Short answer: An exterior detail at 502 Tinted starts at $129 for a car: a hand wash, iron decontamination, a clay bar treatment, wheels, tires and wheel wells, glass, and a paint sealant that protects for months. It removes the bonded grime a regular wash leaves behind, so the paint feels smooth and stays cleaner longer.
The steps, in order
Wheels first
Wheels, tires and wheel wells are cleaned before the paint, so brake dust doesn’t splash onto clean panels.
Foam and hand wash
A foam pre-wash loosens dirt, then a hand wash with clean mitts takes it off.
Iron decontamination
An iron remover dissolves brake dust and rail dust embedded in the paint. It turns purple as it works.
Clay bar
Clay pulls out what’s left: tree sap specks, overspray and road film. Afterward the paint feels like glass.
Dry and seal
The car is dried with clean towels and air, then sealed. The sealant makes water bead and dirt release.
Glass and tires
Glass is cleaned inside and out and tires are dressed to a satin finish, not a sling-everywhere shine.
Why decontamination matters here
Run your hand over the hood after a wash. If it feels gritty, that’s contamination bonded to the paint: iron from brake dust and rail lines, tree sap, and road film from salt and brine. Washing alone doesn’t remove it.
Leaving it there dulls the paint and makes it harder for any wax or sealant to stick. Removing it is what turns a wash into a detail.
Need more than clean?
If the paint is swirled or hazy in the sun, a sealant won’t hide that. A machine polish will. Our paint enhancement adds a one-step polish to the exterior detail, from $399.
About paint correctionKeeping it clean afterward
- Wash every two weeks or so, more in pollen season and winter
- Use two buckets and a clean mitt, never a dirty sponge or a brush wash
- Rinse off salt as soon as the roads dry out, especially the lower doors and wheel wells
- Book a maintenance wash ($59) between details if you don’t have time
Questions we get a lot
How much is an exterior detail in Louisville?
At 502 Tinted, an exterior detail starts at $129 for a car. SUVs and trucks are priced after a look.
What’s the difference between a car wash and an exterior detail?
A wash removes loose dirt. An exterior detail also removes bonded contamination with iron remover and clay, cleans the wheels and wells properly, and seals the paint.
How long does a paint sealant last?
Months, not years. Washing habits, weather and whether the car sleeps outside all change how long it lasts.
Will an exterior detail remove swirl marks?
No. Swirls are scratches in the clear coat. Removing them takes machine polishing, which is our paint enhancement or paint correction.
Pull up and get shaded.
Most tint jobs are done the same day, and detailing is by appointment. Call, text or send a quote request, and Shane will get back to you during shop hours.