Heavy oxidation

[Paradox11235]

I'm not technically a detailer, i'm a lot tech at a dealership so i generally get cars after a professional detail is done. At any rate, i don't really do any work with paint except basic waxing and buffing, but i just bought a project car, a 1991 audi. For being 20 years old the car is in fairly good shape, but it does have quite a bit of scratching all over the body, and there's some heavy oxidation on the roof. I don't want to pay $2500 to paint my $800 car quite yet, so i was wondering if there's anything to be done about the roof, hopefully at least to improve it if not restore it... Any help greatly appreciated!

The roof:


The rest is in ok shape... (except for being really dirty since i haven't cleaned it up yet)

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Heavy oxidation

Sadly, what you see is not just oxidation... that is clear coat failure. In other words, your car has a two-stage paint job with the color coat topped with a clear, protective coat. That protective coat is what has turned white and is receding as it continues to fail.

It will sadly need a re-paint as once the clear coat gets that bad, you can't fix it with buffing.

[Honda Fit]

Re: Heavy oxidation

For the roof, if you don't want to get a new paint job I'd recommend maybe doing a vinyl wrap. If you know how to do it yourself you can get a big piece of black vinyl for cheap and problem not fixed, but hidden

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNwZ2VTGNZE

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Heavy oxidation

Not oxidation on the roof. It is clear coat failure. Sorry.

[cd36]

Re: Heavy oxidation

I agree, definitely clear coat failure, common on some vehicles of that time frame. I remember Fords loved to lose their clear coat as well.

[Paradox11235]

Re: Heavy oxidation

I figured it was probably the clear coat because of the white. Incidentally the guy i bought the car from works at a vinyl shop and offered to cover the roof... might take him up on it.

[Paradox11235]

Re: Heavy oxidation

Thanks for the help