Dealer says these are not scratches ...

[Loach]

It was sunny and bright when I left home going to the dealership today, which is 50 miles away, my luck it was starting to cloud up... their was not bright sunlight for me to view the car. The service manager told me to wait till I saw the car in bright sunlight and if I still wasn't happy with the paint he would start the process of trying to get the car repainted.

He said the detail shop told him their was no way to remove the halo effect because it was coming from the sunlight bouncing off the paint and reflecting with a prism effect through the clear coat... I said the only way I see that being possible is if their is an issue with the clearcoat, if it's 'defect' free the light should bounce 'straight' out because their is nothing to refract it.

Anyway it's going to be sunny tomorrow, I'll snap a few pics and give the service manager a call.

Based on those pictures, I can tell you that those types of swirls are very easy for a professional detailer to get out. I takes some time to prep and polish the entire car to do so, but it's easy. That being said, those types of swirls are nearly impossible for high volume car wash buffers to get out, or high volume "detailers". Because their environments are dirty, their supply of towels are old, the buffing pads are overused and dirty, and their method with the buffer is incorrect for very light swirl removal and prevention. It's not something they're trained in removing or preventing. That's why they are giving you the incorrect explanation, they are not qualified to know what causes that type of swirl pattern or trained in how to remove it properly and safely.

If the dealership allows to split the cost with you to hire a professional to come out and polish the car to remove those swirls, then that type of service from a dealership is above and beyond, that type of swirl removal prior to delivery of a car is very rare and it's not something that 99% of dealerships are capable of doing with the personnel they hire and how they train them to wash their cars and prep them before delivery. I really think they are giving you the wrong explanation above because they really believe that's the case. They're certainly wrong, and something as simple to us as light swirl removal would never call for a respray of the car...but it does show their willingness to want to satisfy you. So give a professional detailer a call, get an estimate and call up the dealership to see if they will pay for the detailer or split the cost with you to do so. Again, that would be exceptional service from them.

Here's the kicker: one wrong or bad wash after hiring a professional detailer to get those swirls out, and that will reintroduce those swirls back into the paint. Which is why many of us will recommend that while you're here, you learn how to do all of this yourself so you can maintain your great finish for the entire duration of your ownership. The types of buffers and polishes out now make it relatively easy to jump on in and get started in higher end detailing.

 

[carolinamopars]

Looking at the car in direct sunlight you can still see the halo/swirls. I've gotten contact info for a good professional detailer, waiting to hear back so he can look at the car first hand before moving forward. Haven't called the dealer yet, they don't paint in house, the shop they use comes highly recommended, but I don't want my car repainted, heard too many problems from this.

Here is a picture of the hood post detail. I own a porter cable 7424, never used it for paint correction just to speed up waxing on my vehicles. I'm hesitant on trying paint correction, but as it stands what do I have to lose...

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[KMdef9]

Stop listening to that service manager and start telling him what's going to happen. Too many of these clowns think they know more than EVERY customer.

Everything he says gets better and better. He's clearly proven the only thing he knows is how to pull answers out of his @ss.


Tell him your going to get it detailed by a local professional and he's going to pay the bill.


Once again, if you let us know where your at, I'm sure there's a member close by who does great work.

 

[Desertnate]

Here is a picture of the hood post detail. I own a porter cable 7424, never used it for paint correction just to speed up waxing on my vehicles. I'm hesitant on trying paint correction, but as it stands what do I have to lose...

If you already have the hardware and have used it for waxing, you're already on your way to doing it yourself.

I would recommend you watch some of the videos here on polishing technique and give it a shot. It's not as scary as you might think. After you do you first test spot and see the results, you'll be hooked.

 

[carolinamopars]

I'm near Winston Salem North Carolina, I've contacted CMC Detailing, they are near Charlotte, he said I could stop by one evening and he would do a test spot on the vehicle to show the paint could be corrected.

EDIT: I'll check the forums for recommendations on polish and give a small area a try, as it stands I don't see how I could make the paint worse.

