Pauken4

What would be the best thing to protect brand new paint?

I take delivery on Wednesday of a new Platinum Grey M -sport 535. What is my dealer likely to do my paint?

Is there need to stop it?

DetailersDomain

I would tell them to leave the tape on the car and you will take the car home and remove it yourself.

then you can wash/clay/polish/wax it yourself.

mb43

Congrats on your new car. A new car prep includes removing the protection from your car from shipping and removing defects in the paint.

Depending on the dealer, they usually do an average job at prepping your car. Sometimes they bring it to a car wash which is bad. I wouldn't say there's a need to stop it unless you know a professional detailer who can do it instead. I recommend getting a good wax and waxing about once a month.

If you are buying it from Herb Chambers make sure not to fall for their tricks (DO NOT GET YOUR CAR SIMONIZED!!!!)

mb43

I agree, but only if you feel confident in doing this and have a buffer to polish the car.

pigapumbu

+1 if you are good with the jobs mentioned above. I did it once for my new E39 few years ago and that was the best car I had in terms of paint quality. No marks (swirls) etc. That said, all I did was pull thes white plastics sheets off carefully, washed car, when dry applied Autoglym tar remover where there was residue left. (be very gentle with that procedure. Better to spend time than press and rush the job).

Then washed the car again. When dry, two coats of autoglym super resin polish went on. After a week of using car, gave it a wash and finally autoglym Extra gloss was applied. When I visited the dealer a week later, the director, sales manager and service manager came out to look at the car and they were speechless. Well the director said the car is looking way better than all their cars in the showroom.

They initially came out to look at the car cause they made me sign a disclaimer when I requested to take the car out without any cleaning being done other than engine prep. They were hoping I would make a right mess of it. If you can do it yourself, I urge you to do so. You will not regret it when you spend time on your car. The dealers would most likely hand you a car with minor swirl marks IMHO.

cheers

ps: I did the other parts too which I havent mentioned like the engine bay, glass area, tyres, rims, under wheel archers and interior. Took me 3 days to do it all, and all using autoglym products.

Pauken4

Thanks for everyone's input.

I have found a top notch (FMINUS-level ) detailer to do my prep. I have asked my dealer to remove the plastic but not touch the paint. My post-delivery detail is on for Thursday. Hopefully I have gotten to my dealer in time to prevent the out-of-the-box paint damage. I'll try to post delivery and post-detailer prep photos.

southerndoc

Did any of you opt for clearcoat or any of the extras?

I ended up skipping it. (Did get the extended service agreement though since I put a lot of miles on my cars.) Wondering if I should go back to get an extra layer of clearcoat, but I'm thinking as long as I wax it that it should be fine.

pigapumbu

Nope. Prefer to do it myself. Just spent my sunday applying autoglym Extra Gloss and boy was I glad I did not spend for the clearcoat the sales chap was trying to sell me. I think they call it the same here in UK. I threw the pamplet away so can't remember the name.

cheers

E60COYOTE

Who is your FMINUS-level detailer in the Boston area? Send me a PM if you do not want to post.

Thanks,

westcoast550

Most dealers are brutal on detailing . If you're picky you'll do it all over after you get it. GL