Dealer polish job - Would you let them try to fix it?

[VaderSS]

When I bought my 2010 Camaro, I noticed some light swirling in the clearcoat. Dealer promised to correct by polishing. Below pictures are the results of their "work".....actually worse than when I brought it to them.

Would you let them touch your car again after this experience? I've not worked on the Camaro's with a PC, but I'm pretty handy with one. Just not sure I want to spend the number of hours it would take to correct.

[LittleMT]

I would never let the dealers touch my paint... I did once, and they RUINED my door....

bunch of incompetent boobs!

[JHL88]

no, dont do it. you're better off finding an actual detailer locally if you dont feel like doing it yourself

[Ginnalou]

Why is it soooo hard for people to do the right thing.....I would be so #$%#ing mad!!! How is that ever going to right? Good luck to you!

[Dr Jkel]

Just Say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[cruznls]

Looks like the "Shop Boy" strikes again...
Get a second opinion from another body shop.......

[CamaroDreams07]

I'm confused. If that's how they turned it over to you, why would you think next time would be better?

[klatterblast]

Make sure whoever does it does not mess up the plastic front and rear bumpers with a buffer, its so thin that it will heat up and melt the plastic under the paint. It happened to me, i would hand polish the plastic parts ( front and rear bumpers ). Unless a real expert can do it with the buffer. The guy that did mine was very good on the metal but f'd up a couple spots on the the front bumper by the mail slot. I have never seen anything like that happen, it looked like it just wrinkled the paint but did not burn it.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by klatterblast

Make sure whoever does it does not mess up the plastic front and rear bumpers with a buffer, its so thin that it will heat up and melt the plastic under the paint. It happened to me, i would hand polish the plastic parts ( front and rear bumpers ). Unless a real expert can do it with the buffer. The guy that did mine was very good on the metal but f'd up a couple spots on the the front bumper by the mail slot. I have never seen anything like that happen, it looked like it just wrinkled the paint but did not burn it.

This is what happens when a hack with no know how gets a hold of a rotary buffer, a wool pad and some God awful aggressive buffing compound. They turn the buffer up to a speed that is way to fast and whammo... instant burn.

This is why I stress so much that you need to start out with a tool that won't create damage even if you are careless (the PC-7424XP). You won't fix some jacked up paint with it very fast, but you will never have to worry about burning through a urethane bumper like what you see in that picture. Some dealerships employ some of the worst hacks on the planet. They are often high school or college students who have been taught how to use a rotary polisher in about 15 minutes.

To the OP, most of those scratches are from improper washing, not the polisher.

[2011ss/rs]

Originally Posted by klatterblast

Make sure whoever does it does not mess up the plastic front and rear bumpers with a buffer, its so thin that it will heat up and melt the plastic under the paint. It happened to me, i would hand polish the plastic parts ( front and rear bumpers ). Unless a real expert can do it with the buffer. The guy that did mine was very good on the metal but f'd up a couple spots on the the front bumper by the mail slot. I have never seen anything like that happen, it looked like it just wrinkled the paint but did not burn it.

I hope they plan on repairing it for you

[VaderSS]

I hear you, AJ. I'm a multiple bucket freak when it comes to washing. Separate buckets and wash pad for wheels, rinse buckets refilled...heck, I even use a third mf wash pad for the lower sections/rockers. I just wanted the clear coat to start out right so I can use my pc for maintenance. (btw, i am kcjeff from cf). In your experience with gen 5 Camaros, do you think the pc will correct this damage....without spending 8+ hours on it?

This dealership did a very nice job wet sanding and polishing a friends 09 vette. They have at least one person with the right skills. Maybe they gave my car to the new guy or something.

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

To the OP, most of those scratches are from improper washing, not the polisher.

[Junkman2008]

What's up Jeff! I thought I remembered seeing a thread where you sold the Vette. You ended up at a very cool forum. These guys and gals are the bees knees.

The paint will still take a little work with the PC just because of the nature of the PC's true orbital action. But one thing that I can put your mind at ease on, the clear coat is NOTHING like the C5. That stuff is murder to correct.

[VaderSS]

Update: Dealer called me today after reviewing the above pictures. They characterized the swirls as "normal spider-webbing that happens with black paint". Said they could "fix it", but it would only be temporary...the problem would return when the car was washed. Evidently, they don't understand the difference between correcting the clear coat damage and simply hiding it with wax fill. Nor do they understand how to wash cars without scratching them. Fortunately, I do.

They wanted me to bring the car back to them so they could look at it in-person; determine the problem and "fix it". I declined. Taking the car to a high-end collision repair center tomorrow for a repair estimate. I get the feeling they are going to fill their pants when I send them the bill. We'll see how willing they are to reimburse (said they would). More time; more hassle; but I gotta get this done right.

[c_LoW29]

Sadly now a days if you want something done right you have to do it yourself