Dealership have done a number on my paintwork...

Man of Honour
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Oxfordshire
Hey guys,

Took the C63s in for a few small issues I've had with the car since I bought it in February, nothing mechanical, just minor things like rattles and a couple of misbehaving window switches in the back. Took it in last Wednesday to be told that the rear passenger shock is leaking so needs replacing under warranty, and they can do that today (Monday).

Important to note, when I first took it, I stressed numerous times not to wash it, the car was covered in pollen and dust but I said over and over not to wash it. He left a note on the system and when I picked it up at the end of Wednesday, they had listened and not washed it.

Fast forward to today, and when I dropped it off, the car was immaculate. I'd been at Supercar Fest on the Sunday and it had been detailed on the Saturday, and I cleaned it again when I got home to get rid of all the dust, bugs and stuff from the long journey. So I knew exactly what condition it was in and knew there wasn't a mark on it in terms of dirt, water marks or scratches. And like Wednesday, I stressed numerous times to not wash it, besides, it definitely didn't need it anyway.

Picked the car up and it had been reversed in to the pick up bay, and on the face of it, looked as it was when I dropped it off, checked for obvious scratches and other than a bit of dust from being outside a few hours, it looked great and didn't appear to have been washed. Then I started driving home and could see water running out of my mirrors and streaming down my rear windscreen. Alarm bells started ringing, and then I could see on the sunroof areas where they'd gone over it with a damp towel and not dried it properly so I knew at this point it had definitely been washed.

I pulled over and checked the car properly with my the strong LED torch I've got in the boot, and the car is COVERED in holograms and defects. Towards the bottom of the rear bumper looks like it's been buffed with a brillo pad, there are scratches and marks all over it from one side to the next. All the door sills have scratches from what looks like a dirty rag being used to dry them. The hologram effect on the paint can surely only be caused by them going over it with a machine polisher, god knows why? But that surely can't be done by hand

It's gone from an immaculate car to looking like it's been through the wars. I'm devastated as my cars are my pride and joy, I spend far too much money on them getting them detailed by a professional each month so to avoid swirls, paint defects as much as is possible, then something like this happens and just undoes all that hard work in an instant.

Now obviously I've contacted them there and then and they've said they'll speak to the manager tomorrow, but so I know where I stand, what rights do I have, if any and what should I be reasonably asking for and expecting? I've spoken to my detailer who said he will do the paint correction and coatings that he did when I bought the car, for the same price and he's sent me an itemised invoice to send them. Is it reasonable to expect them to pay that? I know they'll try and fob me off by asking to do the work themselves, but one, I no longer trust them to look after my car, and two, I know how dealerships "coat" and paint correct cars, so I definitely don't want any part of that.

Thanks guys!
 
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mercedes main dealer then ? sounds like they should be very sympathetic if for some reason it was washed badly, and tell you what was done; but like you say, inexplicable if it didn't need it (dusty workshop ?)

can't the detailer testify about its previous state, sounds like he's looked at it since the freezing weather earlier in year.
 
Sounds highly unbelievable tbh (devils advocate, not trying to pick a fight). Why would a dealer machine polish a car (poorly at that?). You sure your "full detail" wasn't just loads of filler polishes?
Edit: You pay a monthly detailer? No way it needs a monthly "detail". Is the lad just using fillers?
 
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Sounds highly unbelievable tbh (devils advocate, not trying to pick a fight). Why would a dealer machine polish a car (poorly at that?). You sure your "full detail" wasn't just loads of filler polishes?
Edit: You pay a monthly detailer? No way it needs a monthly "detail". Is the lad just using fillers?

Lol you tell me, that’s what I’m asking. There would be no need but I can’t tell how they’ve caused it by hand. They’ve marred the paint somehow to the point it’s covered in marks that can only be caused by buffing something out incorrectly with a polisher.

