kartweb

Dealer "Sealents" and such are nothing but a scam. It's nothing more then $1000 wax job. It's just plain pathetic when they use a buffer to apply it. As far as the "magic substance" it's nothing more then a silicone polymer found in most silicone based waxes. It does have a persistant bond to the paint and does act to some extent - however after 4-6 months of UV exposure 90% of the protection is gone.

The swirl marks will be around for a while. I would recommend getting the dealer to return the price of the $1000 wax job and let it go for 6 months. It will go away after some time.

DaConfusion

The scratches are in the clear coat, and if I look really close they are all over the car. I snuck a peek at the other black mazda vehicles since the dealer was saying thats how the factory ships them, and I dont see anything.

He asked me to come by when another vendor that possibly does buffing can have a go at it. I then took it to a local body shop and he said the scratches can be removed with a buffer. I will go back to him next week for an estimate and take that estimate to the dealership. They can decide from there.

Turns out they just hand waxed the car again, so no buffer was used.

DaConfusion

Yeah I agree the sealant crap is a scam, I think the 3M Perfect finish system is better since it requires a machine buffer to apply it. (Those 3 bottles cost 100 from what I remember back in class a couple years ago) No where near the 650 the dealer charges... Most body shops refinish cars for around 150 (re buff)

reidswitch

You must be the most lucky person in the world to have them give you a new car for just scratches. I am going threw a replacement and went to the dealer today per Mazda North America to do a transfer of collateral. Before Mazda would do this I had to give the dealer several attempts to fix my car (9 trips totaling 45 days), then they sent out a regional tech specialest to work on it. The second vist from the tech specialest was with an engineer form Japan. The issues with my car were huge and couldnt get a new car until the engineer told Mazda North America he could not fix it.

DaConfusion

Yes naked peter griffin's story sounds a lot more plausible. I dont really care about getting my car replaced since it was just broken in, so I will get the scratches fixed!

reidswitch

If you drive your car and enjoy it that is what matters. Scratches will happen and chips will come in time. You could have your car wet sanded to remove all your swirl and scratch marks as long as they are not down to the paint. The question is are you willing to take the chance of having someone with 2000 grit sand paper go over your entire car. Not everyone has the talent to do this and you are sanding away some of the clear and mistakes happen, they could go too deep. Now you are worse off then you were before. You will no doubt get scratches again and are you going to be able to wet sand again? I doubt it... I have a black 8 and it shows every blemish in the paint that many other colors dont. I do a good wax job every weeked and my car looks better then the day I got it.

My recomedation is enjoy your car and pick up a good wax and microfiber cloth.

dbb

in the meantime, write a letter to Mazda :

Mazda North American Operations
P.O. Box 19734
Irvine, CA 92623-9734
Attn: Customer Assistance Center

And let them know what has happened, and how unhappy you are.

reidswitch

I recomend calling them before the letter. They will first open a claim and give you a claim number. Follow up with a letter stating what your concern is and what you would like to have done.

Customer Assistance Center - 1-800-222-5500

DaConfusion

They actually care? What can they do for me? I know the car will get scratches as time goes on...That isnt the point. I am not really expecting much, its just annoying because at night and day when the car is shining I see tiny circular scratches all over the car. Ill take your advice tho and give them a call/write a letter.

Ill let you guys know if anything happens!

reidswitch

I do think they care...MNAO has so far been working with me from the first time I called getting a Regional Tech Specialist out to help, who by the way knew what he was talking about and bent over backwards to make sure I was happy. He even brought in some wax that he used on his own car to buff out some scratches caused by the dealership and cleaned off the fingerprints left on my headliner ( I didnt have to ask) on top of working on my car. He also showed me photographs of the problems he was working on. I felt he could have kept this all quiet and not shared with me but he understood how I was being a car guy himself. I wish dealerships had that same mantallity when working on someone elses car but they just dont.

I think you will be supprised with how they really want to make you a happy customer.

Detrich

i would also be careful of body shops. they are good with painting and body work but not necessarily with detailing and finishing. a really reputable body shop left track marks on my hood that required the help of a detailing expert to get out.