Dealer added “Paint protection”. Should I get my own instead?

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r3faat1

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Just bought a brand-new car (Mazda - dark gray color) in AZ. Hate how thin the clear coat is. It comes with “Armor All Smart Shield” paint protection with 10 years exterior warranty.

They couldn’t apply it any worse even if they wanted to. Zero prep work. There are streaks, haze spots on the hood, etc. Went on a first road trip and got bunch of bug splatters on the bumper. I highly doubt it’s providing any protection because those bugs were hard to get off.

This thing is not going to last 10 years. At max 1 year. So, this is what I am trying to decide between:

1. Should I get it professionally polished and apply my own ceramic protection?

2. Since it has 10 years warranty, should I neglect the paint and have them re-paint the car when the hot AZ summer burns through the clear coat within 5 - 10 years.

I know the 2nd option might be unethical but WHY include a mandatory paint protection with 10-year warranty that you’ll apply the worst way possible.

I’m leaning towards the option 1 because if I go with 2, I also don’t want to risk them denying the warranty for I don’t know what reason or re-painting just one section without being able to match it properly.

What do you think? What would you do?

Also, anyone have any experience using Smart Shield warranty process?
 
I would defiantly give it a water test to see how it sheets of or beads off. It is just stick and stays on the paint it is bear and they blew smoke up you A$$
And if it just runs off or beads then I would keep it and maintain it! Eventually it will degrade and you can start fresh.
 
DanaDetailingPros said:
I would defiantly give it a water test to see how it sheets of or beads off. It is just stick and stays on the paint it is bear and they blew smoke up you A$$
And if it just runs off or beads then I would keep it and maintain it! Eventually it will degrade and you can start fresh.
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Agreed, + if you settle for option 1 I suggest you let a professional do both paint correction and ceramic coating.
 
Buy a polisher and do all of it yourself. That way in 2-3 years when you wanna do again you’ll have the tools


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Coatingsarecrack said:
Buy a polisher and do all of it yourself. That way in 2-3 years when you wanna do again you’ll have the tools
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This would be my recommendation too. If you have the ability to do it yourself, you can save a lot of money and it's a great way to learn every little nuance of your car.

If there are "streaks" and "haze spots", there is no way I'd leave it in that condition for however long it takes to wear off. I'd give it until the weather cools off in mid-September and then give the car the proper attention it deserves.

I wouldn't even consider your #2 option. You'd likely loose in the end due to some legal loophole and your vehicle would look terrible for years as it slowly failed. Whatever they smeared all over your car is a gimic and I'd treat it as such. Walk away and do whatever you want to care for your car properly.
 
Yea, I'll go with option 1. Even if they repaint it per warranty, it'll be one section at a time and it will probably look horrible.

I do have a DA polisher so I'll stick to DIY ceramic coating with 1-step polish.

I seriously HATE how thin the paint is. It's a $40k brand new 2023 car. I measured the clear coat and it's literally 65 - 80 microns. My previous 12 year old car still had 120 - 140.
 
r3faat1 said:
Just bought a brand-new car (Mazda - dark gray color) in AZ. Hate how thin the clear coat is. It comes with “Armor All Smart Shield” paint protection with 10 years exterior warranty.

They couldn’t apply it any worse even if they wanted to. Zero prep work. There are streaks, haze spots on the hood, etc. Went on a first road trip and got bunch of bug splatters on the bumper. I highly doubt it’s providing any protection because those bugs were hard to get off.

This thing is not going to last 10 years. At max 1 year. So, this is what I am trying to decide between:

1. Should I get it professionally polished and apply my own ceramic protection?

2. Since it has 10 years warranty, should I neglect the paint and have them re-paint the car when the hot AZ summer burns through the clear coat within 5 - 10 years.

I know the 2nd option might be unethical but WHY include a mandatory paint protection with 10-year warranty that you’ll apply the worst way possible.

I’m leaning towards the option 1 because if I go with 2, I also don’t want to risk them denying the warranty for I don’t know what reason or re-painting just one section without being able to match it properly.

