Scratches from new car dealership 'detailer'

Gadgetech

Gadgetech

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So I picked up my new car tonight, a Nissan Maxima in Crimson Black. Once I got it home under the flourescent lights in my garage, I was horrified to notice what I would consider pretty severe scratches in the paint. These are beyond swirl marks. I ran over one of the areas with Scratch X (only thing I have on hand readily) by hand and it really didn't do a whole lot to improve the situation. I'm not really sure what to do here since I'm pretty sure returning the car is not an option. I suppose I could make the dealership fix it, but I'm sure they would want to use one of their guys to do it. How can you tell when it's too severe to handle with a PC and let a pro do it?

I would say the scratches aren't all the way through the clear coat (fot the most part) but they are pretty deep looking.
 
I'm guessing what you've got are buffer trails? Without pics it's hard to say but I'm betting you could handle it with a PC and either M105 or M205 depending on how severe they are and what pad you choose to work with.

If they truly did burn through the paint in any spots though the only option is a re-paint.... hopefully that's not what you're dealing with though.
 


I would bring it to the dealers attention, and demand that they pay to have a proffesional fix this. I would advise to not let the dealership touch the vehicle.

If they refuse to pay, be very firm. You may have to threaten legal action in small claims court, but it may not escalate to that point.

Good luck.




 
Here's a couple shots. They were both taken in the same area on the hood. The whole care is not quite this bad but there are some definite lines and such down the side where they obviously used a brush. It seems some more aggressive hand polishing with the Maguires Scratch X has reduced them some so maybe a mildly aggressive compound with a white pad (or orange if that doesn't do it) will solve the problem. I'm pretty sure these aren't quite as noticeable in sunlight as flourescents bring out the worst in paint defects.
 
Definitely bring it to the dealers attention, if nothing else just so they know whats going out their doors. I bet you could get those marks corrected yourself. Can you catch any of them with your fingernail? If so, that's the point where you need to consider a pro. :cheers:
 
A4 1.8tqm said:
Definitely bring it to the dealers attention, if nothing else just so they know whats going out their doors. I bet you could get those marks corrected yourself. Can you catch any of them with your fingernail? If so, that's the point where you need to consider a pro. :cheers:
Click to expand...

I like the way you think. It's unfortunate, but a lot o people don't care or notice what happens to auto paint. With poor washin techniques. I will notify the dealer and depending on my results will determine whether or not we discuss professional route. I did the fingernail test and there are only a couple places that I can *barely, barely* feel it. It does piss me off severely, but it seems as though it isn't as dire as my original thought.

BTW, I quit cold turkey on September 11, 2006 around 11pm that night and have never looked back. You can do it!
 
Goliath said:
Once I got it home under the fluorescent lights in my garage, I was horrified to notice what I would consider pretty severe scratches in the paint. These are beyond swirl marks. I ran over one of the areas with Scratch X (only thing I have on hand readily) by hand and it really didn't do a whole lot to improve the situation.
Click to expand...

This is called a "Horror Story", it's the norm for what happens when you take a car to a dealership, most body shops and sad to say, even some detail shops, (detail shops don't put scratches like you're pictures show into the paint but buffers swirls from a rotary buffer.


Goliath said:
I'm not really sure what to do here since I'm pretty sure returning the car is not an option. I suppose I could make the dealership fix it, but I'm sure they would want to use one of their guys to do it.
Click to expand...

Take it back and show it to them but don't let them work on it. If they can't fix it right the first time they won't be able to do it right the next time.

I would print out this thread ans show the owner you're taking advice on how to fix it from from the members and Pro Detailers on AutogeekOnline and he's welcome to have his people come here to get some education so this doesn't happen to his customer's again.

One thing for sure, "Online Detailers", that is detailers that hang out on discussion forums like AGO know a heck of a lot more than detailers that are NOT online learning from forums like this.


Goliath said:
How can you tell when it's too severe to handle with a PC and let a pro do it?
Click to expand...

Those scratches don't look that bad from the pictures, if you have a PC order up some Surbuf MicroFinger pads and some M105 or Ultimate Compound and knock them out yourself.

Then polish the paint with a foam polishing or finishing pad and you'll have a true show car finish and it's easy to do, so easy anyone can do it now days.

Check out this thread...

Surbuf MicroFinger Buffing Pads now at Autogeek!

Surbuf MicroFinger Buffing Pads
SandingMarkRemovalWSurbuf000.jpg
 
Thanks Mike! I'm much better today after. 'few' hours of sleep. When my wife woke up and saw I wasn't in bed she thought to herself, is he out washing that car already? I meant to call the dealer yesterday and tell them to not clean it for delivery. I've had other vehicles cleaned there when in a pinch and it has been nowhere near this level. Lesson learned.
 
I can feel your pain. Been there also. When are the auto dealers (both new and used) going to realize that if they want to keep (repeat) customers, they need to change their business practices. The dealer I had my problem with has lost me as a customer. If they care, you will be back. If they don't you will end up telling others. Maybe whats needed is a dealers hall of shame, nationwide.

:buffing:
 
We can find fault with anything, if we look hard enough.

My first house, the bricks were laid with a level, and not a line,. The bricks went up and down,I was mad and yet over 50 year later the home is still standing.

Sometimes we have to wonder how much the guy got for washing the car, and sometimes we find bad work even out of a detail shop or someone doing it on the side.


If a bad spot bother you fix it, don't worry about it, in life it is not worth the worry, and truth is nothing is perfect...

Call the dealer, tell him how much you love the car, show him the before and after, he might send some business your way..and forget it...

