Pete TSX

Just had my '04 TSX NBP detailed at the local shop....

The Acura dealer had done a polymer sealant on the paint when I purchased it - with disastrous results!!

Looked like a 3 yr. old had scrubbed it with a Brillo pad...

Took it back to the dealer and they did it again with only moderate improvement.

I finally succumbed and took it to a local 'Fine Details' outlet (Steven Rethoret in Ajax) for some advice...

He recommended a hand glaze polish (nothing too aggressive) and a hand wax.... $150 later ... it was magic!

Worth checking out!

West6MT

Interesting ^^. The dealer I got my TSX from has orders not to touch my car (ex wash it etc) when it is brought in for service.

You should learn how to detail yourself. Then you can fix stuff like that on your own, and its a ton of fun. Detailing is so addictive.

Pete TSX

I hear ya! I like it too..

I just wanted it to be done right the first time by the pros...

Now I'll look after the maintenance.
l

West6MT

exceldetail

Dont be dissapointed if you see evidence, (or lack of evidence) of improper work if he used a glaze. Glazes are meant to hide imperfections, as well as add depth and brilliance. But they are very shortlived. I hope he had the foresight to actually polish the swirls out. Good luck.

VroomVroom

I always cringe a bit when I hear "glaze" used in this context. Exceldetail said it better than I could, but if all he did was apply a glaze and a topcoat, he sold you the equivalent of oil & tar on an asphalt driveay. In other words, you'll be seeing those swirls again soon.

Really, on a daily driver any detail job is a temporary solution. However, removing swirls and scratches with polish, and then protecting the finish with sealant/wax (and maintaining the finish regularly afterward) will greatly extend the time period.

picus

Man, I was thinking the same thing but am glad you said it first. I read "hand glaze" and I thought "uhoh". VroomVroom is right - keeping a daily driver swirl free is very difficult, but to get ahead of the game you're going to need to remove those dealer induced swirls eventually. Maybe we're all wrong and the Fine Details guy did right by you, but I'm skeptical.

Pete TSX

He used Meguiar's #80 Speed Glaze which has a cut of 4 on a scale of 10 - followed by Meg's NXT wax.

He claims that the swirls / haze / holograms are eliminated - not just masked - and that a less aggressive treatment was all that was needed. (I know it's tough to judge if you didn't see the 'before' version of the paint)

As long as I keep a good coat of NXT wax protection (every 6-8 weeks) that should be sufficient, yes?

picus

Well, #80 is about a 4/10 on the Meg's abrasion scale, but it's chalk full of fillers and oils. Had he'd applied it by machine I would say you're ok, but since he applied it by hand (that's the impression I got from your post) I have to guess that the swirls you had are mostly just filled in unless they were *extremely* light.

NXT has fillers/oils too - so as long as you keep a fresh coat on it's likely the paint will look ok, because you'll be keeping any of the existing scratches filled.

Then again I might be totally wrong and he may have removed the swirling by hand with #80 - I just think that would be pretty tough.

Pete TSX

The scratches were very light.

It was mainly the 'buffer swirls' in the finish that I was concerned with. In direct sunlight, it looked like there were clouds floating in the paint... like holograms... almost 3 dimensional. As you moved along the side of the car, it looked like a mirage... like there were heatwaves... and the reflections would be in all different directions and unfocused.

picus

Ah, gotchya - like these:

http://gtaindetail.com/dyi/civicsib3.jpg

80 should take those out, so you're probably ok. If you ever wonder all you need to do is hit the car with a little rubbing alcohol mixed with water (spray on, wipe off), it'll take any fillers right off. You can apply NXT right after.

I didn't mean to infer they didn't do a good job. Just like Patrick when I hear "glaze" I kind of think "fill".

Cheers

Pete TSX

Thanks! Appreciate your input on this...

I tend to be pretty 'anal' regarding waxing (2 months max) so hopefully this will solve the problem.

Thanks again for the advice.