And no, the guys work is top notch. The monthly detail is just him spending 3 hours on the car, giving it a proper going over, inside and out, engine bay etc. A maintenance wash is probably a better description. Detail doesn’t mean polished and coated every time

As an example of the damage, although this in fairness is probably done by hand:
mLnPiKH.jpg
 
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This is not that unusual, unfortunately.

Is there a chance they've tried to polish the bumper as they've scratched it or something...?

Be firm and clear, explain your case, and hope they play ball. Very much depends on the dealership.
 
I've seen this many many times over the years.
What usually happens is you'll drop the car off and state that you don't require it washing and the service advisor will write that on the job card.
Unfortunately the valeters don't see the job cards (only the techs/service advisors do) and they just work from the day sheet (which is a list of all the cars into the workshop that day), so unless the service advisors write it on the day sheet, you car gets washed.
The valeters like to get all the service washes done super quick and early on, so they rush and don't exactly do a decent job, also most dealers use Motor clean or Secure Valeting and they'll employ anybody regardless of their skill.

Speak to the service manager (calmly) and raise your concerns, and also ask if he/she can look at the CCTV or a copy of the valeters day sheet to check whether you car was actually washed (from my experience at Merc dealers, they'll be happy to check).
If it turns out that it was, and there was paint damage caused, then the service manager will speak to the valet company and either charge them for correction or they'll get the valeters to put it right.
If the dealer refuses to help, then mention that you'll leave a google review of your experience, then watch their attitude change.

BTW, a valeter wouldn't machine polish a car that's in for a "service" wash.

I hope you get it sorted :)
 
I was just about to say the same thing, it's very rare for a dealership to actually listen to what you want. They'll wash it regardless.
Had the same thing happen to my TTRS. Told Audi not to wash it, yet they did.

If you want your car to stay looking good, I'm afraid the only way these days is PPF.
 
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Bmw did that to me half of the time. I'd find it unusual that they ran a DA or polisher over it though. Is it not water marks from a dirty cloth/towel?
 
The hangar on the mirror saying do not wash is about the best way to minimise risk of a dealer wash.

So annoying when this happens, hope you get it resolved!
 
Bmw did that to me half of the time. I'd find it unusual that they ran a DA or polisher over it though. Is it not water marks from a dirty cloth/towel?

I’ve tried removing it with water spot remover, it’s not budging. It definitely looks like it’s scratches. Thankfully can’t feel anything though
 
Had it done to mine, granted it was only a nissan note but they did a royal job on scuffing it all when I only had it for a few weeks. The annoying part was it was in for a paint defect. In the end I left it as its nothing special and just a cheap runaround at the time (£12k near new)
 
You'd like to think main dealers of premium car brands would know how to wash their cars properly, but nope! I made the mistake with my last BMW. Ended up a swirly mess
 
No contact and despite another call, no progress

Quick complaint on Twitter with a few tags and hashtags and I got a pretty quick response from the dealer network asking for my contact details. About 10 minutes later, a call from the network sales director, and fair play he was properly apologetic and sympathetic. Asked me to send him an invoice from my detailer for any work that needs doing to get it back to the state it was in before the damage, and he'll have it paid within 24 hours

Result, and social media is definitely the way to go for stuff like this. They hate the bad publicity
 
No contact and despite another call, no progress

Quick complaint on Twitter with a few tags and hashtags and I got a pretty quick response from the dealer network asking for my contact details. About 10 minutes later, a call from the network sales director, and fair play he was properly apologetic and sympathetic. Asked me to send him an invoice from my detailer for any work that needs doing to get it back to the state it was in before the damage, and he'll have it paid within 24 hours

Result, and social media is definitely the way to go for stuff like this. They hate the bad publicity
Shame social media seems to be the only way to even get a response these days but sounds like a good result at least.
 
I'm glad to see you've got them to sort it, such a shame that it takes social media for them to act.

I have one of these I hang from my drivers sun visor whenever it goes for a service etc.
PVC-Wash-Hook-White_1024x1024.png
 
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