Anyone ever do the dealer free wash and vac? I think this contributed to the deteriation on my TL, but I'm not doin it with my RL.. again.

My RL was pretty dirty from snow and salt, when I brought it by this morning to replace a heated seat button light, and got the free wash. I think they added a couple small, faint scratches on the car, but can't tell for sure. Anyway, it made me paranoid enough to JUST SAY NO next time, and forget about them touching my car, on the outside anyway. I get paranoid like a mofo now whenever my car needs any kind of work.

Isn't it always weird when your car is done and you go get in it.. It's like you haven't been in it for a while... The seat is usually not right, they turn off my radio, AUTO lights, it looks more dusty.... Blah, maybe leasing is a good idea next time. That way I won't obsess as much, stupid Virgo OCD...

BTW... What can I expect to pay to have my car buffed up? Gonna do it in the spring soon, just get out a couple very light, small scratches and also touch up some very tiny, almost pin like, chips on the hood and couple spots on the side panels.. Was thinkin of the body shop at Acura, or maybe this guy I went to before... Also, is there anything to ask specifically for, in regards to the body shop cuttin away the clearcoat paint.. I don't wanna have the car be in worse shape months down the road with paint chips and such....

Stupid New England.

 

I would be careful about even detailers. I have had detailers make it worse, adding swirl marks where there were none. The Acura paint, like most new water based paints are more fragile then the older non environmental oil based paints.

 

Anything I can ask, look for, or do to ensure a place doesn't make it worse, but in fact, treats my car with some respect? Is touch up paint hard to use? Maybe I should just touch up the spots myself..

I think I probably need a bra as well. A clear one. Or who knows, maybe I'll just hope the winters don't beat me up too much...

 

I don't let my Dealer wash my car either. First time in service they did, and I got swirl marks all over. They claim "hand wash", but you don't get swirls in a hand wash.

 

I don't let anyone wash my cars except me. I have a basement full of cleaning supplies, chemicals, and equipment. I'm careful and meticuous and even then, I need to get the buffer out once or twice a year to get rid of minor swirls. I'm particularly anal about glass. Can't stand a single streak or any film at all. I've pulled over many times when driving to get a previously unnoticed spot on a window. I have one of the two cleanest cars in the neighborhood (my neighbor has a new Vette that he keeps just as clean).

LL

 

^ sounds like me.. the pullin over to clean a spot lol

 

My dealer always hand wash my car since my car won't fit in the car wash due to the wheels I put on but they tried it once and scratched one of my wheel
Lately when they cut down people they couldn't do hand wash anymore so no more complimentary free wash.

 

af,

In the Boston area too. Before we got our '05, we had a 1st Gen RL that we serviced at Acura of Peabody. Went in for an oil change and got the car back with deep scratches on the roof. When my wife brought it home, I was speechless. Called up the service manager and went in to 'discuss' it. It wasn't a short conversation, but they ended up doing the right thing. Gave us a rental and paid to have the roof painted at a great local shop that does all of the dealerships work (we use them now for all of our body work). They screwed up, but honored their work. We go there with the '05 because they did right by us, but I always make sure they don't wash the car...

 

Go on the forum at Autogeek.net or Autopia.org. There are probably some high-end detailers in your area that would be glad to give you a price. Believe me, some of these guys are artists in the way that they can make your car look. Depending on the condition of your paint, you can expect to pay a couple of hundred bucks, at least. I have seen jobs on very high end cars (Bugatti, Bentley, Aston Martin, etc.) go for several thousand bucks, but this is the rare exception.

For fun, go to www.miracledetail.co.uk/ and check out Paul Dalton's work. The dude is amazing.

 

berner- Nicely done, after being speechless, but then proceeding to head down there to get those sons a bitches. Stuff like that is just totally ridiculous. But, I'm actually the ridiculous one to have a "free wash".. which is really just a way to beat up my prized posession and make my blood begin to boil. Glad to see it worked out so well for you, and they took care of the big dump they left on your roof.

flyfishin- thanks man! Will definitely look into these sites and see what I come up with. If they deal with ultra high luxury cars makes like THAT, then I see no problem taking in my little old Acura for them to pamper. And that Paul Dalton know what he be doing, wow, some of the photos are unbelievable with the relections and mirror type gloss.

 

For DIY paint chip repair, try http://www.langka.com.

I'm hoping my clear bra saves me from any of that now.