Okay, so today I dropped off my TLX at an authorized detailer to get Opti Coat Pro installed (a ceramic clear coat). TLX is graphite colored.
I've never used him before, but he has over 25+ years of experience in the industry, came highly recommended, and has an impressive resume of caring for vehicles that cost 5 times what my TLX set me back. He's toured with customers for competitions, so I'd consider him 'master craftsman' level.
My conversation with him pre-detail about my TLX, the quality of the paint job on my TLX, very minor flaws he saw (likely dealer induced) was amazing. These were things like tape residue where the factory prep material left ultra-faint lines on the paint from the adhesive residue :ugh:
He calls me to inform me of a few things. I could tell that he was annoyed at the detailing job the dealer did. Apparently, they left wax residue in a number of the parking sensors which irked him as well as other parts of the car, but he can fix it along with the typical hairline scuffs that they put in the paint.
Then the more serious things that I honestly, never noticed. He says there's a paint defect below the clear coat on the trunk deck lid. It appears to be where the pearl coat 'ran' during the painting process prior to the clear coat application. He said he was shocked that it made it out of Acura QC and either it got missed or it's been repainted by the dealer. Now here, I'm thinking there's a HUGE area that I somehow missed, but as the conversation moves on he tells me that it's about 1/4 the size of your pinkie finger nail. (wow, does he notice things).
Apparently, there's also a couple of 'dents' in an A pillar. Not sure how noticeable these are to the average person. I mean, I never saw it, but this guy has the eye of an artisan for paint and all things auto. He assures me they can be fixed by a person with phenomenal Jedi skills who the dealership is likely familiar with in the area.
Here's the rub. How exactly do you approach the dealership about these kinds of issues? I mean, the paint defect I'm sure could be addressed, but would I really want them repainting the whole deck lid? No way. I'm hoping it's in a spot where a spoiler would go, to be honest.
The A pillar, not sure. I've only had the car for 19 days and about 327 miles (mostly surface street). Are they going to try to say that it happened after delivery? Not sure.
I'll post pictures tomorrow, after I pick it up.
I've never used him before, but he has over 25+ years of experience in the industry, came highly recommended, and has an impressive resume of caring for vehicles that cost 5 times what my TLX set me back. He's toured with customers for competitions, so I'd consider him 'master craftsman' level.
My conversation with him pre-detail about my TLX, the quality of the paint job on my TLX, very minor flaws he saw (likely dealer induced) was amazing. These were things like tape residue where the factory prep material left ultra-faint lines on the paint from the adhesive residue :ugh:
He calls me to inform me of a few things. I could tell that he was annoyed at the detailing job the dealer did. Apparently, they left wax residue in a number of the parking sensors which irked him as well as other parts of the car, but he can fix it along with the typical hairline scuffs that they put in the paint.
Then the more serious things that I honestly, never noticed. He says there's a paint defect below the clear coat on the trunk deck lid. It appears to be where the pearl coat 'ran' during the painting process prior to the clear coat application. He said he was shocked that it made it out of Acura QC and either it got missed or it's been repainted by the dealer. Now here, I'm thinking there's a HUGE area that I somehow missed, but as the conversation moves on he tells me that it's about 1/4 the size of your pinkie finger nail. (wow, does he notice things).
Apparently, there's also a couple of 'dents' in an A pillar. Not sure how noticeable these are to the average person. I mean, I never saw it, but this guy has the eye of an artisan for paint and all things auto. He assures me they can be fixed by a person with phenomenal Jedi skills who the dealership is likely familiar with in the area.
Here's the rub. How exactly do you approach the dealership about these kinds of issues? I mean, the paint defect I'm sure could be addressed, but would I really want them repainting the whole deck lid? No way. I'm hoping it's in a spot where a spoiler would go, to be honest.
The A pillar, not sure. I've only had the car for 19 days and about 327 miles (mostly surface street). Are they going to try to say that it happened after delivery? Not sure.
I'll post pictures tomorrow, after I pick it up.
