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View Full Version : Question Autoglym treatment from the dealer



Gary_W
29-12-2009, 11:47 AM
Hello all,

I know when I ordered my TDIe 2.0 a couple of months back the dealer then started trying to flog me gap insurance (another thread started!) and Autoglym protection.

I must confess I wasn't overly listening at that point; I'd just got a decent deal (IMO) but had cranked myself up to the limits on what I could aford for features. As such, the concept of spending yet more went in one ear and out of the other as the money just wasn't there.

I've done OK in the last couple of months of the year and could now afford these things. Question is, do I want them / need them? What does the Autoglym treatment actually do, and on an A4 what kind of amount should these guys be telling me it costs?

Thanks

Gary

ScottyUK
29-12-2009, 01:21 PM
I've heard bad things about the dealer applied protectants. The same kits are available on ebay for 1/10 of the cost.

Instead I got the car totally unprepared (they pealed the protective stickers off whilst I was there) and then got a trusted detailer to check it over, prepare it and put a protective sealant on it.....but then I also stop them ever washing my car. ;)

kite
29-12-2009, 01:25 PM
As scotty says, get the car unprepped and have it detailed properly...

Plife
29-12-2009, 01:56 PM
Agree with Scotty. Mine too was picked up unwashed and a detailer then prepped it for me. Dealers are notorious for bad preps of new cars and I wouldn't let them touch mine.

I think the basic price for the application of this is around 250. Same money spent with a detailer is much better!

Gary_W
29-12-2009, 03:08 PM
Thanks for this, folks.

I used a chap locally that did a decent vallet on my current car and it was absolutely filfthy; he was talking about diamond bright treatment at the time. I think it was about £200 but memory fails... I found him very good but he's just let a friend of mine down by not turning up :( If anyone can recommend a decent person to use around the East Midlands (Derby-ish) region then I'll give them a call.

As to not letting the dealer touch it, you recon that I should call them and tell them to not give it a polish before I pick it up as it's going straight to a propper detailer? I would never have thought of doing that.... Are you saying that the dealers actually damage the paintwork on some occasions?

Gary

Plife
29-12-2009, 03:14 PM
Thanks for this, folks.

I used a chap locally that did a decent vallet on my current car and it was absolutely filfthy; he was talking about diamond bright treatment at the time. I think it was about £200 but memory fails... I found him very good but he's just let a friend of mine down by not turning up :( If anyone can recommend a decent person to use around the East Midlands (Derby-ish) region then I'll give them a call.

As to not letting the dealer touch it, you recon that I should call them and tell them to not give it a polish before I pick it up as it's going straight to a propper detailer? I would never have thought of doing that.... Are you saying that the dealers actually damage the paintwork on some occasions?

Gary

Paintwork has been awful on some dealer prepared cars. It all depends what you are prepared to put up with! I personally take great care with my car and washing it. Some dealers are better than others but I wouldn't risk it.

Take a look at this for some appalling dealer prep!! http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=143316

I would have a look on http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php for some detailers in your area. A good detailer would spend 4 - 6 hours on a new car prep, whereas a dealer would be a matter of minutes! Just take a look at some of the cars in the dealership under the lights! Paintwork is awful when you have a close look!

ScottyUK
29-12-2009, 03:27 PM
Bear in mind a valeter can be just a posh word for a car cleaner.

Some guys just wash cars. For others it's an art and they know what they're doing.

It's all too easy to get surface scratches but if done well at the early stage and protected, the car will look brighter for much longer.

Don't just tell the dealer "don't polish it". Tell them you don't want the exterior prepared at all.

There is a down side though. If you find any defects that couldn't be seen due to dirt etc then you'll have a tough time convincing the dealer it was there all along.

pitch3110
29-12-2009, 04:40 PM
Must say my local dealer prep'ed mine and did a super job and I am a bit of a detailing freak.

I could not fault it.......

Don't be sold any expensive paint protective systems, just read up on detailing world and there is some good stuff on Tyresmoke, and buy some real good stuff for your own use.

