Dealer using 1500 grit wet sanding

M

My5ABaby

New member
I just bought a new car (black Mazda 6) and it had something on the paint. They tried to clay bar it and it didn't come off. Apparently it isn't sap but I think it might be. They have a lot in the back that they keep cars in before they take them out onto the main lot. There's some trees surrounding that lot. I think they're Oak or something (only thing I know is that they're not an evergreen). They had no clue what it was but said they'd polish it off with a 1500 grit wet sanding. I'm pretty skeptical abut the situation.



Does this sound right?



Is there anything I should look for as far as if they did it right?



I'm new to this... :nervous: I'm also pretty pissed because I had it less than a day and had to take it back for them to fix this. I'm at least getting a free hat or something.
 
Well first off there's really nothing at all wrong with wet sanding if you know how to do it.



But.... I wouldn't wetsand anything unless I really had too. (really deep scratches) If it's contaminants on top of the paint there should be no need to wet sand at all. It's more than likely bug droppings that have hardend on there. You can try anything from goo-bone (a simple bug tar remover) to prep solvant all the way up to brake clean. You'll get alot of idiots out there that will tell you some of that stuff is to harsh for your paint. Those people obviously listen to rumors and never actually try anything themselves. If you spray break clean on and scrub the ever living dickens out and really break a sweat you might get through the clear coat but it's going to take a massive amount of intentional effort to do. so Don't worry about it when just doing a very quick spray and wipe to get bug goo off. (always start with the least abrasive action first though.)



And if you try mild stuff and don't want to step up to aggressive efforts just take your car into your local professional detailer (hopefully one with a good solid rep) and have them safely remove the contaminants.
 
I wouldn't walk, I would run away from that stealership.



They are known for there prep/hack shops and I would not be surprised one bit if they mess up your car.



To wetsand contamination is not the way. As suggested, first go with a bug and tar remover or an adhesive remover.



Wetsanding should only be reserved for deep scratches and such.



Josh
 
Well that's certainly not what I wanted to hear. :(



I'll call them and hope they haven't screwed anything up yet. I did hear this from their service guy so I don't know what the actual techs are going to do.



Will the wet-sand take off any of my clear coat or anything?
 
Jakerooni said:
You'll get alot of idiots out there that will tell you some of that stuff is to harsh for your paint. Those people obviously listen to rumors and never actually try anything themselves. If you spray break clean on and scrub the ever living dickens out and really break a sweat you might get through the clear coat but it's going to take a massive amount of intentional effort to do.
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I guess I'm one of those idiots that will tell you that BraKleen WILL hurt your paint. :) I use it almost everyday to clean my kart (painted with automotive paint). It will dull the clear coat and create a haze very quickly. Dulls the powder coated parts as well. I try not to get it on the paint, but it's next to impossible. Since I only use it around the brakes, it's very obvious where it's sprayed - instead of black, it's a dark gray / hazy. The rest of the frame is black (clean it with WD-40).
 
My5ABaby said:
Well that's certainly not what I wanted to hear. :(



I'll call them and hope they haven't screwed anything up yet. I did hear this from their service guy so I don't know what the actual techs are going to do.



Will the wet-sand take off any of my clear coat or anything?
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To answer your question.....YES, wetsanding removes clearcoat.



Sorry, but I'm only telling you from what other's have experienced. There nice new Vette goes in for a little body work and come out with horrible swirls, buffer trails and holograms.....and that's just what they do with the buffer.



I can't imagine what they'd do with 1500 sandpaper.:eek:



Next they end up at my door step for a $400-$500 repair.



I have had dealerships hire me (at my wages) to fix and correct swirls there prep guys have put into cars.



Josh
 
My5ABaby said:
Well that's certainly not what I wanted to hear. :(



I'll call them and hope they haven't screwed anything up yet. I did hear this from their service guy so I don't know what the actual techs are going to do.



