Take everything I own. Just don't take my detailer...

Well, it took almost 5 years (and I went through at least 10 detailers) but I FINALLY found someone who is as good as the person I used to use in SoCal. I don't know about you guys, but I get a serious rush from watching a truly pro detailer bring my car back to new. This guy isn't just good, he's insanely good. So much better than the other so-called "pros" working the CT/NY region that it's laughable. Thought I'd share a few photos of my car looking brand new again with over 40k miles on the clock.

Who did you use in SoCal? BTW...looks awesome.

Where is he located and is he mobile, or do you bring the car to his location? Car looks awsome. I assume that's guards red.

Man, nice detail job. With your aluminum accent package option on your interior, you MUST get some aluminum gauge rings. They tie the whole interior together.

That red center console looks great on the gray leather. Did you ever think about doing the horseshoe?

My best guy in SoCal was Ric Amato. Ric had a thriving business based primarily on the Paramount lot which was where I met him. That was almost 10 years ago so no idea if he's still detailing but I would guess he is and could probably be tracked down. Ric was a genius. I used to watch him hand-mix touch up paint 100% by eye that was always a perfect match and much better than the dealer stuff. He could lay that stuff in and wet-sand it down until the chip or scratch never existed. Of course, I had LOTS of good guys in SoCal. In fact, my worst guy there was better than my best guy out here (until now). Cali is such a car culture compared to the east coast... most of the detail/car audio/aftermarket guys out here would be laughed out of business if they moved to SoCal.

Your car looks great. I agree with Melchior, aluminum gauge rings would look great in your car.

He's mobile. Although just barely with all the equipment he travels with. You know you've found the right guy when he shows up and asks how many power outlets you have in your garage because he's going to plug in so much equipment that he "usually ends up blowing a fuse or two".

lol. They're sitting in my office along with my new red gauge faces. Just another weekend project I'm looking forward to!

our east coast ppl barely get time to wash our cars...... let alone detailing....

In red? I've never seen one. Where do you get it?

Eric at bumperplugs.com. This pic comes straight from his website.

Ah, yes. I had seen that. It's more tempting that it comes from Eric. He's always taken great care of me. I'm doing a custom stereo/nav/radar detector/ laser jammer install beginning of August so the car will be torn apart. Might look at doing it then. Thanks for the heads up.

OK...sorry I got your PM before I had read this post. Thanks much for the leads...SoCal is so into cars as you say...I might just take the turbo out there some day. For now I just need some one to take care of the cars so I don't have to do squat when I'm there

The Detailing shops that I have come across in MD are a joke. Employees are typically minimum wage guys and they focus on getting jobs done quickly and inexpensively to attract a large number of customers. I have yet to see a high end car at any of these places.

Anyone have a very good detailer in Houston? I have been through 3 so far and they still don't do everything right.

Sean's work looks outstanding as alaways. You're lucky enough to have found one of the best in the industry. Andy

I know Sean personally and can attest to his work along with his perfection. He uses the finest polishes (Menzerna and Optimum) and has the best skills with a rotary that I've ever seen in a long time! He's very skilled with a rotary, knows which pads/polish match what has to be done with minimal paint finish removal (clearcoat). I'd trust him with my previous customer's Enzo anytime. Not many detailers know how to properly use a rotary and I'd advise anyone who is not skilled to avoid using a rotary. Only use a R/O (Random Orbital) such as a Porter Cable or the newer one, same design, but less vibration called "Ultimate Detaling Machine" from Autopia Ultimate Detailing Machine also from a Porsche owner. He now does limited work due to his career, but if you ever get the opportunity to have him work on your car, consider yourself lucky! Sean is always welcome to work on my black 997 C2S!!! Regards, Deanski

Have you visited the regional boards on www.autopia.org? You may be able to find someone there...

If they take everything you own, then there'll be nothing to detail...

just a quick question: Have you attempted to do the detailing yourself? While its certainly a skill, it's one with a steep learning curve. Once you have the knowledge you aren't going to lose it and not much changes in that business for years. And with nearly all high end detailing products availble to consumers via the internet, you'll find that 90% of the work is done by the product. And these high end products for the most part are very concentrated yet safe so you'll spend less time with little risk of doing damage. I recommend using pros to friends when I see that their expensive cars are in bad shape. A $500 expense can do wonders for a neglected car, rather than shelling out thousands for a repaint. But for well maintained sunday drivers most "maintenance" work I think is very much within the enthusiast scope of ability. Like changing your air filter. You don't need to pay the dealer $150 to do it, you just need to read up on the basics and you'll end up saving thousands of dollars.

who is doing the laser jammer, radar installation? i have a great guy in NYC that has done work on both of my cars. btw, you said the detailer was mobile. seeing that i keep my car in a public garage could i take the car to him?

So who's the detailer and what does he generally charge for our cars?

I respect your opinion but I'm on the other side of this one. I am definitely an educated car-care consumer. I buy my micro-fiber towels in bulk, I have a cupboard full of high-end products, etc, etc, etc. But I cannot imagine ever getting anywhere near the results that a really good professional does. I could probably get 90% of their results if I REALLY tried. But that last 10% is the hardest and it's what really makes the difference (IMHO). Plus, the really good guys generally put 8+ hours into every detail. I just don't have the time, patience or energy to do it.