 

[Desertnate]

Your vehicle appears to be a domestic full size SUV or truck. You can give the Meguiars Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish duo a shot for starters. They produce good results, easy to use, cheap, and can be found almost everywhere. I found them to be a great duo on my maiden voyage with a DA polisher.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I'm near Winston Salem North Carolina, I've contacted CMC Detailing, they are near Charlotte,

Mike is the owner of CMC and is VERY good detailer. Great choice. :dblthumb2:

 

[tedj101]

Thanks for the quick replies, I've had good dealings with the service manager in the past, hoping I can talk to him tomorrow and convince him the issue can be fixed, but the car has already been 'detailed' once. I may just bite the bullet and pay a detail shop to correct the paint and install Cquartz finest and call it a lesson learned... NEVER purchase a car without seeing it in direct sunlight.

You will want to be careful who you hire. Ask to see some of his work - particularly dark cars. There are detailers and then there are Detailers.

Perhaps someone on here can recommend someone in your area. I would trust the folks on this forum. They would be ridden inhumanly if the results weren't good and you posted them here!

Best,
<TED>

 

[tedj101]

I'm near Winston Salem North Carolina, I've contacted CMC Detailing, they are near Charlotte, he said I could stop by one evening and he would do a test spot on the vehicle to show the paint could be corrected.

EDIT: I'll check the forums for recommendations on polish and give a small area a try, as it stands I don't see how I could make the paint worse.

Given that you have a porter cable, by all means try a panel yourself. Someone recommended looking at some of the videos on the forum. I recommend looking at videos by Mike Phillips. That will give you a good visual idea of what you need to do to correct a spot and how to move the machine correctly. I would also look at his video on cleaning pads on the fly. Clean pads are key to good results.

Good luck!
<TED>

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I know for a FACT CMC detailing is top notch.

 

[dad07]

I know for a FACT CMC detailing is top notch.

:iagree:Mike will take care of it! but that is long ride from Winston Salem to Huntersville, But it will be worth it.

I want to add while I have never met Mike personally I have seen his work first hand up close and personal.........he CAN get it done.

 

[cardaddy]

Looking at the car in direct sunlight you can still see the halo/swirls. I've gotten contact info for a good professional detailer, waiting to hear back so he can look at the car first hand before moving forward. Haven't called the dealer yet, they don't paint in house, the shop they use comes highly recommended, but I don't want my car repainted, heard too many problems from this.

Here is a picture of the hood post detail. I own a porter cable 7424, never used it for paint correction just to speed up waxing on my vehicles. I'm hesitant on trying paint correction, but as it stands what do I have to lose...

Wow.... can't believe they are STILL trying to both tell you they'll repaint it, AND that nothing is wrong with it.

Repainting your vehicle WILL DEVALUE IT!!!!!!
That's called "diminished value". If you wreck your car and the insurance company repairs it, you also get a check for diminished value. Not to mention a good paint job, on a NEW vehicle would require removing all the trim and would run at least $3K~$5K to do it right.

Stop listening to that service manager and start telling him what's going to happen. Too many of these clowns think they know more than EVERY customer.

Everything he says gets better and better. He's clearly proven the only thing he knows is how to pull answers out of his @ss.


Tell him your going to get it detailed by a local professional and he's going to pay the bill.

:dblthumb2:THIS:dblthumb2:

Tell the guy what is about to happen, period. Either get it buffed out or give you a new one. (Which will also have the same problems based on what we're seeing.)

Because they've agreed to paint it, they SHOULD just foot the bill for the entire detail.

:iagree:Mike will take care of it! but that is long ride from Winston Salem to Huntersville, But it will be worth it.

I want to add while I have never met Mike personally I have seen his work first hand up close and personal.........he CAN get it done.

If Mark says it's good, and Tim says he's seen the work.... you can take that to the bank! rops:

Then once it's done, and done right.... take it DIRECTLY to the dealership, get the sales manager, the service manager, the friggin' dealership owner and bring them outside to show them that none of them have/had/will have a clue how to fix it, but that YOU can get it done.

