Exterior Detail Packages


For those interested in exterior cleaning and detailing services.


Dream Machine Exterior


The Dream Machine Exterior package addresses all areas of the Exterior of your vehicle. The exterior detail begins with cleaning of wheels, tires, wheel wells and door jams. Engine compartment cleaning can be optioned. The exterior receives a sno-foam pre-soak to remove any grit and surface dirt before a soft mitt hand wash is performed. For vehicles with bonded contamination such as stuck on tar, over-spray or iron fallout (brake dust) a decon wash is recommended. An optional chemical decon with an iron/fallout remover is performed as well as an optional clay bar service to remove bonded contamination that will not come off from a regular hand wash. The vehicle is thoroughly rinsed with spot free water and dried with plush towels and blowers to remove water from tight areas like grills and trim. Following the wash a high-quality paint sealant is applied to give the paint a deep wet look and provide up to 3 months of UV protection and hydrophobic qualities. An optional ceramic wax can be hand applied for additional durability and gloss. Tires and plastic trim can have an optional dressing applied for a deep black look. If you wish to have any paint defects (minor scratches, swirls, hard water spots etc) removed or reduced from the vehicles finish a “Speed Polish” paint enhancement or paint correction may be recommended as an additional service. See the Paint Polishing/Correction menu for further details on what is possible.


(Allow for 3 – 4 hours) Optional services may incur additional service time. The following rates are general estimates and actual cost may vary.


Small: Starting @ $150 + Tax

Add “Speed Polish” for $150

Compact Car, 2 Door Sports Car/ Coupe & Convertible

Medium: Starting @ $200 + Tax

Add “Speed Polish” for $200

Midsize Sedan & Small SUV/Truck

Large: Starting @ $250 + Tax

Add “Speed Polish” for $250

Full-size Sedan, Mini-Van & Full-size SUV/Truck

Extra-Large: Starting @ $300 + Tax

Add “Speed Polish” for $300

Heavy Duty Truck, Extended SUV & Conversion/Cargo Vans

Rates are estimated based on a $75 per hour labor rate. Actual cost will vary based on vehicle size, vehicle condition and the service options requested. A mobile mileage fee is charged at $0.67 per mile after 20 or more miles beyond our home base.


The Details


Wheels, Tires & Wheel Wells:

Thorough cleaning of the tire sidewalls, wheel face, spokes, lug nuts, inner wheel barrels, brake caliper (if applicable) and wheel wells using wheel specific cleaners and brushes.

Engine Bay (optional):

A cosmetic cleaning is done of the engine bay with an all purpose cleaner and a low volume of water.

Door Jams:

Thorough cleaning of all door jams including the trunk, hatch or tailgate depending on the type of vehicle (car, suv, van, truck).

Pre-Rinse:

A pressure washer is used to rinse down the vehicle and remove loose dust, dirt and debris.

Bug & Tar:

Areas of the vehicle with bug splatter and tar residue are treated with a clear-coat safe bug & tar remover.

Sno-Foam Pre-Soak:

Utilizing a foam cannon the car is liberally coated with a high quality PH neutral car shampoo that breaks down road film and lubricates the paint in preparation for the “contact wash”.

Contact Wash:

Utilizing soft microfiber chenille wash mitts the vehicle is gently hand washed panel by panel from top to bottom. No nook and cranny is overlooked.

Paint Decontamination (Optional):

Iron Remover and a Clay bar is used to remove bonded contaminants from the paint if necessary.

Spot Free Rinse:

Using filtrated water the vehicle is thoroughly rinsed insuring no mineral deposits or soap residue is left behind.

Swirl Free Dry:

The vehicle is dried by using forced air to blow water out from all nooks and crannies followed up by soft microfiber drying towels to ensure no water spots or water trails are left behind

Protection:

A high-quality paint sealant is applied to all painted surfaces to provide protection from the elements for up to 3+ months, give paint hydrophobic (water-beading) properties as well as enhance paint gloss.

Hand application of our favorite Ceramic Wax can be optioned for increased durability (6+ months) and incredible slickness and gloss.

Tires & Trim (Optional):

Tires are dressed with a water based, non-slinging tire dressing to give the tires a deep black look and provide UV protection.

Optionally Tires & Trim can be dressed with a UV protectant for a deep black look.

Windows:

Inside and outside of windows are cleaned using premium lint free waffle weave microfiber towels for a streak free finish.

Note: This is our typical exterior cleaning process, however we may alter our approach based on the situation and condition of the vehicle. For preservation of antique vehicles we may opt for a rinse-less wash method in order to reduce the volume of water the vehicle is exposed to.


Exterior A La Carte Services


Add any of the A La Carte options found below to create a fully customized exterior detailing package specific to your desires and budget.


Headlight Restoration Package:

Modern headlights are made of polycarbonate plastic which is prone to oxidation from UV exposure over time. Cloudy and Oxidized headlights make a vehicle look less desirable and can impede their performance and safety. Headlight restoration is achieved by removing the oxidation with wet-sanding. The headlight’s clarity and brilliance is then restored by polishing them clean and clear. To keep the headlights from prematurely oxidizing again a durable Headlight Coating is applied.