My radar/laser jammer is being done buy the same guy that did my new Aston Martin. He did a custom Valentine install with the controls custom mounted under the dash, the arrows/indicators custom mounted inside my rear view mirror, and the electronics custom installed in a leather-wrapped, hand fabricated bubble mounted on the headliner between and behind my seats. It's really, really well done and 100% invisible. The alarm indicators in the mirror are especially impresive. My detailer only does mobile work. Perhaps you could hijack a friend's driveway? Or you could always make your way out to my place in Greenwich and we could talk P-cars while he does yours!

My 911 was an all day job and included: Interior: -Steam clean all carpeted areas -Zaino Z9 to clean leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic -Zaino Z10 to dress/protect leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic -Zaino Z-PC > Z-AIO > Z5 Pro on painted console and seat backs -Zaino Z8 in jams -Stoner's Invisible Glass on glass, mirrors Exterior: -Zaino Z7 Wash -Zaino Z18 Clay with Z7 as lube -P21s Wheel Cleaner to clean wheels -EFHI cut 5:1 to clean tires, wells -Hi-Temp Extreme Cut/Optimum Polish (30/70) via rotary and LC CCS Orange Cutting Pad @ 1500 (x 2 on trunk and hood) -Menzerna PO85RD via rotary and LC CCS White Polishing Pad @ 1300 -Zaino Z-AIO on exhaust and rear window -Zaino Z6 wipedown -Zaino Z5 Pro on paint, lighting -Zaino Clear Seal on wheels -Zaino Z16 on tires (x 2) -Zaino Z6 final wipedown If anyone wants his contact info, feel free to PM me (as many of you already have). My car was already very clean. But I needed some pretty good paint restoration for swirls, a few chips, etc. All-in, a job like this runs in the $400 range. Expensive, yes. But so much better than paying $150 for a glorified wax that you could do yourself in 2 hours!

do you have pics of the custom V1 leather thing? p.s. I agree a Concourse grade detailing is not rocket science but VERY time consuming, which is what makes it expensive. I doubt I would do even a female friend's car for less than $300. What starts out as a small project turns into a whole bigger thing and I sore for days. But that's why I do frequent quick cleanings and use plenty of anti-statics and acrylics. and post pics of the Aston!!

I'll take some pics and post them of the custom V1 install. Just give me a day or two. And here's a link to photos of my new AM: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/364301-pics-of-my-new-daily-driver.html

Where did you get the red gauges from? I have been thinking about getting them as well. Are you going to do the install yourself? Please post pics after the install and let me know how you like them. Thanks, Manny.

Got them last year from Brandywine for $199. I'll probably have to do them myself because I can't seem to find a speedo guy local (what a surprise - geez I hate CT). I'll post photos if I end up doing them myself.

If you can please post pics of the gauges. I have seen gauges from NR Auto in the past, but they are pricey at $299.00 per the five piece set. Unless you have done this before or seen someone do this be careful since you need to revmove the top dash and then remove the gauge cluster. Good luck...

Like I said, Sean is one very dedicated detailer who misses nothing! He has the equipment and the experience to back it all up. Sure there are detail shops, but unless you know the shop and have seen the work, it's always a crap shoot. It's mostly word of mouth that gets the jobs. Several concours shows always bring out questions, but most do not want to release any secrets. You'll find a few that will though. BTW, I'm a former Greenwich resident, very north, like close to Armonk. As in Old Bedford Road/Riversville Road area....Ah the good 'ol days. Regards, Deanski

Very near me. I'm at Bedford & John St. Beautiful here but cannot wait to get out. Leaving Greenwich for Austin next year where I can get a 10k sf house and a 12 car garage for less than the price of my 4k sf house here . Plus, I'll actually be able to drive my cars and swing my clubs year round. Just counting the days...

Problem is that they get dirty again so quickly...at least that's the case with us daily driver guys. Car ooks reat. I'd love to do something about my centre console. Ideally I could find a carbon fibre piece. Does Eric have them? I think I'll check!

GO down Bedford Road as if you were going to Armonk. On the right as you go around the first bend, you'll see a high stone wall. Behind it, a lake and a house next to it and another set farther back. Once you past Stiles Lane on the right, that was my families house and property. It was featured in Life Magazine back in 1946. Sure, going to Austin you can get a house (very big house) and still have money left over for the price of a small house/property in Greenwich. I'm glad you had Sean do you car. He's one talented detailer!! Regards, Deanski

Hi all, Relatively new to the forum. Came from the M5board. I know that you all want pics...especially gota911... Was waiting to have my car detailed before I posted photos. Today I had my '02 C2 Cab (60K miles) detailed by the same Detailer that LiveFromNY used. Outsatnding results. Sean is a professional and a perfectionist. Best, -Cami

Cami - Welcome to Rennlist and Congrats on getting a VERY nice l@@king Cab! Thanks for sharing the pics! My interior looks similar to yours, but mine has Metropol Blue deviating carpet rather than the black carpet. BTW - you should start a new thread and post your pics. Not everyone may see you car on this thread.

Cami, your car looks awesome. Welcome aboard.

Thanks guys. Will start new thread. To date, advice from forum members has been very helpful.

JP and Dave: Thank you for the kind words regarding my work on your gorgeous Porsches. If anyone has questions about the work performed on these vehicles, please feel free to PM me. Best, Sean

Tim is always rubbing it in that he has one of the coolest interiors on the board

Cory - Thanks for the kind words!

I've been looking for a detailer in the tri-state area as well, can someone send me Sean's contact information

Look at Post #40 and just PM him directly.