Detailing Our Day At 3M Car Care

Updated: Saturday, June 7, 2014, 16:10 [IST]

My little Alto was dirty. Not the sort of dirty that you find if you leave your car outside for a few days, but the sort of dirty that comes with a month of non-stop hard use in Bangalore city. In other words, a lot too shabby. This may sound disgraceful, but all workhorses do not have the privilege of daily bubble baths. I'm sure though, that I heard my car honk in glee Herbie-style when it figured from our conversation that we were going to spend a day at the JP Nagar 3M detailing centre.

Car detailing is still in a nascent stage in the country, but is seeing an upward trend nevertheless. In comparison, car detailing in the US is a 9-billion dollar industry. But with more and more people willing to spend to keep their cars showroom-esque, 3M currently operates 35 centres currently in the country in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Gurgaon and Delhi, and plans further centres in Bangalore, Mysore and Calcutta.

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We were introduced to Mr. Ashok Upadhya, owner of the JP Nagar franchise, an amicable gentleman who talked us through the workings of the shop. He took us through the packages and products available at 3M Car Care - Interior Ultra, Exterior Paint Sealant, Anti-corrosion Treatment, Paint Protection Films, Car Mats and Window Films. For those who are not familiar with car detailing, it is the performance of an extremely thorough cleaning and restoration of a car, for both the interior and exterior, however at a far more involved level than a regular car wash.

I could see my Alto's ego getting a little bruised with its appearance as it entered the shop and took its place in the first bay alongside Ashok's own pristine red 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer. A Maruti Alto 800 and a Hyundai Verna were also in for a makeover. "You see all kinds of cars coming here to be worked on", said Ashok, "from Marutis all the way up to Audis and Mercedes-Benz cars." This was news to us, since we had imagined only owners of luxury cars opting for detailing treatment, certainly not your everyday Swift or Figo owner. The applicator personnel began work on the Alto, and we saw various magic solutions and buffing and polishing equipment getting prepped for use.

Ashok arranged a detailing demonstration for my little silver princess which began with the Exterior Paint Sealant application for the aging, dull paint on the bonnet. We watched as one side of the hood was layered with a premium rubbing compound, and then buffed to a mirror-like finish. The difference between the two sides was quite startling; one could barely tell a reflection off the non-worked-on area, but saw that the 3M Performance Finish on the other side was a rather remarkable shining opposite.

The difference was outwardly evident, as you can see.

My left headlamp has always troubled me with low glow, because the effects of weather and age on the outside glass cover left it with a yellowish, almost opaque area on top, severely reducing the light's throw. Replacing a headlamp is expensive, often in the tens of thousands of rupees or even more, depending on your car, explained Ashok. However, this is not usually necessary, a good headlamp restoration procedure is usually what's required. "Let's see if we can restore your headlight," he said. Another applicator got his tools and liquids together and began rubbing away on the glass.

While this was going on, the 3M Interior Ultra treatment began as well. Hopefully all the forms of life that had spawned inside the car over time would finally meet their maker now, I thought to myself. And did they. The entire cabin was sprayed and scrubbed with no inch spared - the attention to detail was truly impressive. All delicate components like the AC vents and music system were thoroughly covered before spraying, and a couple of hours later no tell-tale signs of age and use remained - the dashboard was smooth and shining, but quite unlike the regular service centre finish of cleaning, where a certain stickiness prevails post service.

The demo continued. We were shown the anti-fungal, fine-loop Nomad Car Mats that are very effective at trapping and hiding dirt. 3M also stocks a number of DIY products like like waxes, glass cleaners and more, which were displayed in the comfortable WIFI-enabled customer lounge. Ashok told us how some customers come armed with their laptops and work from the lounge, while their cars get worked on below.

A comprehensive pressure wash followed, after which the Five Point Check was carried out, where a silicon softener was applied to the window channels, liquid grease sprayed on to the door hinges, and more magic solutions doused on electrical points and battery terminals. We watched as a natural Karnauba wax was applied to the body, which is said to offer protection from bird droppings, UV rays, acid rain, and so on, for up to three months.

The Alto was almost ready, and we took a closer look at the left headlamp, whose restoration had finished. There was a huge difference - the earlier yellow area had all but disappeared, and the headlight surprisingly looked almost new. Ashok too confessed that he hadn't expected such an impressive result, so it was truly a bonus to have an effectively functioning headlight again.

All that was left now was the air conditioner cleaning. A microbial foam was sprayed into all the AC ducts, which cleans out dirt and grime, exhaust fume deposits, bacteria and other muck that tends to accumulate inside. It has to be said that this treatment was very thorough as well, and the air that flowed out of the vents smelled clean and fresh.

My car was a little show Alto now - a glossy, smooth exterior and an almost new car smell and feel inside meant that 3M Car Care had really outdone themselves. We could see why more and more people are willing to spend on detailing, because the car sees a world of difference that even the most attentive car service centre will struggle to top. While getting your car detailed isn't cheap, it tells the world that you actually give two hoots about the appearance of your vehicle. Chances are your car will hold its value for longer too.

3M Car Care is open between 9:30 am and 7:30 pm, 7 days a week.

3M Car Care also offers:

- Scotchgard Paint Protection Films that offer protection from road debris ( Comes with a 1 year warranty)
- 3M Anti-corrosion Treatment for rust protection (Comes with a 5 year warranty with free check ups every 6 months)
- 3M Window Films that keep your car cool and protect against UV rays (comes with a 3 to 5 year warranty)

For more details, log on to: www.facebook.com/3MCarCareIndia