Quiksilver5882
New member
- Mar 8, 2013
- 357
- 0
Sorry to see what they did to your ride! $400 for that hack job...wow. If they don't give you a refund id definitely file a BBB complaint.
Does this look like a professional job?
- Thread starter Fly5465
- Start date
davey g-force
New member
- Aug 18, 2009
- 1,225
- 0
Could be worse. You could be this guy lol
Probably the worst I've seen. Don't think I could get holograms like that even if I tried!
Vivant511
New member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 97
- 0
Could be worse. You could be this guy lol
hahah, that's one of the worst I've seen!
And to the OP, that wasn't a good detail and sorry it happened to you
BrianMcLeod
New member
- May 10, 2013
- 812
- 0
I feel bad for you hate when people rip off people!! At least This makes me feel better about my work now 
... $400 is pretty good inuding products let us know what you do and how it ends up!
... $400 is pretty good inuding products let us know what you do and how it ends up!
david79z28
New member
- Dec 6, 2010
- 551
- 0
I'm not a detailer. I wouldn't accept that!!!
aztec1987
New member
- Mar 29, 2013
- 668
- 0
HAHAHA they sure gave detail a whole new meaning hahahaha
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 7
Looks like hack work to me.
Here's the bigger picture and this is even more applicable because of the extreme sun exposure that your car will be exposed to into the future due to where you live.
When a person or a company inflicts swirls into your car needlessly, they are doing two things,
1. Removing perfectly good paint and thus leaving your already thin paint from the factory even thinner.
2. Opening up the surface with all the scratches left behind.
These two things are a recipe for clearcoat failure.
Factory paint is already thin to start with, buffing in a way to leave holograms was likely a more aggressive approach than what was needed to correct the issue.
Nothing wrong with a rotary when used correctly for the right reasons but my guess is a simple dual action polisher could have fixed the paint issues, left more paint on the car and left a smoother surface behind.
Now to undo the damage, more paint will have to be removed to level the surface. If you don't re-level the surface the total surface area has been increased by the millions of scratches left behind meaning more surface area for deterioration.
A smooth surface will last longer, (all other factors being the same), than a scratched surface. Holograms are simply millions of scratches in the paint only they have a pattern appearance that mimics the way the buffer was moved over the paint.
What happened to your car's finish was destruction of property.
For everyone reading this into the future, whether you're a forum member or simply a lurker, if you want to avoid this kind of damage to your car's finish then instead of taking your car to a dealership or an unknown person or company, start a thread on this forum like this,
Pro Detailer wanted in Gilbert, AZ
Then in the message of the thread explain the situation. This forum is better than Angie's List because a person's detailing ability and experience can be checked via their posting history. If a person replies to you thread with no posting history that documents they know what they are doing then skip them and go with someone that does have a documented posting history. Pretty simple and effective.
To the OP...
At this point I would share the link to this thread with the owner of the company where this damage occurred.
DO NOT LET THEM "TOUCH" THE CAR AGAIN.
If they were not qualified, experienced or had the proper training to buff you car out the first time what's changed?
When I say, what's changed? What has happened since they buffed your car out to show that they simply won't do the same thing over again.
Or smear on a heave coat of wax to fool you.
Nope... they had their shot and missed it. So don't let them try to fix it.
Purchase the equipment and do it yourself and everyone on this forum will help you or started thread to find a qualified person to do it for you.
As for remedy for the crime committed to your car's paint, that is the destruction of property/paint? Go to some local body shops and get some estimates for a new paint job. Because if your car's paint suffers clearcoat failure down the road you're going to have to get a new paint job.
Tell the owner of the company to send his shop manager to my next class where they will learn how to correctly address paint defects and correct them using the least aggressive approach and then they can not only avoid this train wreck in the future but do a better and more honest job for their future customers.
The owner shouldn't send their employees as there's a high turnover rate in the detailing industry. Instead, send someone that's going to retire at this company and that way every time they hire a new detailer this person can train/share what they learned here with all the future detailers they're going to go through.
Detailing Classes at Autogeek
Here's the bigger picture and this is even more applicable because of the extreme sun exposure that your car will be exposed to into the future due to where you live.
When a person or a company inflicts swirls into your car needlessly, they are doing two things,
1. Removing perfectly good paint and thus leaving your already thin paint from the factory even thinner.
2. Opening up the surface with all the scratches left behind.
These two things are a recipe for clearcoat failure.
Factory paint is already thin to start with, buffing in a way to leave holograms was likely a more aggressive approach than what was needed to correct the issue.
Nothing wrong with a rotary when used correctly for the right reasons but my guess is a simple dual action polisher could have fixed the paint issues, left more paint on the car and left a smoother surface behind.
Now to undo the damage, more paint will have to be removed to level the surface. If you don't re-level the surface the total surface area has been increased by the millions of scratches left behind meaning more surface area for deterioration.
A smooth surface will last longer, (all other factors being the same), than a scratched surface. Holograms are simply millions of scratches in the paint only they have a pattern appearance that mimics the way the buffer was moved over the paint.
What happened to your car's finish was destruction of property.
