So I am a clean freak and my car must look show worthy 24/7... I plan to go to shows anyways. So I bought the car from the second owner October 9th 2014. It wasn't perfect but damn near. So there are some problems in the paint, it is a 2002 and is original paint. There are chips mainly on the front, I have aftermarket? side skirts (http://img.pistonheads.com.s3-eu-wes...-S895559-1.jpg) (not my car btw), there are some black chips in them. The main things I have a problem with is the roof is scratched being black it is noticeable, and the hood is the biggest part, the clear coat is stripped in one photo, and there are lots of chips and gashes on the hood. Is there a way to fix any of this or would I have to get it resprayed? None of it is noticeable unless you look, but the roof is really easy to see. Any help? ways to treat it?

 

As far as the hood goes, not much you can do aside from respraying it as those spots already look touched up. If you want to get away with not respraying the roof and minimize the appearance of the scratches you'll probably want to buy a dual action polisher (meguiars da power system is cheap and attaches to any drill) and clay bar, compound, polish, and wax in that order. If that doesn't get the scratches out you might have to wet sand a bit.

 

You can certainly minimize the impact of scratches and chips with a dual action polisher, polishing compound, etc as described, but it's generally near impossible to make them totally invisible, especially if they are under the clear coat as they appear to be.

If you are planning to show the car and are going to obsess about it 24/7, you probably should bite the bullet and respray the car. It's 13 year old paint, would be very hard to just touch up with a spot respray, but I've seen some pros get pretty amazing results without having to do the whole car. Get a few estimates and opinions from someone in your area who who does quality paint work with referrals.

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how do you get a scratch under the clear coat? Do you mean it goes all the way thru the clear? Yes, this would require a pro to handle right.


Those clear coat spots worry me .... I'm thinking your bonnet has already been resprayed, at least partially, and you are seeing the beginnings of clear coat delamination. This is like cancer ... it will grow and is very difficult to stop.


I'd have a talk with a GOOD detailer. A DA works wonders in the hands of one with experience. Once your finish is UP you can learn as you maintain but a 'heavy lift' first time out is a bad idea


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Capt. BJ always comments and gets pissed at me, which... is quite annoying


sorry .. maybe I should delete my reply


But thanks for the help I will look around to see who is good in my area

 

One thought...
You said you are going to track your car?! If you are planning on tracking, hill climbing and auto-x, I would just wax it, and forget it..tons of rock chips to come!!

 

Yes, I was referring to the scratches that go through the clear coat into the paint (or down to the metal). Should have been more clear.

I agree that a first step of spending a hundred bucks or so on a good detailer can make things look a lot better, and that the clear coat bubbling is not a good sign...if the OP is obsessive about the finish, it probably can't be repaired without a major respray (at least a respray of the whole clear coat.)

 

True very true.. The bonnet probably cannot he saved.. The main thing I was wondering about was the roof. But that's just because it is black.

 

I would not doubt if the bonnet was resprayed. The pevious owner wasn't so honest to me about some of the things done. But all of the scratches and chips are from him. But thanks for the help I will look around to see who is good in my area.