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New Car Repaint: Saddened

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  • New Car Repaint: Saddened

    I know I should not material things be so important, but I waited a long time to get my little "dream car"--a 2006 Lexus SC 430--the hardtop convertible. When they cleaned it up to deliver, there were obvious defects which they called "wind chips". The dealer assured me that the manufacturer would "not let them sell a car in that condition" and that it would be repainted by an outside bodyshop that has been doing their high-end work for 8 years.

    Wind chips are tiny (mostly) actual chips out of the paint caused by sand hitting the paint driven by high winds.

    They did the repaint and the car, which is black, is covered with swirls, buffer tracks, holograms, spider webs, and the hood, in particular, is cloudy.

    I have been assured that this will all buff out if I bring the car back. I have some questions for your collective wisdom:

    1. How likely is it that this will buff out to 100% clear and wet looking (as it was, except for the chips, before I took it in)?

    2. Assuming it does buff out as in #1, above, how much clearcoat will I have lost in the process?

    3. What care should I take in washing when I get it back? I am assuming that the paint will have to "cure" for some period of time to release solvents, or is this an old wives tale? Can I wax it when I get it back, or, again, does it have to cure? I read in some other posts about Mirror Glaze #16. I found it on the Internet and have a few cans coming. I was hoping I would be able to give it a try.

    I read in another post that it would be OK to uese QD on a freshy painted car, so I guess solvent release is not an issue with QD?

    Oh, and since I am complaining, is there anything that the body shop would have done that would have caused some tiny chips in the windshield? Do they sandblast or anything to get the old paint down to get rid of the wind chips (which are bare metal)? Perhaps I just hadn't noticed them.

    This is punishment for coveting other peoples SC 430's.

  • #2
    Hi Monk, to MOL!

    Sorry to hear your new baby is having a bit of a rough start in life.

    Originally posted by Monk
    …1. How likely is it that this will buff out to 100% clear and wet looking …
    Impossible to say. It really depends on how much paint the shooter laid down, how deep the damage done during the first round of sand, cut and buff goes and how skilled a craftsman performs the second round. (I hope they don’t give it back to the first guy. He’s obviously incompetent.)

    If the paint film is reasonable and the earlier damage not too severe a skilled operator can achieve a superb gloss.


    Originally posted by Monk
    …2. Assuming it does buff out as in #1, above, how much clearcoat will I have lost in the process?…
    Again, it depends. How much gets left behind is most important. If they can’t prove there’s plenty of clearcoat left (and that would require measurements of the actual clearcoat, not just total film thickness) I would ask for some kind of guarantee.


    Originally posted by Monk
    …3. What care should I take in washing when I get it back? …
    Spend some time reading around here. There’s plenty of great advice on taking care of paint.


    Originally posted by Monk
    … I am assuming that the paint will have to "cure" for some period of time to release solvents, or is this an old wives tale? …
    It’s absolutely true. Make them tell you the paint manufacturer’s recommended wait time to allow for outgassing. (I would never trust the painter’s “personal opinion”.) (I would also make them tell me the exact paint used, not just the manufacturer’s name but the exact paint system and code numbers. I’d then check with the manufacturer directly. I’m not a trusting soul after someone messes up the first time. )


    Originally posted by Monk
    …I read in some other posts about Mirror Glaze #16. I found it on the Internet and have a few cans coming. I was hoping I would be able to give it a try….
    #16 is great stuff. Just be sure to wait the recommended time before using it or any wax or sealant on the finish.


    Originally posted by Monk
    …I read in another post that it would be OK to uese QD on a freshy painted car, so I guess solvent release is not an issue with QD?…
    Meguiar’s QD’s don't contain wax or other ingredients that would interfere with curing. #34 Final Inspection can even be used in a paint shop before the paint is applied. Many QD’s (most?) can’t.


    Originally posted by Monk
    …Oh, and since I am complaining, is there anything that the body shop would have done that would have caused some tiny chips in the windshield? Do they sandblast or anything to get the old paint down to get rid of the wind chips (which are bare metal)? Perhaps I just hadn't noticed them….
    The paint chips were down to bare metal?! That’s pretty weird. New cars are normally transported covered in plastic wrapping. It would take some mighty nasty wind to drive sand hard enough to do that.