For everyone reading this into the future, whether you're a forum member or simply a lurker, if you want to avoid this kind of damage to your car's finish then instead of taking your car to a dealership or an unknown person or company, start a thread on this forum like this,
Pro Detailer wanted in Gilbert, AZ
Then in the message of the thread explain the situation. This forum is better than Angie's List because a person's detailing ability and experience can be checked via their posting history. If a person replies to you thread with no posting history that documents they know what they are doing then skip them and go with someone that does have a documented posting history. Pretty simple and effective.
To the OP...
At this point I would share the link to this thread with the owner of the company where this damage occurred.
DO NOT LET THEM "TOUCH" THE CAR AGAIN.
If they were not qualified, experienced or had the proper training to buff you car out the first time what's changed?
When I say, what's changed? What has happened since they buffed your car out to show that they simply won't do the same thing over again.
Or smear on a heave coat of wax to fool you.
Nope... they had their shot and missed it. So don't let them try to fix it.
Purchase the equipment and do it yourself and everyone on this forum will help you or started thread to find a qualified person to do it for you.
As for remedy for the crime committed to your car's paint, that is the destruction of property/paint? Go to some local body shops and get some estimates for a new paint job. Because if your car's paint suffers clearcoat failure down the road you're going to have to get a new paint job.
Tell the owner of the company to send his shop manager to my next class where they will learn how to correctly address paint defects and correct them using the least aggressive approach and then they can not only avoid this train wreck in the future but do a better and more honest job for their future customers.
The owner shouldn't send their employees as there's a high turnover rate in the detailing industry. Instead, send someone that's going to retire at this company and that way every time they hire a new detailer this person can train/share what they learned here with all the future detailers they're going to go through.
Detailing Classes at Autogeek
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 7
By the way, the OP is not alone...
The damage to this brand new BMW was inflicted at a BMW dealership.
2014 BMW 535i - Removing Dealership Holograms, Swirls and Scratches
What I've learned over the years that in most cases, the people that work at dealerships, not so much the detailers but the people in charge... they don't know anyting about the paint on the cars they sale and they don't care to know.
So people that buy new cars that don't hang out on forums like this one to learn how to avoid dealership horror stories get taken.
:dunno:
The damage to this brand new BMW was inflicted at a BMW dealership.
2014 BMW 535i - Removing Dealership Holograms, Swirls and Scratches
What I've learned over the years that in most cases, the people that work at dealerships, not so much the detailers but the people in charge... they don't know anyting about the paint on the cars they sale and they don't care to know.
So people that buy new cars that don't hang out on forums like this one to learn how to avoid dealership horror stories get taken.
:dunno:
Scott@IncrediblyDetailed
New member
- Oct 26, 2012
- 935
- 0
Those are buffer trails from a rotary buffer. I would take it back and get some answers. I would also not allow who ever touched your car to touch it again. I think a refund might in order. What was the condition of the paint before it was "detailed".
Did you pay for a full correction? Did he state your paint would be defect free or anything along those lines?
These pictures are from a truck I'm currently working on using the Flex 3401. Swirls and some RIDs have been removed, and I'm not instilling buffer trails on the car.
- Thread starter
- #52
Thanks for all the input. I just want to clarify that this place is a "professional" detail shop and not a car dealership. They have been in business here for many years and I thought had good reviews.
Unfortunately I wonder if they have tried to grow to much and get low quality workers in with not much training.
Yeah, I learned a big lesson. That is as Mike says.... Post a wanted ad here, looking for a known detailer in your area with modern day techniques! Or, learn and do it yourself.
I'll post here with the outcome from asking for my money back.
Dr_Pain
New member
- Nov 28, 2012
- 2,196
- 0
If this is a "professional" detailing shop then you must have asked for the "ghost flame" detailing job. I promise it would make your car cooler or make it go faster
^^ You know I am joking right?
I feel bad that your car was molested, and I echo the rest of the geeks in saying don't let them try and fix it. Bring it to a real detailer!! How do you know if he is a real detailer?? Here is my simple plan:
1) Educate yourself
2) Let them open their mouth FIRST (after you explain your goals and expectations)
3) Ask questions
4) ..... and ask to see their portfolio, tools, shop etc...
I guarantee you that if you know the lingo, the process etc.. that it will take you 2 seconds to pick out a hack. I absolutely LOVE when a customer comes to my shop and shows interest, and asks questions. I actually like it when they challenge me about information they may have gotten online or from a buddy! In the end I will not accept the job unless they are 100% confident in my skills and knowledge.
^^ You know I am joking right?
I feel bad that your car was molested, and I echo the rest of the geeks in saying don't let them try and fix it. Bring it to a real detailer!! How do you know if he is a real detailer?? Here is my simple plan:
1) Educate yourself
2) Let them open their mouth FIRST (after you explain your goals and expectations)
3) Ask questions
4) ..... and ask to see their portfolio, tools, shop etc...
