Professional Detailer damaged my R18 – Need Advice!

[xavic5]

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to the community because I’m in a bit of a nightmare scenario with a local detailing shop. I took my R18 in for a full wash, polish, and ceramic coating, but it came back with significant cosmetic damage.

As you can see in the attached photos, there are "milky" stains, chemical spotting, and discoloration across several surfaces:

• The Instrument Cluster/Display: It looks like chemical etching on the screen/glass.
• The "1800cc" Badges: Severe staining and what looks like "burning" on the finish.
• Chrome Engine Components: Deep spotting and streaks on the pushrod tubes and cylinder head covers.

The shop has acknowledged the issue and claims they can "polish it all out" next week. However, given the state they left the bike in, I’ve lost confidence in their technical ability. I’m particularly worried that the damage to the display and the badges might be permanent if the protective coating or the metal finish itself has been chemically compromised.

Has anyone here dealt with similar chemical damage?

1. Is it actually possible to polish these specific R18 badges and the display back to factory condition, or do they require replacement?
2. Are there specific products or techniques you've used to successfully remove this kind of heavy chemical staining from the chrome without thinning the plating?
3. Any advice on how to handle the shop if they fail to fix it next week?

I really want to get my bike back to its original glory. Thanks in advance for any help or insights you can provide!

 

[HUNTS]

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to the community because I’m in a bit of a nightmare scenario with a local detailing shop. I took my R18 in for a full wash, polish, and ceramic coating, but it came back with significant cosmetic damage.

As you can see in the attached photos, there are "milky" stains, chemical spotting, and discoloration across several surfaces:

• The Instrument Cluster/Display: It looks like chemical etching on the screen/glass.
• The "1800cc" Badges: Severe staining and what looks like "burning" on the finish.
• Chrome Engine Components: Deep spotting and streaks on the pushrod tubes and cylinder head covers.

The shop has acknowledged the issue and claims they can "polish it all out" next week. However, given the state they left the bike in, I’ve lost confidence in their technical ability. I’m particularly worried that the damage to the display and the badges might be permanent if the protective coating or the metal finish itself has been chemically compromised.

Has anyone here dealt with similar chemical damage?

1. Is it actually possible to polish these specific R18 badges and the display back to factory condition, or do they require replacement?
2. Are there specific products or techniques you've used to successfully remove this kind of heavy chemical staining from the chrome without thinning the plating?
3. Any advice on how to handle the shop if they fail to fix it next week?

I really want to get my bike back to its original glory. Thanks in advance for any help or insights you can provide!

That is the iest detailing job that I’ve seen from a ‘professional’.
Before they touch it, get it in writing what they are fixing and how they are fixing it. Also, if they fail to restore your bike back to its previous condition, what happens then… verbal doesn’t cut it and neither does a “full refund”.
Once you have that, you can research their methods. Talk to the owner, not the desk person and record the conversation to ensure there is no misunderstanding what will happen either way.
Man, that sucks!
(Whilst you are waiting on a response, send the pics to your local dealership and get a quote to replace all parts).
Best advice; keep your cool until you don’t need to keep your cool, but give them a chance first.

 

[Rufus]

Looks a bit of a mess. Quite what they were even thinking is beyond me, whatever solution they’ve daubed onto your bike has clearly been left there for some time to dry completely. Some of it may polish out but I’ve had a sort of similar experience with a car wash that was next to a bike dealer.

They used to jet wash the cars outside, with foam, wheel cleaner etc and then rinse off but on a windy day it would sometimes be carried over bikes parked outside and leave them in a mess, not that dissimilar to yours. Hundreds of dried little spots of white residue that was a bas#$@* to get off. I did complain, they knew it was an issue but clearly weren’t bothered.

Wheel cleaner can very aggressive and mark paint, that would be my concern. I do hope you get it sorted out, life is difficult enough without these hassles.

 

[Anibal]

Oh my fu**ing God, what the hell???
Do you know what sort of ceramic coating they used? For starters, ceramic coating cannot be applied to surfaces prone to heat up. They obviously did not do a decontamination prior to applying the coating. If they only used a sealant , you may be in luck with some dish soap, panel cleaner and a bit of cut and polish. If they used a permanent base and top coat then an abrasive compound will be needed. Get a quote from your dealer to replace parts and invoice the bast**ds.

 

[xavic5]

Thank you everyone for the support. I already have a quote for the parts. These marks are likely from some degreaser product used in the initial cleaning that they did not rinse and left to dry; that is what I assume, but I am not certain. I will do an update next weekend after the visit to the workshop again.

 

[bdalameda]

I suspect they used wheel cleaner on the engine. Many wheel cleaners contain some acid. If they did not immediately wash it off it will discolor chrome and other alloys.

 

[BER18 100]

The engine badges aren't too expensive to replace, the other issues are a nightmare.
If you go the litigation route, lawyer fees will quickly overwhelm the cost of restoring your bike.
I would at least approach my insurance company. Can't hurt and won't cost you anything.

 

[emgarciax]

WTF! Wow! Hopefully you reach some solution. It pains me just seeing the images. Ugh!

 

[HUNTS]

Update X?

 

[buellwinkle]

Best wishes for this to get resoved in short order.....

