Rant: Body shop kindly washed my car...

1fastTbird

1fastTbird

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I am mad at myself more than anyone else.

My car was at the local Ford dealer body shop this week getting a new front bumper due to my run in with a very large raccoon. I picked the vehicle up yesterday and it was very cloudy and drizzling out, so I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with the paint other than the new bumper looking like it was done to my expectation. It should be noted that the car was spotless when dropped off, and was just as clean when I picked it up.
Today is a beautiful sunny day and as I walked around my car to install my new wheels, I discovered that the every inch of the paint and wheels are covered in heavy swirls. It looks like the car was washed with steel wool.
My mind was in another place when I dropped the car off and it didn't even occur to me to ask the body shop not to touch the paint. Ugh.
I was going to do a full correction on the car this Spring anyway, so I don't think that I am going to raise hell with the dealership, but this just doubled my work load.
Am I foolish for not requesting compensation from the dealer? Or should I chalk it up to lesson learned. I truly don't think anyone at the dealership will even comprehend the amount of damage they inflicted.
 
I would tell them you are not happy about the situation, and see what they might be willing to do for you. I doubt that they will see the light, so to speak, and alter their washing process, but no one likes unhappy customers. There isn't any way to prove to them that it was swirl free when it came in and that they caused the swirls, but hopefully they won't be jerks about it. Hope it goes well.
 
How sure are you they were not there already? I noticed many swirls all over my vehicle that I thought was swirl free only because the lighting was just right.
 
expdetailing said:
How sure are you they were not there already? I noticed many swirls all over my vehicle that I thought was swirl free only because the lighting was just right.
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No question at all.

Oh well, I'll voice my dismay, but at the end of the day it is a lesson learned.
 
Had the SAME thing happen to me.. i let it go and polished the paint all over again. I'll be sure to mention something next time though and put up a mirror tag that states to not wash or clean.
 
Happened to me at both dealership and autobody shop long story short dealer messed up and tried to correct it, got worse and was taken to the autobody shop, free of charge

It took a lot of back and forth and headaches with myself and the wife

In the end I just corrected the paint work myself as dealer would not pay a third party detailer for paint correction
 
It could be worse....I took my mustang in to the shop to fix a misaligned trunk and hood and to fix two dents. Well they fixed everything and gave me an extra ding on the rear fender.

The funny part is there water was out for the day so they didn't wash the car. They actually gave me $20 cash to make up for not washing it.

It is going back in tomorrow for additional repairs :(
 
unfortunately it's almost impossible to expect anyone, sometimes even a pro detailer, to take care of your car like you would.

very few body shops employ good wash practices. that is a general statement but it's true, since most body shops by the numbers are volume shops.

it's a shame. i feel your pain and i think you'll be able to square this up yourself, thankfully.
 
Sucks this happened :(

I'd just move on and fix it up yourself. Just remember to hang a tag and verbally tell them next time. Most places will be glad to not spend the extra time washing another car.
 
Sorry to hear that man, I make it a point to not touch my paint whenever I drop my car off anywhere for any kind of service.
 
DetailKitty said:
Just remember to hang a tag and verbally tell them next time. Most places will be glad to not spend the extra time washing another car.
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agreed - i always do this however, i was thinking about a body shop scenario and i don't know if that's possible in a situation where they need to paint. can they really bring an unwashed car into the booth? then again, if i recall correctly, this might have just been a bumper re-paint which means just the part goes into the booth - in that case, a no wash policy by the owner should definitely be plausible.
 
Same thing happened last year to my F150. Called to inquire if they were done with it and the guy was all happy to tell they had taken real good care and washed it for me. My heart sank as I was walking to the counter and passed the wash bay and there sat a huge brush in a bucket with dirty water. Well 8 hours later of polishing my truck was back to normal. Sorry to hear but you know what happens. my fault for not telling them not to wash it
 
builthatch said:
agreed - i always do this however, i was thinking about a body shop scenario and i don't know if that's possible in a situation where they need to paint. can they really bring an unwashed car into the booth? then again, if i recall correctly, this might have just been a bumper re-paint which means just the part goes into the booth - in that case, a no wash policy by the owner should definitely be plausible.
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I know the OP said the car went in spotless. And apparently it was just the bumper. You can always talk to the body shop about washing your car. I had a CF spoiler installed by my bodyshop on my MINI I had and they "knew" not to touch the rest of my car LOL. Apparently I had a reputation there. Funny thing was this is a really nice shop that does mostly high-end cars (Ferraris, Porsche, etc). I found it funny I had a reputation there.
 
Thanks for all of the replies.

The body shop manager called me genuinely concerned because he said that his team only uses only softest sponges and chamois. He said he never wants to use stiff brushes because of the new paint and he offered to have the car buffed. I couldn't be mad because like "most" they really feel that they are doing what is best. 5 star offer in my book.

My friends and coworkers think the car looks amazing, so I realize that it's my detailing "sickness" that is to blame. Thanks AG!:buffing:

I am still somewhat new at this compared to most of you, so another correction is good practice.
 
DetailKitty said:
I know the OP said the car went in spotless. And apparently it was just the bumper. You can always talk to the body shop about washing your car. I had a CF spoiler installed by my bodyshop on my MINI I had and they "knew" not to touch the rest of my car LOL. Apparently I had a reputation there. Funny thing was this is a really nice shop that does mostly high-end cars (Ferraris, Porsche, etc). I found it funny I had a reputation there.
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Cavallo?
 
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