what`s wrong with this paint?

[CaptSlow]

This is my brother`s new car. I detailed it this weekend and this is how it came out. the splotchiness was definitely there when he bought it. It`s not that noticeable, but it bugs me. Is this a bad respray, or is it something I can fix?


These pics are after one pass with Menzerna SP400 on a white lake country pad. One pass with Menzerna IP on orange pad. Then another pass with the SP400/white pad.

[Mike lambert]

From the picture I would say re spray. If you know someone with a paint gauge you could tell for sure. If it is only the hood, I really think re spray. Take it back if still under warranty

[Mike lambert]

If it is the whole car I would lean to some sort of paint treatment the dealer installed?

[CaptSlow]

It`s just the hood. He just bought the car and there`s no telling when it was done or where.

I`m not too familiar with paint gauges. Would that just tell me if the paint thickness varied a lot?

[CaptSlow]

If it is the whole car I would lean to some sort of paint treatment the dealer installed?

It really seems like just the hood. but the other body panels on the car are so small and contoured it`s tough to find an angle that would show it.

I know the dealer he bought from slathered all sorts of stuff on the tires and trim. overall I`m happy with how it looks. it`s not that noticeable unless you`re right on top of it.

[TuxedoTaurus]

With a paint gauge factory applied paint will be for example around a 115-140 reading and a respray would read at something like 200-280. You would see a huge difference.

I would lean towards a poor respray. Silver is difficult to lay since it is almost a pure metallic mix. It is very easy to stripe if done carelessly or in a hurry.

Another way to tell is to look at where the hood meets other panels like fenders or door. If it was done improperly there will be a tone difference as they probably did not blend the paint.

From your last pic it looks like the hood was resprayed.

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[CaptSlow]

I see what you`re saying about the last pic. In person there`s not an obvious tone difference. the bumper has some clear bra next to the headlights, which is a big reason there`s an obvious difference in that pic. A lot of it is the different light angles.

[CaptSlow]

So just to make sure I understand, the problem is uneven base coat correct? That can`t be fixed with a buffer.

[TuxedoTaurus]

So just to make sure I understand, the problem is uneven base coat correct? That can`t be fixed with a buffer.

That is true if it is a respray. A paint gauge would confirm. Ad you can see pictures are hard to confirm.

Where are you located? Maybe someone who is close by could help.

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[CaptSlow]

Fort Worth Tx. Specifically the mid cities area.

To clarify, you said easy to "stripe." I`m not talking about the wide strips of light and dark running lengthways. That`s from the contour of the hood. it has a hump in the middle. I`m talking about the blotchiness, or dappled look it has. Almost like the pattern you`d get under a tree from the light coming through the leave.

[Stokdgs]

What was your process to try to clarify the paint ???

Machine and Model ?

What size backing plate and pad ?

Which Lake Country White Pad ? Is it Flat ?

How much downward pressure. and at what machine speed ?

If you only did 1 pass and its a Random Orbital machine, you were not even getting close to doing anything to this hard paint - even if its a repaint..

I bought one of these new - a 2002 Z3-M Coupe in Titanium Silver, so I know a little about that paintwork...

Let us know..
Dan F

[CaptSlow]

PC 7424 DA. spread with speed one, then went to speed 5. I let the polisher work under its own weight. 5.5" backing plate and pad. CCS I believe. the one with the dimples in it.

I wasn`t trying that hard to get it out. didn`t want to get to agressive, I haven`t done this in a while.

When did see it wasn`t coming out I went to the MIP with the orange pad. Same speeds. an older 6.5" pad. cant remember who made it. It has a convex shape underneath with a beveled edge and a hole in the middle.

[tom p.]

Captain, welcome aboard! Is this a used car or a brand new car?

[CaptSlow]

It`s a 2001 and my brother is probably the 3rd owner, maybe 4th.

[tom p.]

Well, it`s entirely possible someone did a quik re-spray to freshen it up or take care of accident damage, etc....