Opticoat detailing gone bad.

[TLC Dave]

Originally Posted by 911fanatic

Swirls are self induced from washing and drying. The detailer could have removed them and they were reintroduced through improper wash and drying techniques.

I agree, if it had just been a week or a couple washes later when the swirls returned it could have been fillers hiding the swirls, but if they were gone for a couple months the swirls are most likely new and caused by improper washing.

[Siberian Husky]

I literally work 16 hours a day most days and can't get much time to cruise the internet on my computer and hate typing stuff out on my phone.

I'm having trouble uploading the pictures and can't care enough to trouble shoot it but most people know what swirl marks and light scratches on clear coat look like--there were many on this car.

I picked up the vehicle from the dealer and specifically requested NO car wash (like most people), They did however remove the plastic films themselves and left a scratch on the roof doing so, which I saw upon pick up. I was upset but it wasn't enough for me to not take delivery because I was excited and figured it would buff out--and it did.

I ended up having the company send me to another detailer who was using 3D products and he spent 6 hours correcting my paint, It turned out fantastic and the majority of the swirls were gone by the end of the day. The opticoat application, however, is still funky. There are visible high spots and some ghosting in some lights. I pretty much just called it a wash and a 460 dollar lesson learned; it has inspired me to order a detailing set up off autogeek and I'm just going to learn to do this shit myself. I'm going to practice on my 92 240sx until I feel comfortable then redo the FRS.

I live in such a shitty location (Blythe, CA) that driving out is a 2-3 hour ordeal at the minimum in order to get to quality detailers. I put 500 miles on my car going back and forth to different places just to get this resolved.

[911fanatic]

Sorry to hear this has turned into such a nightmare for you. Applying OC is dead easy so if the detailers screwed it up then they probably shouldn't be without supervision and their hockey helmet. After you do your polishing, I would suggest giving the car another wash with a small amount of Dawn dishwashing soap to ensure all polishing oils are off the car. The residual oils are what is causing the ghosting on your paint. After washing and then drying the car, wipe it down with an IPA solution or Carpro Eraser. When you apply the Opti Coat, apply to one panel at a time, wait a couple of minutes and lightly wipe down the panel with a mf towel. This will eliminate high spots. Now you're golden.

[picus]

Ken - that is the thing I'm finding a lot around here. Car comes in, has light to moderate swirls and DA haze; it's supposed to have OC on it but clearly doesn't. The cause is guys "correcting" swirls with their DA, leaving fillers on the paint and applying OC right over it (or with a cursory wipe down). The solvents in OC remove most of the fillers, it doesn't bond properly, and you end up with a swirled up car with no OC. :x

[911fanatic]

Freakin hacks!

[Thomas Dekany]

What was the name of the detailer from 3D?

Originally Posted by Siberian Husky

I literally work 16 hours a day most days and can't get much time to cruise the internet on my computer and hate typing stuff out on my phone.

I'm having trouble uploading the pictures and can't care enough to trouble shoot it but most people know what swirl marks and light scratches on clear coat look like--there were many on this car.

I picked up the vehicle from the dealer and specifically requested NO car wash (like most people), They did however remove the plastic films themselves and left a scratch on the roof doing so, which I saw upon pick up. I was upset but it wasn't enough for me to not take delivery because I was excited and figured it would buff out--and it did.

I ended up having the company send me to another detailer who was using 3D products and he spent 6 hours correcting my paint, It turned out fantastic and the majority of the swirls were gone by the end of the day. The opticoat application, however, is still funky. There are visible high spots and some ghosting in some lights. I pretty much just called it a wash and a 460 dollar lesson learned; it has inspired me to order a detailing set up off autogeek and I'm just going to learn to do this shit myself. I'm going to practice on my 92 240sx until I feel comfortable then redo the FRS.

I live in such a shitty location (Blythe, CA) that driving out is a 2-3 hour ordeal at the minimum in order to get to quality detailers. I put 500 miles on my car going back and forth to different places just to get this resolved.

[BryanW]

Originally Posted by picus

Ken - that is the thing I'm finding a lot around here. Car comes in, has light to moderate swirls and DA haze; it's supposed to have OC on it but clearly doesn't. The cause is guys "correcting" swirls with their DA, leaving fillers on the paint and applying OC right over it (or with a cursory wipe down). The solvents in OC remove most of the fillers, it doesn't bond properly, and you end up with a swirled up car with no OC. :x

No solvent, eraser wipe down. For shame