(Starting @ $150 for a pair + Tax)


Engine Bay Detailing Package:

There are many reasons it’s a good idea to keep your engine bay clean. It helps your engine run cooler as it’s not caked in grease and dirt. It makes spotting potential issues like leaks easier and you or your mechanic will appreciate working on a clean engine over a dirty one. It’s also a way your vehicle will stand out when selling it as people will assume it’s well taken care of, which hopefully it is.

Any air intakes, all electrical components such as battery & alternator and any other areas that moisture should not go are taped off, sealed and protected. The entire engine bay is coated with a “dry foam” de-greaser and gently scrubbed with soft or medium bristle brushes. The engine compartment is then given a low pressure rinse to minimize risk of sensitive areas being over-saturated with moisture. Engine components are then thoroughly dried with compressed air. Plastic cladding is dressed with a UV protectant and bare metal components can be polished upon request.

(Quoted by the vehicle)


Paint Chip Repair Package:

There is nothing worse than being on the freeway behind a dump truck and then the inevitable happens. Rock chips if not taken care of can lead to long term problems such as corrosion and paint failure.

We go a little bit beyond the traditional touch up kit you can find in an auto parts store and use a variety of tools that will help the repair last.

Rock chips on the vehicle are carefully cleaned of any contaminants that would inhibit paint from sticking. Using a very fine paint applicator, paint is carefully applied to chipped areas and let to dry. Depending on the level of perfection a customer may want to achieve, sanding, air brushing and polishing can also be done for a more undetectable repair.

($75 per hour + Tax – Touch Up Paint Supply is additional cost)


“Wheels Off” Package:

One of our favorite services to offer is the “Wheels Off” wash. Wheels make a dramatic impact on the look of a car and there is nothing worse than a clean car with dirty wheels. Removing the wheels allows for all surfaces of the wheels to be cleaned of baked on brake dust, tar and anything else the wheel has come in contact with.

The vehicle is safely lifted. Wheels are removed and all surfaces including the backsides of the wheels are cleaned. Wheel Polishing and protection can be requested for an additional cost.

(Starting @ $25 per wheel + Tax)


Undercarriage Detailing Package:

Often paired with a Wheels Off service, wheel wells, the braking system and all accessible suspension components are de-greased and cleaned. The undercarriage is also given a foam shampoo and then rinsed.

This is a great service for those seeking to remove road salt and brine from the underside of their car following winter or if they just want the underside as clean as the top side.

(Starting @ $75 Per Hour + Tax)


Paint Decontamination Package:

Following a hand wash if the paint feels rough to the touch then you have bonded contaminants on your paint. Over time contaminants such as ferrous metals (rail dust and brake dust), paint over-spray, tree sap and other environmental pollution can bond to your paint. If the paint is to be machined polished it is important to decontaminate the paint in order to have a truly clean and naked surface to work on.

We utilize a cay bar to “mechanically” remove bonded contaminants and an Iron Remover to chemically remove ferrous metals from the paint. This service leaves the paint feeling silky smooth and fully prepped for any paint polishing.

(Quoted by the vehicle)


“Speed Polish” Paint Enhancement Package:

Clean and add some extra “pop” to your paint with our Speed Polish package. Includes one trip around the vehicle lightly machine polishing the paint with an A.I.O Polish. This All In One Polish helps exfoliate the paint while leaving a slick layer of temporary protection behind. This can be a perfect twice a year service for revitalizing your paint or a great way to get a vehicle ready for re-sale.

Note: this service lightly cleans the paint and enhances overall gloss. Deeper defects will still be present in the paint. A “One Step” or “Two Step” Paint Correction is recommended to remove deeper defect. See our Paint Correction page for details.

(Starting @ $100 per hour + Tax)


Metal Polishing Package:

This is a great addition for classic cars, motorcycles or modern vehicles with lots of bright-work. If the paint looks dazzling, why wouldn’t you want your bright-work to look amazing too? Bright-work such as aluminum trim, chrome bumpers, stainless exhaust tips, engine bay details are polished by hand to remove oxidation and restore a brilliant shine.

(Starting @ $100 per hour + Tax)


“Speed Demon” Package:

With the track day client in mind restore your Track Machine to a Show Queen. Includes rubber residue removal, heavy bug/tar/traffic film removal and Plexiglas cleaning and polishing.

(Starting @ $75 per hour + Tax)


“Beauty Shots” Package:

Nearly all of the photos you see on this site are original photography. Given our 12 + year creative background in the photo and video production industry we can offer the unique service of taking professional quality photography of your prized Dream Machine. Whether you want to make handing down the  family vehicle a special event, grab the attention of a prospective buyer or just want a killer garage wall poster of your freshly detailed ride we can make that happen.

Photo services require a special appointment. Limit to 15 photos. Digital file delivery only.

(Add to any detail package starting @ $100 per hour + Tax)



Addendum:

This menu is designed as a reference guide. Prices vary with the size of the vehicle and scope of services required. The scope of services is determined by an in depth vehicle assessment prior to detail services being rendered. Additional charges usually apply for heavy tar, sap or caked on rubber, mud, dirt and debris. Hourly rates or a custom quote are applied to vehicles that need extreme cleaning, decontamination or reconditioning. Tools, techniques and cleaning methods vary from situation to situation. Our rates and services are subject to change as industry standards and customer demand evolves over time.

© 2019 – 2024 Dream Machine Detailing, LLC