FAQ

Q: I Can Buy Window Film For $29 At the Local Auto Parts Store. Why Should I Pay More Than That To Have My Windows Tinted At Your Shop?
A: Great question with 2 equally great reasons why you should leave it to a professional. First, like everything else, all window tint is not created equally.  MotorCityAuto Spa uses only top-quality window tint which, is more expensive than the tint offered at most auto parts stores.  This is why we are able to offer this kind of warranty.  Secondly, tinting is hard!  Some might call it an art form! It takes a special talent that most do not have.  One of the primary reasons that people get tint is to enhance the appearance.  The last thing that you want is a blotchy, bubbled end product because you let your neighbor/friend/cousin/classmate do the installation.

Q: Why Do I Have To Wait To Roll Down My Windows After They Are Tinted?
A: There is a thin barrier of moisture between the glass and the film when the installation is completed.  This evaporates as the tint cures to the glass.  Rolling the windows down prematurely can cause the tint to buckle or peel.  The amount of time required before you can roll the windows down varies depending upon the weather.  If the humidity is low and the sun is shining, it makes only take a few days.  During overcast, rainy times, it could be as long as 2 weeks.

Q: Why Do You Need My Vehicle For The Entire Day? Other Shops Told Me It Only Takes 1 or 2 Hours.
A: Quite frankly, we think that this is a good thing.  When we tint your vehicle, we don’t simply slap on some film and call it a day.  First, your vehicle is checked in, all required information was taken down. The film is then plotted out on a state-of-the-art machine.  The glass is cleaned thoroughly inside and out. Door panels and window switches are taped/ bagged. After that, the tint is heated and formed to the shape of the glass.  Finally, it is applied to the inside of the glass.  Once all the work is done, the installer and one other staff member must look over the work to make sure there are no issues with the job.  Once these 2 people sign off on the work, you are called and told that your vehicle is ready.  All this takes time and we don’t rush our work.  If we need to stay late, we do.  So you really need to ask yourself if getting your car back by 2 pm is worth the potential of rushed, inferior work.  At MCAS, we don’t think so!

Q: Should I wash or clean the inside of my vehicle prior to my appointment?
A: We fully clean the inside and outside of the glass prior to tinting and after tinting.  However, we ask you to bring your vehicle washed on the day of your appointment.  This will help to prevent pollen, dust, or dirt on your vehicle from coming into the shop.  This will also allow us to fully inspect the outside and inside of your vehicle and point out any imperfections, such as scratches in the glass. If you have a pet, we do ask that you vacuum your vehicle to remove any pet hair or dander.  The cleaner the inside of your car is, the better the result.

Q: How do black dots and lines at the edge or top of an automotive window affect window tinting?
A: The black dots, matrix, or the lines at the top of some windows are made of a Teflon/Ceramic material that is applied at the factory. Purely cosmetic, they hide trim lines and edges on different styles of vehicles.  The thickness of these raised areas makes them incredibly difficult when applying the film.  In some cases, the black lines across the top of rear windows may prevent window tint from sticking and cannot be covered.  When black dots, which are mostly found in rear windows, wing windows, and windshields are encountered, the window tint sticks to the raised dots holding it away from the glass. We install past these dots onto the flat black surround, so there are no light gaps.  This will give a lighter silver appearance in the area of the black matrix dots.  These areas will become more uniform as the film dries out and cures.

Q: Why do I See White Bubbles/ Imperfections After my install?
A: ThoughWe Strive for perfection in our installations, Due to the nature of the product, Some degree of contamination and/or minor imperfections are present in every window film application. Also, Pre-existing flaws or scratches and metal deposits on the glass, are often much more noticeable after the windows have been tinted.

Q: What type of film do we use?
A: We only use the best. XpelUltimate Plus is the highest quality film on the market. It comes with a 10year warranty and has amazing self-healing properties. With zero orange peel and no loss of clarity, you would never even know it was installed on the vehicle.

Q: What does that 10-year warranty include? You may ask.
A: Well, it includes if for whatever reason the film loses its clarity, the film begins to yellow or any delaminating occurs from an INSTALLATION error. It does not include the fact that you got far too close to the film edge with your pressure washer or run it through friction Car Wash every day and now it is peeling here and there.  We prefer hand washing but the film does hold up pretty well through friction car washes. Still, there is a risk.

