Hi There,
Has anyone got Paint protection on their 380 or other cars? What are the pros and cons. I am tending to believe that it is the biggest waste of money I spent on mine. After speaking to the guy who applied it who stated that all they do is spray some stuff over the car I am very disappointed.
After peoples opinions.
Cheers,

Paul
S3 380 VRX

I got a package on mine called Fifth Dimension body protection (I've seen the sticker on other new cars so its not exclusively a Mitsubishi thing). It included interior fabric clean/protection, exterior detail for paint protection, and some kind of rust protection underneath. I'm inclined to agree it was a waste of money - a good detail would have acheived the same thing, and as for the rest, new car shouldn't rust if looked after, and seats will be okay if kept clean, etc.
In my case it included a free window tint, but I wouldn't bother with it again.

Hmm.. Here goes an essay post..

How much did you guys pay for these packs?

I can tell you now that the reason dealers push these packs so hard is because there is MASSIVE amounts of profit in the sale of each pack. I know that the fifth dimension pack EXCLUDING window tint costs the dealer around $550-600 applied. They then usually sell the pack to the customer for around $1,500.. so about 2/3 of the sale price is pure profit.

I am a detailer, and I do not beleive in Paint Protection and I have only ever sold 3 protection packs in my 2 years of owning my business because I don't believe in the product to begin with to even bother selling it.

I have however detailed numerous cars that have had 5th Dimension, MotorOne, MING, Wax Guard etc applied. In particular I just buffed a blue Honda Euro Accord, 2005 model that had the Defense Pak on it and after a buff, the car looked like brand new again. The paint protection is now obviously removed, but it did provide some form of protection on the car.

I have detailed others though, where the protection has failed, discoloured or simply didnt do what it was supposed to do. Bird **** has eaten through the protection layer, as have insect carcases. A decent Paint Protection is supposed to prevent this from happening and in most cases, it doesn't.

You are also supposed to wash it with the supplied washing solution so the warranty remains valid, but that again is just another ploy to make more money out of you.

The only thing I would promote is fabric/carpet protection. This can prevent staining from spilt coffee etc and makes the fabrics much easier to clean when they do become dirty. However, why would you pay hundreds to have this stuff applied when it is essentially a $15 can of scotchguard that you can get from woolworths/safeway. The cans I buy from my supplier cost me $9.80. I need 2 to do one car, and I can charge $250 for the application. It is far cheaper than most dealers, but it is still nearly 100% profit. Best way is to buy a can and DIY.

In short, If you wash your car at least fortnightly and give it a decent coat of wax every 3 months, then you wouldnt need to fork out $1500+ in some cases for paint protection.

The other thing I simply don't get is people that religiously have it applied to their new car that they only intend on keeping for a couple of years. Why? What a complete waste of money. And rust proofing on cars these days isn't needed because the majority of cars now days are plastic, they wont rust and the come with an anti-corrosion warranty from the manufacturer.

My nan has a Honda Civic, bought new in 2000. Lives on the beach, and car has been left outside since day one and there isnt any signs of rust (even surface rust) so why apply rust protection? If any car was going to rust it would be something like this, in that environment over the period of 9 years.

Also, as I say, save youself the intial outlay of $1500 and spend it on a $300 FULL DETAIL once a year for 5 years and your car will be guaranteed to look like new still after 5 years.

Can't remember the exact price I paid (without going through my receipts) but $1,500 sounds about right. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but wouldn't do it again.
I do wash my car always at least once a fortnight, or more often if raining a lot (what choice have you got with a black car?), but it hasn't been waxed or polished since the dealer did that Fifth Dimension thing (almost 3 years ago). That is, I've never done it; I didn't want to do a bodgy job and stuff it up.
Interior is spotless, though is only cleaned once or twice a year (it's not a large crowd-carrying car).
I miss the finish of a good detail and want to get one again soon, and then regularly. I've noticed (and here's a question for other non-polished black 380 owners) a dirt build up on the rear-facing area of the bootlid - that is, the area between the tail lights. This area never shines anymore, but rest of car is okay.

When i bought the TL they tried to sell it to me. When i asked how much it would be they are like "oh its only another 5 dollars a week", no i asked how much, all up, which ends up being around 1300. When i said no she got all condescending saying "tell me, do you enjoy being outside in the cold, polishing your whole car by hand?" and the gf piped up "yes, actually he does"... its true.

