Dealership Damage Control: Restoring a Mercedes EQA's Three Year Ceramic Coating Here In Bromborough On The Wirral
- kyle
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
It's every car owner's worst nightmare: You take your vehicle to a service centre, only for it to come back damaged. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to a returning client's 2021 Mercedes EQA that was recently back in our studio.
Despite specific instructions, the Mercedes dealership washed the car during a service. The result was heart breaking, the existing ceramic coatings on the body, wheels, and glass were compromised. We found heavy chemical stains, a significant amount of swirls, and some nasty deep scratches etched into the paintwork.
You will have read in a previous blog post with regards to terrible dealership work - The Dealer's Mistake: How We Rescued a New Porsche Cayenne in Bromborough
Thankfully, Mercedes accepted full responsibility for the damage. The car was immediately booked in with us for a comprehensive multi day detail service to completely strip, correct, and re-apply the three year ceramic coatings and multi-surface protection.
The Three-Day Restoration Process
To undo the damage and restore the EQA to a better-than-new condition, we followed our meticulous, multi-stage process - Ceramic Coating
Day 1: Decontamination and Foundation
The first day was entirely dedicated to deep cleaning and preparation.
Wheels-Off Deep Clean: The process began by removing the wheels for a thorough clean. We deep cleaned the arches and brake calipers, chemically and mechanically decontaminating every surface.
Caliper Customisation: The client requested a change, as their calipers were looking "very rusty." We cleaned, prepped, and painted all four brake calipers in a beautiful high-gloss black finish.
Initial Coating Application: With the wheels and glass fully decontaminated, we applied their respective ceramic coatings. Our glass coating is particularly useful for winter driving, promoting water beading and drastically improving visibility.
Paint Preparation: The bodywork was subjected to a full chemical and mechanical decontamination (including a clay bar) to ensure all bonded dirt, fallout, and glue residue from the initial wash damage were fully removed.
Day 2: The Correction Phase (Machine Polishing)
With the foundation set, Day 2 was the most labour intensive phase, the paint correction.
The full day was dedicated to machine polishing the paintwork. This step was crucial for rectifying the severe swirls, deep scratches, and chemical burns caused by the dealership's improper wash media and techniques. We used a variety of machines, including both 3 inch and 5 inch heads, to reach every curve, groove, and tight spot on the vehicle, ensuring a uniform and flawless finish across all panels. The goal was simple, make the paint look "as good as the day it left the showroom."
Day 3: Final Protection & Interior Perfection
The final day brought the protection phase and the interior deep clean.
Ceramic Coating Application: We applied our accredited coating, CarPro C.Quartz Professional, to the entire exterior paintwork. This paintwork protection was also applied to all exterior surfaces, including the front grilles, the lower plastic inserts on the front bumper, and along the side skirts, ensuring maximum longevity.
Interior Deep Clean: The final task was a comprehensive interior detail, deep cleaning the leather seats, mats, and all carpets.
Interior Protection: To finish, we protected the cabin:
Gtechniqs Leather Guard was applied to all leather surfaces (seats, door cards, and steering wheel) to resist staining and wear.
Gtechniqs Smart Fabric was applied to the mats, carpet, and boot liner for lasting protection against spills.
The Takeaway: Choose Your Wash Wisely
This restoration serves as a powerful reminder that harsh chemicals and improper wash media, often used in automated systems or by non specialised staff, can severely damage existing ceramic coatings. While the dealership covered the cost, the time and stress of having your vehicle marred could have been avoided.
When investing in ceramic protection, always ensure you choose a detailer who is competent with the product they use and, most importantly, never let a standard car wash or dealership wash your protected car! - Enquire Now
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