Q: What is the purpose and what to expect.
A: Since we have some of the dirtiest uncared-for roads in the country it is best to get the vehicle protected from day one. We can choose from the plotted precut kits whether you want to protect the high-impact areas or even cover the entire vehicle. Everything is cut in-house on a plotter so there is no unnecessary cutting on the car.  You can expect this film to protect from stone chips caused by loose gravel, construction, salt, and all of the other things bouncing around on the road.  The purpose is that the film takes the abuse versus your beautiful brand new factory paint. That being said, you will see that over time the film might be looking a little chewed up.  That is normal, we want to keep that paint protected underneath the film. After a couple of years or so it might be time fora new piece. And yes it can be replaced or removed at any time if need be.

In many situations, the answer is yes. First, let’s differentiate a stain from a spot. Spots on the interior fibers can usually be removed with common cleaners and/or solvent based products. Coffee, cola, gum, fresh dirt, salts are all good examples of spots. Always remember that fast action to a spill is key to how completely we are able to remove a spot.

Stains, on the other hand, are actually spots that have replaced the original color of the fiber. Unfortunately for all of us, these usually do not come out with cleansers or solvents. Examples of stains are red dyes such as Kool-aid or cranberry juice, bleach and ground in dirt over years of high traffic. To remove these stains, the stain must be neutralized and then a dye can be applied over the affected area.

Many scratches can be buffed or polished out. A common rule of thumb is if you can feel the scratch with your fingernail, it is probably too deep to be removed just by regular polishing. Some scratches may need a heavy compounding and/or wet sanding to effectively remove or hide the raised areas of the scratch. Paint touch up can also be a solution for those scratches that are completely through both the top clearcoat and basecoat of the paint.

First and foremost, know that most automated car washes cause micro-marring or “car wash scratches.” These are formed from the contaminants in the brushes and the harshness of some brushes themselves scrubbing the car during the cleaning process. Also, chemicals used in car washes, winter salts from the roads and environmental factors all contribute to the stripping of any protection that may be on the vehicle. The remedy to this is just like what you do with your vehicle’s engine; proper maintenance is essential to preserving the finish on your automobile.

Our polishing process insures that your car will have the deepest shine possible without having any swirl marks.Having your car hand washed and detailing it on a regular basis will give your vehicle years of life and keep it looking like the day you bought it. This is not fantasy; with the right care and attention, great results can be achieved.

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is the process of removing dents from behind the sheet metal and gently massaging the metal back into the original shape. PDR can be used as an alternative to traditional collision shops, with a great savings to the customer because there is no need to paint over the damaged area. Not only are the savings great for the customer, but the time required is far less, usually completed in less than a few hours. The results can vary depending on each individual dent. There are several factors that can affect the outcome, such as accessibility and location, as well as the size and how distorted the sheet metal has become because of the damage. In most cases, the results will be a significant improvement with almost no noticeable trace of the original dent.

Essentially they both serve the same purpose, protecting the vehicle’s painted surfaces. Wax comes from nature from the carnauba palm, and at one time was of high quality. However, most waxes are no longer as pure because of state regulated VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) rules and therefore do not last or protect as long they once did.

Clay bars are used to remove surface contaminants on the paint. Such contaminants include: ferrous-oxide (rail-dust), mineral deposits, paint overspray and other environmental fallout that leave the surface feeling gritty or rough even after washing the car. Detailers’ clay pulls out these contaminants leaving the surface smooth and ready for polishing. In most cases, a clay bar or Magna-sponge tm will be used on Complete and Exterior Packages where polishing is a part of the detailing process.

Numerous variables can contribute to the longevity of a wax or sealer product. Typically, the standard wax or sealer will last four to six months. If carefully maintained (i.e., hand washed and spray waxes used periodically), that same finish can last over six months. With extended protection sealers, the same coating will normally yield a full year’s worth of protection.

A word of caution: Some companies now claim they have a product that can last three or four years or longer. One of Motor City AutoSpa’s more important values is honesty. Under normal wear and tear, we have not found a product that will fight off rail dust or repel tar from sticking to your paint and repel water for that period of time. That is why regular detailing and maintenance is so essential for caring car owners.

Our recommendation is to have your vehicle completely detailed every 12 – 18 months. However, we strongly encourage maintaining the vehicle throughout the intervening period of time by having your car washed by hand on a regular basis, waxing every six months (or if yearly, using an extended paint sealer), and having express cleaning done on the interiors. If budget is a concern, some people prefer to alternate interior and exterior service. During the first year, have the interior completely done; the next year, have the exterior addressed. Although not done at the same time, you are still keeping within the recommended 12 -18 months timeline.

To avoid disappointment, making an appointment is the best strategy. We do accept walk-in customers on a first come, first served basis providing there is room on the schedule. We recommend at least a two-day notice; however, in the spring and summer months, up to a week may be necessary due to the high volume of cars requesting Motor City AutoSpa services. Click here to make an appointment online.