She said it had a warranty on it, and all i would need to do is have it inspected every year where, if it was damaged, they would reapply. Im sure this inspection isnt free, and as was said above, there would be special cleaners i would need to use. Its like my friend who bought a new house and paid for termite protection. Now he has the privileged of paying 400 per year to have it redone, even if there are no signs of them.

I need to get my car detailed :(

Paint protection is usually just a sealant applied to the paint. Fabric protection is just Scotchgard or something even cheaper. Rust protection is a complete waste on new cars as they come with it out of the factory.
The best way to take care of your car is to wash every week, wax every 3 months and remove bird poo/tree sap ASAP.
By that, I don't mean use a sponge with dishwashing liquid and use Kit Wax.

Well It looks as though most are in agreement. Paint protection is a waste of Money. I personally paid $1295 which included paint, Fabric, Window Tint and Rust protection. There was marks on the paint that I thought should have been removed and when I questioned the Dealer he stated they would be. I pick up the vehicle and the interior looks worse than it did when I drove the car and the paint looks no different. I call into Tint a car to get a window re-tinted to find that the dealer made $200 on the tint alone, they also stated that the tint I have is only guaranteed for 7 years not life like the dealer advised. Before I purchased this car I advised people to never get Paint protection and what do I do I get it. Never ever again. I beleive that the car will look a million percent better when I polish it myself.

Thanks guys for the feedback.

TravsGTV would be a good person to ask as he work at Mitsubishi as a detailer so he could tell you his experiences aswell.

I simply wouldn't bother with paint protection, for the reasons mentioned by RINGA///ART.

it hasn't been waxed or polished since the dealer did that Fifth Dimension thing (almost 3 years ago). That is, I've never done it; I didn't want to do a bodgy job and stuff it up.
Doesn't matter anyway, the terms and conditions would probably state that the application of any wax or polish other than what they sell would void any warranty on the paint protection. If you're applying a polish or wax by hand though, it's basically impossible to damage your car, unless you're being careless.

The best way to take care of your car is to wash every week, wax every 3 months and remove bird poo/tree sap ASAP. By that, I don't mean use a sponge with dishwashing liquid and use Kit Wax.
Too true - prevention is better than cure imo.

My old man has a 2.5 year old VE Commodore which still looks brand new. It's washed properly at home by hand every couple of weeks - it's never seen the wrath of a commercial car wash scrubbing brush, nor has anyone outside the family washed it. Detailing is pretty minimal - just a coat of wax or an AIO every couple of months by hand. Never had a paint correction. It helps that it's white, but even in full sun, swirling is minimal. I reckon it looks better than brand new models still on the showroom floor.

I bought my car ... signed on the dotted line then the nice salesman went away an out came 2 girls dressed up with cleavage showing and they took me to the "add on room"

What a crock ... does anyone fall for this sales trick? I sure didn't. I just said to the girl "look I have no money now i've bought the car so can we skip this part?"

:badgrin:

Yep,same here Fantaysia.

I bought my car ... signed on the dotted line then the nice salesman went away an out came 2 girls dressed up with cleavage showing and they took me to the "add on room"



:badgrin:
I had a similar thing.

I just looked at their hooters and said... "**** they are impressive"

They seemed a bit miffed by my comments and didn't want to spend much time with me after that. :hmm:

Two busty wenches with full cleavage ashowing? Damn I didn't get any of that and I DID buy the silly deal. :rant:
EDIT: cleavage + polishing product = homer drool

I personally had a guy who told me how good it was showed me car that had it applied and I was sold. I wish I had two Busty Wenches though as I may have drooled lots then mostly on the stupid paperwork.

I personally had a guy who told me how good it was showed me car that had it applied and I was sold. I wish I had two Busty Wenches though as I may have drooled lots then mostly on the stupid paperwork.

Maybe they thought you were gay :ninja:

I bought my car ... signed on the dotted line then the nice salesman went away an out came 2 girls dressed up with cleavage showing and they took me to the "add on room"

What a crock ... does anyone fall for this sales trick? I sure didn't. I just said to the girl "look I have no money now i've bought the car so can we skip this part?"

