Whats this paint damage?

[Rick101]

Hi,

Took delivery of a leased Golf about 6 weeks ago. Didn't notice on the brief time I had to inspect it but I day or so later I saw this. You can only see it in certain light and from a certain angle. It's taken me 6 weeks to get a photo that showed it!



Any thoughts on what it is? Someone suggested an egg had been thrown at car but that certainly not the case whilst I've had it. It looks to be like a mark from a rotary polisher.

Supplying dealer is miles away so I'm going to get some local quotes for repair, problem is you can't see it 90% of the time, but when you do, it's bad enough to want fixing.

[Dog Star]

I think your rotary/orbital polisher theory is spot on; zoom in and you can see the characteristic pattern.

[Rick101]

I did notice a few minor scratches on that panel. I'd hazard a guess someone has attempted to polish them out.

Not sure if it's normal but delivery driver was VERY keen to get me to sign a document to say i'd inspected the car prior to him leaving.

[Sensibleboy]

Bird poo can do that. I've got a shadow in a similar shape on my bonnet.

[Kev T360]

Dog Star said:

I think your rotary/orbital polisher theory is spot on; zoom in and you can see the characteristic pattern.

This is what I think.

[blearyeyedboy]

When my car had damage from an egg it didn't look like that. It was more like a collection of small lines a couple of millimetres long heading out from the impact centre to the edge of the mark.

[V6Alfisti]

Initially thought an egg until I zoomed in.

Agree with others, seems to be an orbital buffer. Odd that a delivery driver would have an orbital buffer in his van? Presumably it just wipes away? and there is perhaps a scratch under there?

[iloveboost]

V6Alfisti said:

Initially thought an egg until I zoomed in.

Agree with others, seems to be an orbital buffer. Odd that a delivery driver would have an orbital buffer in his van? Presumably it just wipes away? and there is perhaps a scratch under there?

It may be this. It looks like somebody has noticed a light scratch put some polish on and the cars been taken before they've had a chance to do it. Oh dear.

[Rick101]

Not sure what you mean? It's not on the surface, it's damage to the paint itself.
I suspect prior to delivery they have polished it, but not very well.

Trouble is, without the right light it's very difficult to see. Just been round to VW and neither of us could see any mark whatsoever with it being overcast.

[Tc24]

Looks as though someone with a gritty orbital pad has held it over that spot for a fair while, leaving a hologram in the paint work.

Either speak to someone who knows what they're doing with a DA polisher, or you might be able to get that out by hand given it's only on a small area. Something like Meguiars 105 (cutting compound) then 205 (finishing compound) might do the trick? No doubt someone with some decent detailing knowledge will be along at some point to suggest the best products for the job

Have a look at this bonnet which I polished a while ago - although the hologram effect isn't quite as visible, you can tell the difference between the polished and non-polished sides. Only difference here is that I think your car will have a lacquer coat where as this one didn't seem to:

[V6Alfisti]

Rick101 said:

Not sure what you mean? It's not on the surface, it's damage to the paint itself.
I suspect prior to delivery they have polished it, but not very well.

Trouble is, without the right light it's very difficult to see. Just been round to VW and neither of us could see any mark whatsoever with it being overcast.

I see sorry, thought there was still some product on it. Teaches me to read properly.

In that case probably just needs a good professional polish to bring it back.