I took my car in for the recalls, and they did me the extra favor of washing my car using circular motions (so now it's full of swirl marks that I'd avoided for >6 months), and they topped it off with a 3 inch scratch on the front hood.

I was so pissed, that when the service guy said "no problem, we'll just buff it out," I just said OK (thinking "damn straight you'll fix it!")

So now the single scratch is gone, but I'm freaking out at the fact that I allowed the detail guy to use an orbital buffer all over my front fender, wearing down the clearcoat when I should've just spring for some Zaino!

Am I now screwed, and will my one fender discolor differently that the rest of the car? Anything I can do to increase the protection there?

The scratch wasn't even that deep, I just knew they put it there while changing the damn oil!

Arg!!!! 6 months of babying it and not a single scratch, and I let someone else have the keys for 5 hours and now this!

Someone say something to make me feel better, please!

 

Well after about 8 months of ownership and being very meticulous about every little thing, including about 9 coats of zaino, my car was backed into in a parking lot in which the person did not leave a note. I then had to take away 250 dollars needed to repaint the bumper out of my mod fund. The advice that i received was that sh&t happens and it cant be new forever . Maybe claybar to get the scratches out and start the whole process over with? I hope i made you feel better with my bad luck ..

-Rich

 

Ouch, Lex! That must have hurt! Go back and give that boy a flogging.

"will my one fender discolor differently that the rest of the car? Anything I can do to increase the protection there?"

Clear guard fender protection kits are designed to reduce scratches and abrasions on your fenders; I reccommend one. Although the buff may have worn down your coating to some very small extent, it's highly unlikely that it will discolour your car.

So cheer up!

 

After reading this I'm now worried about taking mine in for its first oil change. I'm going to stand on top of that mechanic while he is working. "You have clean clothes on?" "Did you take everything out of your pockets....ie. Keys, Coins, lighters?" "Did you get enough sleep last night?"

I know this isn't really the forum to ask this but has anyone else had probelms with scratches at the dealership?

 

I havent had any problems with the dealership and my paint.

I check the whole car before I leave everytime

 

Yeah, watch those dealerships. Mine during an oil change totally scratched the the air box, and made excuses. They, in the end said they could spray paint it.

Feckin dealers!

 

Mine put some buff marks in the hood but I fixed it. My air box looks like **** too but I am going to see what I can do to fix it.

 

No body touches my car. To date, the only person to have sat in it other than me is my mother.

I personally don't trust dealerships. Some get jealous of your baby and spit under your hood. No joke.

I paid a worker to show me how it's done with his GTR34, and I do everything myself now, with cotton buds and imported cleaning kits...

 

gtr34 drool---------

 

Here's my reccomendation for the swirl marks. If you aren't well versed in the use of a rotary buffer, take a good orbital buffer and find some 3M glazing compound for dark colored cars, part # 05996. I have had marvelous results with this product and a rotary buffer but with a little more time it will do fine with an orbital. This stuff goes on like wax, buff it into the paint keeping it wet with a spray bottle full of water. P.S. Zaino is great stuff but it only covers up scratches like make-up covers up wrinkles. Would you rather your broad wore a lot of make-up or got a face lift??