    Normally, if you have chips down to bare metal, they’d sand down the old finish, feathering the edges of the chips, and shoot a primer over the metal and everything else before laying down the new finish. I wouldn’t expect that to chip a windshield but who knows what goes on in some shops? I would have expected whatever chipped the paint in the first place to pit the windshield. Inspect it closely before accepting the car.


    Originally posted by Monk
    …This is punishment for coveting other peoples SC 430's.
    Trust me, if coveting cars got you in immediate trouble with The Big Guy I’d have been toasted by a lightning bolt a looong time ago!


    You’re paying good money for a very high-end ride. You have the right to expect them to deliver it in pristine condition.

    Just playing devil’s advocate here, Is there any way you can tell the dealer to keep this one and get you a fresh one?


    PC.

    Comment


    • #3
      i think you should look into your customer rights and try to refuse that car...after all thats why you want a new car, so its all new. theres no telling that the prep was 100% and theres a good chance some trim clips got busted when/if they stripped the handles and trims off

      chances are a expert could tell its been painted and that hurt its re sale value in years to come

      Comment


      • #4
        Thank you, folks. I appreciate the time you took in responding, and your concern. I have since found Mike's Post on curing, breathing, outgassing and offgassing, so I understand that the waxing will have to wait.

        The wind chips were caused by wind storms while at the dealers lot, not in transport. They are referring to it as "Hurricane Damage" and I assume this is for the purpse of making an insurance claim. I live in Sunny Florida, and we had some storms come through last year. It was "discovered" and disclosed prior to delivery, but I accepted delivery, albeit with the written agreement that it would be "perfect". They also disclosed that another buyer had refused delivery due to the chips.

        I would be surprised if I had missed the windshield chips, and they are centralized in one area of the windshield about the size of a dessert plate. I know the windshield was removed for the repainting, so I am suspicious but without proof. I already took delivery, so the outcome will depend on how much of a battle I want to have.

        Maybe someone should start a thread about "Why men love cars". I have been driving SUV's for 16 years, and getting this hot little number seems like it rejuvenated me. While it was off being painted, I even refinished my garage--"fixing up the baby's room" I called it. Linoleum floors, some more electrical outlets for vaccuum, the DA, etc. I repainted walls and ceiling brightest white and put in a stereo that will take a feed off my iPod. New heavy duty garage door with support posts for windload protection that you install when the hurricanes come. If I was married, this would have cost me a new kitchen, too, and of course, I wouldn't be able to have a pool table in the dining room, either!

        At any rate, I have learned a lot from this forum, and I bought a DA, clay, and various products. I also have a 1999 Lexus LX470--the big SUV model, so I have been able to "play" with clay, polish, the DA and wax on that, and my son has a 1999 Mustang. I feel guilty that his car is the one that is not in the garage, so I wash it more than he does, and if he was home for more than five minutes, I would clay it for him. What a difference the clay made! I wanted to run down the street and knock on my neighbors doors and spread the news that "Clay is coming" and our paint finishes are "going to be saved" but "only if we accept Clay!", but I don't know them, and they might call the authorities.

        As a new poster, I have just one other comment--Mike Phillips seems like a guy who really loves his job. It comes through in every post. What a great asset for Meguiars.

        Comment


        • #5
          Sounds like they dinged up the windshield while they had it off the car. That’s more than an aesthetic issue; it’s a safety issue. You should demand they replace it.

          Good thing you got them to agree in writing that the car will be put right. I don’t think you should let them cut any corners, make any excuses or deliver it almost-good-enough. It’s a brand new Lexus.

          I’m not saying you should just try to get out of the deal (unless that’s what you want to do, in which case go ahead). It’s just that car dealers have a habit of trying to weasel out of doing the right thing. You’re the one who’s paying the money and will have to live with the car for years to come. There’s no reason you should be forced to live with their mistakes.

          As long as you make them stick to their end of the bargain you’ll either get the car the way you should get it or maybe they’ll decide it’s too much trouble and they can sell it to someone with lower standards, ordering you a new one.

          Until then, we’d love to see a pic of that newly remodeled garage.


          PC.

          Comment

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