Q5 New Q5 - Swirl Marks in Paint

[Baxt]

Hi all,

Was looking for a bit of advice please. I've been looking at a Q5 for about 6 months now (I've currently got an A5 Black Edition) and finally took the plunge and put a deposit on one last week. It was in the dealers group stock and it was delivered to the dealer yesterday. I went to have a look today and it has quite a few swirl marks on the paintwork. I had asked that it wasn't washed before I took delivery of it but it was washed at the dealership it was originally at as it was on display as part of an event they had. They have said they will get the local detailer they sometimes use to remedy this but I'm concerned this will cover them for a short while but they will then return. It's taken the shine (excuse the pun!!) off getting the Q5. I'm not sure what to do as I'm spending a lot of money on a car that doesn't now feel pristine.

 

[V6_Man]

Hi all,

Was looking for a bit of advice please. I've been looking at a Q5 for about 6 months now (I've currently got an A5 Black Edition) and finally took the plunge and put a deposit on one last week. It was in the dealers group stock and it was delivered to the dealer yesterday. I went to have a look today and it has quite a few swirl marks on the paintwork. I had asked that it wasn't washed before I took delivery of it but it was washed at the dealership it was originally at as it was on display as part of an event they had. They have said they will get the local detailer they sometimes use to remedy this but I'm concerned this will cover them for a short while but they will then return. It's taken the shine (excuse the pun!!) off getting the Q5. I'm not sure what to do as I'm spending a lot of money on a car that doesn't now feel pristine.
View attachment 165751

These swirl marks are pretty standard on all stealership cars tbh. If I was you I wouldn’t let either the dealer or their detailer touch the car, at all. Just take the keys from them on the day you are picking it up and book it in with a professional detailer and they will fix it for you. Happy days!

And congrats on the new purchase!

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[isleaiw]

Lovely looking car, dont let the swirls bother you too much.

Get the dealer to pay for you to take to a detailer of your choice and await getting a lovely smooth and shiny car with the added bonus of a ceramic coat. Costs about £600 all in - given you are getting ceramic coat as well, if dealer pays half that will be a good deal.

I had mine done because I wanted to, paint wasnt too bad - but it looked much better after!

https://www.definitionsdetailing.co.uk/audisq5correction

 

[Dan_G]

Having had a Navarra blue S3 and now an SQ5 i feel qualified enough to say that this is the worst colour for swirling I have ever had - closely followed by the Estoril Blue S3 i had before the Navarra one.

I am meticulous in my cleaning regime and have all the products (snow foam, double buckets, lambs wool mits etc) and still have managed to swirl the paintwork on my car having only cleaned it 4 times.

I think its just a feature of new Audi top coat being soft - I have no issue on my A4 Cab which is 10 years old now and can be corrected with a decent wax.

As above, id negotiate as much off as you can and then take it to a professional correction company and have it ceramic coated.

 

[Terminator x]

@FranA3

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[Evil Derboy]

It’s dealership stock so to be expected. It’ll have been washed a few times before it came to you. Just get it detailed and ceramic coated and you’re good to go.

 

[NevMan]

@FranA3

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+1

 

[mxnrg]

Congrats on the purchase, colour and alloys look great. Everyone has given the same advice I would, get £400+ off the price and find a detailer of your choice to fix the paintwork.


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[Kuku]

Congrats on the purchase, colour and alloys look great. Everyone has given the same advice I would, get £400+ off the price and find a detailer of your choice to fix the paintwork.


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As above really...

Congrats on the car however

 

[FranA3]

Hi to the OP, where are you based? Thanks to all for the recommendations, need to know where he is based and can go from there


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[Baxt]

Thanks all. The dealership are adamant they will use a local detailer (waiting to get the name!!) so they feel this will remedy the issue, they aren't interested in giving me anything off to go to one of my choosing. Apparently this is being done tomorrow so I'll have to see what it looks like afterwards. I've told them if I don't think it's acceptable I'll cancel the order, which they didn't seem too bothered about to be honest!! I can't believe car dealerships have no idea how to wash a car, my A5 is Sepang Blue and I had a similiar issue with that after the dealership cleaned it....morons.

 

[Baxt]

Hi to the OP, where are you based? Thanks to all for the recommendations, need to know where he is based and can go from there


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Hi, I'm near Birmingham so probably a bit far.

 

[Baxt]

Lovely looking car, dont let the swirls bother you too much.

Get the dealer to pay for you to take to a detailer of your choice and await getting a lovely smooth and shiny car with the added bonus of a ceramic coat. Costs about £600 all in - given you are getting ceramic coat as well, if dealer pays half that will be a good deal.

I had mine done because I wanted to, paint wasnt too bad - but it looked much better after!

https://www.definitionsdetailing.co.uk/audisq5correction

Fantastic looking car!!!

 

[Terminator x]

Any time Audi have washed my car they have scratched it or swirled it without exception. They do not wash it anymore even though they offer every time. In fact they did wash it one time recently even though asked twice not to wash it!

TX.

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[NevMan]

Any time Audi have washed my car they have scratched it or swirled it without exception. They do not wash it anymore even though they offer every time. In fact they did wash it one time recently even though asked twice not to wash it!

TX.

