New car paint protection, etc

[Evil Roy]

I've just bought a Nissan Dualis and am wondering about the paint protection, rust protection, etc, my dealer will offer.

Research seems to indicate that instead of spending $1195 on paint protection, I am better off getting a detail done on the car (using Meguiars products) done every 6 - 12 months or so.

What do forum members think?

Likewise, the rust protection ($995), leather / interior ($895) and tinting ($695). I don't think the interior protection is worth doing and I think I can have the car tinted locally at a cheaper price.

Rust protection is one I am wondering about - I'm in Nowra so might need to think about that (although the car will be garaged).

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by Evil Roy

I've just bought a Nissan Dualis and am wondering about the paint protection, rust protection, etc, my dealer will offer.

Research seems to indicate that instead of spending $1195 on paint protection, I am better off getting a detail done on the car (using Meguiars products) done every 6 - 12 months or so.

What do forum members think?

Likewise, the rust protection ($995), leather / interior ($895) and tinting ($695). I don't think the interior protection is worth doing and I think I can have the car tinted locally at a cheaper price.

Rust protection is one I am wondering about - I'm in Nowra so might need to think about that (although the car will be garaged).

It just raises their profit margin!

[PG2]

Dealers will always charge a premium for these types of products - this is their main stream of profit margin these days.

I had my car's windows tinted for $275 last week at a window tint specialist.

If rust proofing is important to you then make some enquiries with a rust proofing specialist. Also, maybe post something up in the car care section - there is plenty of professional detailers that will be able to give you good advice on what to do - they may even be able to suggest someone in your area that is reputable.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by Evil Roy

I've just bought a Nissan Dualis and am wondering about the paint protection, rust protection, etc, my dealer will offer.

What do forum members think?

$1195 paint protection, rust protection ($995), leather / interior ($895) and tinting ($695). I don't think the interior protection is worth doing and I think I can have the car tinted locally at a cheaper price.

Rust protection is one I am wondering about - I'm in Nowra so might need to think about that (although the car will be garaged).

Don't waste your money Roy. It's an earner for the dealer.
Paint protection: Just keep your car clean and polish it with a quality polish when it needs it.
Rust protection: I would have said electronic a few years ago but that product has been bastadised by cowboys and so now you don't know what you're getting. I guess fish oil or spray-on Lanolin would do the job.
Leather/Interior: I use Mothers Leather Conditioner every few months.
Tinting: get some prices from local installers.

[2011G6E]

Let me guess...you were led into a separate office and the sales person for the add-ons was a long haired little cutie that flirted with you as if your missus wasn't sitting right there beside you? That's what I have had three times when buying either brand new or relatively new cars that had the offer of paint, upholstery protection, and electronic rust prevention...funny that...

[redxm]

Rust protection... ask them why, do they tend to rust?

[Evil Roy]

Actually, no. I was told by other people that I should get it.... but after researching, almost everyone says the same thing: don't do it.

They haven't said what the rust protection method is, and that was the only area I was really considering.

[ryeman]

Originally Posted by Evil Roy

Actually, no. I was told by other people that I should get it.... but after researching, almost everyone says the same thing: don't do it.

They haven't said what the rust protection method is, and that was the only area I was really considering.

I think the salesman is 'required' to have you speak to the lady, just stick to no thanks. Anything you want you can get at a better price elsewhere or tell them yes to say tinting at the best price you've had quoted by Tint Dr frinstance.
Put the ball back in their court.

[Nikked]

The rust protection usually involves a wax-like substance that they squirt into the cavities...and has a habit of clogging the drainage holes that let the rust causing water out.....

[Brazen]

Get a local detailer to apply Opticoat coating, I got my Camry done. Here it is with an 86 and Falcon.

[ebxr8240]

I wouldn't buy a new car if it needed all that spent on it..
Ask if company directors get it done.. I bet not !!

[Evil Roy]

Thanks to everyone for the replies - much appreciated!

[Nikked]

IMO, Paint protection is nothing but a spray on wax (or in some cases, a ceramic coating)...and usually requires a special car wash (basically a low PH wash, pretty much baby shampoo/bodywash).

Why the special wash?

Some car wash products strip wax coatings form the paint...

[Brazen]

Get an Opticoat or Wolfs Hardboady coating. Most dealer paint protection is just a sealant that washes off after a while and a utter rip off. You want something thick, clear and permanent. A proper coating should take about 8 hours prep work.

[Kieron]

All a waste of money in my view. Never bought any of it and never had issues.

I asked the cutie why I need rust protection when the car has a 5 year rust warranty and I'm likely to trade it after 5 years anyway.

