Paint protection: Not a good idea

[VZSS250]

Hi ppl,

When I bought my first new car, being a VXSS, the paintwork was gleaming in the showroom. The phantom black looked stunning, with a really deep colour and beautiful shine.

So when the dealer suggested I opt for paint protection I was very keen to preserve the cars beautiful paintwork through all those steaming hot and sunny days the car would be parked at a beach car park. I was under the impression, nieve i know, that the paint protection would be a clear coat sprayed over the car. Instead, it is actually a gritty cut-and-polish-like cream that is applied over the car by hand!

When my car was delivered to me the paintwork was ruined. It was full of permanent streaks and in some areas the streaks were in the pattern of the fingers that had rubbed the cream into the pristine paintwork. So much for that new car shine! The car looked horrible in direct sunlight compared to what it looked like before the paint protection. I even thought of handing back the car and demanding another one.

Now I can spot the cars with paint protection from a mile away.

Needless to say, my new VZ SS will not have paint protection. Forget the cost...that is not the issue. The issue is that it is a crap product.

[markone2]

Grab yourself a machine buff / Foam applicator and purchase a plastic Bottle of 3M PERFECT-IT 111 from a paint & panel supply shop....you'll have your
New car look back again... ;)

[IIV8II]

If you have never used a buffer DON'T TRY NOW. Takes a bit of experience to get the feel of things - or you can burn through the paint. Ouch.. Track down a quality detailer through a car club or some show cars guys and ask them for advice

[spiv]

When it comes to paint protection the best way is the old fashioned way;regular washes and plenty of carabuna wax and elbow grease. :)

Unfortunately the dealers can be very unscrupulous and more focused on the gross profit margin than delivering a quality service.

[Mongy]

Unfortunately the dealers can be very unscrupulous and more focused on the gross profit margin than delivering a quality service.
Unfortunately this is VERY true. Paint protection on lighter coloured cars is great, but on darker ones it can cause an absolute mess of the paint if not applied correctly. My wifes new Astra is silver, so I brought the protection pack for her, my new ute is cosmo, so I wouldn't let them near it, that simple. The product mentioned by Markone2 is an excellent product for getting marks out of the paint and getting you back to a "swirless" high lustre finish, you've only got to look at the finish on his "little red car" as proof of how good the product is, but in saying that if you are not experienced with a buff you would be better off going to a professional detailer and paying them to polish it for you. The problem you have can be fixed, you just need to know how to do it correctly without causing more damage.

[vh-holden]

did you take it back? the dealership i work in sells paint protection, and i even apply it occasionally.

if it doesn't work properly they seem pretty keen to sort it out. we even re applied it for some customer who's moron son had cleaned the bonnet with steel wool!!!

[team illucid]

I even thought of handing back the car and demanding another one.
So why didn't you :confused:

[Glenn@Autowerks]

They just tried to get me to have the paint protection on the SS wagon, I had to argue with them not to have it.

As an earlier post stated, its profit they look at :(

[Devil CV8]

They just tried to get me to have the paint protection on the SS wagon, I had to argue with them not to have it.

Must be metro and major town dealers.... The last 2 cars I've purchased (and the daughter's astra that she purchased) no pressure or even mention of any "profit extras"... so I'm very pleased and will continue to deal with them.

[ORIGINL]

what exactly is this paint protection?? just a thick layer of wax or polish?

[markone2]

what exactly is this paint protection?? just a thick layer of wax or polish?

An expensive,non essential insurance policy worth diddly squat.....imho

[ORIGINL]

An expensive,non essential insurance policy worth diddly squat.....imho

thanks for that but i'm after a little more technical info about it... :rolleyes:

[CV8-S1]

I was told that the paint protection is a hi-tech teflon coating that is baked onto the car. A friend of mine who is a panel beater said not to worry about it. Just was your car every one-two weeks with a good shampoo and polish and wax it one or twice a year. The amount that you don't spend on protection buys a lot of car care product!!! :)

[Ricko]

what exactly is this paint protection?? just a thick layer of wax or polish?


There generally a tough acrylic finish applied to the paint work, almost like a clear coat protector for your clear coat. As markone2 said, their not much chop, just a bit of extra money for the car dealer to get out of you.

You cant actually put traditional polishes or waxes on "thick" as the solvents or polish properties actually remove the last coat you applied.

Some good aftermarket acrylics are Klasse All In One, Klasse High Gloss Acrylic, Carlack68, Meguiars NXT (not out her yet i think), and Autoglym Super Resin Polish and High Gloss.

