Anyone specifically request the dealer not to wash/detail the car prior to delivery?

[ayau]

anyone else planning to do a full detail once they pick up their car?

what will your detail involve?

this is my plan:

onr wash
clay
optimum hyper polish with porter cable
opticoat

[Miniata]

I knew there was something I was forgetting. I stopped in at my dealer today to check on my order (supposed to arrive next month) and told them to not drill the front bumper for the license plate, and meant to tell them not to wash it, but forgot. I plan to stop in next week again, so I'll make a point to tell them then.

I'll just give it a basic wash soon after I take possession, as I plan to concentrate on getting the thousand mile break-in out of the way ASAP, but after that I plan to do a full detail on it, probably consisting of a Dawn wash, clay, and wax, hopefully it won't need polishing right away.

[ducks]

i told them not to wash it or even take the plastic off of the panels

chemical guys citrus wash and gloss
clay
cg blacklight
four star ultimate paint protection
cg v7
griot's glass sealant
303 fabric guard on seats, carpets

i'd like to hear how opticoat works for you. still undecided if i want to use something like it

[civicdrivr]

I told my dealer not to "detail" it, they didn't listen.

It turned a relatively easy new car prep into a full on 13 hour two-step paint correction. But it was very worth it.



Thankfully they did listen when I told them not to drill the bumper.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by ducks

i told them not to wash it or even take the plastic off of the panels

chemical guys citrus wash and gloss
clay
cg blacklight
four star ultimate paint protection
cg v7
griot's glass sealant
303 fabric guard on seats, carpets

i'd like to hear how opticoat works for you. still undecided if i want to use something like it

ive used optiseal before but this will be the first time using opticoat. applying the product will be the same as optiseal. all the reviews say that opticoat provides very protection.

i don't see polishing in your list of to-do. are you going to skip it if you don't see any marring? many people say that claying can cause minor scratches, so you may want to polish it after claying.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

I told my dealer not to "detail" it, they didn't listen.

It turned a relatively easy new car prep into a full on 13 hour two-step paint correction. But it was very worth it.



Thankfully they did listen when I told them not to drill the bumper.

i'll be reminding my dealer as soon as they give me the call saying that the car is here. hopefully it won't be too late.

what exactly is a 2 step correction? is that referring to using a cutting compound for the first pass, then using a light polish for the second pass?

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by ayau

what exactly is a 2 step correction? is that referring to using a cutting compound for the first pass, then using a light polish for the second pass?

This is what we did:

-Clay bar entire car
-Polish car with Optimum Polish II followed by Menzerma Super Finish, with an IPA wipe down after each
-Seal with Blackfire Wet Diamond

The first hour or two was spent finding out what combination would give us the results we were looking for.

[alluringreality]

Based on the detailing forums my plan is:

Citrus wash
IronX & TarX
Clay Magic & Luber
Optimum No Rinse
Optimum Finish & Griots 6" Polisher
Carpro Eraser
Opticoat

The No Rinse and Eraser are extras, so I could always break the job into multiple days or use a different polish.

[ducks]

Originally Posted by ayau

ive used optiseal before but this will be the first time using opticoat. applying the product will be the same as optiseal. all the reviews say that opticoat provides very protection.

i don't see polishing in your list of to-do. are you going to skip it if you don't see any marring? many people say that claying can cause minor scratches, so you may want to polish it after claying.

they say blacklight acts like an all in one, so it should handle the minor stuff. i just hope the dealer and the drive home don't make any extra work for me.

[Guff]

I would imagine IronX will be important because apparently Rail Dust is a big problem with freshly transported cars.

[vividracing]

Let them detail the car. This needs to be done. Get that car nice and clean then walk the car and inspect it.
Inspect

• Bumpers
• Mirrors
• Doors
• Lights (moisture)
• Wheels

Then inspect inside

• Floor mats
• Seats
• Cig lighter
• Radio/Speakers
• Trunk
• Spare tire and jack/tool kit
• Keys

Then look over any added options.
Take as much time as needed till you are happy. If it seems like the sales guy is in a rush. Take that as you might be missing something.

