Dealer and my paint!
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Dealer and my paint!
When I purhcased my Black WRX from the dealer I asked him to wash and detail the car before I took possesion. Unfortunately one of the employees in the detail shop used a dirty buffing wheel to wax the car and put some serious swirl marks and scratches in my paint.
When I took the car back and pointed this out, the detail shop manager offered to buff the car with a clean wheel and assured me that this would fix the problem. That didnt work, and since he used a mechanical buffer it in fact made the swirl marks worse! When I brought the car in AGAIN, and complained the manager said that he should have done the work himself and that he would strip the wax from the car and hand buff it this time! THAT DIDNT WORK EITHER, in fact it took out most of the buffing marks, but didnt do a thing for the scratches!
On an overcast day the car looks great, but as soon as the sun comes out if you walk around the car all you see is tons and tons of swirl shaped tiny scratches... So I went to the service department manager and complained, and he has now offered to "wet sand" the car in the body shop and says this will definitely fix the issue. Needless to say I am a bit skeptical of this due to the previous two unsucessful attempts to fix my paint, and also I am not sure how sanding would effect the long term durability of my paint. He says that it is a three step paint process on my car and that wet sanding it wont hurt it at all.
Does anyone out there have bodyshop experience? I would like to know if his claims are accurate, as he said that as a last resort they will paint my car to fix the problem, and at this point I think that may be the way to go.
Thanks much,
Thomas
When I took the car back and pointed this out, the detail shop manager offered to buff the car with a clean wheel and assured me that this would fix the problem. That didnt work, and since he used a mechanical buffer it in fact made the swirl marks worse! When I brought the car in AGAIN, and complained the manager said that he should have done the work himself and that he would strip the wax from the car and hand buff it this time! THAT DIDNT WORK EITHER, in fact it took out most of the buffing marks, but didnt do a thing for the scratches!
On an overcast day the car looks great, but as soon as the sun comes out if you walk around the car all you see is tons and tons of swirl shaped tiny scratches... So I went to the service department manager and complained, and he has now offered to "wet sand" the car in the body shop and says this will definitely fix the issue. Needless to say I am a bit skeptical of this due to the previous two unsucessful attempts to fix my paint, and also I am not sure how sanding would effect the long term durability of my paint. He says that it is a three step paint process on my car and that wet sanding it wont hurt it at all.
Does anyone out there have bodyshop experience? I would like to know if his claims are accurate, as he said that as a last resort they will paint my car to fix the problem, and at this point I think that may be the way to go.
Thanks much,
Thomas
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 36
From: Washington DC
Car Info: 2003 Impreza WRX
Watch Your ***!
You have several options at this point. I have been through this with my other vehicle, and a dealership by the name of Browns Mazda in Alexandria Va. The wet sanding will remove the swirl marks- of course, thats because it is removing the factory clearcoat, as well. It will definately need to be re-painted with a factory-grade clearcoat, one that will not VOID THE MANUFACTURERS (not the dealers...) WARRANTY. Be very clear of this fact UP FRONT. They ruined the product, they need to make this right...to YOUR SATISFACTION. Wet sanding will remove fine swirl marks and minor blemishes from any paint, whether it be wood, plastic, drywall, rocks, and yes...metal. It does this because it removes finite amounts of material around the blemishes, and basically "grades" the area down past the level of the blemish. It is the standard final step before a clearcoat is applied to give depth to the paint. Unfortunately for you, Black is as anyone who has ever owned a Black painted vehicle knows, maddeningly difficult to keep blemish free. It shows every swirl, H2O spot, dirt streak, and unfortunately, scratch. If you agree to the wetsand( which will remove the swirl/scratches), then make the dealership show proof of re-clearcoating( in the form of a completed work order). Something else to consider is now paying for the "enviromental protection package". I am saying this because, you will be issued additional warranty paperwork, which will cover the paintjob on the vehicle for I believe 5 yrs. If, in three years the paint starts to prematurely fade, or worse, wash off...back to the dealership it goes. As i mentioned earlier, I have been through this with an aforementioned dealership, and it was a four month long PAIN IN THE ***. It is also a Black vehicle. Do not take their word for it when they say they will "do the right thing". I take it from your post, that you are in the N. Carolina Area...the EPA rain ph indicator shoes the Mid-Atlantic region rainfall as having a ph factor of 4.0. The ph for a neutral H2O is 6.0. This means you (as well as I) live in an area known for its Acid Rain. As well as its Tree Sap. As well as its Road Salt. As well as its Intertstates 95, 77, 66, and 64, and its huge sand/rock throwing trucks. Good Luck my friend. You might need it. Let everyone know here how you fare. Subaru of America might be interedted to hear your disposition as well. Take Care.
