New GTI detailing issue

[MrGadget]

Hi, my wifes new GTI is less than a month old and has been fantastic. When we picked it up from the dealer I noticed a couple of marks on the bonnet surface which could be felt. The detailer wasn't there at the time to look at it so we booked another day for him to fix it, that day was today.

The good news is that the original marks are gone but (yep you guessed it) there are new marks on the bonnet. I'm no detailer so I don't know what they are, perhaps from a buffer? I cannot feel anything where the marks are so they must be very fine.

I will definetly ring them tomorrow and express my disappointment, I am sure they will accept the issue and take the car off my hands again to work on it, but what is the chance that they will get it right this time? The detailer must have pretty poor eyesight not to see it, perhaps the lighting makes it difficult to see???

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys reckon a simple wax with meguires (i've got some NTX stuff) would remove these marks, somehow I think it would not make a difference. What do you guys think? I suppose they would be no harm in trying.

[kryten2001]

Hi, my wifes new GTI is less than a month old and has been fantastic. When we picked it up from the dealer I noticed a couple of marks on the bonnet surface which could be felt. The detailer wasn't there at the time to look at it so we booked another day for him to fix it, that day was today.

The good news is that the original marks are gone but (yep you guessed it) there are new marks on the bonnet. I'm no detailer so I don't know what they are, perhaps from a buffer? I cannot feel anything where the marks are so they must be very fine.

I will definetly ring them tomorrow and express my disappointment, I am sure they will accept the issue and take the car off my hands again to work on it, but what is the chance that they will get it right this time? The detailer must have pretty poor eyesight not to see it, perhaps the lighting makes it difficult to see???

Anyway, I was wondering if you guys reckon a simple wax with meguires (i've got some NTX stuff) would remove these marks, somehow I think it would not make a difference. What do you guys think? I suppose they would be no harm in trying.

Describe the marks mate?

[MrGadget]

Describe the marks mate?

Well there is a few spots on the bonnet, each about the size of a 20c coin with what looks like lots of very fine lines. Can't see them when looking down on the bonnet but if I kneel down and look almost parallel I can see them. It was dark when my wife brought the car home so don't know how it looks under natural light, it is in the garage with typical garage (florescent tube?) lighting.

[kryten2001]

Well there is a few spots on the bonnet, each about the size of a 20c coin with what looks like lots of very fine lines. Can't see them when looking down on the bonnet but if I kneel down and look almost parallel I can see them. It was dark when my wife brought the car home so don't know how it looks under natural light, it is in the garage with typical garage (florescent tube?) lighting.

Very very odd, especially if the scratches are confined to within a single area (like a circle or whatnot).

If there's no discoloration, and you can't feel anything with your fingers, you might be right.

My advice is to check in with the dealer, ask then what they're going to do. If you've got a flat colour it might be a relatively easy respray (if it's that bad).

If on the other hand, they're going to get it "treated", you might want to give it a blast with Maguiars ScratchX or something similar. Just be really _really_ gentle with application. ScratchX is very mildly abrasive..

You might even want to try some Gold Glass (also maguairs) wax as well. It's a polisher as well as waxer, so it might take those marks out. This is my personal fave, even though many products with higher exposure have come on the market lately, like NXT. I just love the stuff.

It's certainly strange, but I'd be asking the dealer explicitly what they were going to do to rectify it first. It is up to them to fix, but ultimately you want the best fix possible.

Bonnets, hoods and boots come pre-delivered with some sort of funky wax coating to protect the cars in shipping. Maybe the muppets in the pre-delivery area had some issues removing it, or weren't careful. I mean, we only pay them what - a few grand in dealer delivery.. You'd think they could actually check stuff like this....

[MrGadget]

Thanks for your reply, I may even show it to a professional non VW detailer. I have little faith in VW to get it right. I had a similar problem with my Subaru Liberty, they re-sprayed it twice and it still wasn't perfect. In the end I just accepted it because the mark on the paint was very minor and only I could see it because I knew where it was.

Know any competant detailers in Melb?

[kryten2001]

Thanks for your reply, I may even show it to a professional non VW detailer. I have little faith in VW to get it right. I had a similar problem with my Subaru Liberty, they re-sprayed it twice and it still wasn't perfect. In the end I just accepted it because the mark on the paint was very minor and only I could see it because I knew where it was.

Know any competant detailers in Melb?

Nope, I'm from Perth - and I don't even know any competant ones here...!

[Maverick]

Thanks for your reply, I may even show it to a professional non VW detailer. I have little faith in VW to get it right. I had a similar problem with my Subaru Liberty, they re-sprayed it twice and it still wasn't perfect. In the end I just accepted it because the mark on the paint was very minor and only I could see it because I knew where it was.

Know any competant detailers in Melb?

Final Inspection (Damien I think) is highly recommend on the golfmkv (Australian) forum, check over there for all the details.

[KWICKS]

What I am hearing is very familiar with my own story. Our BMP GTI was delivered with awful spots all over it from it's journey, and the "detail" was a mere quick wash I suspect. We sent it back, VW detailer covered the car in swirls trying to fix it. I sent an email to sales teram asking them to foot the bill for a professional detailer, which to their credit they did.

Your marks sound like a mild abrasive has been used on the spots you mention to remove them but have created a small marring of their own. In my experience you probably will need a proper machine polish, 2 stage to be sure. Around (ballpark) $300 or so. Send VW contact info for Damian and let him fix it up and VW will cover the costs, if you get the same response I did.

Read this thread on my story.

[Big Yellow]

Final Inspection (Damien I think) is highly recommend on the golfmkv (Australian) forum, check over there for all the details.

I think Damien is also a member on here, I have actually PM'd him here.