Can I fix my paint?

[vefutixo]

Sorry guys i'm new to the forum and didn't really know where to put this but I was wondering if I could fix my paint myself (I have no experience trying to do this). I recently got an 84' BMW and the paint on the hood, top of the car, and the trunk lid is pretty messed up and I just wanted to know if I could fix it myself or if it needs professional help.

Thanks!

Here are some pictures of the car.

[Murr1525]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Nothing that can really be done to fix failing paint.

A re-paint would be the only real option.

[BlackScreaminMachine]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Looks like crappy work. I have a friend with a Pewter Trans Am and never noticed it until after the first full winter. On the Passangerside 1/4 Panel looks like that hood. Smooth as glass but looks like a bad re paint from the factory. GM would not cover it and he ended up getting it redone but in the end that does not look like anything in the clear. Its FAR below the top surfece.

Time for a repaint.

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Ahh, I was hoping you guys would say something otherwise. Getting the car repainted would probably be more than I paid for the car. Thanks for the input though.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

If you have single-stage paint (and there's a good chance that it is if the car is pre 1990's), you can get dramatic results using a consumer line product like Ultimate Compound. The paint will not revert to showroom quality, but the results can be very satisfying. You can enhance the results if you apply Ultimate Compound by D/A, but a hand application will still bring about a noticeable difference. See Pictures from Thursday Night Open Garage - September 16th, 2010 (scroll down until you see the red truck) and Pictures from Thursday Night Open Garage - May 6th, 2010. (The Black Sentra)

If the paint is clearcoat, then nothing short of a repaint will help. But there are affordable alternatives if you are a DIY type of guy: Rustoleum $50 roll-on paint job

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Yeah the paint is on a 1984 325e so is there a chance that the paint can be salvaged?

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Possibly. If the paint is single stage, then what we are seeing in your photos is likely very heavy oxidation and LOTS of swirling and scratching. Best way to test is to get a foam pad (preferably a dark foam pad to contrast with your light paint) and some compound, such as Ultimate Compound, and rub vigorously on a small section of paint.

Look at the pad and see if any paint has transferred to the foam. If it has, then you have single stage paint and you can begin to prep the rest of your paint for compounding and polishing. Reference Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle - Updated!

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Okay, i'm going to head to the store and pick some up to try. Thanks for your help! I'll post some pictures after I try it and see if there is any difference in the paint.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

That sure looks like a clear coat failure situation on the sun roof. As the previous owner of an '84 E30 BMW I know mine was single stage, but it was non metallic Henna Red, not silver, and that likely makes a big difference here.

That paint looks pretty far gone and although you might be able to help it a bit with something like Ultimate Compound, the benefits are not likely to last very long at all. Further, dried out older paints can sometimes be very hard and difficult to correct.

But for $10 a bottle at your local WalMart or auto parts store, Ultimate Compound is worth doing a test spot with.

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Yeah I know the sunroof is pretty much done for, the paint is actually starting to flake off. But I want to try and fix the hood and trunk lid and a bottle of Ultimate Compound was only $10.

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Well, I tried using some ultimate compound and all it did was make the test spot shiny, it didn't get rid of the scratches but it did get rid of the haze on top of the paint.



I circled the area that I did.

[AllenB]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Work it harder. Put some muscle into it, then do it all over again. This isn't going to be a wipe on wipe off deal, your going to sweat.

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

Well I went at it for a while one afternoon, and now my hood is very shiny but you can still see the same scratches in the paint. Anything else I can try, or do I need a respray.

[vefutixo]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

One last bump before I give up and come to terms that I just need to get my car painted.

[Bjkearns]

Re: Can I fix my paint?

This seems like the perfect car for either a rattle bomb paint job or a vehicle wrap