Not A Happy Camper!

S

SenojNW

New member
:furious:



Well - I got up nice and early today to start work on these bonnet cuts - see previous posts here:



http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=67849

http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=67185

http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=67341



Before anything I did anything I decided to clear any paint protection / wax off the edge. So out with the rubbing alcohol and what did I discover? It looks like they have had a go at the edge with a machine (expert opinions welcome here) and the clearcoat has been cut right through (see pics in my gallery - titled clearcoat damage).



http://autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17941&cat=500&ppuser=25687

http://autopia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17940&cat=500&ppuser=25687



I noticed because when rubbing along the edge it feels rough in this area and when you look across the edge with reflection on it you can see the "matt" areas - it kind of has a mottled appearance.



I confirmed with a very very light rub in a small spot with compound and sure enough the cloth came away with colour on it! So I've cleaned the edge up and run a line of clearcoat with a Paintscratch clearcoat pen just to protect it for now.



Ahhhh - what to do now??!!



Do this pics look like clearcoat damage??? I would appreciate some opinions on this.



I'm at the point now where I want this fixed properly - at their cost! If the clearcoat is damaged this badly then will it lead to further failure? Is it now worth getting it rubbed back and resprayed?



Taking votes! Thanks guys.



:furious: :furious: :furious: :furious: :furious:
 
I would avoid a repaint at all cost. Just try to polish out the scratch and then blend in with a clearcoat spray and polish the overspray after a day. Since the wear is at the edge you won't notice it too much.
 
Other side of the fence :D



I'd get the area blended in, both color and clear. I've had this done on a lot of cars (and a lot of silver cars) and I usually can't tell where they did it.



This whole thing has, IMO, been crying out for a professional repair from the git-go. What a hassle, huh?
 
As much as I hate to repaint parts of cars, I agree with Accumulator that this will never be fixed to your satisfaction without a paint blend.



If you are going to go after the clear film applicator guy (I would) then stop doing any more repair attempts or at least document via photos, your repair progress to date. You need to be sure you don't do anything that the clear film guy could come back and say..."It wasn't that bad before".



It certainly looks as if the clearcoat has been worn away...you proved that when you got color off. No going back now. Two choices...Do as you did: clear it and live with the imperfection, or have it painted by a pro. It may take you a while to find the right paint shop but I assure you this is done a lot. And the results are excellent.



I was lucky that I could do something similar on my own with the airbrush because I had an "edge" I could end my fix at so the repair was not so noticable. If my damage had been on a flat surface like many of your cuts are then it would have not worked out so well. I am afraid a repaint would have been in the cards for me too.



I think I would build a case against the installer and get some $$ from him for a pro paint blend.



Wish I had a better answer.
 
Thanks Guys!!



I'm off to see a pro tomorrow morning. I did some shopping around and I have found some good words on these guys and they work on some pretty flash exotic cars... The move was needed and helped along by the fact that the car was reversed into today - so now I have panel damage on the driver's door too...



Accidental damage doesn't really bother me so much...



Oh well - will report back tomorrow!
 
Thanks!

I took the car to a really good paint shop this morning (Accumulator breathes a sigh of relief!!) - authorised repairer for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Benz etc. Very professional and decked out with all the gear. The new dent is no problem - it won't even need paint. They were'nt overly concerned with fixing up the bonnet too - when I asked about blending the metallics - they just said "no problem!". Now I just need to sort out payment (I'm with you here Brad).



They were of the opinion that seeing the clearcoat has been destroyed along that edge it would expose the paint to further deterioration.



Does clearcoat failure spread? If it is damaged in one spot like has happened to me, can it continue to spread and fail further across the area? From the pics (and cars on the road) I have seen it sure seems like it - like a cancer!



Will keep posting progress...



Cheers
 
Once they reshoot the involved area that'll be the end of your worries. The only way the failure would spread would be if it were left unrepaired. And even then I dunno...I've had some serious paint damage (to the metal, never touched up or otherwise repaired) that never spread or caused any problems of any kind.



Now all you have to worry about is footing the bill and resisting the temptation to wax the freshly repainted area for a few months :D
 
Well - I've got a quote to do the work... just sorting out the $$$ now...



It was great weather this weekend so I decided to seal off the damage anyway. I cleaned the car up nicely and degreased the edge, then started laying down clear using a Paintscratch.com clearcoat pen. It actually worked really, really well. The flat felt tip shaped itself to the rounded lip after the first few runs - I just kept laying down clear every 15 minutes or so for an evening during ad breaks in the movie I was watching!



The finish is nice and smooth (didn't rub or compound it at all) and you can clearly see that the cuts are sealed under the new clear layer now. I feel better anyway knowing that it is protected while I sort out what to do next.



A couple of questions;



- As I said it is very smooth already, but I thought I might just run over it with some Meguiars Scratch X to finish the surface. Any thoughts?

- I want to wax over the bonnet with Meguiars "Deep Crystal Wet Look". How long should I leave the new clear before I go over it with wax?



Cheers guys - will keep you posted on developments...
 
I don't see any problem using the Scratch-X.



I like to wait for paint to cure, but in a case like this I dunno if it's worth it. I guess I'd put something fresh-paint-friendly on the touchup paint and wax the rest of the hood normally. I don't think the difference will be all that awful. But if you're gonna get it professionally fixed in the near future anyhow, then I'd just wax it all.



Sometimes I'll admit I just wax right over touchups, just depends on how big the area involved is. Remember that the only potential problem with waxing fresh paint is that it won't reach maximum hardness.



Glad to hear you've done something that's improving the situation.
 
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