Pre-wash is a must this time of year and a lance would be a good move.
With the weather this bad I have not touched my car with a mit or mf cloth for weeks, just given the wheels a real good go and foam'd the paintwork.

ta

tigersargyle
29-12-2009, 04:52 PM
I agree with everything said about avoiding the dealer getting anywhere near your paintwork!

I however took the day off work when I collected the car and found perverse extreme satisfaction in detailing my new car myself. It's not that difficult, just takes a bit of time and care. Used http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/ for most of the products and spent a bit of time researching the "general detailing/cleaning" section of this forum and also the A4 section as to product recommendations/technique.

Like the saying - "if you want a job doing properly do it yourself"!

Gary_W
30-12-2009, 12:31 AM
Thanks for all the advice. I'll ask the dealer to leave well alone...

A friend of a friend knows someone good in the trade, but unfortunately he's 165 miles from home. I guess I need this treatment doing on the day I get it and consequently 165 miles on dual carriageways to get to him at this time of year isn't ideal so I suppose I'd best find someone locally! I will give the guy a ring that I used last time as he was very good and certainly far from a bulk standard car washer.

I'm not a fan of self-detailing - I know some people really enjoy cleaning the car but I'm not one of them. If it'll look shiny with the mimimum fuss due to spending a couple of hundred quid at this stage then I'll go for it.

Gary

tlionhart
30-12-2009, 11:44 AM
to be honest, the dealer prep mine. When i collected it, it had loads of orange spots on it. (industrial fallout) they were helpful and cleaned it again. They also explained to me what it was and how to remove the stuff in the future. Thats how i invested in a clay kit.

As for the autoglym pack, you don't need it. Just clean the car regularly and protect it regularly and you won't have too much of a problem when it comes to cleaning the car.

-A quick wax fix use autoglym aqua wax.
-A top up layer, deep shine
-For detail deep shine in use with High Def wax (autoglym product)

They tried to sell it to me, but when they saw the car i was part-ex (was cleaned) they didn't bother as i told them about the work i do on the car in order to keep it clean. Also if you use a strong polish compound this will take the autoglym protection off!!

I keep some microfibre cloths in the boot, a bottle of autoglym glass cleaner, super resin polish and bird drop wipes. -the bird drop wipes are fab at removing bug splatter thats all over the front of the car in the summer.

Gary_W
30-12-2009, 06:53 PM
Just spoken to the sales guy I've been dealing with at the dealers.... he says the car has gone to 'ship' and should be with them early part of next week :D

He says he'll do me the autoglym treatment inside and out for £199 including the takeaway Autoglym pack. Regular price is apparantly £299.

He says it's all carefully hand-done and that they don't use the mechanical polish things at all.... I explained that I wasn't keen due to the paintwork on my existing car being a bit on the swirly side when I got it (looked like someone had been at it with the rotary buffer thing). I've said I'll let him know my decision in a few days.

I've spoken to the chap I've used before... He'll do it for £175, but that'd be outside my house.... Oh, and that's for my choice of Autoglym or Diamondbrite. Which is better? He says Diamondbrite. What do you all think?

Do other detailers go to the garages??? I'd rather it was done before it leaves the garage, but I'd rather it be done by the guy I know. He made my current Audi look pretty special and it was 'lived in' by anyone's standards!

What do I do???

Gary

ScottyUK
30-12-2009, 07:20 PM
Show's much much he's still making if he was willing to drop so much so easily. I'd say "**** you for trying to rip me off".

Some people have had their cars detailed at the dealers but it can get complicated if they are any paint marks as everyone blames everyone else.

Gary_W
30-12-2009, 07:33 PM
Show's much much he's still making if he was willing to drop so much so easily. I'd say "**** you for trying to rip me off".

Some people have had their cars detailed at the dealers but it can get complicated if they are any paint marks as everyone blames everyone else.

Thanks Scotty. So you recon going with my guy outside the house is the best way forward?

ScottyUK
30-12-2009, 09:18 PM
The way I did it (which doesn't mean it's the best of course) :

Collect car un-prepped.
Go over the car carefully looking for any blemishes. If they don't peel it until you're there it should be quite clean and therefore easy to look at.
Book your preferred detailer to give it a good cleanse and then add a protection layer within the first few days of ownership.

