New Acura RL, poor dealer prep, best option

ishanb

New member
I just picked up a 2005 Acura RL (Redondo Red Pearl) which has been sitting on the dealer lot since 4/29. The dealer prep was done badly-lots of the Acura protective finish left on and the rear bumper has either been partially repainted or something-it's really a dull finish. My wife picked up the car and didn't notice any of this. Two questions: Is it OK to clay it and give it the full Zaino treatment (I know there are other products, but I like Zaino) and b) if the rear bumper was partially repainted, any risk to claying it? The dealer has a body shop, you'd think they would know better.



I want to get this done before it gets too cold up here in Baltimore, so any help appreciated. Thanks
 
Welcome, ask them what happened. Take pictures, tell them you are unhappy with the car before you do anything. Most states give you a 3 day right of refusal. I would not clay new paint. Claying would not make dull paint look shiny anyway. It needs to be polished. Can you post any pics of the areas in question?
 
I might give the dealership a call and ask them. I can probably polish it out myself and it's the bottom half of portions of the rear bumper, so it's not exactly obvious. It would be hard to take pictures; you have to look closely and run your hands over it. I am going to have to detail the car myself anyway. Obvious stuff like removing the "fog" from the inside front windows wasn't done.



Appreciate your advice about not claying new paint (maybe it was done by Acura post delivery to the US, I don't know and neither would the dealership).



I am stuck using this dealership for service also (others are a 90 minute drive each way) so I don't want to also get crappy service because I'm a "complainer."



After I clay the rest of the car and polish it, I'll see how it looks and feels. If it still bothers me, I'll contact Acura Customer Service. In my past experience, they've been very helpful.
 
When I picked up my TL, I would not let them touch the car before I picked it up. It had been on the lot for about 3 months, so all of the protective stuff had been removed and they had washed it a few times already. As far as the protective finish still on there, are you referring to the adhesive left on their from the film they put on the cars during transport. It has been my experience that the dealerships almost always have a product they use to remove this stuff. You may just want to ask them what they use. As far as claying it, it wouldn't be a bad idea. It is amazing the stuff that gets into a car's paint after several months on a dealer lot.



Regardless, you got yourself a great car in a nice color. That red looks really nice when it is detailed preoperly. Hope everything works out.
 
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