Paint: how do cars come from the factory

[sjtb]

.... to the dealers with regards paintwork? covered in wax? plastic sheeting or something?

Are they still "covered up" at the import centres when the wee chavs are ragging about in our new cars? Do *they* "prep" them before they hit the dealers?

Are they still covered up when stuck on trailers from these import centers? Im always seeing new cars piled up on these trailers with new paintwork exposed to the elements..?

Then, what do the dealers do to them for them to get swirls all over them? am I the only one who gives a toss about them wrecking paintwork that wasnt (I presume) already swirled up to fck from the factory.

Im just trying to understand the process as I am now paranoid that my replacement 182 from another dealer will come covered in swirly shi*e.

Ill give them as much warning as I can so as to not abuse it, am I to understand sponges regardless of grit embedded in them can cause these swirls and it is only feckin lambswool that doesnt?? lol,

Any opinions guys, Si.

 

[mr sheep]

sometimes have the plastic stuff stuck to them normally only on the bonnet tho from what ive seen.

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

I think the protective wax is removed at the import centre.

Unfortunately Renault dont use the same swanky methods as the likes of BMW to remove it I suspect. If it comes with swirl marks refuse it.

Best bet would be to see if you could get yours delivered with the protective wax still on and remove it yourself.

Chances are prolly naff all though.

 

[Brazo]

From my reading, grit in sponges is more likly to cause spider web scratches on cars, whereas swirl marks are the result of poor polishing and buffer techniques used either in the factory to machine polish the paint and then again by the dealer to prep your paint, worse if they try to apply a wunder substance such as superguard.

Just request that it isnt prepped. If your like me and you sound like you are, a bit of a perfectionist then spend £170 on a porter cable (PC) machine from the states. These effectivly remove swirl marks when used with the correct polish but will not induce them into your paint. Dealers etc use a rotary device which whilst far more powerful and with more cutting ability than a pc, unless used by the utmost of skilled personell (i.e. no one within a mile of Renault) will induce swirl and buffer marks into paint quite easily!


[Edited by brazo on 15 March 2005 at 6:56pm]

 

[182_blue]

as above, i tell them never to prep my car, in any form as its them that f**k up the finish.

ps brazo, got my porter cable in front of me now

 

[Moose1978]

I heard that any man or dog can drive your car round the import centre on off the transporter etc, BUT there were specially qualified people who could only drive the V6. Dont know if this is true?

 

[Sami]

My friend works at the local import centre at the docks, always telling me how he rags the alphas that come off etc (no renaults thou apparently the high spec mercs and such like are only allowed to be driven by specialist few ie because they know these people wont redline every gear!

 

[Rich]

Dealer told me the protective wax is removed at the docks. Even if you can get them to leave it on and get the dealer to do no prep the problem is then you can not inspect the car with a fine tooth coomb. I asked about this when I got mine, and was told if I didnt inspect the paint bodywork condition before sale, it was my decision. After this I explained to the dealer the paint would need to be damn good or I would reject it. All through the process he was reminded off this! He clearly listened and mine seemed good. There where a few bits I was not too happy about when I started polishing, but nothing major.

 

[Grandpa Munster]

I went to look at my new Inferno 182 two weeks ago before I picked it up.

It looked like it had been driven through a salt mine. I asked them not to wash it, as they use sponges. I had to sign papers to this effect. They agreed to just hose it down.

Three days after picking it up I was waxing the body work and found a scratch that I could get my finger nail into. The problem is it is my word against theirs. If they had washed it, the person doing the valet is supposed to report scratches and such like.

So now I have a touch-up pen for a one and a half week old car.

I think the moral is........you just cant win.