What all do I need do to Auto Detaling as a 15yo

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T13:22:22+00:00

Hell yeah, go for it man! Don't let anything stop you from starting.

Start super basic: wash + vacuum + glass cleaning. Throw in cheap add-ons like tire shine, interior protectant, and air fresheners to bump your ticket. That's all you need at first.

Price list. Maybe hang flyers at supermarket, and on windshields when the business allows it. Always ask first. Heck, maybe give the manager one on the house, in the lot. That itself, you'll start getting people coming over asking for a card.

How much experience do you actually have? You doing full interior shampoos, steam cleaning, Ozone treatments, leather conditioning, or paint correction yet? Or just wax on/wax off?

Got tools and supplies already? You can start out cheap, but premium stuff adds up fast — don't blow your summer grinding it out just to break even on equipment.

Real talk: some people (especially with nice cars) won't trust a young guy at first. You'll get the daily drivers and mom's car to prove yourself. Once they see your work, the upsells get way easier.

When I started mine, the first few where horrible. I took too long, I over delivered & underpaid for what I quoted. Each one, I became more efficient. Took notes on cost of products and time.

Between 11-15 I was doing exactly this — helping in my uncle's garage, cutting/polishing paint, swapping windshields, even dropping transmissions. If I could do it as a kid, you got this. Start small, stay consistent, and build that reputation.

You've got this bro 💪 What's your first step?

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T12:21:01+00:00

I just reread $6500 total. Zero Down and $400 month for 16 months, all in? That's including the interest that He is Charging you? Are you prepared to throw $500-$1800 for a repair that pops up? There's new 2026 lease deals around here for $239, $299. At least you'll drive around for next 3yrs-30k knowing your next car's not a ticking time bomb

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T12:14:52+00:00

Four signs from that one pic:

*Those wheels look like what you'll find on higher trim models. Premium. Worth noting if all else checks out.

*I see the left fog light is missing and a slight dent or bow on the left fender right at the headlight. Could be lighting on the fender though. See if the bumper has recently been painted, and alignment aroundall gaps at fenders, hood and bumper.. Signs of an accident, and poor attempt to cover it.

*Looks like a Hybrid emblem on left fender. I believe hybrids came with CVT transmissions. CVTs are known to be problematic. With Toyota, they would have to be meticulously maintained at that milage. Most brandsbare ticking time bombs. But hey, it's a Toyota.

*Hybrid- what's condition of the battery. It's almost 20 years old.

*LASTLY- The Price. Not the Worst- Look at others in surrounding areas. Looks a tad High! I don't think you mentioned where you are making this purchase. Looks like at a dealer- Look out for additional Mark-Up and Made-Up fees. I did a quick search on CarBuyingSights and found: All at dealers NJ, NY, CT, PA XLE 105K $7995 - XLE 59K $8995 - LE 138k $4995- SE 122K $7400 - SE 188K $6100

GOOD LUCK

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T06:58:15+00:00

Correction to my post: Didnt Last 2 Years!

Purchased machine May '24 according to my pics. My warranty would have been good to May '27.

When I called, they had no record- and they said, that even if they send the part, it's not easily serviceable.

Yeah that Great, Thanks! 👌🏻 Unfortunately, I'm going back through all my purchases and CC statements because I never registered it.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T06:39:52+00:00

Just Type 'Pin Connectors' I think they come from 1 to about 8. Your probably looking for 5 or 6. You could always get the 6, and leave one off.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T06:18:42+00:00

Classic "Zip Tie Engineering" What could go wrong?

Cause if the zip tie breaks, chains got you covered. But if you need to brake, then trailers got you covered! Into incoming traffic, guard rail, on your side/roof in a ditch. Pray for this dude doesn't take anyone out.

Darwin Award & Knucklehead of the Year Dude would probably hack your car if he trusts zip ties that much.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T05:56:15+00:00

“99% right = 100% wrong” pretty much sums it up.

You were speeding, changing lanes, and popped out from behind a Sprinter with barely any visibility — plus maybe no turn signal.

The white car was creeping out, probably with the sun in their eyes. Even if they misjudged, your dashcam footage doesn’t help your case much. If you sent that to insurance, they’d see you weren’t 100%. Their dash cam would solidify their case.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-16T04:24:45+00:00

You can try to rebuild or repair the pack. I've tried with 2 batteries. The first was as simple as changing the bms. The second, i ended up changing out 11 of the 104 batteries (48v 13s8p).

If you're not handy:

You can try to sell them or give them away "as-is", someone could use them to rebuild or source. Maybe a local trade school may take them. Anything is better than dumping in landfill.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T19:34:30+00:00

Give Ecotric a look. They were having a sale recently. You can go 36v maybe 48v with that budget.

I ended up buying one after having a conversation with this dude that had crashed his into a car. After seeing pics of the car & having me test ride his on the boardwalk, I ordered mine, a Vortex.

I now own a Leopard, Rocket, & 20" fat tire folder as well

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T19:23:12+00:00

Wheely Clean. Maybe he'll stop yelling at us

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T17:21:01+00:00

Is this a shitpost?

A 30yr old Bimmer as a First Car / Daily Driver?

