Never trust the dealership....

sgt · 12-13-04, 08:54

Hey guys, please forgive my ignorance.

My 2004 Dodge Ram was hit in a parking lot a few weeks after I got it. I sent it to the same "5-Star" dealership I purchased it from expecting a top notch job on the repairs. Boy was I wrong. Before this I took very good care of paint to avoid swirls and cob webbing. I used only quality microfiber towels and applicator pads.

These guys essentially ruined my paint job, their buffing job was horrible and they pretty much turned my shiny black truck into one big cob web. http://essgeetee.home.comcast.net/paintjacked.jpg for an example of what they did to my entire truck. In case anyone is wondering why I don't just take it back to them, I have, 3 times. They just make it worse each time and I'm tired of dealing with them and just want to repair it myself.

I've already ordered a Porter Cable 7424 and am planning on going at it with some Meguiar's Cleaner/Polish and #9 Swirl remover. I'm not sure what kind of pad I am going to need for this job, I'm really worried about using the wrong pads. Any input or direction to other threads is appreciated!

P.S I am planning on practicing on a couple of older vehicles in the family to get my skills up to par before I go at it on my new truck.

hadboosttroy · 12-13-04, 09:05

ill let someone with more experience chime in, but I think that #9 may not be strong enough for that task.

Knockwurst · 12-13-04, 09:13

WHOA . . . they really made a mess of it!

Nonetheless, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Fortunately the damage doesn’t appear so bad – it’s more or less holograms and basic swirls. Removing this takes time (depending on severity) and practice. The PC will make this process much easier, but you’ll need the right combination of polish and pads.

If I were you, I’d make the dealer pay for a professional detail. There’s no way in hell I’d waste a day fixing someone else’s carelessness at my expense.

Bill D · 12-13-04, 09:15

Quote:

Originally posted by hadboosttroy
ill let someone with more experience chime in, but I think that #9 may not be strong enough for that task.

You bet, at most it will probably just cover up whatever you couldn't truly remove. I'd take a lookat the Autopia store among other online dealers for other product choices as well.

sgt · 12-13-04, 09:16

I hear you. I'd like to do that but I honestly think it'd end up being more troublesome and time consuming trying to get them to flip the bill. Around how much would getting a professional detailer to take care of damage like this cost?

DARKSTI · 12-13-04, 12:19

Id try SSR2.5 or #83 on a orange pad

Bill D · 12-13-04, 12:21

PI III RC followed by PI III MG as well as Menzerna IP followed by FP II are also options worth a shot

hftw Audi 6 · 12-13-04, 12:55

Wow i would have had a field day with that dealership. Same thing happened to my grandfathers 73' Stang, lucky i went to it right after and got it back to normal, dealership's and body shops always seem to ruin paint like that though!

As for the polish...

hadboosttroy i def have to agree with #9 is def not going to be enough for that! It's a greeaat product for sure but for severe swirling IMO i would go with SSR2.5 or SSR3. The poorboy poilish's!

wblynch · 12-13-04, 01:04

I know how bad you feel. And I also say, "Don't trust the dealership".

I bought a 2005 Jaguar in October (metallic black). These cars are shipped with a coat of protectant wax (I think it's called cosmolene).

Anyway, the night I went to pick up the car they evidently rushed it through the wash and totally scratched and swirled the paint nearly as bad as that picture of your truck.

When I complained, they washed it again and threw a coat of cheap wax on it and gave it back. It was horrible.

Well, this weekend I finally got a chance to work it all out. I spent 12 hours. After washing and claying, I started out with #83 and the PCDA. It wasn't doing much.

I got out the Makita rotary, and very carefully went around once with #83, then again with the PC on an 8006 pad and #83.

Then came the PC/8006 pads and #80. Finally #7 with another 8006 pad and finally NXT Tech wax with the PC and the 9006 pad.

So, 5 complete passes to get out the dealer scratches. There are still a few tiny (tiny) ones remaining that drive me nuts but a normal person would never see them.

In the end it finally looks like a Jaguar. One would think a stinking Jag dealer would know how to properly deliver a car.

Take your time, be careful and you will get the results you seek.

JBM · 12-13-04, 01:17

I had a candy apple red f 350 that the dealership messed up. There was a body shop down the street, and i knew the guy personally, he was into restoring old classic cars and was the best locally as far as perfection.

I saw my truck and simply refused to pick it up. I told them to paint it, fix it, or bring it to him, i dont care.

They got someone who knew what they were doing and got it looking nice.

Anyways, my point is, never take it off the lot !!!!

If its new, tell them you want to get a different car/ truck, shrug your shoulders at them and say, "you know, one that doesnt look like a piece of ****"

But never take it home.

Bill D · 12-13-04, 01:26

If it is deemed within the rules, I hope maybe we could get a list going, ever short as it may be, of dealers in the US, Canada and elsewhere that are ( even somewhat) Autopian friendly or where Autopians had a positive experience

Of course it would probably be impossible to list one for every make but for starters, the one I hear consistently about from Accumulator is Stoddard Imported Cars,an Audi/ Porsche dealers in Wiloughby, OH.

Any others?

armoredsaintt · 12-13-04, 01:32

I think every Chrysler dealer is 5 star which is a joke.