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Agree, which I why I put these all over the car, as others do, and tell them that if they wash, they WILL pay for a fix by @FranA3

 

[V6_Man]

Any time Audi have washed my car they have scratched it or swirled it without exception. They do not wash it anymore even though they offer every time. In fact they did wash it one time recently even though asked twice not to wash it!

TX.

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Agree with TX and @q5man. Here is another example of the 'complimentary' wash by Oxford Audi. The car is going for boot respray Friday this week and back to my detailer for ceramic coating. This was after I told them not to wash the car as well as left a 'Do Not Wash' note inside

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[Baxt]

Hi all, the dealer has come back to me. The detailer has been working on it today and they have sent me these pictures. I have asked what they have done to get the car to this state (machine polishing etc) and am waiting for a reponse. Would be interested in your views on the attached before and after photos?

 

[Terminator x]

Seems like you're not listening to us fella as you've just let them get on with it

TX.

 

[T-800]

Any time Audi have washed my car they have scratched it or swirled it without exception. They do not wash it anymore even though they offer every time. In fact they did wash it one time recently even though asked twice not to wash it!

TX.

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You sure we can’t tempt you with a wash?.....

 

[NevMan]

Seems like you're not listening to us fella as you've just let them get on with it

TX.

Yep, dealers “detailer” are notoriously shyte, and potentially used polish with fillers that hides swirls etc so quick fix

 

[Evil Derboy]

Look you’re not going to get £400 off the car for you to get it detailed. Accept that if you want it perfect that’s an outlay that you need to stomach. Why should they sell it too you at £400 less margin when the next guy might not give a monkeys about swirls. Take it as is. Run it through the winter then get it machine polished and coated by a proper detailer. Will cost you £600 for a good one including a ceramic coating. If you’re fussy about paintwork this is par for the course unless your buying a car that the dealer is desperate to off-load.

 

[V6_Man]

Hi all, the dealer has come back to me. The detailer has been working on it today and they have sent me these pictures. I have asked what they have done to get the car to this state (machine polishing etc) and am waiting for a reponse. Would be interested in your views on the attached before and after photos?

Something is better than nothing. However, and like everyone has mentioned above a professional detailer will be able to do a lot better. For example the 'dot' in the second picture has to be smaller and clearer (read crystal clear) than what it currently is. An example below of a similar S5 done by a professional detailer:

Having said that, if you are happy with the results than what we say doesn't matter!



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[NevMan]

Something is better than nothing. However, and like everyone has mentioned above a professional detailer will be able to do a lot better. For example the 'dot' in the second picture has to be smaller and clearer (read crystal clear) than what it currently is. An example below of a similar S5 done by a professional detailer:

Having said that, if you are happy with the results than what we say doesn't matter!



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Too true

 

[Baxt]

Seems like you're not listening to us fella as you've just let them get on with it

TX.

I am listening. As I said they weren’t interested in giving me any money to go to another detailer. Therefore my options were take it away with the marks on it or let them do what they said and try to remedy it.

 

[Baxt]

Look you’re not going to get £400 off the car for you to get it detailed. Accept that if you want it perfect that’s an outlay that you need to stomach. Why should they sell it too you at £400 less margin when the next guy might not give a monkeys about swirls. Take it as is. Run it through the winter then get it machine polished and coated by a proper detailer. Will cost you £600 for a good one including a ceramic coating. If you’re fussy about paintwork this is par for the course unless your buying a car that the dealer is desperate to off-load.

I know I’m not going to get the money from them. I don’t think I’m being fussy by expecting a car I’m spending nearly £45k on to not have swirl marks on. You wouldn’t buy a new TV and then expect to fix some pixels on it. Thanks for the advice though, I’ll go to a detailer after the winter. If anybody knows a good detailer in the Midlands please let me know.

 

[Baxt]

Something is better than nothing. However, and like everyone has mentioned above a professional detailer will be able to do a lot better. For example the 'dot' in the second picture has to be smaller and clearer (read crystal clear) than what it currently is. An example below of a similar S5 done by a professional detailer:

Having said that, if you are happy with the results than what we say doesn't matter!



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Great, thanks for the advice.

 

[Evil Derboy]

I know I’m not going to get the money from them. I don’t think I’m being fussy by expecting a car I’m spending nearly £45k on to not have swirl marks on. You wouldn’t buy a new TV and then expect to fix some pixels on it. Thanks for the advice though, I’ll go to a detailer after the winter. If anybody knows a good detailer in the Midlands please let me know.

You’re not being fussy in my book but compared to the average man in the street who doesn’t frequent car forums, you probably are and that’s why, as enthusiasts we need to get these problems sorted on our own must of the time.

 

[NevMan]

I know I’m not going to get the money from them. I don’t think I’m being fussy by expecting a car I’m spending nearly £45k on to not have swirl marks on. You wouldn’t buy a new TV and then expect to fix some pixels on it. Thanks for the advice though, I’ll go to a detailer after the winter. If anybody knows a good detailer in the Midlands please let me know.

My brand new Black Q5 had some swirls on collection, so just ended up getting car properly detailed, which as you say you will do.
Sorry, can't help with anyone up in the midlands, but somebody else will. Might be worth you posting a new thread on that in the detailing section of the forum