A detailer's worst nightmare!

Discuss washing, waxing and detailing information as well as interior/exterior cosmetic modifications. This includes neons, body, cosmetic wheels, etc. Even under the hood detailing.
Post Reply
User avatar
MurderMitten
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:20 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by MurderMitten »

Prepare to feast your eyes on one nasty car. So a woman comes into my work and works out a deal to buy a new car. She asks the sales manager for an exchange, sort of like I do you a favor by buying this car if you clean my work car so I can return it. He says yeah not a problem assuming it's just a normal car detail, I mean who really gets a company car that dirty? Turns out it was filthy, just nasty. Her personal vehicle, a 2006 KIA Sportage she traded in is in just as bad of shape inside. Not to mention we had to tow it to the dealership for a trade in because all the brakes are locked up. The worst part is she bought the nicest 2016 Sportage we had on the lot. It's a shame that car will end up being trashed.
Here is what I had to clean. 2008 Mercury Milan Limited. She drove this car for two years and did this much damage to it. The interior was filthy. French fries so old they emitted dust when I cracked them in half, the floor mats were caked with salt hard as a rock, there was a vaseline type substance caked on the rear passenger carpet, what used to be a wendys frosty stained in the seats. It was like every time she ate in there she spilled something and just said F--- IT and didn't clean it up. So I gutted the interior, the seats, took apart the center console and shampoo'd everything and scrubbed til my fingers were raw.

Passenger side after mild cleaning(I stopped and decided to take pictures of this)
Image
Driver side
Image
Image
Image
Image

Nastiest car I've had the displeasure to clean
-Mike
2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
-17x8 OZ Racing Superleggera wheels- -GReddy Exhaust- -K&N Panel filter- Tinted Windows- -Blacked out side markers-
Tune coming soon
Image
2000 Bonneville SLE - Totalled
User avatar
xxdabroxx
GXP Member
GXP Member
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:25 am
Year and Trim: 2001 Bonneville SSEI 32,000 miles bone stock

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by xxdabroxx »

Some people don't deserve nice things.
Image
User avatar
RJolly87
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5403
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom
Location: Las Cruces, NM

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by RJolly87 »

Let me guess, someone got a promotion and had to turn in the company car.

Wow.

On a side note, I didn't even realize the 2016's have hit the pavement yet. It's not even July for crying out loud.
~Randall~
ImageImage

1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
User avatar
CMNTMXR57
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5841
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
Location: CHICAGO

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

The RGC makes those before pictures look like showroom new.
Image

Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
User avatar
crash93ssei
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
Posts: 7671
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Location: Midland, Michigan

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by crash93ssei »

That is certainly trashed, it is a shame people leave their cars so nasty like that!

This is the worst one I've ever done, was mine / my ex-wifes, then mine again after she destroyed it... http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 28173.html
Ryan
Image
2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
User avatar
terrancew3
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 543
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 6:34 pm
Year and Trim: 2009 G8 GXP
Location: Fox Valley, Wisconsin

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by terrancew3 »

I don't understand how people can go like that. I get pi$$ed off if I find a candy wrapper left in my car. The worst mine gets is dirty floor mats from wearing my work boots, and that's about it. My fiancé on the other hand... Works at a detailing car lot, and has a bunch of crap compiled into her car. Its beyond me how you can complain you have cars to clean but cant keep yours clean. I hope this doesn't transfer into the married life. :helpsmilie:
2000 SSEi *sold 9/27/15* December '12 & May '15 COTM
2005 Grand Prix
2009 G8 GXP #418 of 1,829 November '15 TOCOTM
Image
User avatar
nos4blood70
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 9522
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by nos4blood70 »

Well you certainly got it cleaned up! We get 1-2 year old Bentleys in this shape sometimes.
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 250k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 101k miles
Image
thesam1984
SSEi Member
SSEi Member
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:34 pm
Year and Trim: 1996 Buick Lesabre Custom - metallic dark cherry

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by thesam1984 »

When you do it for a living your less likely going to want to do it when you get home... my car does get dirty, but I could neverake someone clean up after me like that. But I sure dont want to do my own furniture, its more enjoyable doing other people's :)
Roads... Where we're going, we don't need roads
User avatar
CMNTMXR57
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5841
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
Location: CHICAGO

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

terrancew3 wrote:I don't understand how people can go like that. I get pi$$ed off if I find a candy wrapper left in my car. The worst mine gets is dirty floor mats from wearing my work boots, and that's about it. My fiancé on the other hand... Works at a detailing car lot, and has a bunch of crap compiled into her car. Its beyond me how you can complain you have cars to clean but cant keep yours clean. I hope this doesn't transfer into the married life. :helpsmilie:
I just plain out gave up.
Image

Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
94SilverSSEi
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 3351
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:14 pm
Year and Trim: 97.2 40th SLE
68 w/400
94 SSEi
Location: Racine, Wisconsin

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by 94SilverSSEi »

Having flashbacks of when I first got my 1997 Bonneville.
After having cleaned it a bit. Not to mention the baby's milk bottle that was stuck in the seat track and popped.....

