Autoglym Lifeshine?

[Al_G]

Hey CS,

I know the answer to this but was wondering if anyone had any first hand experience of this product.

My mum has just ordered a brand new A1 in solid white direct from Audi. Checking the order form (unknown to us) Autoglym Lifeshine was added to the order at a total cost of £400!!! After speaking with Audi today they will remove the product which will save my mum £11 a month on her PCP.

She’s really unsure as to whether it’ll improve the overall look of the paint (being a solid white) and is swaying towards paying for it. Audi really sell it well. We’re going to try and get it thrown in for free but failing that would my mum be utterly bonkers to pay for it? Will it last longer than 6 months in reality?

If it was me I’d scrap it and take it to the detailers for a full correction and ceramic coating. I know for a fact that my mum won’t do this though because of the up front cost and the effort/time involved.

 

[FatRS]

It uses a liquid carbon treatment. It’ll cost the dealer all of about £60 plus valeting costs. Get them to include FOC if possible or otherwise ask for it to be applied without the aftercare bag or warranty. It won’t cost the anything as there’ll be spares left over. Only thing is the dealer is losing out on the profit of not selling it.
Worth it for free but not £400.
(We sell it at £349)

 

[Al_G]

It uses a liquid carbon treatment. It’ll cost the dealer all of about £60 plus valeting costs. Get them to include FOC if possible or otherwise ask for it to be applied without the aftercare bag or warranty. It won’t cost the anything as there’ll be spares left over. Only thing is the dealer is losing out on the profit of not selling it.
Worth it for free but not £400.
(We sell it at £349)

Cheers mate, appreciate the response.

Can you actually tell it’s been applied? Does it actually improve the shine/look?

In reality how long does it last? 6 months?

 

[FatRS]

For life. Visually you can’t tell until the initial polish wears off but when we apply decals or stick in accessories to a car with it applied, they don’t stick so the product’s obviously doing something.

 

[FatRS]

If you don’t want to clean it as often and never polish it or go to the expense or time to detail then it’s worthwhile. Just not £400 worthwhile IMO.

 

[Al_G]

If you don’t want to clean it as often and never polish it or go to the expense or time to detail then it’s worthwhile. Just not £400 worthwhile IMO.

Cheers mate. What would be the most you would pay for it?

 

[FatRS]

Cheers mate. What would be the most you would pay for it?

Difficult as I know what it’s bought in at. It’s worth whatever anyone’s willing to pay for it.
Try getting it FOC or for them to apply spares. If can’t get a deal (and in fairness you’re not in the best bargaining side as it’s already been put on the order and you’re requesting it be removed and then asking for it at a reduced price after the deal is done). If won’t do that ask what willing to sell at.
Don’t ask. Don’t get. ?

 

[Al_G]

Difficult as I know what it’s bought in at. It’s worth whatever anyone’s willing to pay for it.
Try getting it FOC or for them to apply spares. If can’t get a deal (and in fairness you’re not in the best bargaining side as it’s already been put on the order and you’re requesting it be removed and then asking for it at a reduced price after the deal is done). If won’t do that ask what willing to sell at.
Don’t ask. Don’t get. [emoji106]

Agreed mate! There was no mention of it throughout the entire purchase process so was a nice surprise when I spotted it on the order form as removing it (which Audi have agreed to do) will reduce the monthly payment by £11.

I’ve had a good scout online and although the product is deemed ok the general consensus is that it’s often either applied incorrectly (due to the rushed pdi process) or not applied at all! Most of those that have it were given it for free and hardly anyone has anything positive to say about it. Many question the durability and most seem to quote a max of 12 months.

I think we’ll push for free then cost price. If that doesn’t work we’ll just leave it. £400 sounds like daylight robbery IMO.

 

[Bluebeard]

Agreed mate! There was no mention of it throughout the entire purchase process so was a nice surprise when I spotted it on the order form as removing it (which Audi have agreed to do) will reduce the monthly payment by £11.

I’ve had a good scout online and although the product is deemed ok the general consensus is that it’s often either applied incorrectly (due to the rushed pdi process) or not applied at all! Most of those that have it were given it for free and hardly anyone has anything positive to say about it. Many question the durability and most seem to quote a max of 12 months.

I think we’ll push for free then cost price. If that doesn’t work we’ll just leave it. £400 sounds like daylight robbery IMO.

I’d be going mental.

They have stuffed a £400 product in to your mum and not told her, just so they can get more commission.
Tell them to f**k off.

I have an abundance of lifeshine products that I am willing to post to you FOC, just cover the postage.
It will take you half a day tops to do it and your mum can save £400 and the sneaky weasel salesman can go whistle.

 

[Bluebeard]

Difficult as I know what it’s bought in at. It’s worth whatever anyone’s willing to pay for it.
Try getting it FOC or for them to apply spares. If can’t get a deal (and in fairness you’re not in the best bargaining side as it’s already been put on the order and you’re requesting it be removed and then asking for it at a reduced price after the deal is done). If won’t do that ask what willing to sell at.
Don’t ask. Don’t get. ?

Hold on, they never asked for it. The dealership have no right to stick add ons in to the deal without telling the customer!
Just because the salesman/BM is a lazy t**t and can’t be bothered to up sell, they have no right to do that.
Proper underhand!