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Thanks a lot!
You said exactly what I was thinking when he offered to "wet sand" my car... So far it has been a PAIN IN THE ***, as you so aptly put it! I am naturally suspicious of any claim that "sanding" my finish without replacing the removed material is a bs way to fix your paint. I am a helicopter mechanic in the Army, so I know a fair bit when it comes to mechanical problems, but I am clueless when it comes to paint, bodywork etc... To tell you the truth I have been VERY happy with the dealership in all other areas but this one, and I hope that they can keep thier good standing with me by fixing this properly.
I was actually thinking about calling SOA to get thier opinion on the best way for the dealer to fix the paint on my car. To my mind wet sanding and a replacement of the clearcoat would probably be adequate, rather than a complete repaint. However I think I need to get the manufacturers opinion on this.
I recently joined, this forum, as well as Clubwrx.net and NASIOC, and I have to say you guys are great, and a wealth of good information.
Thomas
Oh, and by your screen name you are in the DC area? I live in Alexandria, VA but at the moment I am down in Fayetteville with my National Guard unit for a year.
I was actually thinking about calling SOA to get thier opinion on the best way for the dealer to fix the paint on my car. To my mind wet sanding and a replacement of the clearcoat would probably be adequate, rather than a complete repaint. However I think I need to get the manufacturers opinion on this.
I recently joined, this forum, as well as Clubwrx.net and NASIOC, and I have to say you guys are great, and a wealth of good information.
Thomas
Oh, and by your screen name you are in the DC area? I live in Alexandria, VA but at the moment I am down in Fayetteville with my National Guard unit for a year.
Yep.
Guest
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I had the dealer do the same thin gto my car when they detailed it for delivery they chipped the paint and swirled the whole car. Apparently they used a spray bottle and a dirty cloth to "detail" the car. I had the dealership repaint the whole car and the sideskirts I didn't pay for a thing..
Momoney627@aol.com
Momoney627@aol.com
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 955
From: Mann Engineering, Santa Clara, CA
Car Info: 13BRZ, 11FXT, 08T25, 07STI, 02WRX
I have never had any bad experiences with my detailer. In fact my detailer is probably the best that I know of out there. It costs me a fortune to get the swirl marks out and stuff but my car comes out looking as good as new. I know that he is really good with black paint and is able to remove ALL swirl marks from black painted cars.
I am sure that if you ask fanker on the BAIC he would be able to answer quite a bit of your questions as he does really good detailing work. I have seen his finished work in person.
I am sure that if you ask fanker on the BAIC he would be able to answer quite a bit of your questions as he does really good detailing work. I have seen his finished work in person.
Guest
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Chip in paint
As far as I know a chip is damage, and damage is not covered under warranty... Sorry man but that is going to have to come out of your pocket if you want it fixed... Although if your dealer is really cool they may fix it for you, or at least cut you a break on the cost.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 231
unlucky me, well i use to detail my car every month, and now the swirl marks are all over my car. But after i use 3 spets detail (fine cleaner, polsih then wax) my car the swirl marks gone. And the the time after i wash my car, the swirl marks came back. Any idea?? How can i fix it by my self? should i buy powerful polisher??
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