I have a 1990 BMW that I recently had detailed. The guy I used came with good recommendations, was a very nice guy, seemed to know what he was doing, and generally took his time. He burned three edges:
Now. I
think one of these three spots was already burned from before, but I'm certain that one is new. Some panels on the car have been repainted (with clear coat), but most of it is original 25-year-old single-stage paint.
He claims that anyone who polished the car would have burned through as well, because the paint was very thin. He doesn't use a high speed polisher, he uses (I think) a dual action orbital. He spent hours on the car, and most of it looks fantastic.
He knocked $100 off the $450 as a matter of course, and then offered not to charge me when he saw my consternation. He doesn't really think it was his fault, but he does want to make things right. I'm not too concerned about the bill, and will probably pay him regardless, but what I'd really like to know is:
Could this have been avoided?
I'm hoping someone will say "I've been doing this for 30 years, and sometimes there's just no way to get a car shiny without burning an edge. This could have happened to anyone who worked on the paint" because I like the guy, and his service is convenient. I have another car or two I need detailed, and I'm wondering if I should give him another chance.