I was looking at my car's hood today and notice there was lots of swirls on my hood. I then come to the conclusion that the dealership had washed my car. I went to the dealership about a week ago because they had to fix some rattling noise. I told them to note not to wash my car in their computer. And I also reminded him please don't wash my car, I just spent 15+ hours detailing it.

What pisses me off is that I mention to him 3-5 times don't wash my car that day and they couldn't even get that done right.

They asked me to let them detail my car to fix it and I told them absolute not. I told him I use to work at one and knows whats goes into "detailing" a car. So they asked me what can we do for you? They offer to do couple oil change, but I think I will never bring my car back to that dealership again. What do you think I can ask for? I'm so pissed right now, the whole car is swirled up badly.

Do you think if I asked for a spoiler lip, would it be out of line?

 

Make a large sign for them to hang in the service lane.


RTFT!! (Read The F_ _ _ _ _ _ Ticket)

You could trash the advisor on their CSR scores taken by Honda following a warranty or service visit. Be advised, FWIW, their livelihood depends on "excellent" service scores.

 

ask-they will either say yes or turn you down. Could ask for them to pay for a professional detail from an experienced place. if they mess up on a simple wash wouldn't you be afraid on how they would install the spoiler. I never had a problem with my dealer washing my car. No swirls and yes I am picky.

 

i've had the "do not wash" but they washed it experience a couple of times. part of the blame is on the SA, most of the blame is on the tech. since 99% of people getting their car serviced at the dealer like to get the free wash, the tech gets into automatic mode and runs the car through the wash. i about yelled at the tech when it happened as he stepped out of the car and i saw my perfectly clean car prior to service come out soaking wet. he had the nerve to give me lip about it. and yeah the SA got an earful from me while the customer relations person also got an earful. there is a note on my records DO NOT WASH. its on the ticket, its on my invoice, and i've gone to the extent of leaving a note IN the car when i drop it for service as a friendly reminder to the tech. so, i feel your pain. the SA needs to remind the tech (verbally-which is how it should be) NOT to WASH the car. if i'm waiting for the car, i'll know what happened with the car. if i drop and get a loaner...god knows what happens when i leave and come back. however i have a roof rack on my car, so car wash is a BIG NO NO.

i would take the oil changes while you're ahead, but you could ask for the lip spoiler...its a stretch, but you never know what they'll do to make it right.

 

I would recommend sticky notes or taped messages on the interior that YOU install when arriving at the dealership ... center of steering wheel, rear view mirror, front center windshield, etc.

 

I usually leave a post it note on my speedo that says "Please do not wash this car" and it has been working so far

 

^ +1 !

 

I feel your pain, it's a shame to see all that detailing work go down the drain because of lack of communication within an established firm;
I personally would take it to a professional detailer and have the culprit pick up the tab. GL

 

If they can't fix this right, I'm going have to give them a bad CSR.

I'm going see if I can get a quote from a professional and see if they are willing to pick up the tab. They tried to offer me to detail my car to fix the swirls, if they can't even get the wash right. There is no way I would trust them polishing it. I worked at a dealership and all the stuff they use are fillers, rags, mf were all dirty and not safe on paint.

Yeah I was so pissed to find their were lots of swirls on my hood and trunk. And everywhere else but not as noticeable because my car is Grigio.

After they washed your car, what did they do to fix it?

I guess I have to resort to post-it everywhere inside the car.

Going have to do it next time, if I even bring it back.

I'm going have to find a professional detailer to take a look and give it an estimate.





Thanks guys for all the comments, going keep you updated.

 

i know an amazing detailer around us, so if ya need the number, shoot me a PM, i'll get it for ya. around 200. just point out how long you worked on the car, and the fact that they literally are not only costing you time and money to get the swirls out, but you also invested products and over 15 hours into making it clean before. inform them that when we get service, we pay 20-50 bucks an hour for labor. thats $300 they owe you on time alone at their minumum pay level.

 

they did nothing. my SA at the time got an earful from me, customer relations fwded my email to him with my complaint of what happened. he apologized and told me that he had reprimanded his tech and he offered to have his detail dept hand wash and wax the car. i said thanks, but no thanks, while i'm sure they would do a descent job, i would do a much better job detailing my own vehicle with a hell of a lot more pride and care. oh, what i forgot to mention, that really took me over the top besides the fact the tech gave me lip, i get into my car to be greeted by my stereo blaring at volume level 30! the max i go to is level 20-22. so apparently the tech also used my car as his personal boombox too. i think this tech has been fired as far as i know. this was 3-4 yrs ago. after that i was pissed, hence the letter to the customer relations mgr at the dealer.

that particular SA learned about me the hard way. i try and only work with certain SA's over at my dealer esp the one's that know how i am with the car.