What do you think? What would you do?

Also, anyone have any experience using Smart Shield warranty process?
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So it yourself. All they are doing is charging you for a warranty. This scam dates back to the 80's if not before. I grew up in the car business and it's a pure profit center for the F & I office.

It will look awesome when done. Pics of one I did in that color last summer:

original.jpg


original.jpg
 
r3faat1 said:
I seriously HATE how thin the paint is. It's a $40k brand new 2023 car. I measured the clear coat and it's literally 65 - 80 microns. My previous 12 year old car still had 120 - 140.
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Mazda's have been like that for years though. Our first was in 2003 and then 2008 and really, all of them I see are like that. Thin water based paints and the process they use when applying them. My wife's 2018 has between 60-80 microns on the roof.

PPF the heck out of it and you'll be fine.
 
If cared for properly that Mazda paint should hold up pretty good over time, even if it is pretty thin.

My daughter drives a 2010 Mazda3 I bough in the fall of 2009 and drove it for 4~5 years before passing it to her. Over the years it was always well cared for with at least one polish per year and then every three years when I switched to coatings. Even know with 100K+ miles, living in dorm/apartment parking lot for 6 years, being re-ended TWICE, and not exactly an easy life after that, the paint still looks brand new.
 
They’re going to deny the warranty even if you do nothing. There are plenty of horror stories filed with the BBB on relating to dealer applied “coatings”. If this paint protection package is anything like the dealerships around me offer, it’s a cheap spray on sealant that you have to get reapplied every 6 months. Just imagine the amount of damage the dealership “detailers” can do to your car if you let them get their hands on it twice a year.

Like everyone else has said, invest in some equipment and learn to do it yourself. Since I had some old Ryobi batteries from old lawn care equipment I bought a Ryobi cordless polisher and learned how to do a light polish and spray coatings and then worked my way up to a real coating.
 
Thanks for the help everyone. Yea that color looks very beautiful when polished and ceramic coated.

Optimus Grime said:
Like everyone else has said, invest in some equipment and learn to do it yourself. Since I had some old Ryobi batteries from old lawn care equipment I bought a Ryobi cordless polisher and learned how to do a light polish and spray coatings and then worked my way up to a real coating.
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Oh that's funny. I bought the SAME exact polisher for the SAME exact reason lol.
 
Where in AZ are you? First off anything from the Dealership is going to be less than acceptable. Remember, the dealership sells UNITS, then financing, then warranties, then vin etching, then clear bra, and anything else they can load your finance document up with.

I just bought a new to me ('m totally struggling with a Show-N-Shine post right now.. the photo uploader will no longer work!!!! UGGGG), 2020 Lincoln Corsair with 27K Miles. I told the dealership DO NOTHING. Do not wash it, do not do anything. Their idea of detailing is the local carwash.

Look, I understand AZ, and I understand AZ Sun and clear coat damage. The only thing that is going to protect from the UV's and Sandstorms is a good ceramic coating, and parking in a covered or garage as much as possible. Do regular maintenance washes. The dust here is brutal. I also understand trying to work on a vehicle in this extreme heat. I've been getting up every morning at 4:30 am to work on the Lincoln.

Second, who cares about 10 year warranties? Where are you going to be in 10 years from today? Where is the dealership going to be in 10 years from today? Where is this car going to be in 10 years?

Simple advice, do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. You've already seen what the dealership can do, and if that's their best, then forget about the warranty. Coatings in AZ only last 2 years anyway. One sandstorm, mixed with monsoon rain, mixed with you parked in a parking lot and they used recycled water to water the nearby lawn, it's done. (how would I know about all these!). The latter, recycled water. Had washed my around-town-car (Honda Fit), and put a topping of CQ Reload on it. Took the Mrs to the Chandler Performing Arts to see a show. There was a grassy area near where we parked. Came out, car was getting pelted by sprinklers using recycled water. Took 2 days to get that car polished, and recoated.

