Thurston County
Exterior Detailing
Our exterior detailing packages were designed for enthusiasts seeking comprehensive automotive care. Each package includes the best surface reconditioning system available to effectively deep clean and decontaminate your vehicle.
Introduction
Make your car feel like new again
We offer a variety of exterior details from routine maintenance to full paint correction. We share the same passion as you for our vehicles and only provide the best products and services.
SELECT YOUR CAR SIZE AND BROWSE OUR PACKAGES
Select Package
Gentle Wash(Existing Clients)
Duration: 1 Hour, For those quick maintenance washes. Only on monthly or weekly schedule.- Exterior swirl free wash / one panel at a time, top to bottom
- pH neutral soap only (foam cannon)
- Exterior glass cleaned
- Wheels cleaned
- Non-sling Tire Dressing Applied
Starts At $80
Custom
Duration: Varies, Package for those who need a deep inspection or know exactly whats needed.- Give us a call and we'll talk about exactly whats needed for your vehicle
Upon Inspection
Gentle Wash(Existing Clients)
Duration: 1 Hour, For those quick maintenance washes. Only on monthly or weekly schedule.- Exterior swirl free wash / one panel at a time, top to bottom
- pH neutral soap only (foam cannon)
- Exterior glass cleaned
- Wheels cleaned
- Non-sling Tire Dressing Applied
Starts At $90
Custom
Duration: Varies, Package for those who need a deep inspection or know exactly whats needed.- Give us a call and we'll talk about exactly whats needed for your vehicle
Upon Inspection
Gentle Wash(Existing Clients)
Duration: 1 Hour, For those quick maintenance washes. Only on monthly or weekly schedule.- Exterior swirl free wash / one panel at a time, top to bottom
- pH neutral soap only (foam cannon)
- Exterior glass cleaned
- Wheels cleaned
- Non-sling Tire Dressing Applied
Starts At $90
Custom
Duration: Varies, Package for those who need a deep inspection or know exactly whats needed.- Give us a call and we'll talk about exactly whats needed for your vehicle
Upon Inspection
Gentle Wash(Existing Clients)
Duration: 1 Hour, For those quick maintenance washes. Only on monthly or weekly schedule.- Exterior swirl free wash / one panel at a time, top to bottom
- pH neutral soap only (foam cannon)
- Exterior glass cleaned
- Wheels cleaned
- Non-sling Tire Dressing Applied
Starts At $120
Custom
Duration: Varies, Package for those who need a deep inspection or know exactly whats needed.- Give us a call and we'll talk about exactly whats needed for your vehicle
Upon Inspection
ADDITIONAL ADD ONS
Headlight Restoration
A headlight restoration can enhance visibility by up to 140 percent. Cloudy or yellowed headlight lenses may dramatically decrease the effectiveness of your headlights, even if the bulb is brand new. We utilized the proper techniques to not scratch your headlight or damage your paint. We mask around each headlight prior to work being done. We use Pro grade Ceramic Coating to seal your headlights.
Starts At $199
Engine Bay
Why detailing your car engine is so important? Engine bays accumulate dirt very quickly, and if this is not thoroughly cleaned off, it can lead to the degradation of essential components. It also gives you the opportunity to inspect for any other signs of engine damage such as leaks and corrosion.
Starts At $99
a month ago
Communicative, friendly, professional, efficient, and all at prices you really can’t beat for the quality of the work! Thank you so much! I’m obviously obsessed with my SUV, and even more-so now that it’s so clean!
6 months ago
I can't begin to tell you how impressed we are with the work that John and his employees did. We bought our car in January and immediately had it ceramic coated. It was done by a different shop.The first time it rained, and we were on the freeway, I was not impressed. Then we were looking at the wheels, and nothing seemed like it really had been done. That's when we found Olympia Auto Recon. John took us through the process that he would do and
went through the packages with us to explain the different costs and services. We chose the GTECHNIQ 9 year coating. The first time I washed it after the two week cure, I notice an immediate difference. The way the water repels off of the paint is incredible. Couple weeks ago we took it on a road trip. It rained both ways, and when we came home, the car still looked clean. I can't say enough about the service and how pleased we are, how the car came out. It glows in the dark! It's worth every penny. Thank you again John!
a year ago
As a business owner myself, I am very cautious about whom I leave reviews for… as I would expect my customers to be.
Oly Recon is hands down the best ‘detail’ shop I’ve ever used… although it’s much more than a detail. Completely reconditioned my old Land Rover… took a 20 year old paint job and made it darn near new. The ceramic coating is absolutely phenomenal. Today I took my wife’s Cadillac in for its quarterly detail and ceramic touch up. Looks better than the day we bought it. I won’t say it’s cheap!… but its absolutely fair!… And if you care about your rig, this is the spot. He’s taken care of all our rigs for 3+ years now. Worth every penny!
a year ago
We are very happy with the work John did. Didn't know what to expect with the ceramic coating on our Mustang but we just picked it up this evening and were blown away with the quality of his work and attention to detail. Would definitely recommend him to anybody that wants a first class professional to work on their baby. Awesome job.