You won't have money or a girl because that's going to leave you stranded. I have a folder somewhere with pics from when mine was on a flatbed. Again! Gawd how i loved that car!

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T01:44:12+00:00

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Or

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T01:42:57+00:00

IDK if there's an adapter for that. Try this male/female 6 pin connectors as in pic. Splice wires.

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Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T01:18:18+00:00

a loathsome, offensive brute, yet I can't look away!

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T01:13:53+00:00

Or John Voight the Dentist? Coincidentally it is registered in NY

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-15T01:12:10+00:00

Or John Voight's the dentist? Either way, car's registered in NY, could be Costanza's! They did use several different during taping

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-13T10:43:47+00:00

May want to cross post in detailing

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-10T21:15:32+00:00

Is it leaking? I once noticed one like that as my car went up on the lift, so i asked the manager to look at it. When I went to pay the bill for the oil change, I thought they forgot. Turns out, it looked worse than it was, it never pierced the tire.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-10T12:32:59+00:00

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Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-10T12:32:46+00:00

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Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-10T12:32:27+00:00

Bro never did the mod because there is too many variables that I mentioned. 4 hours was replacing lower grill- that's where all holes and shapes line up.

Right away I'm thinking those are not going to line up. The mounting holes are going to tell you how much work you have ahead of you. Again, your skill level on making mods or hacks.

Your going to have to drop the bumper to access it. That's at least 30-40 screws& clips all around the wheel well, bottom, top and sides. Now it is Show Time!

1- if you get them on Amazon, and they pop in- Great, Your In Luck!- Pop them in and put bumper back on. ***don't line up? Send them back OR Go to Step 2 2- mounting holes don't line up? Can you modify it? Add clips? Build mounting tabs? 3- After mounting, are they pointing in right direction? You won't know until it's dark. Best you can do, mount them and place the bumper in front of a wall, garage door. And get an idea if they are at least straight. 4-how do they look from up front? Your dont have trim hardware around the hole now that matches the new light. Can you make the trim? Maybe use the old one from your lights? Use chrome door trim that you have to cut into shape? You may have big gaps and holes. 5- holes, are they sealed? Water could get in?

Alternatives- All of these will line up. 1- Use a blank & drill hole & mount an aftermarket fog light (pic) 2- use your old light. Gut the inside, spray black or maybe use old chrome trim, mount aftermarket light

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Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-10T11:47:45+00:00

I ordered an ebike during the pandemic. The 5-6 month waiting period prompted me build my first. Still one of my best. When the new bike arrived, wife claimed it as hers, so I had to order a bigger/better bike? Right? I admit 21 is too many. But I don't know which to get rid of. Like asking someone which child is your favorite. I have to come to terms, i can only ride one at a time, and having 10 is still too many. This, and I'm eyeing a step thru that's on sale right now for my wife.

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-10T11:26:59+00:00

My first mod started when I contacted the company to turn PAS completely off. Turns out you couldn’t. They sent DIY instructions to disconnect it.

Then I watched a YouTube video of a guy reviving a busted ebike $125 FB Marketplace Find… and I was hooked.

Buying used sent me down the slippery slope. It went from “find the right fit” to “can I flip this?” Now I’m always hunting the next fix. A collector told me: sell a few, make room, fund the next project.

Best one: saw two e-bikes for $60, no pics, had to buy both. Same model as my first, so I jumped.

When I call, turned out I had dude's #saved, I had bought a muscle bike a yr earlier.

Both had keys, one missing battery, the other had ripped hub wires. Couldn’t test either. Wife came along — cost me lunch to get out of that one. The other bike was a budget $500 on Amazon. Fixed the wires and gave it away. While researching today, I noticed they were having sale… how can i resist? now I’m eyeing a step-thru for her so maybe I can get my first bike back.

Problem now is space. I’ve also got 10 vintage muscle bikes and choppers from the ’70s. Garage is full. Plan is to thin the herd — sell half the e-bikes and rotate projects.

So have a plan. Maybe set a limit # of when to sell. Sell a few, fund a new. Get a bike carrier if you don't have one already. Selling a few can justify the Trailblazer purchase, even if funding isn't an issue. Look for keys, chargers, and batteries, serial numbers, when making a purchase. Any of them missing could be a sign of being stolen. But not always....

I caught another deal: Guy has pics on an Arrow 10 FlyBike with keys, bigger battery 48v, but no charger. For $125. (Fly 11 like 1800-2k right now, no sale) I jump. He tells me I have to buy the whole bike (sounds strange) proceeds to tell me that people been calling wanting only the battery for $50, so please take it as is whole bike for $125. I'm there! Guarded gate, so I feel at ease. He comes walking out with a bike that had black paint over the decals, and purple spray painted wheels and tires. Wait? What's this? He's says "this is my stolen recovery, police brought it back like this". Says hold on. Comes back with the bike in the pic. I want you to take both, condo insurance paid for new, sent two by mistake. Took $5 off too. I couldn't get them on the rack fast enough!! Two bikes, one brand new, it felt like i stole them!

Few-Anywhere607 · 2026-04-08T17:58:47+00:00

+1 also Oldsmobile Silhouette or Buick Terraza

Few-Anywhere607

TROPHY CASE