2014 BMW 640. I got a call from a gentleman about his brand new BMW that showed up with marring and light scratches all over it. He bought it from a dealership in Tyler (about 120 miles east of here) and when it arrived, he was stunned by the appearance. And not stunned in a good way. When he called, I was working over in Dallas, so he made the 15 minute drive to where I was so I could look over the car and give him an estimate. So nice that he offered to come to where I was, real time saver! The paint was definitely marred and scratched up, gave him an estimate on the correction (appeared to be a two step job) and he asked how much more it would be for Optimum Coating. He felt that would be the best way to keep the paint looking like it should for a long time and I agreed. He said he was expecting the dealer to compensate him for both the correction, and since he was having to go through the hassle of getting estimates and having the car taken care of, they should cover the coating too. So, he was going to need a receipt and pictures to submit to the dealer for reimbursement. Nice to deal with someone who doesn't expect me to go through a third party to get paid. 
He said he'd call the dealer back with the estimate so I should expect them to call me. Sure enough a few days later, I get a call from the dealership. And as expected, he is questioning the price, why it would take so long and how they could have done the damage in the first place. He claims they hand washed it and the salesman, after putting gas in it, wiped it down. Aha! Wiped it down. With microfiber towels? I don't know? How dirty was it? I don't know. Did he use a detail spray? I think so. Ugh. Either wash it or leave it alone! He wants to know why it would take two steps. I said based on my experience with numerous BMW's and their notoriously hard clear coat (other than jet black), even light defects take a compounding and a polishing step to remove. He wants to know then, if the clear is so hard, how did it get damaged in the first place. I said that with a scratch, the pressure is localized, when buffing it out, the pressure is spread out over 5-7" depending on pad size and the pads aren't as hard as whatever scratched it in the first place. He still didn't seem to understand so I said dig several 1' x 1' trenches 4 feet apart. Now use a foam pad instead of a shovel to level out all the ground in between to the depth of the trenches. That he seemed to get. Sort of. He said "so you're saying probably 1 step then, right?" No, I will try one step first but I can't promise if that is enough. And anyway, you didn't hire me for this, the owner of the car did. I am under no obligation to do this under some sort of price cap to make you happy. I'm going to do what the owner of the car requests since he is the one paying me. What you chose to pay back to him is between you two.
I mentioned the above back and forth to my customer and he seemed a bit hacked off the dealer was trying to get me to take care of his car under to their advantage and not his. I did start off with one step (Optimum Primer) but most of the car required Meguiars M100 as well.
Before shots
After
Full process:
ONR wash, Opti-Raser pink to spot clay
Meguiars M100 using a Meguiars MF cutting pad and Rupes 21 DA
Optimum Primer using an Optimum orange foam waffle cutting pad and Rupes 21 DA
ONR wipedown
Optimum Coating
Optimum Glass Coating on the windshield
Armor All on tires/wheel wells
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2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport. Owner contacted me about a month ago about the upcoming delivery of his new F Sport. He decided he wanted it permanently protected with Optimum Coating. He contacted me a couple weeks later to let me know he had his delivery date and we set up an appointment as soon as possible after he got the car. I suggested he tell the dealer to forgo any cosmetic prep but I have a feeling they washed it after applying a clear bra to the front of the car (kit of course, seams everywhere...) because it did have some light marring, the worst was on the sides, tire height and lower. Nothing major though, and Lexus clear isn't as hard as BMW.
ONR wash, Opti-Raser pink to clay
3D HD Polish and a Meguiars yellow foam polishing pad and Rupes 21 (some areas took several passes)
ONR wash
Optimum Coating
Optimum Glass Coating on the windshield
Armor All on tires/wheels
He said he'd call the dealer back with the estimate so I should expect them to call me. Sure enough a few days later, I get a call from the dealership. And as expected, he is questioning the price, why it would take so long and how they could have done the damage in the first place. He claims they hand washed it and the salesman, after putting gas in it, wiped it down. Aha! Wiped it down. With microfiber towels? I don't know? How dirty was it? I don't know. Did he use a detail spray? I think so. Ugh. Either wash it or leave it alone! He wants to know why it would take two steps. I said based on my experience with numerous BMW's and their notoriously hard clear coat (other than jet black), even light defects take a compounding and a polishing step to remove. He wants to know then, if the clear is so hard, how did it get damaged in the first place. I said that with a scratch, the pressure is localized, when buffing it out, the pressure is spread out over 5-7" depending on pad size and the pads aren't as hard as whatever scratched it in the first place. He still didn't seem to understand so I said dig several 1' x 1' trenches 4 feet apart. Now use a foam pad instead of a shovel to level out all the ground in between to the depth of the trenches. That he seemed to get. Sort of. He said "so you're saying probably 1 step then, right?" No, I will try one step first but I can't promise if that is enough. And anyway, you didn't hire me for this, the owner of the car did. I am under no obligation to do this under some sort of price cap to make you happy. I'm going to do what the owner of the car requests since he is the one paying me. What you chose to pay back to him is between you two.
I mentioned the above back and forth to my customer and he seemed a bit hacked off the dealer was trying to get me to take care of his car under to their advantage and not his. I did start off with one step (Optimum Primer) but most of the car required Meguiars M100 as well.
Before shots
After
Full process:
ONR wash, Opti-Raser pink to spot clay
Meguiars M100 using a Meguiars MF cutting pad and Rupes 21 DA
Optimum Primer using an Optimum orange foam waffle cutting pad and Rupes 21 DA
ONR wipedown
Optimum Coating
Optimum Glass Coating on the windshield
Armor All on tires/wheel wells
--------------------
2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport. Owner contacted me about a month ago about the upcoming delivery of his new F Sport. He decided he wanted it permanently protected with Optimum Coating. He contacted me a couple weeks later to let me know he had his delivery date and we set up an appointment as soon as possible after he got the car. I suggested he tell the dealer to forgo any cosmetic prep but I have a feeling they washed it after applying a clear bra to the front of the car (kit of course, seams everywhere...) because it did have some light marring, the worst was on the sides, tire height and lower. Nothing major though, and Lexus clear isn't as hard as BMW.
ONR wash, Opti-Raser pink to clay
3D HD Polish and a Meguiars yellow foam polishing pad and Rupes 21 (some areas took several passes)
ONR wash
Optimum Coating
Optimum Glass Coating on the windshield
Armor All on tires/wheels