Just clean the car as per normal with a wax once in a while and it will still look good as new in 4 years unless the paint is crap in the first place.

[Rodp]

I hope the girl they wheeled out was at least worth a perv. Cheaper to walk down to the local strip club and actually get better value for your money.

The last few cars I've bought, I like to make them panic. So I have to pay extra because the paint on this car is no good? It's going to rust unless I pay an extra $1000?! Where's the dealer principle, I want to cancel my order..

[superpursuit83]

I have a paint protection on my cars. C1 nanotechnogy. Gets into the paint and just makes it very easy to clean and keeps a nice shine.
Look around for aftermarket stuff.
I had one of them lovely ladies try and tell me if I did my window tint the warranty would be void if The window stopped working.
They use all sorts of tactics.

[rancidpunx]

Say no to the dealer offerings but dont confuse their junk with after market systems like Ceramic Pro and Opticoat.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Let me guess...you were led into a separate office and the sales person for the add-ons was a long haired little cutie that flirted with you as if your missus wasn't sitting right there beside you? That's what I have had three times when buying either brand new or relatively new cars that had the offer of paint, upholstery protection, and electronic rust prevention...funny that...

Ah Yes, the “Bling Bimbo.”

Ironically, whilst anything sold by a dealer is invariably a total rip, there was a time when such things had some purpose. Now days, apart from window tinting which you can get better cheaper from any tint specialist, they are a waste, and often just rubbish.
When I bought the XR4 I actually grilled the BB on the products. She claimed the paint protection was a hard clear coat, and when I pointed out that the car had vinyl stripes she said they could spray it over the top of those too. Similarly, when I pointed out that the seats were both Leather & Cloth, she said they could use the same product on both!?!
Aftermarket rust protection is not going to have any additional effect over and above what is already there, unless you are going to do a lot of off-roading and are worried about scratches to the underside eventually taking their toll? But even there you generally find that most soft-roaders aren’t up to the kind of off-roading that will give you grief.

On woven seat fabrics, something like scotchguard is actually good, in that it does make liquid spills easier to clean off. Buy a can from SCA, you will find that the genuine article is often better than the rubbish they are selling. (You can’t use it on some fabrics because it flattens the pile, so what they are using is probably diluted.

For the “paint protection” use a good quality wax or wipe on polish, and redo as needed. That is effectively all they are using.

[Evil Roy]

Thanks to all. I declined the options, have booked the car in for an exterior detail with a local fella who does show cars, and will get the tinting done locally at a later date ($295 lifetime warranty versus $695 from the dealer).

[Evil Roy]

I got the exterior detailing done for $200 from local detailer, who uses Silver Seal products. I believe it comes with a 3 year warranty.

Anyone have experience with Silver Seal?

I'm planning to have an exterior detail done about ever 6 - 12 months, depending on how well this coating performs.

[Vormund]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Get a local detailer to apply Opticoat coating, I got my Camry done. Here it is with an 86 and Falcon.

image

I see that's Elite Finish there. Took my wife's CX-5 to him for Opticoat. It's brilliant, just go through touchless car wash and it's all good.

Btw I worked at a dealer for a while, and all that was applied was a synthetic wax by 3M. Definitely not worth paying for. Funny thing is, a while ago I bought a new car and when they came to do all the aftermarket crap I said simply that I had worked at another dealership and I know what is applied to the cars. That ended there pretty much on the spot. I did buy another car from the same dealer about 6 months after and he didn't bother sending me to the aftermarket girl at all that time.

[nasss92]

Seek a professional detailers help ! 95% of dealers will do more damage to your car than good. A detailer should be able to customise his work to suit your application with regard to both the paint correction and paint protection ie. 85-90% paint correction on a work vehicle/daily driver as opposed to seeking +95% on a garage queen as well as choosing the correct paint protection

note: long term coatings like opticoat, Gtechniq, 22pple and nanolex have to have paint correction done prior to correction as they are artifical coatings ontop of the clear. Any imperfections in the clearcoat will remain so until the sealant wears out. Once these coatings have bonded they are difficult to remove, are more expensive to apply, and performance are impacted greater upon the correct prep

Most high quality paint sealants (duragloss, wolfs chemicals, zaino) should last between 6 -12 months depending on environment and good quality waxes (dodojuice, collinite, swissvax) will last 2 - 6 months max for the harder/hybrid varieties .

For an idea on price, a professional paint protection detail should start around $250-300 and can range to circa $500-600 (should be atleast 6-12 hours spent on the vehicle, and the price depending entirely on spec's , obviously excluding any additional charges like interior, rim sealants, glass sealants, overly filthy vehicles etc ) . Including actual paint correction, those figures can double