Image

Image


Can't really fault the lady too bad. She put 90k in 3 years and 3 little tikes in the car.
Clay
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA

nos4blood70 wrote:Literally, cars are drugs.
User avatar
MurderMitten
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:20 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by MurderMitten »

I just don't understand how someone can just say, spill a frosty down in the seat and say oh well who cares. Just knowingly trashing the car and being okay with it. If I was a business owner and someone turned in that company car in the shape I got it in they would have paid for it for excessive damages. Not to mention the passenger doors were all dinged up
-Mike
2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
-17x8 OZ Racing Superleggera wheels- -GReddy Exhaust- -K&N Panel filter- Tinted Windows- -Blacked out side markers-
Tune coming soon
Image
2000 Bonneville SLE - Totalled
User avatar
DCJREDLINE
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 547
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:58 pm
Year and Trim: None

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by DCJREDLINE »

Its disgusting to drop frenchfries and just leave em there to rot! A pig. I deal with alot of these on my side detailing business and I just dont get it. I wouldnt want to go to these peoples houses. YUK

Good save
1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
2004 Saturn Ion 3 Quad Coupe
94SilverSSEi
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 3351
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:14 pm
Year and Trim: 97.2 40th SLE
68 w/400
94 SSEi
Location: Racine, Wisconsin

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by 94SilverSSEi »

But just think if those people weren't such pigs you'd be out of a job. :P

Maybe I'm weird, but I actually like buying a super nasty car because I can complain about it and knock them down about it. And then I can see how much difference/better I can make it and get the satisfaction of knowing I cleaned it or saved another car.
Clay
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA

nos4blood70 wrote:Literally, cars are drugs.
User avatar
92BonneSE
Posts like an L67
Posts like an L67
Posts: 1385
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 9:32 pm
Year and Trim: 2008 Aura XE
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by 92BonneSE »

Do you detail at a dealership? Specifically Kia? Just wondering thats what I do too :lol:

And I do agree with you, some people are just NASTY!
Image
2017 Cruze RS
2008 Aura - Totaled
Sold but never forgotten:
1998 Bonneville SE
1992 Bonneville SE
1oldman
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 3975
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 11:21 pm
Year and Trim: 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Location: Lone Star State

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by 1oldman »

The guys that detail those disasters should be awarded the "Detailer's Badge of Courage". I'm not sure I'd touch something that nasty. - BC
In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321
User avatar
Jfridge92
Posts like an L67
Posts like an L67
Posts: 1472
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:15 pm
Year and Trim: 1999 Buick Lesabre Custom
Location: Palm Bay, FL

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by Jfridge92 »

Wow that is pretty bad. I try my best to keep mine as clean as possible, but it's the dedicated hauler for our fur kids, so there's dog hair everywhere haha, but no trash gets left if I can help it. My wife's old Corolla was in similar shape inside before we sold it, but she's been very good with keeping her Malibu clean.
Image


Joseph

Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten
FLbenztech
LE Member
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:25 am
Year and Trim: 1993 SSEi

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by FLbenztech »

DCJREDLINE wrote:Its disgusting to drop frenchfries and just leave em there to rot! A pig. I deal with alot of these on my side detailing business and I just dont get it. I wouldnt want to go to these peoples houses. YUK

Good save
I have seen many a petrified French fry but that car is possibly the worst I have seen.

As a tech we use plastic seat covers to protect the car from the me, but some cars the seat cover protects me from the car.

We always say "I would hate to see their house".
User avatar
CMNTMXR57
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5841
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
Location: CHICAGO

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

Since we've loosely been talking about dumping the RGC, to get the most from it, I would sell it privately. To do so requires a considerable level of restoration. After sitting in it the other day while swapping out the jammed DVD changer, I just looked at it in overall shock and awe and I must say for once in life, I am speechless. I don't know where to begin on this thing.

I seriously think that doing a full-off restoration my '66 Catalina would be easier at this point.
Image

Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
User avatar
MurderMitten
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 1:20 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by MurderMitten »

92BonneSE wrote:Do you detail at a dealership? Specifically Kia? Just wondering thats what I do too :lol:

And I do agree with you, some people are just NASTY!
Yes I work at a KIA dealership. I'm co-detail manager specializing in interior and buffing but do some service assistance as well along with managing parking on the lot. I get slammed with these nasty cars when time is limited and we can't send them out as I'm the only one people trust with a buffer and a carpet extractor.
-Mike
2006 Saab 9-3 SportCombi
-17x8 OZ Racing Superleggera wheels- -GReddy Exhaust- -K&N Panel filter- Tinted Windows- -Blacked out side markers-
Tune coming soon
Image
2000 Bonneville SLE - Totalled
User avatar
98SSE
Posts like an LN3
Posts like an LN3
Posts: 426
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:51 pm
Year and Trim: 2001 SSEI/2007 TBSS/2004 CTS-V
Location: Columbus, Ohio

Re: A detailer's worst nightmare!

Post by 98SSE »

Wow, that is pretty gross. Been there done that! My thought, "If I get in your car and become dirtier there might be a problem.".

Image
Image
2001 Bonneville SSEI (His) - Gen V/3.5 pulley/CAI/SD Headers/ZZP 1.9 Rockers/90# Springs/Magnaflow Converter/HP Tuners/180* T-Stat/Trans-Go Shift Kit/TruCool Transmission Cooler/ F-Body Front Brakes/STS Rear Brakes/Tint/GXP Interior September 2015 COTM

2007 Trailblazer SS (Hers) - PCM4Less tune, E-Fans, SLP PowerFlo Exhaust, Hotchkis Sways, PML Tranny Pan, Powerstop Brakes,
"Big 3", Tint

2004 CTS-V (His) - B&B Exhaust, LS7 clutch, HIDs, LED fogs, Powerstop Brakes, Tint

Image
Post Reply