Will the wet-sand take off any of my clear coat or anything?
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First off: 1500 grit is very aggressive! I've never used anything stronger than 2000 and that's extreme IMO. Most body shops will do a diminishing sanding process 2000 to 3000, etc. The trick for them is to completely compound the sanding marks out of the paint.



And yes, it will remove clear coat. How much is removed depends on the expertise of the person doing the work.



I'd sure have a conversation with the service manager expressing your concerns.



Toto
 
Ok, he said the body guy was pretty sure they wouldn't even have to go so far as a cutting compound. That's reassuring.



Regardless, is there anything I should look for to check that they didn't screw up and just cover it with a thick coat of something or another?
 
Oh, and he also said to not worry about the 1500 grit and "we also have used 800 grit without hurting the clear coat". :bat
 
My5ABaby said:
:wall



Time to call Mazda... I was also assured it wouldn't mess with the clearcoat. *sigh*
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Someone should collect all these idiotic statements that come from dealers and put it in a book.



No matter how many of them I hear of, it is still very hard for me to believe that people who end up working in the car selling business can actually say the most amazing lies to their customers who just gave them their hard earned money.



I guess it must take a special kind. :wall :wall :wall :wall



My5ABaby - bro - don't let them butcher your car.
 
1500 grit to remove surface deposits? WOW... simply WOW.



A cutting compound would be less detrimental to your clear than 1500grit sanding.
 
tdekany said:
Someone should collect all these idiotic statements that come from dealers and put it in a book.



No matter how many of them I hear of, it is still very hard for me to believe that people who end up working in the car selling business can actually say the most amazing lies to their customers who just gave them their hard earned money.



I guess it must take a special kind. :wall :wall :wall :wall



My5ABaby - bro - don't let them butcher your car.
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I'm hoping they won't but I have no way of fixing it myself.



Dylan06SS said:
1500 grit to remove surface deposits? WOW... simply WOW.



A cutting compound would be less detrimental to your clear than 1500grit sanding.
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I'm assuming he thought I was ignorant about this stuff, which I was. I decided to educate myself instead (hopefully) of getting screwed.
 
Have they done anything yet? I would call them now and let them know you're not happy about being mislead and to not touch the car (if they haven't already)



Good luck man... my stomach is turning just thinking of some hack sand papering your new paint
 
Dylan06SS said:
Have they done anything yet? I would call them now and let them know you're not happy about being mislead and to not touch the car (if they haven't already)



Good luck man... my stomach is turning just thinking of some hack sand papering your new paint
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I called and got reassured. I don't think he had even looked at it before telling me that Tuesday.



He said it was "probably something environmental." Which means... "I have no clue." I still stick with my theory that it has to do with the trees they park their BRAND NEW cars under.
 
kompressornsc said:
I guess I'm one of those idiots that will tell you that BraKleen WILL hurt your paint. :) I use it almost everyday to clean my kart (painted with automotive paint). It will dull the clear coat and create a haze very quickly. Dulls the powder coated parts as well. I try not to get it on the paint, but it's next to impossible. Since I only use it around the brakes, it's very obvious where it's sprayed - instead of black, it's a dark gray / hazy. The rest of the frame is black (clean it with WD-40).
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+1



Brake cleaner is some really nasty stuff. I've actually used brake cleaner to purposely remove paint before.



Also, there *are* different types of brake cleaner too. This may have something to do with varying results. I find some cleaners to be extremely strong, and others extremely mild. All I know is that the stuff I get from NAPA is super strong.
 
this sounds like a horror story waiting to happen.. if you're trying to remove a surface contaminant you dont need to wetsand.. even if you did, something like 3000grit would be more suited. and even then it should only take about 10 seconds to get it off with sand paper.. im sure theyd sit there and scrub on it all day.
 
Well... hopefully it'll turn out good. :(



I'm still wondering though, is there a good way to tell if they ****ed my car over?
 
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