Wax/seal the paint on brand new car?

autoaesthetica said:
Tell them to do their required mechanical PDI - but to not wash, clean, wipe down anything else in any manner.



If you are also doing the plastic removal(pretty easy really) you can tell them to leave the bumper pads and plastics on - if they say well we cant, tell them thats not true because there are cars all over out for test drives and employee drives that have them on it :).





Keep in mind you may have to basically "demand" this and depending on the dealership threaten the sale/delivery completion contingent on this - I have had customers have to do this.
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And congrats on the new order :)
 
I don't think the plastic removal will be a big deal - I just want to make sure they're not running some grubby wool mitt all over my brand-new paint, then drying with a 12 year old beach towel.



Does the plastic typically leave a residue? I've never "unwrapped" a new car before, lol.
 
Sometimes, but its nothing crazy to deal with a general adhesive remover - even the citrus ones do a good job. Many times in only in a few spots. You might consider this route :) :)
 
I do hate the amount of localized effort involved with adhesive removal, especially over a large area, but I'd still rather do it myself and know it was done right.
 
Dr. Woo I think alot of it depends on how the dealership will treat it. You could always go and inspect some of the vehicles that you know had plastic on them and just make your decision based off of that. Or heck, walk through the detail department and ask them what they are going to do "on my new vehicle that I ordered" and decide from that.



Locally, I wouldn't trust many of the dealerships..
 
Some sorta-random thoughts follow:



- I'm the guy who took a new Cadillac in-the-wrapper and was then told to, uhm...[pound sand] when I discovered paint issues

- OTOH, I'm the guy whose Audi dealer *wants* me to take new cars that way so they're off the hook with regard to anybody at the dealership messing things up (and this dealer won't shaft me if I find something)

- I let the Mazda dealer remove the transit wrap from my minivan and they caused two scratches that were too deep for complete removal

- I've let my (aforementioned) Audi dealer prep a new car, and they did a perfectly OK job. But that new-car prep guy was unusually good and he went on to another career after graduating from college; their current guys are *NOT* up to my standards and I'd never let them touch my stuff

- I can probably count on my 10 fingers the number of brand new cars in showrooms that I'd find acceptable. Virtually *every* car in every showroom is more marred up than my crappiest beater, and I wouldn't want to do the required correction if I were paying for a new car, nor would I want to start out with that much less clearcoat
 
I will always be the same way. Makes total sense to me. I also never knew Accumulator had the experience he did with a new Caddy. No Caddies ever since,eh?
 
Accumulator said:
Some sorta-random thoughts follow:



- I'm the guy who took a new Cadillac in-the-wrapper and was then told to, uhm...[pound sand] when I discovered paint issues

- OTOH, I'm the guy whose Audi dealer *wants* me to take new cars that way so they're off the hook with regard to anybody at the dealership messing things up (and this dealer won't shaft me if I find something)

- I let the Mazda dealer remove the transit wrap from my minivan and they caused two scratches that were too deep for complete removal

- I've let my (aforementioned) Audi dealer prep a new car, and they did a perfectly OK job. But that new-car prep guy was unusually good and he went on to another career after graduating from college; their current guys are *NOT* up to my standards and I'd never let them touch my stuff

- I can probably count on my 10 fingers the number of brand new cars in showrooms that I'd find acceptable. Virtually *every* car in every showroom is more marred up than my crappiest beater, and I wouldn't want to do the required correction if I were paying for a new car, nor would I want to start out with that much less clearcoat
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Funny you mention Audi's, all the non mass production models I have seen in the showroom are atrocious. After bringing it to the owner's attention, they literally tell me they don't care and people don't notice....every once in a while that same vehicle sold locally makes it way back to me after the owner notices how bad they look in the sun. Lol, I always have to zip my lips on those ones.
 
Bill D- No more of our money went into dealerships owned by that [individual] and between that and the big styling change, well....no more Cadillacs for me :grinno:



autoaesthetica- Right, all the dealers I know say the same thing- nobody cares, period (well, except for yours truly).
 
I will also advise you to not let the dealer even take the transit protection off of your brand new vehicle. Take delivery of it exactly how it arrived at the dealership and you will be happiest.
 
Listen to what the pros like Accumulator are saying. They know what they're talking about.



I just picked up my new car last week and did NOT let the dealer detail it. This was after I refused the first new car they sold me because I found paint repair and bad marring from their lot washing.