I guarantee you that if you know the lingo, the process etc.. that it will take you 2 seconds to pick out a hack. I absolutely LOVE when a customer comes to my shop and shows interest, and asks questions. I actually like it when they challenge me about information they may have gotten online or from a buddy! In the end I will not accept the job unless they are 100% confident in my skills and knowledge.
Loach
New member
- May 24, 2014
- 452
- 0
It's not professional work. A professional is going to laugh at rotary finished paint correction services from places like this all day.
The question is, would a professional have charged you $400 to achieve a perfect finish on a non-metallic black surface? Maybe, that price is usually for a one-step and depends on how soft and marred up the paint is.
The question is, would a professional have charged you $400 to achieve a perfect finish on a non-metallic black surface? Maybe, that price is usually for a one-step and depends on how soft and marred up the paint is.
parttimer
Active member
- Aug 5, 2013
- 1,564
- 0
Meh, I know several guys on here that have converted back to rotary. Heck I might start using a rotary for heavy correction then follow it with a DA polish.
Tato
New member
- Nov 27, 2013
- 2,157
- 0
My friend, sorry:
I had this page open since the beginning of the thread to place a reply. I've ran out of time, and came back today could see you got 6 pages worth of precious answers by our friends.
I couldn't read them all to follow your advance, but I'm in for my $0.02...
Looking at the pics there are nasty holograms, like everyone said, poor work.
However, the pics says more to me. First thing, you're good at the Gary's washing method, since I see no improper washing damage to your car. This indicates you are talented, have all the care needed, and you will get rid of this by yourself.
Put your GG polisher to work, you'll not even need the M105 (sure, can't assure 100%, but I'm 98% in my opinion). You'll hang out using M205 and a white polishing pad, or even a finishing pad, or both (one followed by another).
Do it in the shade, wash the car thoroughly first, do your test spot using the M205 and finishing pad first, on inconspicuous place.
Always use a Swirl Finder light to inspect your work while you move between sections.
If you are not so sure about your abilities, feel free to ask in forum, inform yourself, watch as many Mike Phillips's threads and videos as you can.
If you even got Menzerna SF4000, I'd suggest you to give it a try.
Hope my $0.02 worth you something, although I'm sorry for you, I'm pretty sure you'll get the hang out of it by yourself, and in the end, will be proud you did it.
I'm placing a thread where I removed holograms and poor work like this on a black Kia, this weekend. I'll let you know when it's done.
Good Luck,
Kind Regards.
I had this page open since the beginning of the thread to place a reply. I've ran out of time, and came back today could see you got 6 pages worth of precious answers by our friends.
I couldn't read them all to follow your advance, but I'm in for my $0.02...
Looking at the pics there are nasty holograms, like everyone said, poor work.
However, the pics says more to me. First thing, you're good at the Gary's washing method, since I see no improper washing damage to your car. This indicates you are talented, have all the care needed, and you will get rid of this by yourself.
Put your GG polisher to work, you'll not even need the M105 (sure, can't assure 100%, but I'm 98% in my opinion). You'll hang out using M205 and a white polishing pad, or even a finishing pad, or both (one followed by another).
Do it in the shade, wash the car thoroughly first, do your test spot using the M205 and finishing pad first, on inconspicuous place.
Always use a Swirl Finder light to inspect your work while you move between sections.
If you are not so sure about your abilities, feel free to ask in forum, inform yourself, watch as many Mike Phillips's threads and videos as you can.
If you even got Menzerna SF4000, I'd suggest you to give it a try.
Hope my $0.02 worth you something, although I'm sorry for you, I'm pretty sure you'll get the hang out of it by yourself, and in the end, will be proud you did it.
I'm placing a thread where I removed holograms and poor work like this on a black Kia, this weekend. I'll let you know when it's done.
Good Luck,
Kind Regards.
CustomAutoSteve
New member
- Jun 16, 2014
- 3
- 0
I always pull it into the sun everytime Im finished. If its an over cast you gotta rely on the lights indoors
brondondolon
New member
- Nov 12, 2013
- 1,254
- 0
This post has been on my mind since i first read it. I feel terrible for you. Its so unfortunate and such a crumby feeling when some one messes up your pride and joy.
Loach
New member
- May 24, 2014
- 452
- 0
I agree, I'm not saying the rotary is useless, I continue to use mine rigorously. But the days are gone where I try to finish out paints (especially non-metallic black paint) without following up with a DA finishing polish as you said above. And the fact that the shop tried to get away with trying to hide behind polishing oils or glazes to cover up their rotary slop is what makes them unprofessional.
Tato
New member
- Nov 27, 2013
- 2,157
- 0
Some paints will finish better than others with rotary or DA, it's up to who's polishing to do the test spot, inspect the results, before reproducing it in the whole car.
It's obvious either the guy doesn't knew better what he was doing, or this is a classical (one more) hack job.
I insist in my comment above, grab your GG polisher, M205, document it and share your glory with AGO community.
Can't wait to see.
Kind Regards.
It's obvious either the guy doesn't knew better what he was doing, or this is a classical (one more) hack job.
I insist in my comment above, grab your GG polisher, M205, document it and share your glory with AGO community.
Can't wait to see.
Kind Regards.