 

[DRACKO]

@xavic5, it absolutely hurts me just looking at how those idiots completely fucked up your Big Boxer. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling right now. I'm no expert, but I completely agree with what the guys analyzed above. Looking at your photos looks like they used a super strong, cheap acid cleaner (probably wheel cleaner or industrial degreaser) and applied it while the bike was hot or under the sun.
That chemical literally burned the protective layer of your screen, and it chemically changed the metal on your "1800cc" badges and pushrod tubes. That is why they look rainbow-brown now. The finish is gone. Their promise to "polish it out" next week is a total joke and complete BS. They are just trying to buy time. You cannot polish metal when the chemical already burned through the chrome layer and oxidized the base metals underneath.
They ruined it. The screen and the badges are dead. I’m pretty sure is no magic fix here, they need to pay for brand new OEM replacement parts. Do not let them touch your bike again! I’m si sorry man.

 

[Kevin Duffy]

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to the community because I’m in a bit of a nightmare scenario with a local detailing shop. I took my R18 in for a full wash, polish, and ceramic coating, but it came back with significant cosmetic damage.

As you can see in the attached photos, there are "milky" stains, chemical spotting, and discoloration across several surfaces:

• The Instrument Cluster/Display: It looks like chemical etching on the screen/glass.
• The "1800cc" Badges: Severe staining and what looks like "burning" on the finish.
• Chrome Engine Components: Deep spotting and streaks on the pushrod tubes and cylinder head covers.

The shop has acknowledged the issue and claims they can "polish it all out" next week. However, given the state they left the bike in, I’ve lost confidence in their technical ability. I’m particularly worried that the damage to the display and the badges might be permanent if the protective coating or the metal finish itself has been chemically compromised.

Has anyone here dealt with similar chemical damage?

1. Is it actually possible to polish these specific R18 badges and the display back to factory condition, or do they require replacement?
2. Are there specific products or techniques you've used to successfully remove this kind of heavy chemical staining from the chrome without thinning the plating?
3. Any advice on how to handle the shop if they fail to fix it next week?

I really want to get my bike back to its original glory. Thanks in advance for any help or insights you can provide!

I can only agree with the other comments, the detailers need to put this right. Personally ever since a dealer dropped my bike (a Zephyr 1100 at the time) on its first service, I never let anyone work on any of my bikes, I do everything myself, nobody will do a better job than yourself, because you care more than they do.

 

[HUNTS]

Thank you everyone for the support. I already have a quote for the parts. These marks are likely from some degreaser product used in the initial cleaning that they did not rinse and left to dry; that is what I assume, but I am not certain. I will do an update next weekend after the visit to the workshop again.

So what happened?

 

[BER18 100]

I’d be livid if my bike came back looking like that. Pays to scope out the people you are dealing with I guess

 

[Ulrich]

Did you walk his @$$ off a short peer? ... I hope?

 

[Rufus]

I can only agree with the other comments, the detailers need to put this right. Personally ever since a dealer dropped my bike (a Zephyr 1100 at the time) on its first service, I never let anyone work on any of my bikes, I do everything myself, nobody will do a better job than yourself, because you care more than they do.

Now there’s a blast from the past, a 1100 Zephyr. What a handsome bike that was. Back in 1991 I did my motorcycle test and after I passed wanted my first ‘big’ bike after my 125. I had been going back & forth to a dealer for months (in my lunch hour) looking at all the shiny showroom bikes. Bearing in mind my age, insurance cost and financial position I bought a new 550 Zephyr (the baby brother) in blue. J505 DFU. The 750 & 1100 versions were way out of my reach. I had that bike for a good while until my son came along and we needed money more than I needed a bike so sold it. Last time I looked online it was still on the road with 44k on it according to the MOT history. So it’s out there somewhere! Very trad looking bikes, I’ve found a couple of pics online to show anyone unfamiliar with them what they looked like. 550 above 1100 below.

 

[Kevin Duffy]

Now there’s a blast from the past, a 1100 Zephyr. What a handsome bike that was. Back in 1991 I did my motorcycle test and after I passed wanted my first ‘big’ bike after my 125. I had been going back & forth to a dealer for months (in my lunch hour) looking at all the shiny showroom bikes. Bearing in mind my age, insurance cost and financial position I bought a new 550 Zephyr (the baby brother) in blue. J505 DFU. The 750 & 1100 versions were way out of my reach. I had that bike for a good while until my son came along and we needed money more than I needed a bike so sold it. Last time I looked online it was still on the road with 44k on it according to the MOT history. So it’s out there somewhere! Very trad looking bikes, I’ve found a couple of pics online to show anyone unfamiliar with them what they looked like. 550 above 1100 below.


View attachment 21517View attachment 21518

Off topic I know, and my apologies to all for this but maybe here in the UK it shows the type of bikes that people ride before buying an R18.
Thanks Rufus, your post made my day, I still own my Zephyr 1100 bought new, it was one of the last available in 1999, I part exchanged my 550 Zephyr for it, I also have a 2007 Bonneville, aswell as the R18 of course.
Recent pics below.

 

[BER18 100]

Did you walk his @$$ off a short peer? ... I hope?

Occasionally one hears of a hunting accident…….