Hi All,

I'm after a bit of advice. SWMBO should (if all goes to plan!) have a factory fresh (production was last week) new car by the end of the month. None Skoda i'm afraid .

However the dealer is "offering" their version of a "scotch-glym-diamond-auto bright" kind of paint protection for an extra few hundred pounds.

Now I didn't used to be a numpty at valeting (wasn't called "detailing" then!) and even won several concours competitions a good few years ago, but I want to know if these treatments are really worth the extra few hundred, and if there are alternatives if I don't go for it.

I'm not trying to be a skinflint, here, but i've never had any dealings with this dealer before & whilst they were were good at offering a discount, they are now very pushy about loads of dealer extras. My suspicious side says that this is where they make some of their money back and i've managed to avoid them all to the point of having a lecture from the dealer principle, on their benefits! He's no idea what sort of "lecture" he's going to get from me once SWMBO has the keys in her hands

Anyway, your thoughts are welcome!

I would'nt bother with any of the dealership applied protection, it will be applied in a rush by their in-house valeters and as you suspect it's a money making scam for them. These protection kits can be bought on Flea Bay for as little as £30. If you want to spend the money then I would employ a decent independent valeter/detailer to do a new car protection detail, these can cost from £150 or buy the products yourself and spend the time doing it over a weekend.

As above I would never touch dealers "paint correction" offer! My mate stupidly paid for his Clio to be done like this, picked it up and drove it over to show off. It was very sunny that day and showed up all the lovely swirl marks all over his brand new car some numpty did with a DA. In the end the car was resprayed and they had the nerve to tell him he did it when he got home!

I would pay for a pro detailer any day to seal it properly!

Avoid like the plague, they will inflict swirls and RDS when they apply the stuff.

Definately dont get it done by the dealer. Either pay a detailer to do it for you or do the job yourself.

Over on Detailingworld if ever the Autoglym Lifeshine is mentioned the members on their come out in a cold sweat, they do however like the glass protection in the Lifeshine kit, but has been said you can pick up the full kit for £30 on ebay.

The product itself whether it be Life Shine or Diamondbrite does what it says on the tin however this is only applicable if the paintwork is prepped properly and that it was makes the difference in the finish.

I have had a couple of people ask me about these finishes and what the pros and cons are including them suggesting a price for this work, which varies greatly but for me it's all down to how good you think the dealer or person working on the car will be.

There are other products on the market that will do just as good a job that a 'detailer' can apply or if you have the time and patience you can do it yourself.

Would love to show you the link to a brand new Octavia vRS MK2 I did not long ago but unfortunately it has been deleted off DW..........

I got autoglym from the dealer on my car 4 years ago, and have been very happy with it. It clearly depends on whether it is put on correctly. The car washes easily, and beaded well with no swirls or anything but shine. I have just ordered it again on the new one as it has got me above top book for the car!

There are other products on the market that will do just as good a job that a 'detailer' can apply or if you have the time and patience you can do it yourself.

I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of such products or such a "detailer";)

I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of such products or such a "detailer";)

Ofcourse mate, will respond to your PM..........

I had my new superb pro-detailed from new , well it had 92 miles on it if i recall correctly but i had already removed the wheels and cleaned , polished and waxed them

I could have done it myself but he also used a product to seal the leather trim and keep it looking nice and i dont have a paint thickness gauge so it was nice just to double check Skoda's paint

Envy Valeting are Superb detailers...and with Zaino too! - Detailing World

I had my new superb pro-detailed from new , well it had 92 miles on it if i recall correctly but i had already removed the wheels and cleaned , polished and waxed them

I could have done it myself but he also used a product to seal the leather trim and keep it looking nice and i dont have a paint thickness gauge so it was nice just to double check Skoda's paint

Envy Valeting are Superb detailers...and with Zaino too! - Detailing World

A) Tim's work is awesome............

Zaino is awesome............

I have recently redone it with FK1000p and optiseal:)

I think I prefer the finish but its at the expense of less popping from the metallic , makes the car look blacker if you see what i mean, it feels slicker as well with FK

I have recently redone it with FK1000p and optiseal:)

I think I prefer the finish but its at the expense of less popping from the metallic , makes the car look blacker if you see what i mean, it feels slicker as well with FK

I have since purchased some FK1000p but I haven't used it as yet............

Also invested in some FK 425.........

My current 08 Octavia was done with Supaguard by a dealership.

I bought it in April. The guy I bought it off, bought it from Rainworth at the very back end of 2008 which was when this Supaguard was applied. The car is covered in swirls and I wouldn't mind a bet that a lot of them were inflicted when the paint "protection" was applied. Baker will be dealing with the swirls at the soonest mutual convenience.

I swear, I live in fear of my car being washed by a dealer when it's in for some warranty work. I've seen them doing other peoples.

I swear, I live in fear of my car being washed by a dealer when it's in for some warranty work. I've seen them doing other peoples.

My dealer knows not to touch it - I don't even have to remind him anymore!

I have since purchased some FK1000p but I haven't used it as yet............

Also invested in some FK 425.........

Havent tried FK 425 but i have Z8 but recently I've been using Optimum instant detailer between washes and its awesome

Havent tried FK 425 but i have Z8 but recently I've been using Optimum instant detailer between washes and its awesome

Yeah, Z8 is a no brainer as it's just so good but I thought I would try the FK 425 to see what it's like.........

Yeah, Z8 is a no brainer as it's just so good but I thought I would try the FK 425 to see what it's like.........

I think the FK 425 is more flexible ie as a drying aid/QD/Instant bling as well

I got autoglym from the dealer on my car 4 years ago, and have been very happy with it. It clearly depends on whether it is put on correctly. The car washes easily, and beaded well with no swirls or anything but shine. I have just ordered it again on the new one as it has got me above top book for the car!

Me too and it came as part of the deal.

I had my new superb pro-detailed from new , well it had 92 miles on it if i recall correctly but i had already removed the wheels and cleaned , polished and waxed them

I could have done it myself but he also used a product to seal the leather trim and keep it looking nice and i dont have a paint thickness gauge so it was nice just to double check Skoda's paint

Envy Valeting are Superb detailers...and with Zaino too! - Detailing World

Hi just seen the photos fantastic finish I have a met silver superb 2 weeks old ive always used autoglym resin in the past can you get the stuff you used in the motorshops halfords? I now I cant get the finish you get because of the colour but I can give it a go

My current 08 Octavia was done with Supaguard by a dealership.

I bought it in April. The guy I bought it off, bought it from Rainworth at the very back end of 2008 which was when this Supaguard was applied. The car is covered in swirls and I wouldn't mind a bet that a lot of them were inflicted when the paint "protection" was applied. Baker will be dealing with the swirls at the soonest mutual convenience.

I swear, I live in fear of my car being washed by a dealer when it's in for some warranty work. I've seen them doing other peoples.

"Rainworth" omg please don't say that name it makes come out in a cold sweat:thumbdwn: