Paint Improvement and Repair

Coming most recently from a 4x4, offroad, hunting, camping vehicle, I haven't really paid much attention to the world of detailing and paint protection. I owned my Xterra for 10 years and never once put a coat of wax on it. I kept in the garage at home and work, and when I sold it the paint was pretty decent. Or so I thought.

I'm learning a lot (maybe too much) from this site about maintaining and improving the paint, as I am much more concerned about keeping this car looking spectacular. For a 7-year-old car I think it looks fantastic, but I know there are some blemishes, and I'd love some advice on how to tackle each of them.

#1 - The Hood Zit

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t/13575c9e.jpg

I have no idea what caused this, but it was the biggest defect I first noticed when I went to buy the car. Something had eaten through the clearcoat here and has not been addressed. I'd love to know how to get rid of this myself, but I'm afraid it might need professional work. As you can see in the reflection:


#2 - Swirlies

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t/9ada31e5.jpg

I realize this can be corrected with hours of polishing. My question is - if I wash and dry, then clay bar the car and follow it up with a nice sealant and finish it all off with a decent wax, will this be as noticeable? There are also some light scratches (white, but not noticeable with a fingernail) here and there along the paint. Can these be lessened by this same strategy?


#3 - Curb-Checked Front Bumper

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t/3d0d340e.jpg

Not only is most of the underside of this panel scratched all to hell from concrete contact, there is also the unsightly scratch on the side. This is all past the paint and into the plastic(?) so I'm thinking it's beyond my DIY help, but I'd like to hear some thoughts.


#4 - Rear Bumper Bumps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t/aa106886.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...t/68ae357d.jpg

It looks like someone bumped up against the bumper with a front license plate, most likely in a parallel parking situation. Again this is down into the plastic.


I love this car, but I simply do not have the time to stay on someone like M0nk3y's stringent paint care schedule. Way too many other hobbies. I'd love to hear how others keep their cars looking their best without making it a part-time job.

Thanks, y'all!

Interesting... I have a "zit" just under the driver's door mirror. When I had a PPI done, the mechanic thought it was bird crap sitting on the paint too long. I dunno. Adam's polishes has a swirl remover product... I've been using Liquid Glass on mine... Seems to look good enough for my standards - take that however you want.

In Austin, there is a place called BumpersRX.com. I had them refinish the headlights on my first BMW. They also do touchup work and could probably smooth and shoot the front bumper...

It's a tough proposition on an older car. I just finished a 3 day marathon of claying/compounding/polishing/finishing/sealing. But yet, the divots and deeper scratches remain. Not much you can do on a daily driver. Given your other hobbies, I would be hard pressed to suggest washing it every weekend and maintaining the paint the way it should be.

That being said, you can do a lot of correction on a car and get it in MUCH better shape. Then, you have to decide whether or not you want to maintain it in that condition. There has to be a compromise somewhere.

From what you said, a religious program of washing/polishing/detailing is not realistic.

If I were you, I would pay a professional to get it back into shape and then maintain it how you normally do. IMHO, the best thing for a car is being kept in a garage at home and at work.

You could re-paint, but again, on a daily driver, your heart will break the second you see another chip.

Before you embark on a part-time job of detailing your car and the considerable cost that it will take, spend a while on some of the detailing forums and see what other people do. It will give you an idea of what you might be getting yourself into. I know, because I did the same thing!!!

Johnny

Thanks guys. I'd be curious what it would cost to get the bumper resprayed.

Johnny, you make great points. I have been perusing the detail sites, which has made me realize that while possible, it takes a large amount of time and money to maintain the show car look, and that certainly isn't feasible for me. I just want to do my best to not let the car get worse. :)

I'd be curious to hear the hard-core DIY detailers' opinions on how they would address each of my issues themselves.

Out of curiosity, how much would an average detailing (including some good polishing and correction) run? I've been amazed with the Detailers Domain's threads, but I have no price reference. $500? $1000? more?

About $400-$500 for a bumper respray. That's standard.

$400 for me a few months ago.

A run of the mill detail (clay/polish/wax) will run anywhere from about $250-$400. It's worth the money if you don't have the time/place/stamina/experience.

Most of the problems you have can be taken care of with a regular detail. It's tough to tell on the hood-zit you have. If that is down into the base primer, then, you are stuck with it. Or, it can be covered with a respray. The other issues are into the bumper and will require much more dramatic measures (expensive).

One thing about bumpers-after they have been painted, they are prone to chipping/peeling etc as the paint isn't quite the same as what they can do at the factory. (That's been my experience anyway).

