Just02896
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- Nov 15, 2013
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I'm in RI (about 2 hours from you on the RI/CT line) and would be more than happy to help you de-swirl!
Fixing "dealer washed" Opti Coat
- Thread starter chris11le
- Start date
I'm in RI (about 2 hours from you on the RI/CT line) and would be more than happy to help you de-swirl!
Methodical
New member
- Feb 16, 2014
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That's an excellent idea. I will have to get one for my wife for her Lexus. They did the same thing to her car as the OP and did 1/3 azz (not even a 1/2 azz job) - dirt all over the car. It looks like the dry wiped it or something. I keep telling her to tell them to not wash it. If she allows it again, I will not spend hours detailing it anymore - just a regular ole' wash.
OP, the squeaky wheel always gets oiled.
Al
Flash Gordon
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 11,450
- 459
If I were you I would forget it and move on. If the dealer pays you anything (which I doubt) they will make up for it on your next visit
That's very kind of you
rops:
That's very kind of you
rops:- Thread starter
- #25
I appreciate the offer! Ill be sending you a PM later (on my way out right now)
If I were you I would forget it and move on. If the dealer pays you anything (which I doubt) they will make up for it on your next visit
That's very kind of you
I think you are right. While Im not going to press them for monetary reimbursement, Im going to at least tell them about it, and maybe show them if they ask me (I think they will ask me). It would at least make me feel a little better, and give me a chance to voice my opinion (which is: free washes should be banned in the winter!).
The amazing thing is that, the first time I took the car to this dealer, it was in the middle of the winter. I told the service receptionist "do not wash" and her response was "of course we wouldnt, we'll just scratch up the paint with all that dirt". So clearly somewhere in the last 3 years they lost their common sense.
Flash Gordon
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2010
- 11,450
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I would for sure drop by (not call) and tell them how disappointed you are. I just wouldn't try (or expect them) to pay for a polish/new coating. More then likely they'll offer you a free oil service/tire rotation/balance
Find one service advisor and deal with them exclusively
The simple fact is, whether the swirls are in the OC or in the paint, they will need to be polished out with some type of abrasive.
Personally, I'd recoat the entire car after even the most mild of 1-step polishes because nobody really knows how much, if any, of OC will still be in tact after you polish the car out to remove the swirls.
It sucks, but that's the reality of soft paint, carelessness, real life, and coatings.
I've always questioned why enthusiasts (detailers) would put OC on their car to begin with. I cannot go more then 2 years without doing a light machine polish, after which you wanna reapply the coating, so the concept of a permanent coating has no value to me.
Personally, I'd recoat the entire car after even the most mild of 1-step polishes because nobody really knows how much, if any, of OC will still be in tact after you polish the car out to remove the swirls.
It sucks, but that's the reality of soft paint, carelessness, real life, and coatings.
I've always questioned why enthusiasts (detailers) would put OC on their car to begin with. I cannot go more then 2 years without doing a light machine polish, after which you wanna reapply the coating, so the concept of a permanent coating has no value to me.
Rsurfer
Well-known member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,159
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- Thread starter
- #29
A little back story - when I got the car 3 years ago, I attempted to polish it. Whatever I did, I had swirls. I couldnt figure it out for the life of me. On top of that, Infiniti black paint is known for being soft. Basically I got spooked, took the car to a pro (who later found out what I was swirling was actually some coating, most likely from the dealer), then had the car Opti Coated so I could prevent the soft paint from picking up all sorts of marring. Flash forward to today, and I think it saved the bulk of the problem. I didnt have the clear bra Opti Coated, and the amount of swirls on it right now vs. the rest of the car is absolutely insane (Ill try to get pics of it all if its sunny tomorrow)
So, for me, Opti was a choice for protection. It happened to make the car look spectacular, Im guessing because of the color (Malbec Black metallic)
And yes, once I start hitting it with a pad, Im going to be going back and recoating it. I have a tube of OC 2.0 already, even if it doesnt "stick" because the area didnt need a complete recoat, I figure its worth it to be sure it has as much coverage as possible. If pigs fly and there is a blue moon and the dealer decides to foot the bill, Ill have a pro correct it and recoat with Opti Coat Pro
Rsurfer
Well-known member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,159
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- #32
SYMAWD
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- Feb 10, 2013
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This happened somewhat recently to forum member b0b. In his situation, the dealer ended up paying for a professional to polish and re-opticoat his car.