Do it yourself or unless there are extenuating circumstances, pay someone to do it.
 
Trusting any car dealer anything they say is a big, big mistake (same applies to real estate agents and lawyers).

(This is my personal opinion, obviously, but I feel many may agree with me).

:wowwow:
 
LSNAutoDetailing said:
Where in AZ are you? First off anything from the Dealership is going to be less than acceptable. Remember, the dealership sells UNITS, then financing, then warranties, then vin etching, then clear bra, and anything else they can load your finance document up with.

I just bought a new to me ('m totally struggling with a Show-N-Shine post right now.. the photo uploader will no longer work!!!! UGGGG), 2020 Lincoln Corsair with 27K Miles. I told the dealership DO NOTHING. Do not wash it, do not do anything. Their idea of detailing is the local carwash.

Look, I understand AZ, and I understand AZ Sun and clear coat damage. The only thing that is going to protect from the UV's and Sandstorms is a good ceramic coating, and parking in a covered or garage as much as possible. Do regular maintenance washes. The dust here is brutal. I also understand trying to work on a vehicle in this extreme heat. I've been getting up every morning at 4:30 am to work on the Lincoln.

Second, who cares about 10 year warranties? Where are you going to be in 10 years from today? Where is the dealership going to be in 10 years from today? Where is this car going to be in 10 years?

Simple advice, do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. You've already seen what the dealership can do, and if that's their best, then forget about the warranty. Coatings in AZ only last 2 years anyway. One sandstorm, mixed with monsoon rain, mixed with you parked in a parking lot and they used recycled water to water the nearby lawn, it's done. (how would I know about all these!). The latter, recycled water. Had washed my around-town-car (Honda Fit), and put a topping of CQ Reload on it. Took the Mrs to the Chandler Performing Arts to see a show. There was a grassy area near where we parked. Came out, car was getting pelted by sprinklers using recycled water. Took 2 days to get that car polished, and recoated.

Do it yourself or unless there are extenuating circumstances, pay someone to do it.
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I'm in Phoenix, AZ. And yea I feel you, it's brutally hot and dry. I washed my car about few weeks ago under a shaded spot, even so, water would dry up within a minute or two. Unfortunately, I did get some water spots.

Lesson learned not to wash cars during the day in the summer.

Then like you said, a few dust storm and it was in a horribly dirty. I was pretty sure I'd have some scratches just from the storm.

Anyway, washed it 2 days ago at like 10pm. Went better this time and seems to be scratch free.

I'll do a full polish and ceramic coating in the winter.

Thanks again for all the details!
 
r3faat1 said:
I'm in Phoenix, AZ. And yea I feel you, it's brutally hot and dry. I washed my car about few weeks ago under a shaded spot, even so, water would dry up within a minute or two. Unfortunately, I did get some water spots.

Lesson learned not to wash cars during the day in the summer.

Then like you said, a few dust storm and it was in a horribly dirty. I was pretty sure I'd have some scratches just from the storm.

Anyway, washed it 2 days ago at like 10pm. Went better this time and seems to be scratch free.

I'll do a full polish and ceramic coating in the winter.

Thanks again for all the details!
Click to expand...

Are you aware of Purtech Water? Deionized Water | Puretec Industrial Water
I have the larger tank in the garage. No issues with washing in sunlight.

If you decide to use their services, please PM me. I've turned about 4 people onto them, and if I'm mentioned as a referral. I do get a bit of a discount.
 
Yea I sort of heard about it and the concept, but I live in a small condo so don't really have any space for a large tank. I'll send you a PM if the situation ever changes though.
 
r3faat1 said:
Yea I sort of heard about it and the concept, but I live in a small condo so don't really have any space for a large tank. I'll send you a PM if the situation ever changes though.
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You've gotta learn the art of rinseless washing. I think it's a must for someone living in an apartment or condo.
 
I would not trust a dealer added anything. Take it to a professional or do your research, buy the products and tools and then do it yourself.
 
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