Had my car serviced today...I forgot to tell them NOT to wash my car. I guess I was too busy describing the issues I have been haveing with it. SA called and left a mes. that car was done and being washed. I had just detailed it last week...CLAY, CLEANER WAX, POLISH, and EPIC. BEFORE and AFTER

 

Sorry to see that Take those pictures to the dealer, and ask them why they damaged the finish on your MINI.

Hopefully with the degree of protection you had, you can make it look great again.

Mark

 

I am with you there....would definately take the pics in and show them what they are doing !!

 

What do you guys think they washed it with? A broom with a squirt of water? I sent the pics to my SA.

 

It's a tough lesson, but it's not the end of the world. You won't forget next time. Good pix btw. Don't forget that the first pic under the clouds is more diffused and thus won't show swirls like the direct unfiltered sunlight in the second. Not saying you had swirls in the first place, just making an observation on your photos.

Get a PC, and solving this will be a thing of the past. This type of marring happens with bad or dirty towels or brushes on the paint.

Good luck.

Richard

 

When you complain about the car wash, the stock
answer is: we contract that out. That means, we have
no control, we don't care, it's free.
Getting to know the names of the service manager and crew is of no value, as they do not care about your MINI.

 

not to forget dealers will run your flawless car through puddles like nothing
and say why are you upset?

 

I went through the same problem with my Jaguar. Dealer in Hanover was very thorough, and washed them no matter what. Brought my Jag back to me with a gash in the hood near the hood ornament where the car wash dryer wheel ran across the hood ANd NEVER told me about it......

On a good note the Jaguar is GONE, and INskip MINI ALWAYS ASKS ME if I want it washed after service. SA Geoff is on the ball down there and doesn't behave like a robot.

I get a sense from looking at the photos the nylon spinners in the car wash is what left their marks and betting that they can be buffed out with a good quality polish

And get an estimate from a body shop and take it to the dealer......next time maybe, just maybe - they will ask first.

 

I've made my own Sign...that say's "Please Do NOT Wash Molly!!" I have to remember to make a new one and this time have it laminated. I leave it under the driver's seat for quick access.

 

I'm assuming you are talking about your dealer? I don't think you can characterize all dealers in that broad brush. The dealership that I deal with does not have those attitudes. If he did I would find another.

Pat

 

same thing happened to me... I spent 5 hours, washing, polishing, waxing, cleaning under the car and everything.... flawless. Took the car to have a minor fix, the SA sprayed a little water on it and dried it off, swirled the hell out of it..... time to spend another 5 hours after winter finally breaks.

Next time i go to service i will make sure to tell them not to touch the car at all.... don't rinse it, don't vacume, don't touch the exterior or interior at all.

I understand your frustration

 

5hours? that's like a quick dd detail session.

my typical full detail is like 15hrs... i dont think you understand "frustration" yet.

 

Then, after the same kind of time, I still have the interior, and engine bay. But it does not take 4 days at least

Mark

 

ok I didn't do the engine bay, but the exterior I did very thouroughly. I used to be a car detailer for Porsche, so I can work pretty briskly and efficiently.

 

How come the good pictures are always overcast/cloudy/no sun pics?

 

Huh ??







Those were all taken in bright, direct sunlight.

And by the way, that last photo is a shot of my Jet Black MINI, not the Chili Red Cooper.

 

well, that's because you eat your drippin' cheeze burgers all the time in your car.

 

Man, I could eat off those doors. Very lickable.

 

Sunny enough for ya

Mark

 

Mark,

Yikes!, that is one sweet green machine. You are my inspiration!

 

Yeah, I really like Mark's MINI, too. But, Mark, you have to ditch your orange side repeater lenses and go with white ones.

 

Thank you very much Poco does still look pretty good for an 03 with 105,000miles

I swapped the orange ones for some dark smoked ones off the Cabrio before we traded it in for the Clubman. I also took the Way Dragon shift ****, front strut, glove box organizer, plus numerous other bits I could pull off it

Mark

 

You cannibalized the poor Cabrio ??



Smart move.

 

That picture of the red MINI in the Jet Black Paint is fantastic... reminds me of my old non-metallic Pure Black 1992 Mazda Protege... that thing got quite a few compliments considering its age!

I'm sure your jet black is blinding on a sunny day! I love black paint. I compromised for this horrid Texas Summer Heat... PW/B!

 

Thanks, Noegel.

Yeah, there is nothing like Jet Black when it's freshly polished and waxed. It's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous and gets many stares and compliments.

It's not the right color for the lazy though.