:badgrin:


Was the cleavage for sale? If so, how much??:facejump:

Have any of our ladies had the same thing happen with "007" coming in to sell thousand dollar tint?

How extremely sexist! Using cleavage to sell things to us blokes! Do they really think we are THAT gullible? Whatever next? Girls in bikinis smiling at us and encouraging us to drink a particular brand of beer? Im SO INSULTED!!!!

Was also talked into it when i purchased the car. When i went back for the first annual check up on it the service manager wrote down that i had marked and scratch the inside of the bootlid. I questioned this and told him that i doubt if this was applied to the inside of the boot. Have not gone back for the second year service
Total waste of cash

i got the paint protection spiel today. its so easy when insurance is paying lol

a little off the set topic here, but related in a way

we got a BA MkII in at work atm / just leaving after being completed
and the owner made a HUUUGE fuss about making sure the paint protection was reapplied to the car - coz it protects it.... obv not from the massive POST that she drove into but still
we had to prove to the insurance company that yes the owner of the vehicle did indeed get the paint protection pack - which then resulted in requiring the receipts and proof etc etc etc
that dragged on for a week us waiting for her to get us the paperwork we needed to get it approved - took the car over there today to get it done - and all they did, was spray *something* on the car, then get the closest 5year old out to come and rub it all in. then done?
250bucks for that?!

(mind you that 250 did include our markup on it too...)

+1 for the its a waste of money bandwagon, esp after watching the paint protection be 'reapplied' to the vehicle...

I dunno maybe some are better than others? ...... I always get my new cars done through a mate so I get it real cheap (about 1/4 what the dealers want) along with all the other stuff, tint, rustproofing, fabric/leather protection, sound deadning.

For me my cars are company cars & I rarely wash them (except for the 380) & they give me some reviver stuff to wash them with when I do. It could be a year & when I wash them the paintwork comes up like new. Even 5 years down the track when I hit the paintwork with this reviver wash to sell the car it comes up like new.

All I'm saying is there is paint protection & then there is paint protection. Some is crap & I believe what I get through my mate really works & is good stuff.

I dunno maybe some are better than others? ...... I always get my new cars done through a mate so I get it real cheap (about 1/4 what the dealers want) along with all the other stuff, tint, rustproofing, fabric/leather protection, sound deadning.

For me my cars are company cars & I rarely wash them (except for the 380) & they give me some reviver stuff to wash them with when I do. It could be a year & when I wash them the paintwork comes up like new. Even 5 years down the track when I hit the paintwork with this reviver wash to sell the car it comes up like new.

All I'm saying is there is paint protection & then there is paint protection. Some is crap & I believe what I get through my mate really works & is good stuff.

yeah, true.. Some are ok, some aren't.

I'd recommend that if you wanted it (for the right reasons) then get it done by an 'outside professional' because they usually wont put as much markup as the dealer on the packs.

My packs I sell for Paint/Fabric/Leather/Vinyl/Plastic that comes with a 3 year written warranty (that is warranted not only by the manufacturer of the product but by me as an individual too) is $660-$770 depending on size of the vehicle. I use a product that I beleive is better than any of the dealers in my area offer and is nearly a third of the price and is warranted by 2 parties too.

But if people are buying it with the intention of not looking after their vehicle or washing it regularly (basically buying it as a 'i never need to wash or polish my car and it will always look clean' type scenario) then I won't recomend it to them because it WILL just end up being a waste of money and the customer will end up being pissd off and saying it is rubbish. It doesn't last forever and its performance depends heavily on the maintenance process that is put into practice after it is applied.

yeah, true.. Some are ok, some aren't.

I'd recommend that if you wanted it (for the right reasons) then get it done by an 'outside professional' because they usually wont put as much markup as the dealer on the packs.

My packs I sell for Paint/Fabric/Leather/Vinyl/Plastic that comes with a 3 year written warranty (that is warranted not only by the manufacturer of the product but by me as an individual too) is $660-$770 depending on size of the vehicle. I use a product that I beleive is better than any of the dealers in my area offer and is nearly a third of the price and is warranted by 2 parties too.

