Need advice on factory scratch

by **Blade Hunter** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:36 am

Hi, so I was cleaning my car the other day and I discovered a perfectly straight scratch that runs the roof from the above the passenger door to above the the driver door (just in front of the sunroof).

Due to it being so straight it is pretty clear to me that this was on there when I got the car.

We picked the car up at 6:00pm in massive rain and it was very dark so of course i didn't see it.

I have now had the car for 2 months and put 5,000 K's on it. If I mention it to the dealer will they simply laugh at me and claim I put the scratch in there? It looks like it has been done by some sort of machinery, it is quite deep and like I said runs the entire width of the roof.

There is also a slightly smaller but similar scratch at the back on the roof, this leads me to think maybe a low forklift or something??

Really appreciate your input please.

by **Ric** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:30 am

Are you sure it's an actual scratch?
My wife's car had a similar line, which was in fact leftover glue from the protective plastic film they have over the car before delivery.
It wasn't visible when the car was picked up, but eventually some dirt stuck to it so it stood out.
It did clean off with some effort.

by **Blade Hunter** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:42 am

Ric wrote:Are you sure it's an actual scratch?
My wife's car had a similar line, which was in fact leftover glue from the protective plastic film they have over the car before delivery.
It wasn't visible when the car was picked up, but eventually some dirt stuck to it so it stood out.
It did clean off with some effort.

You know, I never even thought of that, I will check it out this weekend

Thanks

by **LOWLIB** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:04 am

check for the glue.. my old man just picked up their new prado and it had a similar thing on the bonnet and i had a look at it and it did come off with some cleaning i got a friend who is a detailer to do it for me so im not sure what he used on it.

by **Ric** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:08 am

I'd try just some car polish and elbow grease.

by **Kevlar GT** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 12:43 pm

Ric wrote:I'd try just some car polish and elbow grease.

Yep, you get elbow grease next to the striped paint and left handed hammers.

by **Mr Cali** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:25 pm

If it's glue wipe it with wax and grease remover (prepsol), it will come pretty easy. Don't forget to wax your car again afterwards as it will strip all your paint protection off.

by **subarugt** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:08 pm

I don't think dealer will admit it unless you spot it before you take delivery. but You can try. Please let us know how did it go. I hope your car will be fine.

by **swingn** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:11 pm

I don't there is any point trying to get the dealership to accept fault at this late stage. They are more then likely just going to say you did it & that when it left them it was perfect... Thus why I went over the EVO with a fine tooth come (& so did Mr Senator) when I collected it, that way everything was listed on the paper work

+1 to what Ric suggest btw... When going over my car when I picked it up I thought there were stratches, but it turned out to be glue from all the stickers etc.

by **Tank** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:28 pm

I really thought they cleaned cars better than that when you were picking it up from inside the showroom. Leaving glue on the paint really isn't acceptable.

by **swingn** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:31 pm

^^^

Not arguement from me... But I guess it depends on the colour of the car... If it was white or silver, that sort of thing would stick out like dogs balls. But on a black or dark coloured car, it's not exactly the easiest thing to see.

by **Tank** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:50 pm

Surely they would know where the glue sits though and clean it anyway on a dark car to be sure. Maybe I am just expecting to much.

by **Hobber** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:45 pm

Tank wrote:I really thought they cleaned cars better than that when you were picking it up from inside the showroom. Leaving glue on the paint really isn't acceptable.

They left the blue plastic on the door sill plates on my car! I didn't really notice (I thought they were meant to be blue!) until it bubbled a bit

by **Blade Hunter** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:57 am

Thanks guys, your knowledge saved me a lot of hassle. It was indeed glue.

It's a silver car and I never noticed it until the car was a bit dirty as the dirt stuck to the glue.

I now noticed it also just above the tail lights, It's unbelievable how much glue has been left on this car.

by **moggy** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:23 am

They're hoping you'll "stick" with Subaru! :lol:

Bob.