Well guys, I've had it... no more detailing.

J

JAGOWNER1981

New member
Well about 1.5 months ago i took the ML to get a bunch of things fixed before the warranty expired. I specifically told the dealer no wash because the car was very dirty and told him i did not want swirls and scratches. He sympathized with me and said he wouldnt wash it. The car came back washed and i called the very next day and complained and he said to call him and tell him what i wanted them to do to rectify the problem. I am very busy and had not had a chance to see the car in the sun and washed.... till this past saturday. I spent about 2 hours carefully washing the car not to get swirls etc. Well i dried the car and when i was about 2 feet away from the paint i could see MILLIONS of hairline scratches all running fore and aft... definitely scratches from the auto car wash that they ran it through. The car has been subject to several cleaner waxes (about 7 times throught the life of the car), 1 swirl removal by hand (unsuccessful), and 1 DACP and 1 #92.0 by PC(remember all the times I've used abrasives on the car). Now with these gouges in the paint im afraid to buff them out again with 3M SMR or DACP because im afraid to break the clear coat. So I guess now I am going to have to live with an ugly swirl marks and just cover it up with as much wax or zaino as i can. The dealership does not want to do anything to help me and ive basically lost all hope/ambition to keep the car looking perfect. What do you think I should do? :(
 
Personally, I wouldn't try to use SMR. Clear coats are very thin and I wouldn't risk it. (I presume you're referring to the '99 model)



If it were me, I'd use Z-5 and layer the heck out of Z1/Z2 until you build up a protective coating. Then I'd repeat every 2 months. Zaino has no abrasives. (your dealer obviously does:angry )



That will keep your paint protected.



You might even apply a coat or two of carnuba over the Zaino.
 
Since all your abrasives have been applied by PC or by hand I seriously doubt you are anywhere near going through the clearcoat. The PC simply does not have enough bite to remove large amounts of clear. Plus none of the products you mentioned are very agressive.



I think you will be fine polishing if you choose to do so.
 
ShowroomLincoln said:
Since all your abrasives have been applied by PC or by hand I seriously doubt you are anywhere near going through the clearcoat. The PC simply does not have enough bite to remove large amounts of clear. Plus none of the products you mentioned are very agressive.



I think you will be fine polishing if you choose to do so.
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Thank god! this is exactly what i wanted to hear. I will not be taking it to any dealerships anymore so no need to worry about it getting heavily swirled again. Thanks for brightening my day Brad :)
 
What's No. 92?



Body Shop Line

81 Hand Polish

82 Swirl Free Polish

83 DACP

84 Cleaner

85 Diamond Cut



Pro Line

1 Medium Cut

2 Fine Cut

4 Heavy Cut

9 SMR



Unless you used the diamond cut - which I doubt as it would have hazed your entire vehicle with the use of a DA, I wouldn't be at all concerned about going through the clear. Unless you have wetsanded previously (orange peel etc.).



With a SMR, you can safely polish 3 times a year for many many years without getting the point where your clear could be compromised.



If you are using a Rotary though, that's a different story though.
 
Al,



Those type of scratches from car washes can't be gotten rid of with a PC which in my book is a rotory with diapers and training wheels. The difference between 3m mequires and the others really become clearer with those type of scratches.



I would try 3m Finesse it with a rotory to try and remove those scratches. If that doesn't work use the perfect-it compound then the finesse followed by what ever glaze and topper you like. 3m finesse is specifically designed to remove scratches when used with a rotory.



I am not really knocking PC's just pointing out they are not able to get those type of scratches out. They are great for applying glazes and waxes though.



That really really sucks what happened to you...good luck with it.
 
Remember, use the least abrasive pad / product combination first and work you're way up.



SMR first (SFP), then 3M Perfect III, DACP. If you can't get them out, look to a pro or pay to have Scottwax come out and do it by hand for you :bow



The DACP breaks down quite quickly and shouldn't be a problem. Also, you might want to try the new 3M (not so new actually) Perfect III products. They are reformulated to deal with today's clears. Breaks down nicely and easily and brings out a nice high gloss with minimal effort.



Paco
 
paco said:
What's No. 92?



Body Shop Line

81 Hand Polish

82 Swirl Free Polish

83 DACP

84 Cleaner

85 Diamond Cut



Pro Line

1 Medium Cut

2 Fine Cut

4 Heavy Cut

9 SMR



Unless you used the diamond cut - which I doubt as it would have hazed your entire vehicle with the use of a DA, I wouldn't be at all concerned about going through the clear. Unless you have wetsanded previously (orange peel etc.).



