WhiteHArtMart Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 I know this has been discussed quite a lot already - so sorry for bringing it up again! Trying to make a decision for when my New Golf arrives in November! Dealer is quoting £299 for the service. Wondering whether I am better just spending some time (with other products) myself - thing is at that time of year can't guarantee a dry day!! Any suggestions would be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 When I bought my car last year I told the salesman that I didn't want any products used on the car. I just wanted them to finishing taking the transit wax off and wash the car.(as it happens the car was dewaxed when delivered - see my gallery) This way I knew I'd get a cleanish , swirl free car ready for me to spend a day giving it a good coat of Zymol. My car is a year old on the 1st Sept, and it looks as good as the first time I waxed it (on the 2nd). It's still got no swirls and because it hasn't the paint looks like glass - even in direct sunlight. There was a post the other day about swirls on a NEW car after having a dealer applying a sealant. I know I made the right decision. So my advice is save your money and buy youself some quality cleaning products.. £299 will get you enough gear to last a good 2-3 years+ BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGWT Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 Lifetime Paint Protection: There is no polymer, synthetic or natural wax, or after-market product available that can provide a (2 or 5 year) lifetime protection to a paint film surface. The primary protection provided for a modern water-based colour coat is a polythene paint that has a thickness of 2-3 Mils (0.002-0.003") this is protected by a sacrificial barrier of wax or synthetic polymer sealant. This barrier is all that stands between the environmental contaminants (ultra violet radiation, acid rain, ozone, industrial pollution, rain, road dirt and tar, etc) and the paint film surface. This renewable barrier is less than 0.000001" thick. While it’s true that a polymer paints melting point is 350+oF, it is still subject to evaporation and erosion by the elements and vehicle washing. However its durability is approximately five or six months. The technology for a lifetime protection for a vehicles paint film surface does not currently exist. Quote: Wondering whether I am better just spending some time (with other products) myself - thing is at that time of year can't guarantee a dry day!! DIY is the way to go, don't line the pockets of a sealaship ... JonM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 JonM, If you are so sure that sealants cannot possibly last 3 years or longer, I suggest that you contact the Advertising Standards Authority (www.asa.org.uk), and the Office of Fair Trading (www.oft.gov.uk/Consumer/Misleading+adverts/default.htm). You know as well as I do that this argument gets nasty - last time I saw it, legal action was threatened. Yours is an opinion - not fact. You must know this because you frequent the same pro message boards that I do. Who says the technology doesn't exicst? The same manufacturer who keeps sending me e-mails saying the same thing... and offering to sell me his long life waxes and his wax test proving how good it is. Well you have to balance what he says against what is said by, his sparing partner at Auto International Inc. also Waxoyl, AutoGlym, JewelUltra, Di-tec, etc... even Du Pont are putting their name to products now! He has his 'test' which anyone would agree is deeply floored because the products were tested on bare metal not paintwork - besides, he didn't even test long life sealants. Meanwhile the big boys have products with ISO ratings, certificates and independant tests by internationally recognised organizations. Autosmart have even published their results. I'm sure if you e-mail them they will let you take a peak. Some but not all these products comply to ISO 9001 : 2000 standards, and are certified by the Paint Research Association. This internationally recognised system means that if they say it lasts 3 years, then it does last 3 years - it wouldn't be much of a standards system if they didn't! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted August 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 So then - is that yes it is worth it or no don't bother???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazo Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 I'm with OGWT, your money will be spent a lot wiser elsewhere! Just look at it logically! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 [ QUOTE ] So then - is that yes it is worth it or no don't bother???? [/ QUOTE ] Well WhiteHart, it's your call on that one. If you like cleaning your car or are about to turn into a car cleaning nut - Then don't bother. If you're not a 'once a weeker' then a sealer might be the thing to give you a little peace of mind. Like I said above, my opinion is the standard of valeting in car dealerships is at best average and at worst fecking atrocious. A point discussed here many times. A good indicator IMO would be to pop back to the dealership and take a close look at the cars in the showroom. Bear in mind also that you can buy SupaGard Etc on Ebay from £2.50 up! DIY and save £'s If the car is spotless and you follow the instructions, IMO why should it be any different to a dealer charging £2-300? Apart from a 3yr warranty. (is it really worth the paper it's printed on?) You also have to stick to their aftercare products and I know SupaGard give you a 'PaintSeal Cream' in the aftercare pack! WTF 'PaintSeal Cream' ? I thought it was a paint sealer , guaranteed for 3yrs. I'm sure CI will put me straight but thats my opinion for what it's worth. