Is my paint finish ruined?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Is my paint finish ruined?

You say you applied Ultimate Compound only to the bonnet, yet the roof is showing this same sort of deterioration. You also said you applied NXT 2.0 to the entire vehicle, yet the side panels are not showing any deterioration either.

From the images you've shown us, it looks like pretty typical clear coat failure which is, unfortunately, fairly common. If something was applied to the finish to mask it and you then applied Ultimate Compound, then UC would have easily removed whatever product was there previously. Even if you were extremely aggressive in your application of UC to the point of damaging the paint, this is not what that damage would look like. With clear coat failure like this the clear coat is literally delaminating from the color coat, and breaking apart as it does so. There is no way to stop this process once it starts; the best you can do is to temporarily mask it.

Have a look at The Clearcoat Failure Photo Archive and you'll see a wide variety of vehicles afflicted by this same problem, all in varying stages of decay. This can happen through neglect, or even due to a defect in the factory paint process. But either way, the damage won't start to show itself for a few years. Once it does start though, you're done.

[dulled2010]

Re: Is my paint finish ruined?

Michael - Thankyou so much for taking the time to reply. I have looked at the CC failure article and pictures, and this may be the cause as you say. I'm sure you can understand the position a layman like myself has been in...I purchase a vehicle that appears to have a really good paint job. The top surfaces looked identical to how the sides currently look....no difference in appearance. Like I said earlier....if the previous owner was able to mask it so well then surely I can do the same.
If not, then you can also understand that the timing of the problem showing happened just a couple of weeks after applying the products, and although I'm not a professional it just seemed logical that there was a connection. There's also the issue that nothing was transferred to the applicators I used. Wouldn't a mask somehow transfer the previous owners masking product in some way? Wouldn't it show the removal of his product at the time of application rather than take two weeks to gradually appear?

If the CC failure theory is correct then I can certainly accept that....it's these other unanswered questions that I wish I had answers for.

Michael, I have found this ordeal all too stressful. Unless I spend several hundred dollars getting a paint technician to do a laboratory test I will never know for sure exactly what has happened, and I simply don't have the money for that.
The way the company dealt with my situation was both hurtful and disappointing....an experience I would rather forget. However, I returned from my honeymoon this week and will focus on the blessings I have been given.

Thanks to all who have read or commented on this post. I actually feel better for telling my story and the replies have shown me that there are some really good-hearted people out there who are willing to try and help. .....thankyou so much.

[rst08tierney]

Re: Is my paint finish ruined?

I would go after the company who inspected the vehicle. You bought the car based on their so called "expert advice". At the very least, the right thing for them to do is give you your money back for the inspection.

Keep us updated

[gsx62391]

Re: Is my paint finish ruined?

Cant really tell from pictures but if you bought this car used and the paint looked that good, and then failed that quicly, it sounds like the car was painted to sell. And unfortunately was of poor quality or workmanship. It was going to fail regardless what you put on it. Look really close inside the door jambs, under the hood and in nooks and crannies to find any indications of it being repainted. I'm willing to bet that may be the problem.
FYI, i used to be a painter and i have seen this happen with poor quality paints, prepping and workmanship. I have had many cars come in the shop to fix another Persons work because customer just bought the car and paint failed within a year. Most cases customer had no idea it was freshly painted to sell. They just assumed it was a used car that was kept in immaculate condition. You will see this in lower priced everyday commuter cars. Not likely the owner spent a lot of time and care for a low to mid class car. Not saying your vehicle is of low quality, just saying, it was not marketed as a luxery, sports, or exotic car. It was meant to drive everyday.
I live in Phoenix, AZ where we never see snow, Not very much rain, and we get temps of up to 115-120 on occasion here in the summers. So i get a lot of clear coat failures here even on 2 year old factory paint. But its almost always on the budget consumer cars.