With a SMR, you can safely polish 3 times a year for many many years without getting the point where your clear could be compromised.



If you are using a Rotary though, that's a different story though.
Click to expand...



He meant #9 2.0
 
stuart hicks said:
Al,



Those type of scratches from car washes can't be gotten rid of with a PC which in my book is a rotory with diapers and training wheels. The difference between 3m mequires and the others really become clearer with those type of scratches.



I would try 3m Finesse it with a rotory to try and remove those scratches. If that doesn't work use the perfect-it compound then the finesse followed by what ever glaze and topper you like. 3m finesse is specifically designed to remove scratches when used with a rotory.



I am not really knocking PC's just pointing out they are not able to get those type of scratches out. They are great for applying glazes and waxes though.



That really really sucks what happened to you...good luck with it.
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You completely misunderstood my post.
 
S'Funny .. I've removed no end of swirl marks and scratches with a PC/cutting pad and DACP or SMR.





Must be my 'Magic Fingers'.





Rotaries I use for cutting in new paint with G4 and sorting out nasty problems.

Sure its faster, its also a damn sight easier to make a mess of things.
 
AlBoston said:
You completely misunderstood my post.
Click to expand...



Yeah, Al, I see that you were just looking for encouragement. A few months ago, when I first met who would be now my wife, I stayed overnight and parked in the wrong spot, and my car was towed. And you want to talk about scratches. The magnetic lights they put on my roof made some scratches which almost made me cry. But two applications of 3M SMR with a cutting pad and the PC got them out. And I haven't had any problems with my clearcoat yet, and I've polished 4 or 5 times now with 3M SMR since I got the car 3 years ago.



So, have at it, and make the ML the way it was before you took it to the dealer.:up
 
When my BMW dealership did this for the 3rd time after I told them NO CARWASH, I spent the weekend detailing out the swirls, and set them the bill!!
 
DETAILKING said:
When my BMW dealership did this for the 3rd time after I told them NO CARWASH, I spent the weekend detailing out the swirls, and set them the bill!!
Click to expand...



LOL!!! Did they pay it??



Al, don't worry about the scuff marks. Go ahead and bust out the PC and go to town. I just bought some PI3 Machine Glaze and will send you some if you want, PM me. Steve raved about this stuff so I gotta try it too.



Pretty funny about the Scottwax suggestion. I for one have faith and confidence in you. I'm sure the ML will look great when you're done.



- - Bret - -
 
Gee, Ali, maybe you're right... It might be time to stop taking care of your car. :rolleyes:



Come on bud. Where's your spirit? Of course you got swirls. We all do sooner or later. Chin up. You have plenty of support.



:wavey
 
Just give up, sell all your cool supplies on autopia, run the Ml to the ground.....



or



Detail the hell out of your car, make it glow like no other, drive down to the dealer, get out and scream at the top of your lungs..

"THIS IS WHAT A ML SHOULD LOOK LIKE, NOT WHAT YOUR WEAK A$$ SO CALLED DETAILERS DO TO MY CAR"



If you need me to tag along that day with my rotary and dacp let me know. I got your back!
 
I think that most of us have been where you are now!! But, the reality is, we love to perfect our car's finish!!! I know that sometimes it seems like a losing battle, but that is why most of us are here on this site. We were frustrated that we were not getting the results we wanted. As such, we are a large support group of friends helping each other!!



Only you know how much compounding or polishing you did. However, like SRL said, with a PC it is doubtful that you removed that much material in the first place.



Think of it this way, you have a chance to make the finish the way it was before. Or, leave the swirls and look at them every day wondering whether or not you should have, could have done something about it!! If you go through the clear, then you will have to get it painted. But if you don't....!!!!



It is up to you!! I am sure that you will make the right decision!!:up
 
AlBoston- Just saw this thread so here is my belated expression of sympathy. This seems to be happening a lot lately. I hope you stick to your guns and DON'T take it back there for any more service. Or at least send a letter to the owner (send it registered, that gets attention) expressing your feelings about this. And let them know that if they do it again you're gonna make suing them your new hobby. I hate the "sue somebody" mentality so prevalent today, but gee, this is different ;)



Be sure to put any NEW shop you patronize on notice about damage to your car!



I too feel you'll be able to REALLY improve things, if not rectify them completely, with the PC and some good products. Or take it to a (GOOD) pro and send the dealership the bill. Or do as DETAILKING did :xyxthumbs
 
Well I z6'ed it and applied a coat of S100. S100 did a nice job at filling the dealer installed swirls, but those damn gouge marks are still visible when standing about 2 feet away from the car.
 
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