 

[FatRS]

Hold on, they never asked for it. The dealership have no right to stick add ons in to the deal without telling the customer!
Just because the salesman/BM is a lazy t**t and can’t be bothered to up sell, they have no right to do that.
Proper underhand!

Correct. My point was they can remove it as stated but to get thrown in might be a tall order. But certainly worth having the conversation.

 

[Al_G]

I’d be going mental.

They have stuffed a £400 product in to your mum and not told her, just so they can get more commission.
Tell them to f**k off.

I have an abundance of lifeshine products that I am willing to post to you FOC, just cover the postage.
It will take you half a day tops to do it and your mum can save £400 and the sneaky weasel salesman can go whistle.

Mate, that’s so kind. I’ve got loads of high quality detailing kit such as AF rejuvenate and AF Illusion and Desire wax. I just don’t know how the Lifestyle stuff compares for quality and durability. Do you have any idea?

My mum dealt with most of the sale as I was trying to keep my 15 month daughter quiet. At no point did he mention the autoglym add on to me or my mum. He probably thought we wouldn’t notice or may be it’s common practice (sneaky b******s) unless requested otherwise. He did sound a little disappointed when I asked him to remove it on the phone lol. £11 a month is quite a chunk when you consider what you are/aren’t getting. Crazy.

 

[Al_G]

Correct. My point was they can remove it as stated but to get thrown in might be a tall order. But certainly worth having the conversation.

My mum is going in tomorrow to complete the finance agreement. Unfortunately I can’t attend.

Had it been me I’d play the underhand card as per Daniels comments, however, my mums a quiet soul so will probably take it on the chin.

According to those with first hand experience on DetailingWorld it’s a pretty crap product when applied at dealers anyway so may be it’s best it’s not been thrown in FOC.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=406471

 

[Matt1234]

It will be pointless to have it added on. I have seen these type of products fail within 6 weeks from application.
Your Mum would be better paying the money to a detailer for a new car prep to be done on the Audi. It might cost more than the £400 mark but it will be done right.
Find a detailer you can trust to apply a ceramic coating.
I have done many details on cars and it takes me hours to get them ready for ceramic coatings.
The dealer won’t prep the paint correctly so it will not be applied to bare paint. So therefore the autoglym will not bond with the paint full as it will be applied on top of contaminated paint.
Anymore question then just ask buddy.

 

[Matt1234]

Just seen your in Manchester not far from my mate in Oldham who runs Obsidian detailing. He is your man to ask if you want a coating applied.

 

[Al_G]

Thanks for all the input everyone! Really appreciated.

Mum went back to Audi today to sign the pcp paperwork. Audi weren’t willing to apply it FOC so it was removed from the monthly cost saving my mum over £11 a month.

Based on what I’ve read here and on DW it sounds like a blessing in disguise!

Thanks all

 

[Al_G]

Ok, here goes.

Picked up the car this morning. Looked perfect even without the Lifeshine. It was then driven out of the “unveiling bay” and bam...I noticed this:

I was told to bring it back on Tuesday for it to be repaired. As long as it’s only a PDR job I’ll accept the repair. Any filler and paint needed and I’ll tell them I want a replacement. They were very apologetic. The paint is completely unmarked. No idea how it wasn’t picked up as part of the inspection.

The double skinned arch is fine. It’s just whether a PDR specialist can access the ding.

 

[JamesBryan]

No bother for a PDR guy that.

 

[FatRS]

I’m not so sure. Looks like it’s got a crease.
Apologetic as you found them out. There’s no way the valeted wouldn’t have noticed that.
They were aware of it for sure. Hoping you drove off and parked up. Oh. Must’ve happened whilst at Waitrose.

 

[Al_G]

I’m not so sure. Looks like it’s got a crease.
Apologetic as you found them out. There’s no way the valeted wouldn’t have noticed that.
They were aware of it for sure. Hoping you drove off and parked up. Oh. Must’ve happened whilst at Waitrose.

No crease in the dent but there is a natural crease in the body line. You can also see where the dent meets the double skin and stops (fortunately).

I missed it while it was parked up in the bay, as soon as it was driven out it was clear as day.

This is an main Audi dealer so I expect first class service. I’m sure they’ll deliver but surely they can’t expect us to agree to filler and paint on a brand new car? Would you?

I’m expecting a call from the site manager on Monday.

 

[andy_coops]

I don’t apply this product but I’ve seen first hand bird crap stains a few weeks after application etched into the paint. My neighbour paid for it as part of a PCP deal and it was never applied or at least they managed to apply it around the grease spots all over the roof.

It’s the lack of preparation that I’d be wary of - doubt the cars are properly polished as they don’t have time/don’t care/aren’t paid enough etc.

 

[imprezaworks]

Any update on the dent

 

[Al_G]

Any update on the dent

All in this thread fella.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=406471

Number of updates but in a nutshell...

“Well the PDR was done on the car today. We went to view it at the end of the day. It’s a 95% improvement and all that’s left is a slight ripple in the double skinned arch which is only visible at certain angles/light. Had it been a darker colored car it would be more obvious. If it was my car I would have told Audi to sort it or offer a replacement (I made this clear to the sales manager who remained quiet throughout). Unfortunately however my mum accepted the repair on the basis of being sick of the situation. I think the big plus is it’s not seen any filler or paint.

Slightly disappointed but ultimately it’s her money and her car. She’ll end up replacing it in a few years anyway.”