Used car paint issue. (had car 3 weeks)

bikingbarney

Hi all I'm just after some advice really.

I bought a used 11 plate Mondeo from a ford dealer on 29December.

I looked over the car when buying it and it looked to be in reasonable condition apart from a few light scratches over one of the rear wheel arches which when pointed out to the salesman he took it down to the valeter and he machined polished them out to a standard I'm happy with.

I give the car it's first wash yesterday using a jet washer for cars and noticed that some of the paint on the same wheel arch as above has come off.

On closer inspection it looks like it's had a really bad touch up job done with a touch up pen and obviously not a very good one as the paint has come out.

It's a bit strange as I didn't notice it when first viewing the car as you needed to open the rear passenger door to fully see it.

Looking at the area properly it's about 6-7 inches long and has been filled with touch up paint quite badly. How I didn't notice it I don't know.


I was just wondering if I have any comeback against the dealer I bought the car from or is it one of those suck it up moments.


Can post pictures if required.

Thanks.

BB

DUTR

You can post pics if you wish, I do suspect it's a suck it and see episode, the car is a few years old and would have been subject to battle scars during that time, the other thing is that folk get these weak power washers which have a rubbish flow rate, so they put it on needle spray which can lift broken paint.

Alter_ego

Don't think you'll have any comeback if the defect was easy to see.

bikingbarney

Cheers for the replies.

My pressure washer is a nilfisk and has performed faultlessly on every other car I've had.

I'm a bit of a car detailer and know that you shouldn't use the needle spray on a pressure washer hence why my attachment is still in the box.

I'm normally quite a stickler for going over a car body as I don't like dents Tec so I don't really know how I missed this.



As you can see from the not very good pictures it's just inside the door frame so hard to spot from the outside without the door open.

straighttalker

As others have said, you're in a pretty weak position however given that it's a Ford main dealer, it could be worth going down and dealing with the issue amicable to see whether they could do anything for you. It's not worth going in all guns blazing but perhaps if you went in with a good attitude, you might get something. Definitely worth a couple of hours worth of your time if the dealer is local.

EdGasket

...and never use a jet washer on cars. It takes lacquer off, paint off, and gets water where water shouldn't be like inside cable harnesses and other electrics. Only yesterday my nephew had his car pressure washed; afterwards it wouldn't start. They tried to blame the battery notwithstanding the fact he had just driven in there! In 40 years of motoring I've found a bucket, sponge and elbow grease quite adequate to clean all my cars.

colino

Sorry to shift the discussion a bit, but how many miles are on that car and how much did you pay for it? Looks like classic taxi wear to me.

DUTR

bikingbarney wrote: »

Cheers for the replies.

My pressure washer is a nilfisk and has performed faultlessly on every other car I've had.

I'm a bit of a car detailer and know that you shouldn't use the needle spray on a pressure washer hence why my attachment is still in the box.

I'm normally quite a stickler for going over a car body as I don't like dents Tec so I don't really know how I missed this.



As you can see from the not very good pictures it's just inside the door frame so hard to spot from the outside without the door open.

Nilfisk P150 or higher, to be fair if you cannot see it unless the door is open, then I would just touch it up and apply laquer, we are all detailers to a greater or lesser extent.

bikingbarney

colino wrote: »

Sorry to shift the discussion a bit, but how many miles are on that car and how much did you pay for it? Looks like classic taxi wear to me.

It's not an ex taxi.

11 plate with 69k motorway miles as backed up by the previous owner.

What's the issue with using a jet washer ?

Millions around the world use them on their cars everyday.

It hasn't damaged the rest of the car paintwork just the dodgy touch up.


To be honest I can t work out how it's happened as there is no damage to the door or surrounding area.

Dealer is 600 miles away as we bought the car whilst down at the in-laws over the Xmas period.

neilmcl

You have no comeback, you had the opportunity to go over the car and you missed it. It's a 4/5 year old used car, paint touch ups, whether by the dealer or previous owner are inevitable.

You've now discovered it with the help of your pressure washer so you can now have a better opportunity of fixing it if you choose.

You should be able to make a half decent job with Chipex or a Paints4u kit.

colino

OP, I am on your side, but recheck the story about higher than average miles due to motorway miles. Why then are there classic rub marks from mucho entry and exit to the back seat? The other possibility is a repair to the back arch and the paint is thinner as the painter washed it out as it wouldn't be too visible with the door closed.
Worth having locally repaired by a recommended paintshop if you are keeping it, it is a strong colour (if you keep it clean!).