Just a quickie really

Are the panel covers that come from the factory stuck on

Planning on claying and detailing the car when I get home (as I have always done)

Friend brought a new golf and the swirl marks on the bonnet where evident after he first washed it (we a snow foam prep, a mitt, two buckets with grit guards)

Upon speaking to the valeters they prep and and wash the cars then haze with a light polish (which would fill any lights swirls) until claying removed the wax

Is anyone on the board as anal about washing cars as me and noticed any paint imperfections shortly after delivery

Last 3 new cars where vauxhalls with no transport covers on

Usual cleaning routine as follows

Snow foam

Dwell then rinse

Snow foam

Rinse

2 buckets one with meguairs gold class one with clean water clean one panel rinse microfibre mitt in clean water using grit guard

Rinse with low pressure water

Chamois & microfibre

Twice yearly clay

Meguairs nxt 2 wax

Meguairs carbuba stage 3

Total time 6 hours every Thursday

Cry on Friday when it rains

I do like a clean car

Just a quickie really

Are the panel covers that come from the factory stuck on

Planning on claying and detailing the car when I get home (as I have always done)

Friend brought a new golf and the swirl marks on the bonnet where evident after he first washed it (we a snow foam prep, a mitt, two buckets with grit guards)

Upon speaking to the valeters they prep and and wash the cars then haze with a light polish (which would fill any lights swirls) until claying removed the wax

Is anyone on the board as anal about washing cars as me and noticed any paint imperfections shortly after delivery

Last 3 new cars where vauxhalls with no transport covers on

Usual cleaning routine as follows

Snow foam

Dwell then rinse

Snow foam

Rinse

2 buckets one with meguairs gold class one with clean water clean one panel rinse microfibre mitt in clean water using grit guard

Rinse with low pressure water

Chamois & microfibre

Twice yearly clay

Meguairs nxt 2 wax

Meguairs carbuba stage 3

Total time 6 hours every Thursday

Cry on Friday when it rains

I do like a clean car

I'm afraid i'm rather lazy and just give the guys at the car wash £5 a month to give it a wash - and £10 every 3 months to clean the inside!

I'm the same as you. Whenever my car is at the dealers (both Skoda and Toyota) I tend to ask them not to wash it (as generally they do without asking - often with what appears to be a scourer, or so you'd think!).

Our Occy's paint was in pretty good nick when it was new, and it had been sat on their forecourt for a few weeks. I thought our main dealer hand washed their cars, but I discovered recently that they actually have two great big automated car washes behind the showroom.

You can actually buy a window sticker on eBay that says "hand wash only" - like what you get on clothes labels!

Hope your paint really is as good as new when the car is delivered! Post pictures!

Might have to pick up a "hand wash only" sticker

Seen the local Iraqi lads washing a car once. dropped the sponge picked it up and carried on washing

LOL, I read the post last night and could not believe your cleaning routine and attention to detail.

Then i read that you have other people wash your cars.

I just go over mine every morning before setting off, that done now, nice coffee, total cost 20 pence.

2 minutes with a Bucket, sponge & ickl suppy of Tesco Wash & Wax & then go.

Nobody gets to wash my cars.

george

LOL, I read the post last night and could not believe your cleaning routine and attention to detail.

Then i read that you have other people wash your cars.

I just go over mine every morning before setting off, that done now, nice coffee, total cost 20 pence.

2 minutes with a Bucket, sponge & ickl suppy of Tesco Wash & Wax & then go.

Nobody gets to wash my cars.

george

He didn't say he has other people wash his car(s).

Looked to me like he was talking to the valeters that prep the cars at the dealership.

Why so negative?

I have other people wash mine sometimes and they come up very well.

Particularly if you use someone with a good reputaion and attention to detail.

I am sure mine even takes the wheels off and cleans up the exhaust pipe when it's done by him twice a year!

No-one washes my cars except me

Hence my whole routine I simply would not trust anyone (quick check over the shoulder to make sure the wife is'nt looking)

We spoke to the valeters at vw after my friend went back with his golf to complain about the finish on a 3 day old car bonnet and quarter panels

The swirling was evident after detailing prior to polish

Initially they refuted our claim then offered a full mop and polish

I was not being negative.

I read

"might have to pick up a "a hand wash only sticker".

That read to me that other might be washing the car.

Just saying,

nobody washes my cars. So i dont need a 'Hand Wash Only Sticker!

'Hand Wash only' would be what Others like the Iraqi lads are doing.

Dropping a sponge & picking it up and carrying on, while 'Hand Washing'.

They dont do it with Mits or bare hands.

Sorry for Reading what i see written.

george

Just a quickie really

Are the panel covers that come from the factory stuck on

In answer to the original question,

The transit covers just peel off.

They are taken off during the PDI, but they are only stuck on quite lightly and easily come off leaving pretty much no residue.

Your best best if you are a bit keen on avoiding marks is to take delivery of the car but ask the dealer not to prep or clean the bodywork. Then take it home and do it yourself. That way you can check the paintwork is good when you take delivery.

In answer to the original question,

The transit covers just peel off.

They are taken off during the PDI, but they are only stuck on quite lightly and easily come off leaving pretty much no residue.

Your best best if you are a bit keen on avoiding marks is to take delivery of the car but ask the dealer not to prep or clean the bodywork. Then take it home and do it yourself. That way you can check the paintwork is good when you take delivery.

Will do

Never knew you could ask them to do this

Thank you

I was not being negative.

I read

"might have to pick up a "a hand wash only sticker".

That read to me that other might be washing the car.

Just saying,

nobody washes my cars. So i dont need a 'Hand Wash Only Sticker!

'Hand Wash only' would be what Others like the Iraqi lads are doing.

Dropping a sponge & picking it up and carrying on, while 'Hand Washing'.

They dont do it with Mits or bare hands.

Sorry for Reading what i see written.

george

The hand wash only sticker is merely an injection of humour. If you saw the sticker you'd understand! Ha! Just a bit of fun!

Edited 7 August, 201213 yr by Octy09

Will do

Never knew you could ask them to do this

Thank you

Yeah, judging by what some of the guys over at the Detailing World forums do, it would appear that you can in fact ask them not to prep it. Apparently they give you a funny look, but hey, worth it if you're a sucker for detail like me!

Will do

Never knew you could ask them to do this

Thank you

The guy who details my car twice a year does this for other customers.

He goes to the dealer and preps the car to a much higher standard rather than let someone at the dealer do it.

As mentioned above, some people on detailing world do it too.

I use Gleam Machine, Robbie is a regular on that site and I have always been 100% impressed with everything he has done for me, so I can understand why people do it.