Should I let my dealer wax and buff my car before delivery?
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Out Of Control!!
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From: Texas
2005 E55
Should I let my dealer wax and buff my car before delivery?
Well guys, this is probably my last question before I post some pictures of the newest member of the family. After asking him about their process, my salesman told me that they use an orbital (dual-action) buffer on the car and apply wax before delivery. He said that it does not leave swirl marks in the paint, even black cars. I have reservations about it, no matter what he thinks. Do you think it is OK for them to buff and wax, or should I tell him to instruct the make-ready personnel to wash only and let me have it without their normal new car prep? I can then apply about 3 coats of Zanio the following week by myself.
Soon my friends, soon
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Soon my friends, soon
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From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
Before you Zaino, you have to wash the car with dish soap to remove any wax... therefore it would be silly to have the dealer wax it upon delivery. You'd just be risking swirl marks from their buffer.
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From: NW Ohio
2008 335 vert, 2004 MDX
Hold on candrive 55, you're almost there and it's worth it! I just got mine yesterday and drove it up to Detroit to watch the Pistons lose. Who cares? Did I mention I got my car!
I was setting up a time to pick up my car and my dealer said all they needed to do was wax it. I politely declined. Even if you don't get swirl marks, why add to your work of stripping their stuff to put something good on.
I was setting up a time to pick up my car and my dealer said all they needed to do was wax it. I politely declined. Even if you don't get swirl marks, why add to your work of stripping their stuff to put something good on.
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
NOOOOOOOOO! Don't even let them wash it...do a walk-thru for any PDI damage (esp. paint imperfections), take it home and wash it yourself.
Congratulations.
Congratulations.
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From: Honolulu
Originally Posted by can drive 55
Well guys, this is probably my last question before I post some pictures of the newest member of the family. After asking him about their process, my salesman told me that they use an orbital (dual-action) buffer on the car and apply wax before delivery. He said that it does not leave swirl marks in the paint, even black cars. I have reservations about it, no matter what he thinks. Do you think it is OK for them to buff and wax, or should I tell him to instruct the make-ready personnel to wash only and let me have it without their normal new car prep? I can then apply about 3 coats of Zanio the following week by myself.
Soon my friends, soon .
Soon my friends, soon
.I would just politely ask them not to detail the car and do the new car prep at home.
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Originally Posted by onesixeight
Although an orbital such as a Porter Cable 7224 won't leave swirl marks, dirty towels, pads, etc can leave swirl marks behind.
I would just politely ask them not to detail the car and do the new car prep at home.
I would just politely ask them not to detail the car and do the new car prep at home.
From that point on, I always tell them to not wash the car.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northeast
2002 MB E55 AMG
Yeah, Peter - I agree on waiting. 30 days is the minimum and I think 60 would be better. Especially for any machine work.
Wait awhile ... get the Porter Cable random orbit from Griot's Garage.
Just my 2 cents.
TJC
Wait awhile ... get the Porter Cable random orbit from Griot's Garage.
Just my 2 cents.
TJC
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From: Treasure Coast
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Why wait? Look at the sticker on the door jamb and it will already be 30 to 60 days from build date to your delivery.
Skip the dealer wax job and do it yourself. With the ceramic clear coat and proper washing and waxing, I doubt you will ever need the orbital, just hand wax it.
Skip the dealer wax job and do it yourself. With the ceramic clear coat and proper washing and waxing, I doubt you will ever need the orbital, just hand wax it.
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From: Sacramento, CA
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Originally Posted by ima55r2
Why wait? Look at the sticker on the door jamb and it will already be 30 to 60 days from build date to your delivery.
Skip the dealer wax job and do it yourself. With the ceramic clear coat and proper washing and waxing, I doubt you will ever need the orbital, just hand wax it.
Skip the dealer wax job and do it yourself. With the ceramic clear coat and proper washing and waxing, I doubt you will ever need the orbital, just hand wax it.
There is no need to wait since the new paint chemically cures. The wait 30 to 60 days made sense when the older lacquer/enamel single stage paints were used; they cured by drying naturally----- air and time. The newer paints chemically cure and can be polished immediately once they have set up.As far as waxing your car by hand ; if you have a light color, silver, pewter white,etc. you can wax by hand, for that matter you can do it to any color. If you have a dark car such as black and when you get swirls and you will get them no matter how careful you are, hand polishing on the ceramiclear paint will be useless. In this case you will need a machine and special polishes for this paint. On my SL 55 with black paint the only thing that works are the Menzerna polishes (they are not waxes and provide no protection) applied with a Porter Cable machine followed by a carnuba wax. I use Meguiars #16.
On your new car, first clay the car to remove the contaminants that you will surely get in transport and then a good sealant, topped with a good carnuba.
Lou K
Last edited by lkirchner; Mar 27, 2005 at 10:57 AM. Reason: Correct
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Collegeville, PA
05 E55, 03 Z4 3.0
Originally Posted by Peter B
thought you werent supposed to wax the car for 6 months or so to let the paint fully cure?????
that was true 15+ years ago, our paint is baked on @ 1500+ degrees and comes cured
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From: CA
'99 E430
Originally Posted by can drive 55
I think you might have an extra zero in your temp. 1500 degrees would melt all the plastic, rubber, aluminum, lead, etc.
Even with paint ovens, etc, always wait 30 days or more before applying wax or sealant to new paint. As was posted earlier, by the time your new car arrives at the dealer its already been 30+ days, which is why they can offer to wax it for you. Should you take them up on the offer... NO!! Just makes more work for you and/or the detailer you pay to do it right!!
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From: Long Island, NY
04 MB E55 AMG, 92 911 Turbo
The workers who wash and prep these cars at the dealer don't give a crap about you or your $85K AMG. Just my opinion.
Once I saw a guy using an old push broom to clean a car. Granted it wasn't at a MB dealer, but still....
Once I saw a guy using an old push broom to clean a car. Granted it wasn't at a MB dealer, but still....
