I have been asked by my Mini dealer if I want to "Simoniz" my car before I take ownership. (Yes, it's finally getting THAT close, for those aware of my minor shipping issue... stupid glove box liner!) Anyway, the process was explained to me as "Simoniz is a paint protection system that uses Teflon to protect the paint. It has a 5 year warranty, and warranties against love bugs, bugs, tree sap, bird droppings, acid rain, and the sun! Also, we treat the leather interior, and warranties any organic staining on the leather!"

What is people's take on this product and type of process? Worth the money? What are people generally paying for it?

Thanks!

 

You didn't tell us how much they want for it.

I never get that though. I'll wax my own car, do a better job, and it'll be cheaper.

 

I was told the regular price is $599, but due to the delay in my car being delivered, "the business manager OKed doing it at their cost": $299.

 

It's a profit generator, IMHO.

 

Take care of your own waxing, maybe they can offer something else of value in return.

 

As I said in another thread on the same subject:
This has been covered in other threads -- search for "teflon". The bottom line is, this treatment is pure dealer profit. If you wanted to do, you could do it yourself for a couple of bucks. It's just wax. The dealer uses the same stuff sold after market.

 

Yes, thanks Lynn. I responded. I hate to be redundant and do so again here, but of the 9 pages of results, 90% were about parts for Minis, and those about detailing were, as far as I could see, referring to post-purchase coats and treatments you can apply to the Mini. There don't seem to be any about this brand name's pre-purchase treatment.

Anyway, I do appreciate the input of those who have shared. As I said in the other thread, my local Mini club's opinion on it is mixed, and so I am grateful to have those on NAM take the time to share their input.

Maybe I just don't understand what the $300 (or, worse, $600!) is paying for exactly? I have a guy who will wax/detail my car for $40, so there has to be something special about this coating, right? After all, since it's being put on prior to anything being able to get on or damage the paint, it would make sense that a more permanent coating can be put on then... isn't this it?

 

The point I was trying to make is the after market stuff is exactly what the dealer is going to put on your car. Yes, $600 for a $10 treatment.

 

What a joke. Their cost is closer to $2.99. Don't do it! There are a lot of dealer ripoffs, but this is the biggest one by far.

 

Nothing out of the ordinary except the cost.

dean.

 

One word for "teflon" in waxes....BOGUS (PRONOUNCED BOH- GUSS!)
Save your money and take care of your car's finish/interior yourself.
IF you doubt me, type in "teflon simonize worth it" on google and read some words from a detailer who admits he loves PROFIT, but knows "boh-guss" when he sees it.
As to the interior, just don't let your girlfriend puke in it!!

 

Tell the dealer that you enjoy waxing the car yourself and that you'll gladly take his offer of $300 off on the driving lights (or some other accessory). I'd do that just to see what he comes up with to back out of it.

 

I was thinking that! I am getting an ipod install, or perhaps the driving lights (when they come off backorder), or just getting the darn floor mats thrown in! (I have been told they can't do that, apparently...)

 

With all the stuff you're getting on your MINI they didn't even give you the floor mats?!?!

 

Nope.

 

Don't waste your money.

Zaino is the only way to go.

 

For all the naysayers there are I'll say it's good stuff. $299 isn't a bad price from the dealer either. It takes a 2-3 hours to apply correctly since you have to strip any previous waxes off the paint first.

I've seen 3 year old cars that had been simonized when new and not waxed since. You can still wipe waterspots off with your finger. I actually asked to have it done to my MINI.


How many of you naysayers have actually tested it?

 

I am thinking $300 for a 5 year warranty on the exterior paint and (more importantly) the leather interior (beige) might be a good investment, actually. Especially if the protectant inside the car will act as a stainguard for the seats. Even if the wax/finish isn't a long term protectant, the warranty is a different sort of protectant that might be worth the money. I dunno... what do people think of the warranty aspect?

 

Isn't there already some sort of warranty on the paint? (wouldn't the bumper to bumper warranty cover the paint as well?)
Does this paint warranty cover rocks chipping your paint or scrapes?

 

I've never heard of a warranty on paint. One of the big appeals for me is that damage by love bugs would be covered. Love bugs, in Florida at least, leave behind a very corrosive "splat" that can literally eat away at the paint in a matter of hours. The guy I have detailing my current car before I sell it says that in order to avoid the damage, you have to wipe down the car almost immediately after stopping it to clean off the goop.

If I can get the car paint touched up to take care of any issues caused (I am pretty sure chips from rocks,etc are not covered), plus getting the interior professionally cleaned or re-upholstered in the event of a stain on the leather... that's quite possibly worth it me. I have the tuscan beige interior, and I've been told that blue jeans and other colored pants can bleed or have color rub off on the leather at times, particularly when the pants are new.

I dunno. The debate continues. I guess I would be interested in hearing more from people who have had these types of treatments done and been dissatisfied than those who simply say it's not worth it without any firsthand experience. I have appreciated the comments of those who are themselves detailers, etc, however. Thanks to all for the suggestions and thoughts thus far!

 

I got taken by this scam when I bought a 1990 Acura new, but it wasn't Teflon in those days. It was some new polymer that I later found at an auto supply for $10. However, for the last 17 years the dealership has washed and waxed my car every time I come in for service. That was part of the deal, and paint insurance was part of the deal. Initially, they did an Armoral job on the vinyl dash, Scotch Guard on the cloth seats.

Doing the math, it probably came out to something like $30 per wash & wax. Still not worth it, IMO, unless I had needed the paint insurance. We don't have love bugs here.

 

...

 

Simoniz what is it, 1982 again?