The Autoglym polish and Klasse AIO have cleaning properties and are designed to have the Gloss of the same product put over the top of them. These Gloss finishes can be layered.

[ORIGINL]

thanks Ricko...

my car is being repainted right now and since i dont have anywhere undercover to park the car i'm looking at any way to protect the new paint

[KiWi]

Hi ppl,

When I bought my first new car, being a VXSS, the paintwork was gleaming in the showroom. The phantom black looked stunning, with a really deep colour and beautiful shine.

So when the dealer suggested I opt for paint protection I was very keen to preserve the cars beautiful paintwork through all those steaming hot and sunny days the car would be parked at a beach car park. I was under the impression, nieve i know, that the paint protection would be a clear coat sprayed over the car. Instead, it is actually a gritty cut-and-polish-like cream that is applied over the car by hand!

When my car was delivered to me the paintwork was ruined. It was full of permanent streaks and in some areas the streaks were in the pattern of the fingers that had rubbed the cream into the pristine paintwork. So much for that new car shine! The car looked horrible in direct sunlight compared to what it looked like before the paint protection. I even thought of handing back the car and demanding another one.

Now I can spot the cars with paint protection from a mile away.

Needless to say, my new VZ SS will not have paint protection. Forget the cost...that is not the issue. The issue is that it is a crap product.

I know an expert, i will PM you the details

Simon

[vh-holden]

waxguard isn't an acrylic finish. It is waxed based and is a pink liquid that smells yummy but tastes yuck, but that is besides the point. the theory is that it seals the surface, rather than putting another surface over the top. it also doesn't keep the car clean, but instead makes it easier to wash as things just run off it of it when wet rather than blobbing on it.

it is applied just like polish, rubbed on, then buffed off before excess is cleaned off with water and sometimes a real mild soap water mix.

that is my understanding anyway.

[Hubble80]

Car Cover...?

[Ron]

You have to watch car covers, they can trap dirt between the cover and the body and when the wind comes up it rubs the dust into the paintwork. It is very hard to get a cover that doesn`t let the wind get underneath

[kryten2001]

You have to watch car covers, they can trap dirt between the cover and the body and when the wind comes up it rubs the dust into the paintwork. It is very hard to get a cover that doesn`t let the wind get underneath

In my humble opinion, it's more important to be careful of the material the cover is made out of, rather than trying to find one that doesn't let the air in.

One that lets the air in, and lets the car "breathe" is not necessarily a bad thing, just so long as the cover isn't heavy and abrasive AND you keep your car spotlessly clean. No point rubbing in dirt and/or getting your car cover really dirty.

The really bad ones trap in water, turning your car into a steamroom...

I really like the Dupont Tyvec style covers :

here (http://www.tyvek.com/na/covers/english/carcover.html)

They're not exactly cheap (in fact, they're bloody expensive), but they're extraordinarily light, have a elastic edges and a buckle for underneath the middle of your car, and have a "paper" consistency so they'll not scratch your car. Those nasty nylon ones are the ones to be careful of...

[ORIGINL]

Car Cover...?


a car cover would work fine... but wet season is fast apporaching and all the Darwin boys would understand that with 100mm of rain a day (guessing) a car cover ain't gonna do much good

[BLACK 346]

a car cover would work fine... but wet season is fast apporaching and all the Darwin boys would understand that with 100mm of rain a day (guessing) a car cover ain't gonna do much good

Yep, come wet season my car cover will be going
into hibernation. It will up to Mothers wax and the
carport to protect my baby then.

[ORIGINL]

Yep, come wet season my car cover will be going
into hibernation. It will up to Mothers wax and the
carport to protect my baby then.


I dont have a carport..... and they wont let me build one in the hotel carparkl :box:

looks like i will be using alot of polish in the next few months

thanks guys

[BLACK 346]

I dont have a carport..... and they wont let me build one in the hotel carparkl :box:

looks like i will be using alot of polish in the next few months

thanks guys

Don't worry ORIGINL, a carport in the NT during wet
season is about as useful as a hat full of arseholes.
Once that tropical wind and rain picks up the car might
as well be parked in the open. I guess it helps with the sun though.
God I miss my d/c garage down south :(

BTW: I am also getting quite a bit of respraying done
at the moment. What was going to be just a front bar
and bonnet respray sort of got out of hand :lol:

[vh-holden]

BTW: I am also getting quite a bit of respraying done
at the moment. What was going to be just a front bar
and bonnet respray sort of got out of hand :lol:

murals???? :lol:

[statesman62]

I am in the same situation my black statesman suffered the same paint damage when so called paint protected . Holden does not want to know what you do to the paint work after you have put after market protection on.
I am currently trying to find out more about a product from the states
try this link www.5starshine.com and see what you think . i am waiting for a reply to find out if it is avaliable here in oz.. :)

[BLACK 346]

murals???? :lol:

No, not quite that dramatic :)

[Drizzt]

I am in the same situation my black statesman suffered the same paint damage when so called paint protected . Holden does not want to know what you do to the paint work after you have put after market protection on.
I am currently trying to find out more about a product from the states
try this link www.5starshine.com and see what you think . i am waiting for a reply to find out if it is avaliable here in oz.. :)

PM IH8WRX and ask him what he thinks of them :lol:

While you're at it, ask him what he recommends. I think it was Zaines?


