The downside of detailing

[montecristo]

I just had the car (V8V) detailed. So far, so good. But when I picked it up, I noticed a raft of chip marks on the front of each rear arch. I had never noticed these before, and the photos the dealer sent me when I bought the car in October didn't show them either (I'm not suggesting the dealer hid them). But they do seem like chip marks, rather than something that might have happened during detailing. The front of the car isn't half as chipped, so I'm surprised the arches suffered more (the detailer reckons the car's been resprayed by previous owners, as evidenced by some sort-of-pock-marks all over the car).

Apparently, these stone chips on the rear arches are common with old Astons ('07). And they can't be detailed out since they are a complete absence of paint.

Has anyone had a similar experience, or any insight here?

Dealer photo 1:




Dealer photo 2:




Post-detail photo 1:




Post detail photo 2:

[B17NNS]

Perhaps the dealer used Colour Magic wax to mask them?

Perhaps you could do the same?

[zvezdah]

Mine has clear film in those areas, I know alot of cars have film because this area takes a beating, I'd assumed this was factory installed.
Chris

[petesv8v]

Yes that's a quite normal place to get chips - is there no original factory protective film at these positions on your car ,cannot tell from the pictures.

The situation can be helped by fitting 'mud' guards to the front arches but I believe they only readily fit early version sills -have them on my 2007.

[montecristo]

There's no film there. Perhaps it isn't factory standard or perhaps it got taken off when the car was resprayed.

[mikey k]

The rear arch film is and was standard from the factory
You could descope it (I did on mine)
Lunablack did a great DIY thread on how to sort this out
I had a higher version fitted on both mine that follows the swage line of the wing

[IanV12VR]

All mine have had film protection on the rear arches so I think you are probably right that it got taken off when re-sprayed and not put back. It is essential kit in my opinion and when I had the front of the car done they also took off the factory film and replaced with film which protected from the door to the wheel arch. It cannot be seen but does a great job of protecting the rear arches. I think I would always do that in future.

[MollyGTi]

Are you sure you haven't been the victim of some sort of scam - those two cars are completely different colours! I would ask for the original one back

[AndyBrew]

MollyGTi said:

Are you sure you haven't been the victim of some sort of scam - those two cars are completely different colours! I would ask for the original one back

I'm colour blind and didn't like to say anything!

[bogie]

well my 2006 car has film half way up the rear arches, and is peppered now after 67k miles ...as in the front bumper

all pretty normal wear in normal road driving ....all you can do is have it resprayed and protective film kit fitted immediately all over ...otherwise the chips will come back with time

i think the newer water based paints on composite panels are all like this...certainly my old Lotus was just the same until i got it sprayed and film on

[AMDBSNick]

Once you have sorted it front mudflaps will also help

[robgt]

Fitting stone guards will all but stop the gravel rash. Don't be told that they won't fit because they can be made to do so. Also no need to buy genuine AM ones. I paid £110 supplied and fitted.

[northernmedia]

Yep I have this gravel rash on my 50k mile 07 - I've fitted the small stone guards and may look at getting it painted at some point.

[bomberh]

AMDBSNick said:

Once you have sorted it front mudflaps will also help

I have stone guards on my V8V, like Nick said, they "will also help", but do not alleviate the problem completely.

[AMDBSNick]

bomberh said:

I have stone guards on my V8V, like Nick said, they "will also help", but do not alleviate the problem completely.

I had them fitted

[bogie]

I have the front mud flaps/stone guards too ...sure they helped a bit, but it still looks like someone fired a shotgun at the rear arches

[bomberh]

AMDBSNick said:

bomberh said:

I have stone guards on my V8V, like Nick said, they "will also help", but do not alleviate the problem completely.

I had them fitted

Thanks very much Nick

[Jon1967x]

Exactly the same on the wifes Z4. I had the BMW stoneguard film on my X5 and that looked just as bad after a while as the film scuffed up (I know there's a self healing one you can get now)

Do the N420 and V12 sills fair better?

[mikey k]

Jon1967x said:

Exactly the same on the wifes Z4. I had the BMW stoneguard film on my X5 and that looked just as bad after a while as the film scuffed up (I know there's a self healing one you can get now)

Do the N420 and V12 sills fair better?

I've had the Ventureshield on both mine for a total of 23k miles now and seen very little scuffing
Both had the rear arch up to the swage line well above where the factory piece goes
Can't comment on the sills of either model as both mine had stone guards and Venture shield to them
I wonder if the N400/420 sill shape is worse than the V12/S sill?

[Jon1967x]

mikey k said:

I wonder if the N400/420 sill shape is worse than the V12/S sill?

Not sure if you are repeating or asking The sill shape is flared out as opposed to the original which is rounded under - so stones are more likely to catch the bottom of the sill rather than the visible side was my hunch.

To be clear - I meant the N400/420 and V12 against the regular original one

Edited by Jon1967x on Wednesday 4th June 17:03