A Horror Story with a happy ending!

[Mike Phillips]

A Horror Story with a happy ending!

I get a lot of e-mails with questions about detailing that would be better if they were posted to the forum but not everyone into car detailing is also a member of our forum. Of course, registering and becoming a member of AGO is pretty easy and this forum is a great resource for helpful information.

Click here to register with the Autogeek Online Discussion Forum



On to the horror story...

I had a gentleman send me an e-mail and a picture telling me of his Horror Story purchasing a new car. When he went to pick the car up it was completely swirled out from the mis-use of a rotary buffer. As you can see the entire car is filled with holograms also called rotary buffer swirls or rotary buffer trails.





Here's what he wrote in his first e-mail

I purchased a new car and the dealer gave me a DISO. I've read your posts about the DISO, but couldn't really find anything that explains how to fix it. Can you point me to an article. Even better, can you recommend a detailer in Beaverton, Oregon that I can trust to do the job correctly?

I went on to explain that when the paint was buffed out the wrong way using the rotary buffer a certain amount of paint will have been removed.

Then, in order to undo the damage, a professional will have to level the surface as that's how swirls are removed. This means removing a little more of the already precious and thin clear layer of paint from the factory.

The jist of all this is that he just purchased a brand new car that after all is said and done won't have all the paint a brand new car should have for they price he paid.

I then put him in touch with a Pro Detailer in his area and here's a follow-up e-mail I recieved...

The detailer you referred me to came out today, washed the car, and figured out why the dealer detailed the car:

Tree sap - all over the car.

Their detail removed the surface sap, but did nothing to solve the problem. When confronted about it, the dealer admitted everything: The car got covered in sap and they tried to fix it with a detail. In spots, the paint is down to 87 microns.

They've agreed to take it back, give me a refund, and then sell me a new vehicle...

It's sad that too many new and used car dealerships don't know how cars should be properly and correctly detailed, or don't care. I talk about this topic in this article.

The story of 3 H's - Horrendous, Horror Story and Hack Detailers...


I'm glad to see that the gentleman ended up getting a car without a hacked-up paint job, it's nice to see a horror story like this one with a happy ending.

[BobbyG]

Don't you just love that 3D effect!!

[Twister]

3D is taking over. 3D paint will soon be standard on all cars.

Glad he got the dealership take it back. I would have refused to drive it off the lot if I saw my new car like that

[Audi X2]

I am impressed that the dealership took it back as I suspect many dealers would not.

[rwright]

3D is taking over. 3D paint will soon be standard on all cars.

Glad he got the dealership take it back. I would have refused to drive it off the lot if I saw my new car like that

I agree but a lot of times they will use a glaze in an attempt to hide the problem with the mentality of "Once it's off our lot, it's no longer our problem". When we bought our 2011 Regal there was a small scuff on one door and I flat out told them, if they attempt to fix it don't count on me buying the car. Needless to say that even after driving the car a couple days then sitting on the lot waiting for the right deal, they never washed it.

Thanks for sharing this with us Mike. It's a great reminder of what to watch for when buying a car, new or used.

[James K]

Taking a rotary with a will pad to remove tree SAP is wrong? Oops.


LOL. At least it worked out.

[Flash Gordon]

Photochop....ain't know way that was real













J/K...lol. That thing was terrible

[Porsche Pilot]

I agree with Buddy...good to hear the dealer stepped up and did the right thing. Maybe there is hope for that industry after all. Great article Mike.

[Flash Gordon]

Someone tell that guy your suppose to wash the car first.....and change out your pad at least every 6 months

[kkreit01]

Wow! He's lucky the dealer stood behind their mistake --after signing the paperwork.