Is my paint salvageable?

[Vefu]

Well, I picked up my car about 5 weeks ago and after going through and fixing most of the mechanical issues (hopefully) I wanted to take a look at the paint next. Is there any way to fix this paint? It's in pretty bad condition and kind of looks like the previous owner tried to sand it at one point. Thanks guys.

[urbancynic]

I highly doubt it.

You can try to wetsand it with 1200 or 1500 grit paper and then buff it with rubbing compound, but you'd have to be very careful to not go through whats left.

I doubt that will fix it. Might not even improve it, but it can't hurt with what you have now.

[ZM Blue Devil]

nope, paint checking... common on the lighter tone cars like cirrus blue and bronzit....

[bimmer630]

My paint is checked but not as bad. wetsanding and buffing wont help?

[StereoInstaller1]

It will help....waste an afternoon.

Sorry.

[fronton]

sand the rest of the car so it looks evenly ghetto.

[Vefu]

I've been reading up on other forums and some have suggested to use rubbing compound, then some polishing compound, do you guys think the would make it look better? Also the trunk lid and the top of the car is just as bad.

Also, i'd be doing this by hand. I don't have access to a buffer.

[ZM Blue Devil]

nothing will work, all you will have is shinny surface that will show the checking even more.

[bimmer630]

SO BMW didnt use clearcoat on these things did they? at first I thought maybe the checking on these old paintjobs was just messed up clearcoat

[E30_(1st Musk)_]

i have this same problem just not as bad... but i noticed that if you polish it and use a really oily wax it will help but not cure the problem...for example whenever im working on the e30 and touch the paint with greasy fingers the spot i touched always looks better... make any sense?

[Ceeker]

I've seen this a few times and think it happened because of a bad batch of paint used by bmw. I thought it was the clear coat giving up from excessive fall out and weathering. I would sand the surface down to get it uniform. and then clear coat it again. otherwise you'll need fresh paint. I brought back what was otherwise a severely weathered apline white 2 paint job on the hood. I honestly didn't think it could come back. after 3 hours of wet sanding, cutting and polishing the shine came back to as if it were never neglected. there is hope, with the right products, time and lots of elbow grease!!!! LOL

[5Toes]

IMO it looks cool... like aluminum almost.