I do know how you feel, but you will live long, fell better if you bend with the wind, and grin....
 
I agree with Mike. Those defects do not look "that bad." Do an inspection of the entire car before you bring it to the dealerships attention as it may need more correction than you can see on just the top sections of the car. Good luck on getting this resolved by the dealership, but if that does no good we are always here to help!
 
I took my 2-week old black Cadillac CTS to have the balance and alignment checked and they did the courtesy wash for me without asking. I picked the car up in the late afternoon and as they brought my car around from the back my heart sank. Every square inch of the car was trashed. I immediately got the service advisor who claimed it couldn't have been them as they only use soft bristle brushes. He stopped talking as soon as he saw the car. We went over to the "detail" area - the soft bristle brush was close to push broom in bristle stiffness. The pictures don't show the individual scratches in the direction of motion of the washing action. I was able to clean it up using Meg's #83 / #80 - no way would I let them touch it. They also scratched a wheel doing the alignment and the next day I noticed one of the lug nuts missing. Obviously I have not gone back to the dealer.
 
And again... another Horror Story...


louie said:
I took my 2-week old black Cadillac CTS to have the balance and alignment checked and they did the courtesy wash for me without asking. I picked the car up in the late afternoon and as they brought my car around from the back my heart sank. Every square inch of the car was trashed.
Click to expand...


Sorry to hear of your bad luck but I'm not surprised by your story...

The pictures you attached hurt my eyes...


How-to work with pictures on discussion forums


:)
 
Sounds all too familiar. Working in a "detail department" at a dealership, I know all about this. What's even more sad is when you have somebody like me who actually knows what he's doing and cares as a result of forums like MOL and AGO, but to put it into practice at a dealership is discouraged. With dealerships, time is money, so the emphasis is not on quality, but on how fast you can get that car done and off to the customer. Since most people don't know anything about proper products or procedures anyway, including the dealership, they figure it doesn't matter. Which sucks to me, because I feel like I'm doing a double standard. My co-workers don't really care about doing a good job either. On the other hand, you're going to have people who want that free wash when buying a car or having it serviced, and somebody's gotta give it to them. If it wasn't me, it'd be somebody else, somebody who's less concerned about end results than I am. Also take into consideration that most dealers are generally cheap when it comes to buying products (I have more money in products and tools at home than we have at the dealership, and I'm just doing personal cars, not production work), and most of their detail guys are getting paid diddly, then all that just adds up to disaster. No way around it.
 
Our local MB dealer charge $250 to detail a car, our first detail was free, after that $89.00 to clean the interior, and $250 for the whole vehicle.

They also loan you a new one,
 
Its amazing the quality of work some places let out the door. I run the detail shop for a Chevy dealer in a little ho-dunk town in michigan, we have good products, not great, and dont make very much money doing it. BUT, we take pride in our work which i think is what is missing in a lot of places. it doesnt matter if its a $250 complete package or a $20 wash, we are gonna do it right, or be out of a job because upper management and the owner are extremely picky. our bosses want us to do it as fast as possible, but still done right. I guess i am one of the lucky ones who have management that can make that distinction.

Anyhow, find out who is in charge of the detail shop and go to them, if that doesnt get the answers you want go right to the owner. You said you've taken stuff to them before so you should know if they are up to the task of fixing it. if they aren't then request to have them pay someone else. 99.9% of dealership owners aren't going to let you walk out the door unhappy.
 
Well this is going to sound geeky (good thing I'm in the right place) but I am excited to wash/detail the new car myself. Even if they got a 'professional' to do it, I've seen too many cars with swirls on them whether it be Lotus, BMW, MB or KIA from dealerships. It was said best when the comment that people don't care/take pride in their work. I will take pride in my work and I will fix it, even if it takes me a little longer, I will know my car better and improve my skill. Slow and steady wins the race.

I like using pinnacle products (haven't ever tried XMT) but it doesn't seem like their top end stuff would be up to the task of removing some of those areas. Can you recommend a complete process using Pinnacle or should I look at some of the other stuff mentioned? The most aggressive pad I have is orange, but with the right combo, I'm guessing I could start with a white pad.
 
Bump to see if there are any other recommendations on process to rid my car of the horrible scratches that are present. I like megs products, but I'm curious about Menzerna as well as Pinnacle. Why are there so many stinking products???

I definitely plan to purchase a surbuf pad. I'm guessing the 6.5" for my PC since I purchase the 6.5" LC pads??

BTW, I mentioned the issue to my sales rep which went without response. Figures.
 
I've had my Black truck 2 months now and it being Black is what lead me to this site and detailing. About 3 days after I had picked up my new pride and joy, the sun finally came out, the garage door was open, and as I was going back inside, the sun hit the drivers side and I almost fell out. I got closer and walked hunkered down keeping the sun reflection on the side and it got worse. I backed out of the garage and into full sunlight. The swirls were everywhere. Obviously from washing/drying at the dealership. I have spent waaaaaay too much $$$ on stuff to keep it looking right, but I am anal about scratches, etc. On the upside, I now have several friends that want me to detail their cars. As it has been said, 99% of dealers don't even know what they are doing to the paint when they do their new car clean up!!!
 
I'm of the option that most dealerships don't know the difference between the "clean up guy" and a detailer. They consider the "clean up" a nessesary evil and expense needed to deliver new cars. They don't think of the "detailer" as a revenue generator, like they do an alignment machine or nitrogen gas machine.
At the dealership where my wife works, they install swirls on new vehicles right off the truck. I've seen new cars simply rinsed with water and then dried with a chamois, no washing.
it's a shame!
 
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