Plife
31-12-2009, 09:49 AM
Neither the Autoglym or Diamondbrite are that highly rated. I would give your mate a miss and go for a proper detailer. A new car detail should consist of something like

Foam wash
Rinse
Wash
Rinse
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Any machine work that is required
Sealed or waxed
Wheels cleaned and protected
Tyre shine
Interior cleaned and protected
Windows cleaned

The above should be somewhere in the region of 250. :beerchug:

Gary_W
31-12-2009, 07:35 PM
Hi Pilfe,

Thanks for the reply.

The person I'm refering to is not my mate; he's a professional detailer / valet that I used recently for my B6 A4 with good results. He's been going as an independant for 10 years and his website advertises various services including machine polishing. He also advertises that he can do Diamondbrite and Autoglym. I'd be happy with his work... My concern really was with applying lifeshine (or similar) outside at this time of year by this person that is a proven quantity vs applying it indoors by the dealer.

I appreciate the advice on the full detailing as opposed to Lifeshine. Could you tell me why Lifeshine isn't highly rated?

Perhaps it would help if I explain what I'd like to achieve... I really do not enjoy cleaning cars and as much as I'd like to pretend that I'll be outside on a regular basis with specialist polish it just isn't going to happen.

What I would like (if it's do-able) would be to have a visit from a pro detailer a couple of times a year to make everything look wonderful and for whatever they use to look pretty good with a wash once a fortnight by me in between times. Lifeshine / Diamondbrite seem to be aimed at the likes of me or at least that's the way I read it. So, for a minimum fuss person like me, would they be the best bet or am I still best going with the treatment you've outlined?

Thanks

Gary

Plife
01-01-2010, 03:15 PM
Gary

I have found both products not to be particuarly durable. Both are basically a type of sealant. Once on there is not a great deal you can do to detail the car. A twice yearly detail would want to clay the car to remove paint contaiminents and this would strip the lifeshine/diamondbrite off. Any polishing would also strip it off the paint.

Ideally the lifeshine/diamondbrite should be applied inside in a clean dust free environment (unlikely to find this at a dealers!!). Outside would be less than ideal but would probably still be a better option than the dealer doing it! I don't have much confidence in the knowledge of the dealer in applying these products correctly. Regardless of lifeshine/diamondbrite being applied or another sealent/wax the car should be prepared first - washed and clayed before application. This won't happen in a dealer and I expect a detailer would do this as a matter of course but worth checking this out.

I like the detailing aspect and find that a good detail every 3 - 4 months is sufficient to allow a wash every couple of weeks and the car still looking great. I do it myself and tend to apply 2 coats of sealent and 2 coats of wax and find that this easily lasts 4 months and I am sure some of the more durable waxes could give 6 months of protection.

At the end of the day any sealent/wax combo can give good results after a simple wash and give a few months of protection. Autoglym/diamondbrite essentially do the same thing although I also find the level of shine is not a great as other products.

It becomes a decision between autoglym/diamondbrite which will give longer protection but less shine or other sealent/waxes which give a shorter length of protection but better shine. If you are planning on a twice yearly detail then personally a sealent and wax combination would be my choice. If you do away with the details then I would go for the lifeshine/diamondbrite but ensure the car is prepped first by the detailer.

Hope this helps :beerchug:

Gary_W
02-01-2010, 01:06 AM
Thank you for the detailed reply Plife.

I'll give the detailer a ring and have a chat through the options... I would plan to have him come along and give the car a good going over every 6 months anyway and if the Lifeshine is effectively stopping him from doing part of what he would do on that visit then maybe it's not for the best here... It's just a case of what makes the car survive ME in between times, as it will well-used!

Gary

c parnell
01-02-2010, 01:10 PM
I had the Autoglym lifeshine done, and i am having to take it back for them to re-do some parts crucially the bonet. It appears hazey because they havn't removed the sealer properly. I didn't pay the full price, i will reserve judgement as to whether it is value for money when i see if they can sort it out.