TRIGGERED at car wash!

[Rancidlunchmeat]

Brought the Expy to the car wash on Friday and as I was sitting there watching them dry it off, I saw this. What the hell is that weird sheen spots on the back of the truck? I never even realized there was a huge piece of unpainted plastic at the back of the truck until the light hit it and I could see it looks like pearl oyster or some shit. Upon closer inspection it has all kinds of swirl marks in the plastic. Now, this truck has never gone through a car wash. I bought it with 13 miles on it, and I've never taken it to one. So it's not from a car wash... it's just deformations in the plastic.

 

[Zig10]

Yup. Piano black plastic is the bane of my existence when I am detailing my vehicles, and the B pillar and D pillar on this truck sucks for it. That scuff you got there is among the worst I have seen, but it likely can be polished up. When I got mine it looked like the dealership dried those areas with 200 grit sandpaper.

If you hit it with some good, fine rubbing compound then follow up with a finer swirl-mark remover you'll likely get about 95% of that out. Finish it with a good wax and you should be good to go. What I have also found is that I have to use brand-new microfiber towels when I buff it, or it seems to leave as many swirls as it removes.

If it is so bad that the top layer of plastic is compromised, you may have to just have the dealer replace it. If it truly is deformation in the plastic they may do it under warranty. Typically that is not a difficult or expensive piece to replace.

Good luck.

 

[Deadman]

That junk scratches so easy, I hate washing it. I often wash it first so there is no chance of any extra dirt being on my washing brush. Its on my wife's Flex too and I've managed to keep it looking pretty good, but its always scratched to $hit if you look too close.

 

[scottdm]

That junk scratches so easy, I hate washing it. I often wash it first so there is no chance of any extra dirt being on my washing brush. Its on my wife's Flex too and I've managed to keep it looking pretty good, but its always scratched to $hit if you look too close.

Mine almost seems more like stains than scratches, but a bit of rubbing compound takes care of it and a coat of wax slows it down from happening in the future. Not a durable surface for exterior use. On the Stealth package, are the black mirror housings the same material, or are they painted black? Hopefully those mirror housings don't have the same issue.

 

[Fozzy]

Mine also looks swirled, scratched and faded. I have been thinking about having it painted or wrapped the body color. Maybe help it look different from a suburban.


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[Savannah Dan]

Cover it in something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Carbo...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[Gumby]

You should see the plastic A and D pillars on the Flex. The crack and split for no reason at all. Lots of talk in the Flex forum on that one. But that goes back a while now.

 

[stricnine]

A step one polish with a random orbital polisher cleans them right up! Get to it

 

[Johhn14]

Mine had swirl marks the day I brought it home from the dealer...super annoying.

 

[Jay Surprenant]

Cover it in something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Carbon-Weatherproof-Leather-Finish/dp/B01MU0BC3T/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=carbon+fiber+vinyl&qid=1574705232&refinements=p_72:2661618011&rnid=2661617011&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyMlFKODRVUDZVVEExJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzY0MzIyMTVSS0MyNk9KVTFJTCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDA0Nzc2MUNOVjcyR0VUNVZRTiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I was going to suggest a similar fix. You could use the same material that they make front end masks with. It’s available through amazon for pretty cheap. Relatively easy to apply and leaves a glossy protected finish that won’t scratch or chip. My front bumper, Hood and mirrors are done with it. And I did the rear bumper and lower skirt behind the rear tires with it. Works great. No stone chips or scratches and it is basically invisible.

 

[1970Maverick]

Sorry to see this happen but, lesson learned... don't ever take any vehicle through an automatic car wash.
My first job was wiping down cars as they exited the car wash and there were so many pieces of trim, antennas, roof racks that got damaged that I have never taken any of my vehicles to an automated wash. Even in the winter I either wash with warm water(I have a sink in my garage with an adapter on the faucet to connect a hose) or go to a wash bay with a pressure type wand.

 

[Julio Walker]

I was going to suggest a similar fix. You could use the same material that they make front end masks with. It’s available through amazon for pretty cheap. Relatively easy to apply and leaves a glossy protected finish that won’t scratch or chip. My front bumper, Hood and mirrors are done with it. And I did the rear bumper and lower skirt behind the rear tires with it. Works great. No stone chips or scratches and it is basically invisible.

can you post pics and a link? thanks

 

[Rancidlunchmeat]

Sorry to see this happen but, lesson learned... don't ever take any vehicle through an automatic car wash.

The point was this truck has never been through an automatic car wash and it's like that.

 

[carymccarr]

Sorry to see this happen but, lesson learned... don't ever take any vehicle through an automatic car wash.
My first job was wiping down cars as they exited the car wash and there were so many pieces of trim, antennas, roof racks that got damaged that I have never taken any of my vehicles to an automated wash. Even in the winter I either wash with warm water(I have a sink in my garage with an adapter on the faucet to connect a hose) or go to a wash bay with a pressure type wand.

+10000

Even the touchless washes are scary. All of that water is recycled.

Beyond that NEVER let the dealer touch your car. I have a note in the computer to never wash my cars. And when I buy them I tell them to leave it as is...even if it is dirty. I do not want them ‘prepping’ the exterior for delivery.

Then it’s straight to the detail shop, paint correction and xpel ultimate wrap.

 

[carymccarr]

The point was this truck has never been through an automatic car wash and it's like that.

Someone did it. Either the factory or during dealer prep.

 

[Dillon Cawthon]

Yep I had a spray wax dry on that part on mine with pretty much the same results as yours.

Turned white and would not wash off.

I just buffed it off with some polishing compound.

 

[Rancidlunchmeat]

Yep I had a spray wax dry on that part on mine with pretty much the same results as yours.

Turned white and would not wash off.

I just buffed it off with some polishing compound.

That makes more sense, I don't think the dealer ran it through a car wash. Spray wax though..