OTOH; As was mentioned earlier, you should just try it on your own. Take some Megs Ultimate Compound or Ultimate Polish with a white or orange Lake Country pad and you should be able to knock it out. If you start with orange and UC then finish with white or blue pads and UP and it'll look great.

Also, you should start to consider how to *keep* it looking like new. Look into a good shampoo, one that's affordable and good is Duragloss 901, then check out "2 bucket method", "grit guards", "microfiber wash mitts", or better yet "merino wool wash mitts". Then some nice drying towels, (pat don't rub).

 

[builthatch]

i have a lot of personal experience with this sort of situation. mine was much, much worse in that it was permanent damage both times, but still, similar path.

personally, at this stage, i would have contacted the dealership principal and the manufacturer directly via whatever their version of "customer care" is.

the solution is to get it corrected - that is YOUR solution and they will pay for that, you just need to let them know accordingly. this other guy is just making you spin your wheels, forget him.

if i had to guess, once the manufacturer let's the regional manager know, you will get a call from the service manager saying that your plan to get it corrected will work fine.

i have even used Linkedin before to find regional people at the corporate level and contact them directly with the directory by name option at corporate, lol.

You will want to be careful who you hire. Ask to see some of his work - particularly dark cars. There are detailers and then there are Detailers.

Perhaps someone on here can recommend someone in your area. I would trust the folks on this forum. They would be ridden inhumanly if the results weren't good and you posted them here!

Best,
<TED>

then there are detailers that people will vouch for because they make awesome threads and have a great facebook page...and in fact, they are liars or at the least, mental - one week they do great work and the next they may do something like have some other dude not nearly as good doing the work because they are recovering from an adderral-fueled three day binge. and then your car ends up butchered, lol.

i agree that personally inspecting the work or finding reliable people who can PERSONALLY vouch for the work and know what the heck they are talking about is absolutely crucial. ZL1 Mark has personally vouched for CMC Detailing so i would consider that an excellent sign.

 

[actuator_mz3]

Then once it's done, and done right.... take it DIRECTLY to the dealership, get the sales manager, the service manager, the friggin' dealership owner and bring them outside to show them that none of them have/had/will have a clue how to fix it, but that YOU can get it done.

That's an excellent idea, I would hope that they see the difference.

 

[carolinamopars]

I made the drive down, 48.4 miles each way, to see Michael of CMCdetailing and have him do a test spot... the results blew me away! Going to contact the dealership tomorrow with evidence the paint can be corrected! Mike also pointed out buffer trails and holograms from the detailer the dealership used.

Before: reflection of the light is blurred cloudy

After: reflection of the light is sharp

You can see the tape line, to the left is the polished area, to the right is nasty swirls.

 

[KMdef9]

Very good work!

Now please record video of the dealership's response. I will pay money to see it.

 

[DetailKitty]

Awesome! I knew those marks would come out with someone who 1. cared, and 2. knew what they were doing.

 

[wytstang]

I made the drive down, 48.4 miles each way, to see Michael of CMCdetailing and have him do a test spot... the results blew me away! Going to contact the dealership tomorrow with evidence the paint can be corrected! Mike also pointed out buffer trails and holograms from the detailer the dealership used.

Before: reflection of the light is blurred cloudy

After: reflection of the light is sharp

You can see the tape line, to the left is the polished area, to the right is nasty swirls.

:dblthumb2: [/thread]

 

[builthatch]

Very good work!

Now please record video of the dealership's response. I will pay money to see it.

haha, yes!

awesome, OP.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I made the drive down, 48.4 miles each way, to see Michael of CMCdetailing and have him do a test spot... the results blew me away! Going to contact the dealership tomorrow with evidence the paint can be corrected! Mike also pointed out buffer trails and holograms from the detailer the dealership used.

Before: reflection of the light is blurred cloudy

After: reflection of the light is sharp

You can see the tape line, to the left is the polished area, to the right is nasty swirls.

I told you Mike Napoli knows what he's doing. :dblthumb2: