[silverbmwz3]

Hi,

Washed my car today for the first time since picking it up on Wednesday. Even at the dealership I noticed lots of (minor) swirl marks on the roof and bonnet. Has anyone else had this problem?

I was expecting the paintwork to be perfect on collection, but I noticed lots of other cars in the showroom under the lights were similar if not worse so I'm guessing a lot of people don't bother/notice. I've become a bit of a detailing geek in training after spending some time on detailingworld forums so that probably doesn't help.

The dealer has offered a valet as he accepted it hadn't been prepared as well as it should however - should I trust them again and are they likely to make it worse?

It looks awesome from any distance other than sticking my eyes close-up to it so should I just give it a good wax and not worry?

Cheers

Paul

[dxb335d]

i will have good look tomorrow after i have washed ours and let you know if ther eis any swirls

[- Paul -]

Swirls are more noticable on dark colours and the only way not to get them is not to have BMW do their dealer prep. They wash with sponges and dirty water.

[silverbmwz3]

Thanks guys. Sounds like perhaps I should not entrust it to the dealer again...I can't believe you spend getting on for 40k on a car and they treat it as if it was a Ford Ka. In fact, my wife's focus paint was probably better prepared by the independent garage we bought it from and the paint feels smoother on hers.

Think i'm going to have to clay it and possibly get it polished which I don't expect to have to do on a new car of this cost, particularly if I want to make use of the Zymol products I've bought, otherwise there would seem little point.

Would be interested to hear what others think and what their experience of preparation (up close!) was. From even a small distance it looks absolutely superb...it's just for the geeks who look up-close!

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

Thanks guys. Sounds like perhaps I should not entrust it to the dealer again...I can't believe you spend getting on for 40k on a car and they treat it as if it was a Ford Ka. In fact, my wife's focus paint was probably better prepared by the independent garage we bought it from and the paint feels smoother on hers.

Think i'm going to have to clay it and possibly get it polished which I don't expect to have to do on a new car of this cost, particularly if I want to make use of the Zymol products I've bought, otherwise there would seem little point.

Would be interested to hear what others think and what their experience of preparation (up close!) was. From even a small distance it looks absolutely superb...it's just for the geeks who look up-close!

My car looked great on delivery - and it also came back looking very sharp after some bodywork repairs. My dealer seems pretty up to speed.

It has a fair few swirls marks and scratches now though.

When I had company cars I put them through the car wash every couple of months. Now that I have my own car and have started visiting this forum I seem drawn to hand wash and wax every week.

All respect to those who manage to keep their cars looking scratch free, but I just don't have enough time and since I do around 25K miles a year it seems sort of futile to try to keep it in mint condition.

[baddabing]

I too have noticed the swirl marks. Its when you get up close that you can see them. This past weekend when washing the car I thought they were more visible than before. I am holding off for a bit before I wax polish the car because we have building work going on in the house so not sure if that is the ultimate solution. Previous car was a Silver X5 and find the paint quality was much better. Should have gone with Silver or Sparkilng Graphite oh well...

Car has only ever been washed by hand would never go near a auto car wash or jet wash.

[silverbmwz3]

Can I ask how long you've had the car and did you notice it early on?
I can't believe that dealers don't take more care with this (or at least my dealer). Most people probably don't bother and perhaps car wash their car each week which is why I suspect the dealers get away with it. If everyone was going back to BMW Customer Service complaining about the poor prep I suspect it would get sorted.

[agh!]

Mystic (darkish) Blue over here, picked up in the winter, so by the time I noticed the dreaded swirls it could, justifiably I might add, be blamed on my washing technique. Strictly two buckets and sheep skin wash mits and microfire drying cloths (no chamois aka sand paper) now.

[baddabing]

Got the car end of January and tbh only started to notice recently.
I do use a chamois to dry off the car is this a bad idead as AGH! seems to suggest ???

