[Amini77]

Few days ago I decided to get a cheap detail at a place where they mainly do tints but they also do carwashes on the side. It was $50 for a clay bar, wax, interior shampoo + wax. I bring the guy a lot of business so I got it $40. So I pick it up 6:30 at night and under the light it looked really clean but the next day I go to a friends house and its about 5:00 pm so the sun is half way down and this is when your car is supposedly looking its best. I'm looking around at it and I see wax residue here and there and I look on my hood and there are dents. Not actual physical dents but its visual. You couldn't feel the dents but you can see them. One of my friends who used to detail high end cars was there and he told me this is because of wax left on a car and put under the sun.

My friend and I go to the place where I got the car detailed and we get in an argument, the guy says that's impossible and my friend says its very possible. We looked at the 'wax' he used and its basically a cheap sealant that would just wash off and keeps the car shiny for only 2 days. The owner obviously doesn't give a crap he said this shop is a "bullshit side business" and he did a quick wax job..there's no such thing as a quick wax job. There's no way to prove he made the dents so the best I could do was get my $40 back.

So my question is, how can I get rid of these "dents"? Under some light and angle it looks really bad on the hood and parts of the fenders. I mean when I got the car last year it was unbelievably clean but after that day looks like I need a new hood. My friend says they're burn marks from wax left on under the sun which basically burnt away the clear coat on these spots. Will a legit $200-300 detail fix it?

Again you can't feel the dents, you can see them at certain angles so they aren't really dents.

[Gig103]

I've never heard of wax doing that. But if it is the wax you could use a car shampoo that strips wax (or Dawn soap if you need to, but it isn't good for the rubber seals). That would strip his B.S. sealant and then you could see just the clearcoat.

Does your detailing buddy have any ideas?

[Amini77]

Originally Posted by Gig103

I've never heard of wax doing that. But if it is the wax you could use a car shampoo that strips wax (or Dawn soap if you need to, but it isn't good for the rubber seals). That would strip his B.S. sealant and then you could see just the clearcoat.

Does your detailing buddy have any ideas?

He says when things like this happened to his clients at his place the guy would go to the extent of actually repainting the entire panel. But that guy used to do Ferraris Lambos Bugattis etc. Anyways in a few months I'll go in for a $200 detail and it'll bring the color back. Right now it looks like a matte sparkling graphite lol I'm sure the sealant would just wash off as soon as I put water on it, the stuff was terrible.

[2QAYL]

There are ways it may be properly corrected, depending on how bad the damage actually is. It may just need to be gone over with a clay bar/towel and polished. Take it to a professional detailer and have them look at it. Letting some chump "detail" your car for $40 is like buying plastic surgery from a homeless guy. You are going to get exactly what you pay for.

Let's hope it can be easily corrected, however if it's damaged beyond repair, contact your insurance company and have them file a claim against the guy who did the damage.

[dday]

Your friend has no idea what he's talking about. Leaving wax residue doesn't cause burn marks in paint, that's just insane. Sealant does not burn through clear coat and accusing the guy of that prob set him off because it's just crazy.

I don't get what you mean by dents, my guess is this is just a visual trick due to unevenness in the wax.

Can you take some pics in sunlight so we can see? Prob just needs a good polish and wax.

[06E90Rostik]

$40 for a wax job? There is your problem.

Also never heard/seen waxes or sealants that burn through the clear.

[Amini77]

I see well the guy was being a bum anyways he left tons of residue. Doesn't matter to me anymore lol I'm just going to get a professional detail sometime anyways he washed the carpets real nice even the trunk haha with the exception of a terrible exterior wash it was worth it. Used the refund to by my dad a birthday gift. Just incase you guys want to know, the place is called Orange Iguana Tinting in Encino - they do a great job tinting with terrible service but great prices for the tint and interior wash (don't get the exterior..their materials suck)

[Raja Ventureshield]

for 40$, you can't even get a good car wash. you should get it fixed now before you discover more damages down the road. sorry this happened, this really suck!

[Ryballz]

Your friend is an idiot.

[Amini77]

Originally Posted by Ryballz

Your friend is an idiot.

your name has ballz in it.

[Ryballz]

Originally Posted by Amini77

your name has ballz in it.

That's true. But I'm not the one giving out bullshit detail advice.

lol

OP show us some pics...having a hard time picturing what it is you're trying to describe.

[sohcpunk]

wax causing dents? LOL now I've heard it all

[Amini77]

Not noticeable by pics but apparently if you leave wax on your paint and leave it in the sun it burns part of the clear coat away.

[nccoupe]

Originally Posted by Amini77

Not noticeable by pics but apparently if you leave wax on your paint and leave it in the sun it burns part of the clear coat away.

think about this ... WAX burning off clearcoat

clearcoat will only ever get "burnt away", as you put it, by abrasion or chemically altering it i.e. paint thinner. Unless your fly by night detailer took a rotary buffer to your paint, use some dawn or cg citrus wash and strip the "sealant" off your paint. Hang out at autogeek.net or DI or any of the detailing forums and learn a little about the process. Its worth the time and can be a very rewarding hobby.

sorry to hear about your experience but dont believe your "expert"

[moosiehm]

Do it yourself, don't trust anyone with your baby

[RaddM4]

First off, you don't let anyone clay your car for $40 bucks. That clay bar has most likely been used on 40 plus cars and dropped on the ground a dozen times. Sounds like you had a large mexican with some elbow grease. Claying a car shouldn't dent it, but maybe if he slipped eating a carne asada burrito. If you can see the dent , but not feel them...hmmm. I'd call a mobile dent dude and see what he has to say. You might be seeing some fog from the wax, especially having a dark colored car. Give it a good rub down with some maquire quick detailer or re wax it in the shade. Good luck brotha!

[Amini77]

Originally Posted by Marashco

.

lolwut.

[Amini77]

Originally Posted by RaddN54

First off, you don't let anyone clay your car for $40 bucks. That clay bar has most likely been used on 40 plus cars and dropped on the ground a dozen times. Sounds like you had a large mexican with some elbow grease. Claying a car shouldn't dent it, but maybe if he slipped eating a carne asada burrito. If you can see the dent , but not feel them...hmmm. I'd call a mobile dent dude and see what he has to say. You might be seeing some fog from the wax, especially having a dark colored car. Give it a good rub down with some maquire quick detailer or re wax it in the shade. Good luck brotha!

THANKS MAN!

[Casca]

Were they applying the wax with a hammer?

[Amini77]

Originally Posted by Casca

Were they applying the wax with a hammer?

Looks like it my fender has 2 small dents in it but that could be from anything, no one is considerate of anyones car in tight spaces around here. Always get my side mirrors folded in by someone's fat ass when I get back to my car in parking garages. FOLD YOUR MIRRORS PEOPLE AND PARK FAR FAR FAR AWAY..and don't go to shitty carwash places even if you're in a hurry.

[asus389]

Dents? You mean swirls/marring? Pics? If its swirls/marring it can usually be polished out, but you need to take it to someone who knows what they are doing. Hard to know without seeing it though...