Question: Dealer Prep - Brand New

[Buck]

^^ all good advice

Jet wash car
Wash
Rinse
Apply AS Tardis or similar
Iron X
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Admire

[Steve30]

^^ all good advice

Jet wash car
Wash
Rinse
Apply AS Tardis or similar
Iron X
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Admire

WAX

[Jimble]

^^ all good advice

Jet wash car
Wash
Rinse
Apply AS Tardis or similar
Iron X
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Admire

WAX

Need to rinse between Tardis, Iron x and clay.

[Buck]

  well spotted

Also don't forget to put the iron x on the wheels - there'll be loads of fall out and brake dust etc. on there too

[MK6-Fan]

Get them to complete the PDI but not prepare it. From the factory it'll have some swirls/marks but not as many as if you let them attack it with a gritty sponge and dirty water 

That's what I may do, certainly a point to consider.  I don't mid them doing the interior, but it's the exterior that scares me to think what they'll do when they get their hands on it. 

I don't understand why a brand new car would have light swirls/marks on the paint - if it's entirely 'fresh' & is left untouched, what causes them to appear?   

My dealer always throws in the AutoGlym treatment and my cars have always been perfect when picked up.

However I never let them wash it again e.g. when being serviced

Do you mean that your dealer always uses Autoglym products when you buy a new car or just everytime you visit for any work to be carried out on the car in general?

I'd only ever let them hoover only the car if mine was in for a service, but never ever wash my car - I am funny about people washing my car.....only I do that.

Explain to the dealer that you have some concerns about the car being prep or valeted i.e. swirls scratches, just tell them that before take the car away you'll be checking for swirls , that should keep them there toes 

Sound advice there mate. 

So are you saying to let them go ahead and prep the car but for them to be warned as there may be consequences should it not be to my standard? 

That is exactly what I am going to do when I collect mine on Sept 1st.  I will be emailing the salesman that I have been dealing with, expressing my concerns of swirl marks etc.  I will be explaining that I do not expect to find any such marks on a brand new car and if I find any I will be expecting the dealership to rectify the matter at their cost........

Absolutely mate, couldn't have put that better myself! I think I may do exactly the same as you, I mean after all it is someones expensive investment not a bloody banger that's seen better days.

 

Just got mine to take the wrappers,stickers etc off and just give it a good blast with the jetwash,

But you'll need some tardis or similar to remove the sticky residue that's left behind or you can do it the hard way and scrub with a sponge just like the dealer. 

I would do that anyway, give it a good degrease, wash, polish, seal/wax - hey presto! 

[JonnyG]

I would be doing a full polish & wax of it myself when I get it anyway, but really don't know if I can take the risk of them f*cking the fresh paintwork with inflicted swirls etc.
What do we reckon chaps?   

If you're going to do a full polish anyway, that will remove any swirls that are still present ?

I usually let the dealer prepare the car as best they can (there's a lot of wax to remove from transit) and then go that bit further with my own detail before a final sealant coat.   I have to say that most of the new cars I've had have been prepared fairly well by the dealer    .. maybe I've been lucky !

[Big_Dave]

During my stint at BMW and Land Rover, both dealerships had a valet team (new starters/work experience/summer job kids) and a prep team, who prep'd new cars for customers and actually knew what they were doing, but above all, cared.

They did use Auto Glym's showroom shine though, which takes about 2 minutes to put on anentire car and seems to wear off the second you drive off the forecourt...maybe that's why they only put it on an hour before the customer arrives to collect the car!?