A few weeks ago the dealership forgot to remove an old filter seal when doing an oil change and I had to get my car towed in.

The car was covered in oil and they offered to detail my car for me in house.

I thought that was pretty sweet because a "detail" to me involves a wash, paint prep, paint correction, and wax.

Now if they had simply said they would wash it I would have told them no thanks, but I figured even if they did a shitty job washing the car all the swirls would be removed in the polishing/paint correction process... as they manager told me they went over the car with an orbital buffer.

I see the car and am impressed because it seems they did an excellent job and all the swirls were removed...However, I noticed that the car looked like it was sprayed with some kind of coating. The manager told me it was called "Liquid Ebony" or something to that effect.

Whatever, the car looked good and I took it home.

The next few days it rained and the coating had evaporated. The next time I saw my car in the sun I was appaled. There were swirl marks everywhere. It was like someone went over and ground circles in the paint and then went over it with an orbital buffer with no polish.

So now the paint looks like absolute ****, and they hid it with that "Liquid Ebony" product.

I just want everyone to be forwarned that unless you take your car specifily to a detail shop that does paint correction, never let anyone else wash or "detail" your car. Especially a dealership.

My current situation:

1) I'm thinking I could invest in a flex buffer package for about $350 from detailed image

2) Paying my local detail shop $150 to do an exterior detail with paint correction. They did my fathers car a few weeks ago and it came out phenominal.

It amazes me how many people have no idea how to wash a car. I mean hell I have kept my car in prestine condition for 3 years using the 2 bucket wash system, washing leghthwize on the top pannels and verticly on the sides. You would think the guy who washed it would **** his pants after seeing a perfect car swirled to ****. Bah!

 

Pics?

 

Liquid Ebony = used engine oil.

Good luck bro.

 

Ah that sucks. I would be so pissed. Yes, do #1 and #2 and get it fixed.

 

I love my flex, do two cars and it paid for itself.

Got my flex back on Tuesday

Got this on Wednesday



and got my car back today... I can't wait to finally detail it!

 

Would be more interesting with photos.

 

Ill take some this afternoon, I hope they show up on my iphone camera

 

^ I am leaning towards just bringing it to a professional for the $150 because I figure that if I only need paint correction once every other year that investing $350 in a buffer package doesn't make sense unless I'm doing more than 1 car.

Also I have absolutely no exerpience with a buffer or the right polishes and pads, and I heard it was extreamly time consuming.

Did you have any experience before you got your flex? Did you get the complete paint correction you were hoping for?

Like I said my father brought his car to them and it was swirled as ****, and they got everything out. I doubt my ability to remove the swirls like they can with their expertize. But if you tell me that you felt comfortable using it the first time and you got all the swirl marks out I may consider it.

It makes me feel more comfortable buying a product I know someone like me has used and approved as opposed to just reading discriptions on detailing sites and crossing my fingers that the product will do as advertized in my hands

 

A "professional"...a true professional whose detailing skills are actually worth a damn...will not charge $150. If it's as bad as you say, you're looking at $300+ from a reputable detail shop.

Then again, a Flex with all the proper pads, products and detailing accessories (buckets, micro fibers, etc) will cost you around $500....as well as a lot of your time and sweat.

But I assure you, you wouldn't be the first "noob" to buy one and correct his paint. You're probably more than capable of doing a quality job. It'll just take you a little longer...go slowly and carefully.

If you don't want to do it yourself, go to http://www.autopia.org/forum/index.php and find someone in the Boston area who does detailing on the side. You'll save some money and get as good a job if not better than most detail shops.

Learn from this. NEVER trust a dealership for anything. They're incompent &$#@(!(*#&!

 

I worked at several dealerships all there gonna do is wash vacuum and maybe wax but not anything close to a full detail. 30-45 minutes max

 

I'm convinced that most people can't even see swirls.

 

I'd get it professionally detailed and send the bill to the stealership.

 

this is a example why i dont let anyone do any maintanence on my vehicles.when i close the hood,i know its done right.

 

Such wise words.

Lento, your bad luck streak HAS to end soon!

 

I would talk to a senior manager at the dealership and ask that they pay for a professional detail and never-ever visit that dealership again.

This is exactly why I stopped going to dealerships, they don't give a rats-*** about your Z and just want you to be in and out as quickly as possible.

 

Not all dealerships are bad, just usually nissans lol. Some companies treat you like a king as soon as you pull in.

 

^My dad has a BMW, and when he takes it in for service they always to a decient job of cleaning it and don't add too many swirl marks.

I understand a few marks here and there, it's inevitable. It takes me an hour to wash my car correctly and I understand the BMW dealership has a time limit but at least they use the proper products and good wash mits. As opposed to Nissan who I am convinced just grabbed the nearest sponge and went Karate Kid style on my paint.

I should rephrases my car's paint isn't "destroyed" but definitely has many more visable swirls than before. The local detail shop which did my Dad's car chages $150 and I saw their work first hand and they did an excellent job.

I really can't go back to the dealership. I mean its swirl marks and like someone above said, 99% of people won't even know wtf I'm taking about and think I'm crazy.

I tried to take some pictures on my iphone but the quality isn't good enough. It's not so much the swirls that bother me. I mean at least they can always be buffed out. It's the fact that I have kept the car immaculate for 3 years and one bad wash can do so much damage.

I forsee my luck changing. Tomorrow the stock market is going to jump 400 points, and with my winnings I will get my car freshly detailed

 

like said by ginger before, be warned about taking it to some one charging 150$ for a paint correction. most ture pros will be changing from 200 up for full correction work. for all you know the detailer might just do a buff job for say and use a glaze too hide the swirlls and buffer trails and than put a filler wax on that and u would think it look great. i would find a good detailer in your area on autotopia like said look at some of there work and go there. or invest in a flex or portercable and do it your self. best of luck too you