The 2nd new one had not been touched at all by the dealer except to remove the stickers. I know this because the car still had bugs all over... the BACK of the car. :D From being on the transport truck backwards, I'm guessing.

And I was very happy to discover Saturday when detailing that they hadn't effed this car up... because they hadn't touched it.

Made the detail much easier. I washed with Optimum Power clean to strip any 'waxes'. Then clayed. Then cleaned with Klasse AIO. Then put a coat of Collinite 915.

Also wiped down the interior and spiffed it up.

Took 5-6 hours for a thorough detail. If I had to remove a bunch of defects we'd be talking 10 hours or more. I did remove a couple scratches on the hood and a small spot of marring on a fender. Those both took less than 10 minutes with Optimum Hyper Polish.



Like Accumulator said, almost every single car in the showroom looks NASTY. The dealer has had plenty of time to install swirls on those cars so they can keep them 'spotless' for the people who won't notice scratches.



Do NOT let your dealer even wash your car. And definitely put wax on when you get the car home.
 
lostdaytomorrow said:
I will also advise you to not let the dealer even take the transit protection off of your brand new vehicle. Take delivery of it exactly how it arrived at the dealership and you will be happiest.
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Since it's looking more and more likely that I'll be going this route, can anyone describe the typical amount of work involved and just how much adhesive will stick to the car? Is there a pain-free process to removing the plastic?



Unfortunately I'll be taking delivery near the end of November so hopefully it won't be too nasty outside - I don't have room in my garage for any significant detailing work to be done.
 
always wash your brand new car off the lot yourself and wax it. The dealer always says that it has had a (protection of some kind put on it) which isnt really anything ussually they are lying and dont know what they are talking about. But yes always wash and wax a brand new car off the lot as soon as you get it to protect the new paint.
 
Dr. Woo said:
Since it's looking more and more likely that I'll be going this route, can anyone describe the typical amount of work involved and just how much adhesive will stick to the car? Is there a pain-free process to removing the plastic?



Unfortunately I'll be taking delivery near the end of November so hopefully it won't be too nasty outside - I don't have room in my garage for any significant detailing work to be done.
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Wondering if anyone has any input on this. Is removing the transit plastic a pain in the butt?
 
Dr. Woo- You'd better wait for advice from somebody who's bought something recently, but I'd expect it to be a manageable job. Consider the, uhm...[individuals] at the dealership who unwrap them all the time ;)



If you get a can of AutoInt/ValuGard New Car Prep you should be able to deal with any adhesive easy as pie. Nice safe solvent that's *MADE* just for this job. Get a can and I'd say you can rest easy. You'll find other uses for it too, money well-spent in my book.
 
Accumulator said:
Dr. Woo- You'd better wait for advice from somebody who's bought something recently, but I'd expect it to be a manageable job. Consider the, uhm...[individuals] at the dealership who unwrap them all the time ;)



If you get a can of AutoInt/ValuGard New Car Prep you should be able to deal with any adhesive easy as pie. Nice safe solvent that's *MADE* just for this job. Get a can and I'd say you can rest easy. You'll find other uses for it too, money well-spent in my book.
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Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately ValuGard's site is blocked here at work pending proxy categorization - I'll check on it tomorrow. Have you used it? Is it pretty straightforward?
 
Dr. Woo said:
Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately ValuGard's site is blocked here at work pending proxy categorization - I'll check on it tomorrow. Have you used it? Is it pretty straightforward?
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I haven't used it for removing transit wrap adhesive, but I've used it for all sorts of other things. Very easy-to-use solvent, flahes off nice and clean. Has a bit of a solventy odor, but eh...that's just what it is.
 
Accumulator said:
I haven't used it for removing transit wrap adhesive, but I've used it for all sorts of other things. Very easy-to-use solvent, flahes off nice and clean. Has a bit of a solventy odor, but eh...that's just what it is.
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So what would be the difference between this stuff and, say, pro-strength Goof Off, which I happen to already own?
 
Congratulations on the purchase of your new vehicle.



Protective Shipping Film



Remove the RapGard (shipping vinyl) protective film by carefully pulling it at a 45 degree angle; remove any adhesive from the vehicle surfaces with ValuGuard "N" New Car Prep or 3M™ Adhesive Remover and Surface Cleaner both are safe solvents that is outstanding for the removal of tar, grease, adhesive, bugs, crayon and stubborn stains on paint, contains no harmful Xylene, Benzene or Toluene.



http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/137038-new-vehicle-care.html#post1453380



 
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