this, but they will still get you for a variety of issues, consisting mostly of damage that is either preventable or fixable. This is why it’s important that you prepare for an end of lease inspection in the most thorough way possible. 

It’s better to be safe than sorry in a lease inspection because it’s the leasing company, not you or an objective third party, that will be determining whether you need to pay or not.

 On average, a lease return starts about 90 days before the end of your lease. The leasing company (AKA the “lessor”) contacts you to set up an appointment for inspection. Damage that goes beyond the regular price of repairing wear-and-tear will be paid by you. 

At Time of Inspection

A lease inspection will typically take about 45 minutes. The inspector will record dents, dings, scratches, and scrapes on the exterior are noted, as are cracks and excessive pitting on the windshield and other windows. 

Tire wear and stains/tears on the upholstery are also big in an inspection. Inspectors typically use a computer program to estimate the cost of repairs. 

So, how can you prepare for your inspection so that you pay as little as possible? We recommended you take the car to a professional before, but there are a few important things you can do on your own. 

The first thing you ought to do is check out the manufacturer’s website, which will typically have a page detailing the end-of-lease process, what damage they consider most important, and their criteria. Typically, any damage that exceeds 2” in length or diameter is considered excessive.

You should take the car for an interior & exterior detail  and remove all personal items from it soon before the inspection. Make sure everything that came with the car is there when you return it: keys, floor mats, spare tires, etc. And remove any after-market additions.

We recommend getting your leasing inspection done as early as possible. Knowing what needs to be repaired sooner rather than later gives ample time to make the necessary fixes before the leasing company gets the car back. 

It’s best that you take your car to a professional, like the technicians at 360 Express Collision & Detailing, to examine your car and get it ready for an inspection. Ensuring that repairs are completed prior to inspection will result in you savings hundreds of dollars in end-of-lease fees. 

Never Wax Again! | Enjoy Easy Maintenance, High-Shine Gloss, & Protection for Your Vehicle

Your vehicle’s finish is constantly being attacked by the elements, which results in a dull finish, marred paint, scratches, and a huge headache and time waster having to constantly try to keep up with the maintenance. Wax can be beneficial, but for waxing to be of any true benefit, you’re looking at a new application every 1 – 3 months. What if there was a product though that made these worries disappear?

Thankfully, there’s another solution: Ceramic coating.

What is Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic coating is like a second layer of skin for your car, a liquid polymer applied by hand that chemically bonds with the vehicle’s factory paint, creating a hardened layer of protection.

It utilizes nanotechnology that forms a thin hydrophobic layer invisible to the eye, which results in water just beading and sliding right off. This layer is resistant to UV damage, scratches, chemicals, oxidation, and water spots. All while lasting years rather than only a few months with a premium wax.

Because of the hydrophobic nature of ceramic coatings, which is just a fancy way of saying it repels water, makes maintenance a breeze.  The repelling of water actual makes your finish self-cleaning! The dirt and grime from the elements get trapped in the water beading and slides right off and makes your washes last longer. When it is time to wash your vehicle though, your time will be cut in half. Just use a high-pressure hose and a mild PH neutral cleaner (which we can provide), and then dry with either a soft microfiber towel, or our personal favorite, a battery powered leaf blower. Our biggest ask is to use proper washing techniques to ensure your investment lasts.

Why It’s So Effective

The nanotechnology at use here is nigh-revolutionary in what it has done for car care. Companies have spent years perfecting these formulas, and we are now in prime time to reap those rewards and provide an easy maintenance protection for your vehicle. It creates harder, stronger, more effective coating than any wax on the market, providing unparalleled protection for your car.

Ceramic coating is most popular with new vehicles or high-end car owners because of its effectiveness, and it is starting to become a top choice for owners of various types of vehicles, including leased vehicles.

Are You Ready for Easy Maintenance & Lasting Protection?

If you’re in Louisville or the surrounding areas and want to learn more about the options available, contact us today. 502-215-8354