Drizzt

[ORIGINL]

Don't worry ORIGINL, a carport in the NT during wet
season is about as useful as a hat full of arseholes.
Once that tropical wind and rain picks up the car might
as well be parked in the open. I guess it helps with the sun though.
God I miss my d/c garage down south :(

BTW: I am also getting quite a bit of respraying done
at the moment. What was going to be just a front bar
and bonnet respray sort of got out of hand :lol:



I was thinking using 2 car covers.... top one the stop water (so a crappy nylon one), and 2nd cotton one to protect the paint.....

either that or the car goes into storage for the wet season

[kryten2001]

I was thinking using 2 car covers.... top one the stop water (so a crappy nylon one), and 2nd cotton one to protect the paint.....

either that or the car goes into storage for the wet season

You'd be really surprised how much water is held out by the olefin covers. And they're totally paint friendly...

"A hat full of arseholes"?.. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Nawdy]

I was thinking using 2 car covers.... top one the stop water (so a crappy nylon one), and 2nd cotton one to protect the paint.....

either that or the car goes into storage for the wet season

Once the wind picks up, you will lose your car covers. Remember, what are considered strong winds down south are gentle wind gusts up here. Best thing you can do is make sure your car is polished, and park it away from any trees/palms that contain fruit.

My car cover will be put away as soon as it starts raining methinks.

[statesman62]

I am in the same situation my black statesman suffered the same paint damage when so called paint protected . Holden does not want to know what you do to the paint work after you have put after market protection on.
I am currently trying to find out more about a product from the states
try this link www.5starshine.com and see what you think . i am waiting for a reply to find out if it is avaliable here in oz.. :)


here is that link to aus distributer in QLD http://www.colourshield.com
:)

[kryten2001]

Once the wind picks up, you will lose your car covers. Remember, what are considered strong winds down south are gentle wind gusts up here. Best thing you can do is make sure your car is polished, and park it away from any trees/palms that contain fruit.

My car cover will be put away as soon as it starts raining methinks.

Nah the Duponts have tough elastic (mine tuck under the front and rear body kit), and a tough nylon buckle that works like a seatbelt, and goes underneath the guts of the car.

It's very secure.. Didn't blow off during a recent storm we had (which was strong enough to bring down trees in our neighborhood).

Horses for courses I spose. The main reason I wanted it was to keep the baking sun off it in summer months. Red fades fast if you don't take care of it!...

[BLACK 346]

Once the wind picks up, you will lose your car covers. Remember, what are considered strong winds down south are gentle wind gusts up here. Best thing you can do is make sure your car is polished, and park it away from any trees/palms that contain fruit.

My car cover will be put away as soon as it starts raining methinks.

Hey Tony, I've got one of those covers you told me
about from Supercheap. What I have done is put
eyelets in each corner near the wheels and put some
tie downs through them. I then tie these to the wheels.
Dont think it will be strong enough for wet season winds,
but works well during the dry.

[jsttry]

I can't remember what the brand was but I got a cover for approx $200 a couple of years ago for the VS. Nice soft inside with eastic around the base and the buckle in the middle. Have never used it on the SV8 so I don't know if it even fits. I like the idea of shading it. Never thought if that, if I didn't use my car during the day I'd put it on in the work carpark.

[Nawdy]

Hey Tony, I've got one of those covers you told me
about from Supercheap. What I have done is put
eyelets in each corner near the wheels and put some
tie downs through them. I then tie these to the wheels.
Dont think it will be strong enough for wet season winds,
but works well during the dry.

Sounds like a good idea Rod, I might give it a try. I think the material may rip when the wind starts to pick up later on in the year though... but for this time of the year, it should be good.


I like the idea of shading it. Never thought if that, if I didn't use my car during the day I'd put it on in the work carpark.

Using them as a shade works quite well, particulary of you can leave them on all day!