Once you sign off and leave the lot. Unless the dealer is super cool. Its all on you. So get all the dirt off to see what is hiding under it.

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by Guff

I would imagine IronX will be important because apparently Rail Dust is a big problem with freshly transported cars.

They also spray the cars to try and stop the smuggling in insects and stuff. Its nasty and should be left to the dealer to deal with.

[moniz]

Originally Posted by vividracing

They also spray the cars to try and stop the smuggling in insects and stuff. Its nasty and should be left to the dealer to deal with.

Have you seen some of these guys who "detail" cars at the dealers? Trust me, you're better off doing it yourself or paying an actual professional detailer.

Originally Posted by Guff

I would imagine IronX will be important because apparently Rail Dust is a big problem with freshly transported cars.

Especially if you have a white car, over a couple washes those rail dust spots become painfully obvious as it did on my Mazda5. I swear by that stuff as it works amazingly at getting rid of the rail dust attached to your clearcoat.

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by moniz

Have you seen some of these guys who "detail" cars at the dealers? Trust me, you're better off doing it yourself or paying an actual professional detailer.

I understand. But if they detail it wrong, the dealer will have to fix it. As long as you catch it before you drive it off the lot.

I have seen a few friends take their cars home to detail only to find out that it had a scratch and another a dent. Dealer told them to pound salt. "Sorry you signed right here saying car left in perfect condition"

I just want people to be careful. Not all dealerships are bad or have bad people !

[CU2MIKE]

Originally Posted by vividracing

I understand. But if they detail it wrong, the dealer will have to fix it. As long as you catch it before you drive it off the lot.

I have seen a few friends take their cars home to detail only to find out that it had a scratch and another a dent. Dealer told them to pound salt. "Sorry you signed right here saying car left in perfect condition"

I just want people to be careful. Not all dealerships are bad or have bad people !

So you're going to trust the dealership, who screwed it up the first time, to "fix it" a second time around? And probably by the same people who gets paid minimum wage doing it?

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by CU2MIKE

So you're going to trust the dealership, who screwed it up the first time, to "fix it" a second time around? And probably by the same people who gets paid minimum wage doing it?

No the dealer will not fix it themselves. Unless they have a Autobody shop.
They would more then likely farm it out. You forget if you sign off and get home and wash it. Find a nice dent or scratch. You will be on your own. You will not be able to head back to the dealer and expect much from them.

[Guff]

Solution!

Do the wash yourself at the dealership!

[merlin2111]

I am planning on rinsing the car myself at the dealership but detailing it at home.

[CU2MIKE]

Originally Posted by vividracing

No the dealer will not fix it themselves. Unless they have a Autobody shop.
They would more then likely farm it out. You forget if you sign off and get home and wash it. Find a nice dent or scratch. You will be on your own. You will not be able to head back to the dealer and expect much from them.

Oh! I thought you meant getting a detail from the dealership, then inspecting the car to make sure everything turns out good. That would have been the worse idea I've ever heard. I've never seen a dealership detail a car right, and the guy making minimum wage is doing more damage than he is doing good.

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by Guff

Solution!

Do the wash yourself at the dealership!

Most if not all of the Toyota dealerships (in San Diego for that matter) have the drive through car washes.

[ayau]

Touchless washes will not remove dirt off the car btw. The only way to properly wash your car is with a wash mitt and proper washing technique. If you don't have proper washing technique, then it doesn't matter how much you spend on expensive washing products.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by moniz

Have you seen some of these guys who "detail" cars at the dealers? Trust me, you're better off doing it yourself or paying an actual professional detailer.

Fortunately, the detailer at my dealership is GOOD. Seen him work, and looked over my car after he has worked on it before, and the job is just about top-notch.

Now if I can just manage to keep them from drilling the front bumper...
(Ohio front license plate laws = Fail)