11 months ago
I recently visited this auto detail shop to get a ceramic coat applied to my brand new Crosstrek. John, the owner, is an awesome person who took the time to educate me on maintaining the coating. His diverse pricing options cater to various budgets. The results were outstanding; despite daily rain, the coating is holding up beautifully. This shop is now my go-to for all car needs. Thank you, John, for the exceptional service!
Our Portfolio
Over 30 Years of Experience
Sometimes the best way to understand what’s possible is to see the results. We’ve had decades of experience and hundreds of happy clients that have been blown away by the results when they come to pick their car up. We’ve worked with a wide range of cars over the years, so take a look on the main portfolio page and view by car make.
Contact us today
GET A FREE IN PERSON INSPECTION TODAY
Once you’ve sent your message we’ll reach back out to you within 24 hours to talk more about the service you need getting done and to discuss a time best for you to come in.
Address: 640 O’Leary St NW, Olympia, WA 98502, US
Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Appointment Only)
Sat-Sun: CLOSED
Have more questions?
Get the answers to your most common queries regarding our Exterior Detailing process and services to get a smooth start in your detailing journey.
What’s the best way to prevent contaminants?
Using sealants that contain SiO2 or Ceramic Coatings, this will help your car become more hydrophobic and resistant to contaminants. Otherwise, the obvious tip is to be mindful where you park your vehicle.
Can I use dishwashing soap instead of car soap?
Dishwashing detergents are made to be very strong because they have to break up grease and food materials. They can strip the polymer off the paint surface and accelerate the oxidation process. You’ll want to use a car soap made specifically for cars.
What’s the best way to remove contaminants?
First, we recommend using a Decontaminate or “Decon” Soap. This is stronger than regular car soap, as it will help strip your car of waxes and surface contaminants. You can use 1 to 2 ounces per gallon of water. Typically we use 5 ounces for a 5 gallon bucket of water. Next, you’ll want to remove bonded contaminants on the car with a liquid clay bar. You can use a traditional clay bar to remove things like sap, but a liquid clay bar is quicker and more effective.
What are contaminants?
Contaminants are things like brake dust, bird droppings, dirt and more that pollute and destroy your paint surface. They sit on top of your clear coat and can potential damage if left on for extended amount of time. Common contaminants include brake dust, industrial fall out, rail dust, iron deposits, bug guts, road salt, tree sap, and bird droppings.
How many buckets should you use?
You want to use at least 2 buckets. One with the clean soapy water and the other with clean water. Soap up your mitt, clean a portion of the car, then dip the dirty mitt into the water bucket so you don’t put contaminants into the soapy bucket. Essentially you are ‘rinsing’ your mitt with the water bucket in between cleanings. The standard bucket size is 5 gallons. A grit guard at the bottom of the bucket can help remove more dirt from your mitt or sponge. The dirt will then settle at the bottom keeping your wash water clean.
How should you wash and care for microfiber towels?
You’ll want to take special care when washing your towels. You’ll need to wash them separately, specific to their use. Don’t wash them with cloth towels or you run the risk of lint from the cloth towel becoming stuck to the microfiber towel. Wash with hot water, detergent and skip the fabric softener. Fabric softener will reduce the effectiveness of the microfiber towel. Dry them on low heat. Once dry, fold them and put in them a plastic container where they are safe from contaminants.
Why should you use microfiber towels over other materials?
When it comes time for applying your wax, sealants or drying your car, you’ll want to use microfiber towels. Why? Similar to the sponge we talked about above other materials (like cloth rags, old t-shirts, standard towels) can have dust or dirt embedded in them. Rough materials can damage your paint finish. They are also very helpful for properly buffing the car wax/sealants into the car and removing it. They are great for buffing vehicle surfaces, chrome wheels, metal trim, windows and more. Safe on interior surfaces such as leather, vinyl, plastic, metal, wood and more.
The towels we utilize were made specifically for car detailing featuring an edgeless design with no rough edges to scratch your surface. They also have a 2 sided design with longer fibers for buffing and shorter fibers for removing the product. Chamois towels lack knap and possibly scratch your paint with leftover particles when not cared for properly. We find microfiber towels to be more forgiving.
What should you use to wash your vehicle?
When most people think of washing a car they think of a traditional sponge. The problem is sponges capture and holds things like dirt and grit in their large pores. Despite your best efforts to wring it out some grit will stay embedded. It becomes like washing your car with sandpaper and can cause small scratches. You must use a microfiber car wash mitt because that grit should fall out when you rinse.