Mystery paint disaster -
Discussion
I washed the Cerb last night using my normal snow foam followed by 2 bucket method, Megs Quick Detailer as a drying aid.
The light was failing so I couldnt see too well by the time I finished. When I looked at it this moring it appeared to have bad water marks on the horizontal surfaces (bonet, roof and bootlid) but when I went to clean these off I found that something has etched into the clear coat
I dont think that it is directly related to the wash as I have not used any new products on it, but I am at a total loss as to what could have happened. All I know is that it is some time in the last 3 weeks or so.
The marks look as if the car has been splashed or sprayed with solvent of some sort which has been left to evaporate, eating into the clearcoat.
I have tried a clay bar incase they were surface deposits and hand polishing the marks out on a small area with Megs Scratch-X but it hasn't touched them and I am nervous of using anything mechanical without a more expert opinion.
The marks are extensive and cover the boot and roof, with fewer on the bonet, the drivers side is worst affected. If the etching is as deep as it appears to be is there any hope of repair or am I looking at a complete respray?
The light was failing so I couldnt see too well by the time I finished. When I looked at it this moring it appeared to have bad water marks on the horizontal surfaces (bonet, roof and bootlid) but when I went to clean these off I found that something has etched into the clear coat
I dont think that it is directly related to the wash as I have not used any new products on it, but I am at a total loss as to what could have happened. All I know is that it is some time in the last 3 weeks or so.
The marks look as if the car has been splashed or sprayed with solvent of some sort which has been left to evaporate, eating into the clearcoat.
I have tried a clay bar incase they were surface deposits and hand polishing the marks out on a small area with Megs Scratch-X but it hasn't touched them and I am nervous of using anything mechanical without a more expert opinion.
The marks are extensive and cover the boot and roof, with fewer on the bonet, the drivers side is worst affected. If the etching is as deep as it appears to be is there any hope of repair or am I looking at a complete respray?
Mysterious paint defects like this have affected a couple of cars recently. It had me stumped until I had more info. Apparently, the railyway companies run track cleaning machinery over the lines occasionally with a wire wheel which flings metal particles into the air. These settle on nearby cars, oxidise on contact with water and really bad water marks deep into the clearcoat result. More noticeable in sunny conditions on softer paintwork.
It's not a guaranteed reason, but it is a plausible theory. A detailer's car had been left near a railway line recently for three weeks and the finish was terrible - covered in defects that were not easily removed. Oxidised fallout from the railway was what it was narrowed down to. Wasn't him or the products or the car as it affected a couple of cars in the lot that had been treated differently.
It's not a guaranteed reason, but it is a plausible theory. A detailer's car had been left near a railway line recently for three weeks and the finish was terrible - covered in defects that were not easily removed. Oxidised fallout from the railway was what it was narrowed down to. Wasn't him or the products or the car as it affected a couple of cars in the lot that had been treated differently.
I've had exactly the same thing happen on my Z4 about 3 weeks ago.
I'm about 1/2 a mile from the nearest rail track but this is end of the line.
From most angles it looks fine but if you get it right (or wrong) the bonnet and boot both have a camouflage pattern in matt/gloss.
Would it be a bad idea to hit it with a Porter cable, a light cutting pad and some Scratch X?
I'm about 1/2 a mile from the nearest rail track but this is end of the line.
From most angles it looks fine but if you get it right (or wrong) the bonnet and boot both have a camouflage pattern in matt/gloss.
Would it be a bad idea to hit it with a Porter cable, a light cutting pad and some Scratch X?
domster said:
Mysterious paint defects like this have affected a couple of cars recently. It had me stumped until I had more info. Apparently, the railyway companies run track cleaning machinery over the lines occasionally with a wire wheel which flings metal particles into the air. These settle on nearby cars, oxidise on contact with water and really bad water marks deep into the clearcoat result. More noticeable in sunny conditions on softer paintwork.
It's not a guaranteed reason, but it is a plausible theory. A detailer's car had been left near a railway line recently for three weeks and the finish was terrible - covered in defects that were not easily removed. Oxidised fallout from the railway was what it was narrowed down to. Wasn't him or the products or the car as it affected a couple of cars in the lot that had been treated differently.
This sounds very interesting! Horribly like what I have experienced. I doubt there is any chance of getting the railway to admit any sort of liability. It's not a guaranteed reason, but it is a plausible theory. A detailer's car had been left near a railway line recently for three weeks and the finish was terrible - covered in defects that were not easily removed. Oxidised fallout from the railway was what it was narrowed down to. Wasn't him or the products or the car as it affected a couple of cars in the lot that had been treated differently.
Did you manage to remove the defects in the end? If so how please?
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