Now I got the new Mini, I am selling my car to my niece who is starting college. Today after I washed my car, I found some oxidation? at the roof of the car. Paint everywhere else looks great except for the roof of the car. Can they be removed without repaint? If so, should I take it to a shop to do it or can I do it myself. I don't have any detailing tools. Please advice. Thanks!!

Here are some pictures:

 

Go see Octaneguy's website www.showcardetailing.com. Oxidation (from what I've read) is actually pretty easy to fix. A quick buff or hand polish should do it. I'll bow to the experts but I'd say don't despair - it's fixable and you can do it yourself.

 

From the photos that looks more like the clear coat is going away. most oxidation treatments involve removal of a thin top layer of the coating (Paint). Might not be able to fix this without removal and repainting of the clear coat layer. Check with a reputable body and paint shop. Good luck. I have to deal with this very thing on the factory fiberglass rear fender extensions on my 1ton dually. Jim

 

+ 1 ^

The clear coat is going away.

 

Yep - that looks like clearcoat failure.

 

If you take care of it now you can get away with just having the clearcoat repainted. This will avoid a potential mismatch on the paint color. ( You'd think there was only one shade of black, but no) Also much cheaper.

 

It's a tough call whether it's definitely clearcoat failure or not. One sure way to tell is rub the "hole" that's closest to the panel edge, using a soft white towel. Maybe put a little polish on the towel and rub lightly and see if any paint comes off.

I've many examples that looked like clearcoat failure but turned out to be oxidation that buffed right out.