Paint defect or could it be something else!?
Discussion
Hi all,
As I get to know every nook and cranny of my recently purchased 22 plate soul red crystal MX5, 46v paint code edition, I saw the weirdest paint issue on the divers side skirt.
Now, they call this the hardest paint colour to match, ever, and it’s so low down the car that you can barely notice it when stood next to the car, I didn’t even see it after what I thought was a thorough viewing!
I’m not necessarily planning to rectify it as it’s not a big issue for me, but could any resident paint sprayers or bodywork repairers identify what might cause this?
It seems like an over saturation of paint but this would be a massive over anpplivation, and surely if this trim panel had been repainted at some point, the painter would have spotted this?! The colour of the car is spot on along the side so it doesn’t even seem like it’s ever been repainted?!
Could it perhaps be:
Some kind of sealant or underseal / sill wax that spilled over the top of the trim? Does this look similar to dry underseal?
Or is there some kind of sealant / paint protection I’m not familiar with that can be applied to body panels that might look like this if done badly?
I suppose it could have been a factory paint issue but it just seems too obvious to miss, so I’m assuming this happened in previous ownership.
Ive seen videos of soul red crystal 46v being applied, and the base coat is sort of copper ish colour which is similar to the drips, but this is a top coat issue by the looks of it.
What would be your thoughts judging by the pic?
As I get to know every nook and cranny of my recently purchased 22 plate soul red crystal MX5, 46v paint code edition, I saw the weirdest paint issue on the divers side skirt.
Now, they call this the hardest paint colour to match, ever, and it’s so low down the car that you can barely notice it when stood next to the car, I didn’t even see it after what I thought was a thorough viewing!
I’m not necessarily planning to rectify it as it’s not a big issue for me, but could any resident paint sprayers or bodywork repairers identify what might cause this?
It seems like an over saturation of paint but this would be a massive over anpplivation, and surely if this trim panel had been repainted at some point, the painter would have spotted this?! The colour of the car is spot on along the side so it doesn’t even seem like it’s ever been repainted?!
Could it perhaps be:
Some kind of sealant or underseal / sill wax that spilled over the top of the trim? Does this look similar to dry underseal?
Or is there some kind of sealant / paint protection I’m not familiar with that can be applied to body panels that might look like this if done badly?
I suppose it could have been a factory paint issue but it just seems too obvious to miss, so I’m assuming this happened in previous ownership.
Ive seen videos of soul red crystal 46v being applied, and the base coat is sort of copper ish colour which is similar to the drips, but this is a top coat issue by the looks of it.
What would be your thoughts judging by the pic?
Id agree thats likely to be a lacquer run, could it have had a small spot repair there? Possibly someone has tried to use blending thinners and its caused the run or just applied too heavy lacquer.
If youre brave, you can sand the runs back with 1000 grit on a really hard block and keeping it perfectly flat to only knock down the high spots. Once the runs have been sanded back use 1500, then 2000, then 3000 grit, then heavy cutting compound, then a polish, but if you dont know what you are doing you are playing with fire if you go through the clearcoat!
Did you buy it from a dealer? They usually have a mobile smart repairer who knocks out any paint defects on cars before they go on the forecourt.
If youre brave, you can sand the runs back with 1000 grit on a really hard block and keeping it perfectly flat to only knock down the high spots. Once the runs have been sanded back use 1500, then 2000, then 3000 grit, then heavy cutting compound, then a polish, but if you dont know what you are doing you are playing with fire if you go through the clearcoat!
Did you buy it from a dealer? They usually have a mobile smart repairer who knocks out any paint defects on cars before they go on the forecourt.
Edited by DaveF-SkinnysAutos on Wednesday 17th September 08:52
Thank you all - it was bought from a (very good) Mazda specialist, and it’s a car that the previous owner clearly cherished - but borderline “too much” as there were quite a few home diy type mods like painted calipers, interior trim decor, badges painted black, smoked side indicators etc. I’ve undone those but the fundamentals of the car were excellent with not many stone chips, and impeccable dealer servicing to schedule.
I had considered taking it to a body shop to see if they could sand down and rectify, if it comes to the point of needing to repaint, this is a little high risk and high cost due to the pearl paint finish so perhaps I’ll pick up a side skirt through salvage.