If the dealer's swirls go beyond the opti-coat, the only way to fix it is to remove clear coat which cars already have so little of. IMO that is worth a lot more than if they offer you a free oil change or whatever.
If the dealer's swirls go beyond the opti-coat, the only way to fix it is to remove clear coat which cars already have so little of. IMO that is worth a lot more than if they offer you a free oil change or whatever.
- Thread starter
- #34
Just read b0bs thread. Literally makes me sick to my stomach.
My car isnt clean enough yet to see the full extent of the damage (didnt want to wash it just yet, until the dealer sees it.....I dont want them claiming that I did it myself over the weekend) so I have visions of mine being as bad as his, but I dont think it is (for instance, my hood is still fairly swirl free, so maybe they didnt hit EVERY body panel with the sandpaper)
My car isnt clean enough yet to see the full extent of the damage (didnt want to wash it just yet, until the dealer sees it.....I dont want them claiming that I did it myself over the weekend) so I have visions of mine being as bad as his, but I dont think it is (for instance, my hood is still fairly swirl free, so maybe they didnt hit EVERY body panel with the sandpaper)
Methodical
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- Feb 16, 2014
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- #36
Detailed Image.....it was a one day deal thing I think (you can still buy the package, its just a different price now I believe)
Didnt want to "show up" AG, but I use DI when I need something quickly, since they are in NY and Im in CT so "ground" shipping is basically overnight depending on what time of day I order.
- Thread starter
- #37
Some (albeit bad) pics of the carnage. Note the car is dirty just from the drive home from the dealer....I havent washed it yet in case they want to accuse me of doing it, so Im not sure if there is even worse ready to be seen.
Looking at the pics it doesnt look THAT bad, but in person I think it looks a little worse. Im not a pro, but they do look pretty superficial.....*hopefully* they are just in the Opti Coat. I dont mind recoating if I have to, I just dont want to have to look at them forever.
Looking at the pics it doesnt look THAT bad, but in person I think it looks a little worse. Im not a pro, but they do look pretty superficial.....*hopefully* they are just in the Opti Coat. I dont mind recoating if I have to, I just dont want to have to look at them forever.
- Thread starter
- #38
Update: service manager called me back. They said they would keep the car for a day and have their detailer fix it. I respectfully declined, so he asked if I had a detailer in mind.
Gave him the verbal quote I received from the detailer over the weekend. I dont think he was expecting the number (4 hours of correction + recoat with Opti = not cheap, but its on par with what I paid the first time I had it OptiCoat-ed), but told me to email him specifics along with pics of my car and they would see what they can do.
Ive done just that so we'll see what they come back with.
Gave him the verbal quote I received from the detailer over the weekend. I dont think he was expecting the number (4 hours of correction + recoat with Opti = not cheap, but its on par with what I paid the first time I had it OptiCoat-ed), but told me to email him specifics along with pics of my car and they would see what they can do.
Ive done just that so we'll see what they come back with.
tedj101
New member
- Oct 15, 2013
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You know, I subscribe to that same point of view. That's why I like sealants rather than coatings. I haven't said anything in the past primarily because I expect there are people on here who would not like that point of view...
:iagree:
- Thread starter
- #40
I have 2 other vehicles, a wife and 2 kids to take up my time
While I would love to spend more time detailing, trying new products for new looks, etc, I just cant do it.The G is my "baby", so it leads a very easy life. The OptiCoat has been on the car for a while, and before the dealer trashed it, there was very little correction necessary (what little was needed was because of me brushing across the car while walking in my garage)
I liked the look the Opti gave it, enough so that I would do it all again.
And it looks like I will get the chance.....the dealer is cutting me a check to get it fixed.
Im going to use it as a chance to try out some new products myself, to see how easy/hard/impossible it is to get rid of swirls like that. I doubt Ill get it perfect, which is where a pro detailer will come in.
Ive been afraid of that paint since day 1, I had loads of trouble trying to polish it myself so Ive basically been hands off as much as I can (hence, OptiCoat). On the flipside is my wifes Acura which has very little to no swirls even after 11 years of a hard life. That paint seems rock hard compared to my G.