Has This Happened To You???

M

mikebires

New member
I purchased a new black Fusion yesterday, and decided to bring it up to Autopia standards! I turned on the Halogen lights and holy crap.....so much for a new car! It had your typical washing scratches/swirls from the porters and lot boys.



Anyways, I hit it with PF1066 and an orange pad and it glossed it up but didn't take out the imperfections. I ended up using 3M Rubbing Compound II with the orange pad and was successful. But....



If I use proper washing and maintenance techniques, these marks shouldn't come back, right? Also, does it sound reasonable to you guys to have to go right to the compound so quick on a new car?
 
Even with the best wash technique its impossible to prevent swirls.



You can however do such a good job washing that a cutting compound will never have to go near the car again.
 
There are many *new* cars delivered like this. I had to use a compound to clear up my *new* truck. With a good wash technique you car will stay nice. 2 bucket washing is a good starting place.



On a side note after the compounding you will probably need to follow up with a less aggressive polish (106ff) an a LC white pad.
 
Yes, that's the typical dealer destruction. It's sad that most cars need to be compounded from that and perhaps lose thickness (and therefore life) from the paint, when just shortly before they were factory new (which doesn't always mean perfect).



As noted, avoiding wash swirls is essentially impossible, and they will be most noticeable on a black or other very dark car. By using good methods you can minimize these, as mentioned.
 
Thanks everyone....



Hopefully this will be the last time this car sees compound! I already use the two bucket technique, with the water sheeting and blow dry drying technique, on my other vehicles. This was just depressing to see on a new car!



Thanks, again.
 
i wouldnt worry about compounding...some people get so scared of a compound they freak out...its not like you are wetsanding and heavy compounding all the time, your paint will last longer than you will have the car, even if you compound once a year-6 months
 
I don't want to start any wars or anything, but I'd like to say that it's not always the porter's fault. I'm a porter at a Lincoln dealership and I see stuff that salesmen, service writers, etc., do that make me cringe, i.e. leaning the boarshair brushes against the wall with the brush on the floor, and having a rotary with just one pad...a 100% wool. Once a salesman gassed a BLACK car I had just cleaned so after they salted the roads. Instead of even running through the swirl-o-matic, he decided to simply wipe off the salt residue with a dry chamois. Don't be so quick to blame the porter, I know most are hacks but not all. Like I said, I am a porter, however I do come here at least three times a day...that has to say something.
 
mjpowers728 said:
I don't want to start any wars or anything, but I'd like to say that it's not always the porter's fault. I'm a porter at a Lincoln dealership and I see stuff that salesmen, service writers, etc., do that make me cringe, i.e. leaning the boarshair brushes against the wall with the brush on the floor, and having a rotary with just one pad...a 100% wool. Once a salesman gassed a BLACK car I had just cleaned so after they salted the roads. Instead of even running through the swirl-o-matic, he decided to simply wipe off the salt residue with a dry chamois. Don't be so quick to blame the porter, I know most are hacks but not all. Like I said, I am a porter, however I do come here at least three times a day...that has to say something.
Click to expand...



I'm glad to hear from you and to learn of your good practices and knowledge. The tough thing for you must be seeing the bad practices but not being in the position to change them (at least not yet). The folks paying the dealership bills need to understand the value of good car care practices or its never really gonna change. The owners need to tell everyone what is acceptable and what isn't. But if they are too ignorant or short sighted, it won't happen.



I hope you can make a difference. You obviously have initiative. But if you can't change it, I hope you can stay sane. Thanks again.
 
anytime you have contact with the paint you run the risk of scratching it, the best thing to do is find a good washing/drying regimen to keep it at it's minimal. by doing that, you won't have to use an aggressive approach to remove them more frequently...
 
Well, you do have to take into perspective that the MAJORITY and I mean that by like 99% of new car purchasers probably could care less if there are micro scratches, so the dealer isn't making that a top priority to keep it scratch free.
 
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