Good shout though, yes I believe this must be a poor spot repair.
I had considered taking it to a body shop to see if they could sand down and rectify, if it comes to the point of needing to repaint, this is a little high risk and high cost due to the pearl paint finish so perhaps I’ll pick up a side skirt through salvage.
Good shout though, yes I believe this must be a poor spot repair.
I think if you look closely you can see overspray on the black trim at the bottom.
Any pro painter could sort that out and it wont be that noticeable lower down match wise .
I would be letting the so called specialist know you are not happy even though it will not get you far, ping them a few photos and tell them to have a word with their smart repairer.
Any pro painter could sort that out and it wont be that noticeable lower down match wise .
I would be letting the so called specialist know you are not happy even though it will not get you far, ping them a few photos and tell them to have a word with their smart repairer.
I'd be getting underneath that and making sure the cars not bent.
Could be an innocent scuff that's been repaired or something more sinister.
Better to find out now than later.
Apologies if this takes the shine off your new toy, although I am slightly jealous, waiting for my NB to completely disintegrate before buying an ND
ETA, it could be cavity wax that's run out through.... Pop the rubber seal off in the door aperture and see if there's anything similar under there. But I'd imagine that would rub of or be very soft, not rock hard like paint.
Could be an innocent scuff that's been repaired or something more sinister.
Better to find out now than later.
Apologies if this takes the shine off your new toy, although I am slightly jealous, waiting for my NB to completely disintegrate before buying an ND
ETA, it could be cavity wax that's run out through.... Pop the rubber seal off in the door aperture and see if there's anything similar under there. But I'd imagine that would rub of or be very soft, not rock hard like paint.
Edited by Dave. on Wednesday 17th September 11:32
Edited by Dave. on Wednesday 17th September 11:32
Id suggest, find a painter you trust, not necessarily a big bodyshop, they should be willing to try to sand down those runs, if it goes through then yeah it would need repainting.
Im not sure where you get the info that its the hardest colour to blend? All pearls are difficult but thats more fun. Its more to do with it being in a candy carrier, so the shade changes with the number of coats applied, but if the painter preps a couple of spray out cards they can soon work out how many coats it needs, its also to do with how big is the blend out area. Being low down is a definite advantage.
I wouldnt worry thats its hard to do, thats the painters problem not yours. Personally I hate with a passion the Ford dark blues, they are a nightmare!
Im not sure where you get the info that its the hardest colour to blend? All pearls are difficult but thats more fun. Its more to do with it being in a candy carrier, so the shade changes with the number of coats applied, but if the painter preps a couple of spray out cards they can soon work out how many coats it needs, its also to do with how big is the blend out area. Being low down is a definite advantage.
I wouldnt worry thats its hard to do, thats the painters problem not yours. Personally I hate with a passion the Ford dark blues, they are a nightmare!
Edited by DaveF-SkinnysAutos on Wednesday 17th September 13:28
DaveF-SkinnysAutos said:
Id suggest, find a painter you trust, not necessarily a big bodyshop, they should be willing to try to sand down those runs, if it goes through then yeah it would need repainting.
Im not sure where you get the info that its the hardest colour to blend? All pearls are difficult but thats more fun. Its more to do with it being in a candy carrier, so the shade changes with the number of coats applied, but if the painter preps a couple of spray out cards they can soon work out how many coats it needs, its also to do with how big is the blend out area. Being low down is a definite advantage.
I wouldnt worry thats its hard to do, thats the painters problem not yours. Personally I hate with a passion the Ford dark blues, they are a nightmare!
I never had any trouble with soul red,it was pastel colours I hated Im not sure where you get the info that its the hardest colour to blend? All pearls are difficult but thats more fun. Its more to do with it being in a candy carrier, so the shade changes with the number of coats applied, but if the painter preps a couple of spray out cards they can soon work out how many coats it needs, its also to do with how big is the blend out area. Being low down is a definite advantage.
I wouldnt worry thats its hard to do, thats the painters problem not yours. Personally I hate with a passion the Ford dark blues, they are a nightmare!
Edited by DaveF-SkinnysAutos on Wednesday 17th September 13:28
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