As a side note-Correcting your paint from scratches, swirls, water spots and bird droppings will require polishing or finely sanding away the defects in the clear coat (or into the paint depending on how bad it is). Once the paint is mirror smooth, a protectant is required. As far as whether you go with a wax, glaze, sealant etc, is totally dependent upon how you want to maintain the paint. Waxes will NOT last forever. They will wear away in only a few months. So, you will need to wax again. IMHO, Imola is best with a good wax. A sealant/glaze may last a little longer and help a little better with protection. But, they look a little different. Not worse, just different. Boils down to your opinion of which you like better. I like the wax personally. But, others like sealants/glazes. No wrong answer.

The biggest thing to remember is that the preparation is key. As long as you do a good job on the clay/compound/polish stages, you'll end up with a great looking car.

I know this is A LOT of information right now, especially since you've been perusing the detailing sites. Take your time. If you want, you can put a coat of wax to protect the paint for the next few months until you decide. No harm, no foul.

Don't get caught up in the my polish/wax etc works better than your polish/wax debate. Any good quality polish/wax/sealant/glaze will be fine. Again, preparation and maintenance are key.

Once you've done this part, then the important part is keeping your car clean and using a good method to washing. Spend some extra money on the good microfiber towels and that will help you keep the scratches to a minimum.

Hang in there and congratz on a gorgeous car! I still get compliments on my car!

Johnny

P.S. Another thing, a basic detailing kit (polisher machine, polishing pads, polish, wax, microfiber towels etc) can run into the $200-$250 range IIRC. If you have someone near you who is into detailing, perhaps you can lend a hand while he polishes your car (or someone elses) so that you get a feel for the process, amount of work and types of products out there.

Wow, Johnny, great insight!

Let me clarify - I'm certainly willing to do as much as possible on my own. I think these are valuable skills that once I learn, I can use from here on out. My schedule is hectic, so I don't plan on spending every weekend in the garage, but I am completely open to, say, buying a PC polisher and learning to do some correcting, assuming I can get away with only doing it once or twice a year with regular washing and waxing.

The zit is down into the paint. How far, I have no idea, but you can certainly feel the texture with your finger. I was wondering if something along the lines of the Dr Color Chip would work on fixing it.

I just brought my car to a reputable body shop for some insight on similar issues. What he said is making me rethink getting the job done. He said the color match is no guarantee and that to do the work then continue driving the car as I do (every day, highway), is almost pointless.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zhpnsnv

I just brought my car to a reputable body shop for some insight on similar issues. What he said is making me rethink getting the job done. He said the color match is no guarantee and that to do the work then continue driving the car as I do (every day, highway), is almost pointless.

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I agree. At that point it really becomes more of a refresh -- but understanding that you'd have to do it again and again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marcus-SanDiego

I agree. At that point it really becomes more of a refresh -- but understanding that you'd have to do it again and again.

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Right. And to the tune of at least a couple grand, I think I'll continue to bleed imola all over the NJ turnpike and deal with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep. I think that's a good idea, too.

Jason - I would give the BumperRX guy a shout to spray the bumper in damaged areas (like the bottom where it gets curbed). A ton of their work is geared towards lease returns and minor imperfections.

Side note - as far as repainting a red car - I rear ended someone with a red prelude. The front fender was replaced. The color matched exactly in the sun. As soon as the sun began to set, it was terribly obvious the car had paint work done.

The hood zit could easily be done by previous bird droppings that sat on the car. Wetsanding could help or minimize the look, but from there you may end up tearing off more Clear Coat since there are "holes" so the speak already in the zit. It just takes once to catch and you can increase the damage.

Getting rid of the swirls will require a PC. If you don't want to go that route, Glaze can help fill in most of the damages.

I prefer going Sealant then Wax. You achieve protection and depth+gloss. It's the expensive route, but then again it's me talking...lol.

If you have any specific questions go ahead and shoot. Trying to answer something very broad (such as swirl correction) can go down a long road. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve (aka perfect finish) and what you're willing to spend will help me answer your questions alittle easier.

Hopefully this helps somewhat and I'm not going on a mini-rant

I'm also trying to get rid of/cover up my swirls some. They are pretty obvious in the light. Is there a product that can be used to help hide them? I saw liquid glass on the first page of this thread. Are there any other options?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HokieZHP

I'm also trying to get rid of/cover up my swirls some. They are pretty obvious in the light. Is there a product that can be used to help hide them? I saw liquid glass on the first page of this thread. Are there any other options?