[dc_todd]

just got a second hand astra, 2002 CD, White, heres the corker,
Holden offered me free window tint, nice of em cause I would not have paid to have it RE-TINTED. seen as it already had window tint.
they offered underbody rust protection, again another useless product as it has the gal underbody.
Tired to offer me paint protection, not this car is under original warranty still, and still has the sticker and notes in the log book to state paint protection was already applied at the time of purchase with the original owner, and second to that the owner had taken a further option of paint protection for life of the vehicle,
I was also offered upholstry protection, declined as I wasn't interested.
but it was insisted that they give me a price anyway,
now to quote the dealer,
we only offer the package as a whole, and individual items cannot be subtracted, so the price I am going to give you is for the tinting, underbody protection, paint protection and upholstry.. they wanted almost $1600 for this!!
thats some damn expensive scotch guard..
thats $320 per SEAT!!
smiled and delclined. and then laughed uncontrollably at the girl.. nice sales pitch,
have since got another topup on the paint protection and have since polished it off. the stuff is utter crap.
:booty:

[dark]

I recently picked up the new car and was pressured for the paint protection, especially because it was black. They have the three options, tint, leather treatment and the paint protection. All three $1500.00. The Windows are tinted and the leather has been treated, but I refused the paint protection. That alone was $1100.00. I used the Klasse on it and it has come up a treat. The wife's car has the paint treatment and if you do not get the bugs off asap you have to use a bug remover which, I am told takes the protection off!.

[Woodman]

I have exactly the same problem with my black SS, looked great new, then they (the dealers) applied paint protection. I had it on my tiger VT and was really happy with it, but I'll never put it on a dark colour again. As I've never used a buffer, can anyone recommend someone in Adelaide to fix this.
cheers.

[Fabio's CV8]

I have a mate who works in a tint shop. Reckons he can get paint protection for $7 a bottle. Don't waste your time with it....

[Cat755]

You all have me very concerned now :eek: My last two rides were both treated with Ming paint protection, the first being an XR6 cherry red and the second the current Shanghia red VX R8 and i have been very happy with the result, although you could just detect some swirling on the R8 paint. Of interest when i took delivery of the R8, I had to go back to get a brief case that had been left in the boot of the XR6 and here they were giving the car a full cut and buff :( The VX R8 was sold privately and delivered yesterday and now I have a two week wait until the new car arrives ( O the pain of being without the V8, I have to use the daughters Barina :) ) The new car is a Phantom VZ R8 manual and I have ordered it with ming paint protection and going by what has been said previosly this may not be adviseable. I don't mind using a bit off elbow grease to wax and pollish the car if it meant the paint work did'nt have visible swirls from the ming. I was Quoted $1250 for paint, enviro & leather treatment. Some advise please, not to late to back out

[VYSSBlack]

You all have me very concerned now :eek: My last two rides were both treated with Ming paint protection, the first being an XR6 cherry red and the second the current Shanghia red VX R8 and i have been very happy with the result, although you could just detect some swirling on the R8 paint. Of interest when i took delivery of the R8, I had to go back to get a brief case that had been left in the boot of the XR6 and here they were giving the car a full cut and buff :( The VX R8 was sold privately and delivered yesterday and now I have a two week wait until the new car arrives ( O the pain of being without the V8, I have to use the daughters Barina :) ) The new car is a Phantom VZ R8 manual and I have ordered it with ming paint protection and going by what has been said previosly this may not be adviseable. I don't mind using a bit off elbow grease to wax and pollish the car if it meant the paint work did'nt have visible swirls from the ming. I was Quoted $1250 for paint, enviro & leather treatment. Some advise please, not to late to back out

I had Ming paint protection on my phantom VYIISS, they left fine swirl marks all over it. Wanna remove it when I get the time (if it hasnt worn off already) and do the job properly. Leather protection can be bought just about anywhere as I found out after and you can get the windows tinted anywhere for cheaper.
I will never fall for their crap again. (doesnt need polishing "yeah right")

[aussie6.0L]

Hey i brought myself a VZSS Ute Impulse Blue LS1 brand new some time ago and never ever considered paint protection even though the dealer told me it was the best thing to do. I have reciently traded that ute on a 6.0L Thunder Ute the same colour and actually opted for paint protection. The paintwork looked really good but to this day i havent notice anything different from my other ute without paint protection to my current ute with it. Personally i think it a waste of money DONT GET IT.

[JezzaB]

Grab the pick and shovel, we're thread mining! :stick:

[Caprice270]

Another VZSS250 makes it back from the dead...last week it was the "HSV interiors are getting boring" thread. What next?

I agree aussie6.0L, as would many others - paint protection is a waste of good money.