Preparation for Concours

[pony]

Hi how many hours of preparation is usually needed for Concours ?

What is the difference between "Pride of Ownership" and "Concours" ?

http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/bmw-car-concours.php

[Gavla]

Depends on the condition of the car as to how many hours are needed...

It usually takes me about 2 hours to just clean a car properly. The problem then is that once it is "deep cleaned" any scratches an imperfections can then clearly be seen. If the paint work is in good condition then proper waxing takes about an hour. If the paint work needs polishing then about another 2 hours will be needed to sort that out before waxing.

On average it takes me about 6 hours to get a car looking great that is not in good condition to start off with, that is the exterior, now you still need to do the interior and engine bay....

visit my website www.kensingtoncarcare.co.uk and have a look at the gallery. It will give you an idea of before and after considering what I have said above.

zone discounts available

[dusty23]

What sort of price are you talking for a full detail, cars pretty clean already. could do with a machine polish etc.

[Gavla]

I charge by the hour, but with a discount you are looking at about £240 for a full day but if your car is in ok condition in your opinion, then it should cost less. The problem that I always face with customers is that your clean and my clean are 2 different things. Unfortunately I cannot compromise on the cleaning of the car because this is the vital first step to getting a proper finish. I always follow the same process regardless of how clean or dirty the car is. It of course takes longer to clean a dirtier car....

May be easier to contact me via info@kensingtoncarcare.co.uk to ask me any questions you may have.

[pony]

Just had a quick look at your website
Are you mobile or do I have to drop the vehicle to you ?
How much do you charge per hour ?

Yeah was just interested in the work required to get to concours level

[Gavla]

Sorry for the delay in responding, I missed your last post. I sent you a PM yesterday but see it is still in my out box....?

Hopefully speak to you soon and work something out.

[pony]

Hi sorry I saw your PM in my email.
I was just interested in the level of prep required for Concours.
Someone from BMW Car Club kindly sent me the rules and the marking schedule and their previous score sheets.

There are different classes Open, Masterclass, Elite with Elite being the hardest.

[Gavla]

No problem. Get in contact if you want anything done.

[Kos]

It's hard work Soni, as Gavla said even with what would possibly be a a clean car it would need a days work to prep it for such an event. If we start getting into machine polishing and paint correction, engine bay, interior cleaning it's all takes up time.

I'm looking at doing one car this year for concourse but it's a matter of finding the time.

[pony]

The Masterclass and Elite require clean arches and clean undersides I believe and clean exhausts

[Kos]

And the must be 100% original

In the regionals open class and pride of ownership you do not loose points for modifications

[Gavla]

It really does depend on the condition of the car. I have products that can make a rough looking car look like it has been machine polished. They will wear off eventually but if it is just for a show you could probably get away with it.

Whenever I do a car the most time is spent deep cleaning the paint work, deep cleaning the alloys, polishing the paint work.

You will struggle to find a detailer who will skip any stages and just polish a car.

I'm looking at doing one car this year for concourse but it's a matter of finding the time.

I have the time

[Kos]

LoL

I'd love to take a week off an a car to that level. Even my own car has to be done in stages.

On the subject of machine polishing, I did this car a few weeks back. One seriously dull and swirled e60

[pony]

Are not a lot of Concours winners cars repainted ?

[Kos]

Are not a lot of Concours winners cars repainted ?

Nope not all of them

And there are option available other than re painting

[pony]

The 3.0 litre M3 that won master class I am told has been repainted and everything underneath two packed
Surely that is not keeping with originality so how is that master class winner ? Though I admire the guy's attention to detail

[Kos]

Original as per factory spec.

If your glass is chipped the it should be replaced with original BMW glass

[pony]

The E46 has a non-Genuine BMW Battery

[Kos]

Bonus points is it's lowenbrau

[pony]

So Kos would you enter any of your own vehicles in Concours ? Have u ever prepped any for Concours ? I would be interested in watch Concours to see what happens

[Kos]

I've done show and shine which is similar to pride of ownership and I've picked up a few awards

I've judged show and shine as well

I may enter my e24 this year into an event and see how I get on. I'm doing a fair bit of under bonnet detailing right now while some mechanical work is undertaken

[LondonTom]

Sorry for the thread high jack but Gavla - I think it's your company who looks after our cars at work - small world and all that!

[hennabm]

When preparing for a show with my 323i, I'll spend a day getting it ready - so a clean and polish; all wheels off and clean all the underside and suspension etc. Engine bay all cleaned off as well. Hoovered out and autoglym vinyl care on the vinyl and rubber.

When I arrive at the show, I'll get there as early as I can and take all the wheels off and clean up the suspension, brakes, back of the wheels, wheel arches etc.
The body is then done in field glaze to top up the shine and remove any last smudges etc.

The interior will be done over with sellotape to remove the last hairs/fibres on the seats and the vinyl done in autoglym vinyl care.
The air vents will be wiped out including the use of cotton buds for those hard to reach crevices.

Final job - a gel on the tyres and ready for the judges.

So to be ready for a show probably about 12 - 15hrs including the time spent at the ground beforehand prepping.

[Kos]

When preparing for a show with my 323i, I'll spend a day getting it ready - so a clean and polish; all wheels off and clean all the underside and suspension etc. Engine bay all cleaned off as well. Hoovered out and autoglym vinyl care on the vinyl and rubber.

When I arrive at the show, I'll get there as early as I can and take all the wheels off and clean up the suspension, brakes, back of the wheels, wheel arches etc.
The body is then done in field glaze to top up the shine and remove any last smudges etc.

The interior will be done over with sellotape to remove the last hairs/fibres on the seats and the vinyl done in autoglym vinyl care.
The air vents will be wiped out including the use of cotton buds for those hard to reach crevices.

Final job - a gel on the tyres and ready for the judges.

So to be ready for a show probably about 12 - 15hrs including the time spent at the ground beforehand prepping.

and that on a car thats already very very clean and show prepped as such.

[hennabm]

^^^ Yep

[Speedtouch]

I just use a skewer and a length of string:

[pukar]

Don't you have to be a bmw car club big wig and judge to win anything at gaydon?

That 323i is a lovely car. I can't remember if it was you I was talking to last year about the chrome carburettor sticker. I have finally got round to designing it!

[Speedtouch]

Won't be much use on a 323i - they used L-Jetronic fuel injection.

[hennabm]

@pukar - ahh that's why I don't win anything

The sticker may have been for Brian Lake with his Henna red 316.

[skh]

Did any of you enter concours at Gaydon or still busy cleaning??

For those that went & those interested that did not, the runner up in Master Class had a very 'individualised' M5
It had original parts but many had been powder-coated. They were mint clean so got top points for cleanliness BUT dropped mega points on originality.
Yet came 2nd which just goes to show even modded cars CAN, if they are that clean, win at Concours so do not think it is just for the untouched 20k mile e21's

Any questions on concours please get in touch, I shall try to help those seriously interested.


steveH

[Kos]

I hope they all had their membership cards

[bab-91]

Who was the owner of the e30 that won the class, it shared the class with a e28 M535i?

I hear it was your good self?

[skh]

Who was the owner of the e30 that won the class, it shared the class with a e28 M535i?

I hear it was your good self?

We were only runners-up actually
the 750 won deservedly so too from all accounts

ps, new fuel tank on its way to be fitted so should be back 100% by end of the week