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Glazes will be your best bet. They are ment to hide imperfections. It isn't perfect, but it certainly does a good job at improving the condition. I have Chemical Guys Ez-Creme Glaze and it does a decent result.

Thanks I'll look into it!

EDIT: After reading up on it, do I need to use a sealant on my car after using it? It says to use before a sealant.

The glazes will fill your swirls, then they will reappear in a couple of months. If you want to remove swirls, you need either an orbital buffer or a random orbital like the PC so many of us use. I've had decent luck minimizing swirls with a PC and the Menzerna line of polishes. Before that, I would fill swirls with 3M hand glaze.

I recommend the PC because it's relatively easy to use and doesn't come with the risk of harming your paint's clearcoat if not used properly.

OK, so until I pull the trigger on a PC polisher, I could use a glaze to cover the swirls. Got it. Now, what is the order here? Wash, dry, clay bar, wash, dry, glaze, wax? Any sealant, or does the glaze replace the sealant?

For the zit, Dr Color Chip won't work to cover/mask it?

I'm certainly not wanting to respray the entire car - not worth my time or cost. If I can improve the paint as-is, I'd be happy.

GF, definitely read this: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...tten-by-M0nk3y

Funny, that thread of M0nk3y's is really what started me on this "quest." Definitely a great primer. I'm building up my basic inventory now.

Just placed an order through Detailed Image. Hopefully most of this stuff will last a while:

303 Aerospace Protectant
Chemical Guys Extreme EZ-Creme Glaze
Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II
DI Accessories Foam Applicator Pad
DI Accessories Sheepskin Wash Mitt
Einszett 1Z Lederpflege Leather Care
Grit Guard Grit Guard Insert
Poorboy's World Natty's Blue Paste Wax
SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect

Then I placed an order through Amazon for a Gilmour Foammaster II foam gun.

This ought to get me taken care of until I decide whether to pull the trigger on the PC and pads.

I'm compiling a decent size paint correction kit myself. It will be the end of the summer when I get it for several reasons.

A. I don't have the money right now and will by September.
B. I don't have the time to do all of the steps. It would look like: Wash, start with polishing compound. Next day. Wash, finish polish. Next day, wash, start final polish. And so on for several weeks. I wish I had a garage. That would make it A LOT easier.

Sent using Tapatalk on my rooted Droid. Wut?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by goofiefoot

OK, so until I pull the trigger on a PC polisher, I could use a glaze to cover the swirls. Got it. Now, what is the order here? Wash, dry, clay bar, wash, dry, glaze, wax? Any sealant, or does the glaze replace the sealant?

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Yep that's the order though I skip drying before clay since it needs lubrication anyway.

Sealant and wax are the same essential thing: last stage product. Sealants are one way to top thr glaze; wax is another. Or you could do what I do and use both. Sealant for a base protection and wax for warmth, depth, and the proper color. I find sealants on imola make it too "plasticy" for my taste so I top with a wax.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds like a plan. Looking forward to getting it all started.

I have that exact same thing (#1) on my car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/3329350f.jpg

Guess what showed up yesterday! Now all I have to do is find a day when I can get up at the butt crack of dawn to get started. These 100°+ days are killing us down here. I can't imagine that kind of temperature would do very well for using any of these products.

Looks like a good kit of products! The heat is definitely putting a damper on me washing my car. It stays over 90* until late afternoon here. Haven't washed the car for almost 2 weeks and it's looking dirty... I did detail the interior yesterday though!

A little preview (more complete pics to come) of my weekend detailing:

SONAX doing its job. The bleeding wheels.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/d89d5b6a.jpg

And after

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/d58d0881.jpg

Vacuumed, Einszett 1Z Lederpflege on the leather, 303 Aerospace protectant on the plastics

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/a2ed8ee0.jpg

More paint shots to come, but here's a preview.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/4585c3a1.jpg

Washed, clayed with Mother's kit, sealed with Chemical Guys EZ Creme Glaze, then waxed with Poorboys Natty Blue Paste Wax.

Guys, Detailed Image is selling that Sonax wheel cleaner for $11.83 right now. Goes back to $15.99 tomorrow.

Forgot to add the engine bay to my last set.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/de6bcfb4.jpg

And now to the good stuff!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2436.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2437.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2438.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2450.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2452.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2454.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2459.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2466.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2470.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...P/IMG_2471.jpg

^^ Looks great.

Lookin' good, man! Mine needs some love right about now. I may defy the heat and my better judgement and get to mine today.