[silverbmwz3]

I think chamois possibly aren't the best. People are recommending "waffle weave" towels these days which you can pat the car with and which don't even need to be wrung out - that certainly seems to be the advice of professional detailers. Sponges in theory bad because the grit etc. sits on the surface of the sponge. Believe me it is hard work doing it 'right' as I found out at the weekend dragging 2 buckets round the car

[silverbmwz3]

SO, do I trust the dealer to have a 2nd "go" ? Maybe they've got a decent valeter that only gets to work on cars that customers complain about. I can't help but wondering why I should give the spotty teenager with the dirty sponge who obviously didn't give a stuff the first time round a second go. no offence to spotty teenagers out there.

[baddabing]

I can see a busy weekend ahead. No chamois and plenty of wax.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

SO, do I trust the dealer to have a 2nd "go" ? Maybe they've got a decent valeter that only gets to work on cars that customers complain about. I can't help but wondering why I should give the spotty teenager with the dirty sponge who obviously didn't give a stuff the first time round a second go. no offence to spotty teenagers out there.

My car is having it's first service on Friday. My dealer is now offering a full valet for £85. If it's as good as the finish I ended up with after my car went into the bodyshop it would be worth it.

I think you would be within your rights to ask that they get the valet team to do the car - not some spotty kid with a pressure washer who cleans 80 vehicles a day.

[silverbmwz3]

To be fair he did offer a "Valet" but I just assumed that was the same "Valet" done when it was first prepared.

I once had a car valeted for the £85 (ish) price at a BMW dealership and it did come back looking stunning. Are you going to do it?

I think in a year or so (maybe more) I met get a pro detailer to do the car. Might cost several hundred but it will take it back to looking as-new.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by silverbmwz3

To be fair he did offer a "Valet" but I just assumed that was the same "Valet" done when it was first prepared.

I once had a car valeted for the £85 (ish) price at a BMW dealership and it did come back looking stunning. Are you going to do it?

I think in a year or so (maybe more) I met get a pro detailer to do the car. Might cost several hundred but it will take it back to looking as-new.

It'd be worth checking what they are offering. If it's the proper valet then it would be worth having.

I might get the BMW valet done at some point - but on Friday it will have the complimentary 'wash and vac'.

We have a lady that visits our office every couple of weeks and does a full inside and out clean for £13 - she does a nice job and doesn't damage the paint, but she doesn't really wax the car.

I've got into the habit of applying a top up wax when I get home after she has washed it.

The wax finish that BMW applied after my car was in the bodyshop was absolutely stunning.

[baddabing]

My dealer also mentioned to us that the car could be brought in for a valet, but I dont know if its worth taking up on his offer. It was a genuine offer on his behalf but I think I will hold off for a bit longer.

[- Paul -]

The only way you'll get the results you want (especially if you're a bit picky) is to do it yourself. That said, when my garage last washed my car they made a mess of it - I complained - had it done by the valet team/person. It made a massive difference.

[scottc]

Guys,

If you have swirls then you are going to need to get them removed by getting the car machine polished. Bmw's generally have very hard paint so once you have the swirls removed as long as you are careful you shouldn't really get any more swirl marks etc.

I think I have posted this before but this gives you an idea. (This is my friends Z4 that I did for him)

http://http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=29482

A dealer is one of the worse places that you can get your car done, a valet for £85 from a dealer for me is a rip off. I assume most of them won't even machine it so the swirls will still be there they will use products to cover them up.

Pay a detailer £150 and get the car looking fantastic (or speak to someone who does it as a hobby not a profession )

[- Paul -]

That is one hell of an amazing job on the Z4 .

[Steve A]

Thata one shinny Z4

[scottc]

Thanks guys,

That took about 7/8 hrs of which 4hrs of that was cutting (removing swirls etc)

The idea is to use the least aggressive polish/pad to remove the defects, the problem is most dealers/bodyshops will use harsh products which remove the swirls etc but then leave other marks like micro-marring.

[booforty]

Anyone know how to remove Cadbury's Twirl marks from my paintwork? I thought I was doing the right thing eating crumbly chocolate outside of the car...