But if people are buying it with the intention of not looking after their vehicle or washing it regularly (basically buying it as a 'i never need to wash or polish my car and it will always look clean' type scenario) then I won't recomend it to them because it WILL just end up being a waste of money and the customer will end up being pissd off and saying it is rubbish. It doesn't last forever and its performance depends heavily on the maintenance process that is put into practice after it is applied.
This touches on a query I'd been holding onto for a while...
I do miss the silky smooth finish my car had from the protection pack polish (regardless of the value of the pack). I do wash the car regularly, at least fortnightly if not too dirty - or weekly if dirty. The polish was good for about a year, and the car feels about normal again now.
I wanted to put some questions to the public, but as you're a professional in this area, I'm fire them at you instead.
What would be the cost of a detail which ONLY covers the exterior of the car (no wheels, tyres, glass or plastic - just the black body). I'm not interesting in longterm warranties or interior treatments, and am willing to continue the details on a regular basis (twice a year?) in addition to my regular washing.
Also how long would that take? Is it a while-you-wait thing? Or drop off and come back later?

No rust Protection was done on the car TJ.

Grubco - Go the Clay Bar to get the silky smooth - After you wash it next time place your hand in a plastic shopping bag and rub it on the paint you will probably feel all the grit. the claybar will take that off - I am using the Bowdens products at the moment and are very happy with them. Not cheap but the black has come up a treat.
To do the whole car with the claybar, Paint cleanser and then the wax it took about 4 hours. good theng about this stuff is it is not hard to use and will not leave that nice white overuse on the car. Have a look at their website

POINTLESS!!!!!!Even if any of this crapola DID provide any protection, it would only be in 10-15 years time, and not the 1st,2nd and 3rd owners. Who keeps their cars for that long anyway??
Love the wenches...
(stern tone of voice, leaning ever so slightly forward to display cleavage)"Now Mr Smith, youve just made an important purchasing descision, surely you wish to protect said investment by purchasing some overpriced margin increasing dealer addons that provide negligable benefit" (tilts head to one side)
"No"
(leans forward further this time)"OH? why not" (tone implies that car will disintergrate without protection)
"Because of remaining FACTORY warranty, FACTORY galvanising and the fact that I will probably have sold this car within 2-3 yrs"
(leans back defeated)"oh,ummm....."(rubber band in brain snaps)
MAIN NORTH NISSAN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!

my TJ got it for a decent price. Electric antenna, window tint, bonnet / headlight protectors (i removed these as soon as i got the car) and the pearl paint upgrade for just over $2000.

they actually fixed a scratch too.

I got my GT 4 weeks ago and it was already 3 1/2 years old

The dealer knew ABSOLUTELY nothing about the car when I ask simple questions like service intervals ETC (BTW I already knew these)

I signed the paperwork and organised to pick it up after a oil change

I was then sent to a Customer CARE rep who harrassed my wife about protecting the paint and getting tint etc etc

I then asked nicely what kind of tint would be applied if tint would be applied as part of the package
(now due to the rear window glass housing the antenna there has being issues with metalised tint) she told me it was the best metalised tint

I then said thanks I will decline and walked out
Stupid Customer care reps

as far as PAINT PROTECTION goes, i purchased ULTRAGLOSS products the total care system - under $200 takes a while to put on... but it lasts around 6months if its parked out side in the rain. I have had it on for around 4 months now and its stil on - water beads offf when you wet it - silicone based wax.

Got a linky ??

It is not the Glassplexin stuff is it??

cause its on the list of things I need to do

NO NO not that - i dono if i can send the link here... Just type "ultragloss total" in google and it comes up (limit pages to aust only). Its got liek a undercoat kinda thing - which removes the previous wax and all so that the wax wil stick, then it has the actual wax (or you can have the extra step of having the swirl remover) i got the bonding agent with the wax itself for about $45 for both. does around 15cars. Wax in hot weather melts and when it rains bye bye to wax, silcone dries and like plastic it doenst melt in the sun lasts alot longer.

Is it the danish stuff???
http://www.ultra-gloss.com/index.html

just to let you know

If you have silicon products on your car if it needs to go to the smash repairer he will not like you one bit

Oh yea i knwo - you have to SAND it properly before you spray it - let me tell you i rather have my car sanded propely before its sprayed rather than not use silcone and mage it a easier job for him - and a worse job for me

PM me and ill send you the link.
you got hte rong one.

SORRY brother its duragloss - i made a mistake. My apologies