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted August 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Thanks for that mate. I can't say it would be wasshed every week so peace of mind would be good. It's just that I don't want to spend that kinda money and see the dealer cock it up only for me to have to spend time complaining and wasting time that should be spent enjoying the new car!! Think I'm favouring spending some time on it myself. Much more rewarding that way I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Avus_Bub, unlike other sealant packages, Paintsal Cream isn't an addative, and you don't have to use it. It is just a wax type product which is safe to use over the top of supagard (we prefer p21s but don't tell supagard!!!) Btw, the cream is a bugger to use! I certainly wouldn't recommend buying on ebay and applying a sealant yourself - after all if the dealerships cant get it right, what chance have you got? We get quite a few angry phone calls and e-mails from people saying that they have bought 'our' product on e-bay and that it has fecked up thier paintwork... luckily we only have to tell them we aren't Supagard - we just happen to be better at search engine optimization than them. Anyway, Although we have shyed away from the 'never wax your car again' type slogan, it is something that is really apealing to many people. After all, over the course of 3 years, if you clean your car as often as you should and as often as you need it, you will end up spending much of your free time on your driveway in all weathers. Personally, I'd rather be feeding the ducks with the kids. Work out how much time you would spend caring for your car and then have a think about how much per hour you would want for working on a Sunday... £300 suddenly looks cheap! A sealant makes paintwork harder/tougher, so even if you do want to wax your car every week, then it's worth doing for long term results... there is no doubt about it, after three years, cars that have been sealed look better than those that havent. You also get fabric protection which doesn't keep your seats clean, but does make it far easier to clean. I wouldn't suggest LifeShine unless you are an enthusiast, you are probably better off with something like supagard or Diamondbrite (as are most people). Contact Supagard or Diamondbrite for a 'valeter' in your area who can apply it and shop around for prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted August 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Thanks mate - starting to understand all this a bit better now! You say steer clear of Lifeshine unless an enthusiast - how much more work does it involve using this - is that the only reason? Don't mind spending some weekend time on a regular basis to make sure it looks the biz! Are there other reasons why you'd choose the others first?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Think I'm favouring spending some time on it myself. Much more rewarding that way I guess! [/ QUOTE ] Go for It WhiteHart! It's all part of the ownership experience - pampering your new toy! Also, the 'once a weeker' term was a bit of an exaggeration. As long as you've got a good coat of quality wax on the car dirt's not going to stick to the paint half as bad. Sometimes I don't wash mine for 3 weeks but it still comes up like new. It might get a quick jet wash at the local petrol station in-between (NO BRUSH!) but that's all. It's not that hard to keep a new car looking like new for years -Just use common sense when washing and the battle's half won already Take a look here at Andrews post. TOP BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteHArtMart Posted August 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 Thanks Bub!! Off to plan my 'cleaning pack' investment!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Thanks Bub!! Off to plan my 'cleaning pack' investment!!! [/ QUOTE ] No Problem - Make sure you get some good pic's up after your first 'bonding' session HERE and HERE would be good places to start. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted August 27, 2005 Report Share Posted August 27, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Thanks mate - starting to understand all this a bit better now! You say steer clear of Lifeshine unless an enthusiast - how much more work does it involve using this - is that the only reason? Don't mind spending some weekend time on a regular basis to make sure it looks the biz! Are there other reasons why you'd choose the others first?? [/ QUOTE ] It depends on the level of maintenance you want to perform. Supagard goes on, and thats it, you just need to wash your car for the next three years. Diamondbrite is much the same but you wash with an addative which is as easy to use as any wash and wax. Lifeshine requires SRP over the top - so there is more work. If you are happy ro SRP your car once in a while then is is a fantastic product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now