 

Sorry for my slowliness but I have to ask, why wouldn't you want them to wash? What's wrong with washing the car? Isn't it free?

 

Dealership car wash is the same as bringing your into automatic car wash. These places will scratch and swirl your car. I take very good care of my car, polish 2 times a year to keep it swirl free.

When you bring it else where, in a matter of a few washes. The car will become swirled, which is very fine scratches on the paint. Its an eye sore when the sun is out.

http://www.elitedetail.co.uk/userima...eswirls7qc.jpg

 

Well I just came back from the dealership. When I got there the sun was out for a few minutes before clouds over took it. I asked for lip spoiler and explained to him that I take pride in my car appearance spent 15 hours detailing it. So I asked if they can give me a lip spoiler and they said they couldn't do that. I also asked if they can give me mud flaps, and they were fine with that. So I took the mud flaps, they have to order it and will be there on Wednesday. Getting mud flaps for free does make things little better, next time I go in for service going spam the inside of my car with DO NOT WASH signs.
__________________

 

did you get the free oil changes too or just mud flaps?

might as well have laminated signs in the car just to make sure they see it...something bright. don't forget to add the word "please". it'll go a long way.

 

No just mud flaps. While I was driving away I was kicking myself for not asking for a free oil change also.

Better then nothing.

 

oh well. lesson learned...and life goes on.

 

This appears to be a systemic problem with Acura dealers around the country...you would think they would get the hint when they offer a free service that no one takes them up on.

 

i would say most acura customers (the i don't wash my car ever) don't mind the dealer car wash (swirls? what are those?).

its the 5-10% of folks like us (we enthusiasts who are really anal) that request the car NOT be WASHED. it happens esp when the tech fails to read or remember that the car is NOT to be WASHED.

 

Yeah 5-10% sounds about right, very sad though. I worked at Lexus as a detailer and have seen cars with less then 200 miles that looked over 30k. They run demo cars into the car wash so many times that cars would be sold all swirled up.

Its sucked when people were buying new cars at the dealership, and the sale men would tell them "you will receive FREE car washes when your purchase your car here". I just shake my head and walk away. People were dropping 75k and would bring it back next week to have it brushed down with dirty brushes, and then ran through car wash. All cars came out scratched and swirled up guarantee.

 

There are times where I wish I was among that crowd. Ignorance is bliss and I do know a lot of people that are fully happy with machine car washes and dont notice/care about swirls.

 

Automated car washes do suck, but sometimes spending 10+ detailing a car is not worth it...especially if it's a lease lol. I had an si and only detailed it once or twice, every other time, it'd would be at the automated car wash. Dealer gave me full value for the car when I traded it in.

 

Yeah If It was a lease I wouldn't of cared as much if they washed it. But I paid 30k for my car and want to keep it as good shape as long as I can. I'm planning on keeping the tsx until it can't run anymore.

 

Yea, the more I drive mine, the more I like it. Not sure if I wanna keep it yet, but I'm sure that'll be different once I fix the issue with the heat not working -- brand new car and I have no heat

 

Yeah I got a few stuff fixed since I got my car. Last time I brought it in was for rattling noise coming from rear deck.

 

ahhh, the rear deck rattle...fixed one of mine from a DIY on here...the sub on the other hand...(sigh). get used to it...the rattles will come out sooner or later.

heat? how do you NOT have heat?

lease cars...i wouldn't care as much either (wash away boys!). since i own my car and i keep 'em for a while...dammit i want it looking good!

 

no clue, the car blows lukewarm air when the heat is set on max...and, yes, this is when the car is at normal operating temp.

 

Bring it back to dealership so they can fix it under warranty.

 

Yea, I'm going to the dealer on sat to get it fixed...they're also selling me a decklid spoiler installed for a sweet price.

 

How much? I always wanted their lip spoiler but its too expensive. There are bays ones for around 200.

 

decklid spoiler is 350 installed...well, at least that my price. I've purchased 2 cars from this dealer in the last 6 months though. We're good to each other.

 

350 installed pretty good installed. Its 350 on ebay and I would not dare to drill holes in my trunk. lol

 

Yea, that install is def tough for a scaredy cat like me

 

i had to drive 30 mins to get to my acura dealer to have the roof weather stripping put in and iam pretty sure the scratch on my roof is from the dealer and they took my car i just detailed and it came out with water spots all over it if i decide to go back to a acura dealership iam looking over my car with a micrscope before i leave i was p***** when i saw the scratch on my new car