Is this repairable?

[Digitalwave]

The clear coat on both my quarter panels seems to be failing. The rest of the car looks pretty great, even the tops of the quarter panels are fine.

Is this something that I can fix, or perhaps a professional detailer?







Theres some photos of the quarters. As you can see, from some angles they look great, from others they are terrible.

Any thoughts?

[SchnellerVert]

Leaning towards no. Sad as I love that color.

[parkerbink]

Sorry TJ but completely fix I don't think so, however first I'd try a product I have used that might reduce it called Blue Coral Scratch Remover. I got it at Pep Boys.



Failing that a pro detailer most likely has something that will help. When I had my truck painted it came back with some glaring isues that the body shop said would come out in the color sand/polish phase after the paint had set. I was very dubious but they were right. A professional can work wonders when it comes to automotive finishes.

Good luck.

[Dave]

Looks a lot like mine, TJ. I have that mostly below the trim pieces on the doors. Also, my roof suffers from that same effect.

I used some Meguiars stuff and it was a decent temporary fix, kind of hid the problem for a while.

[Jand3rson]

Couldn't you have just those sections re-cleared, and blended to match the rest? On my last E30, after some guy backed into my door, they had to re-clear a spot that they did that started to peel, and that's what they did. Although I suppose you're trying to fix it yourself without having to take it to the professionals.

[trent]

Couldn't you have just those sections re-cleared, and blended to match the rest? On my last E30, after some guy backed into my door, they had to re-clear a spot that they did that started to peel, and that's what they did. Although I suppose you're trying to fix it yourself without having to take it to the professionals.

I would sand with 600 and reshoot the section in clear.
This isn't the best idea, but it would probaby work.

[Digitalwave]

Having a shop mask and shoot that one area with clear should be cheap too. I'm going to bring it to a couple shops and see what they think. The rest of the paint on my car is good, save for a few small problem spots.

[Jand3rson]

You're still going to want to have them blend the section that they shoot with the rest of the existing good clear, otherwise you're going to have like a small ridge.

[Digitalwave]

They can use the character line on the body to blend, because the whole quarter panel length needs it, but its only below the character line. It stops at the door and at the tail lights.

[Jand3rson]

They can use the character line on the body to blend, because the whole quarter panel length needs it, but its only below the character line. It stops at the door and at the tail lights.

I see. That's convenient!

[Teaguer]

Seems like buffing won't really get rid of that mess .

A competent shop should be able to wetsand the affected areas with finegrit paper, up to 2000, and then reclear the quarters .

Then finish up with a nice cut and buff job to make it as seamless as possible .

Sounds like you are already aware of this though .
Don't know what you call cheap, but I would easily charge you $500 to do the required work .
Thats with a semi-hookup too . :D

Sounds like you are on the right track .
Just make sure that whatever shop you choose uses eurethane base/clear . Don't let them skimp and use single stage since the car is considered older .

Good luck .

[Digitalwave]

$500 eh, its probably not worth doing until I save up to have the whole car repainted. I took it to a pro detailer today and he said he could help it a little bit but in the end it'd be a waste of my money (the guy was really nice and helpful).

[ldsbeaker]

mine looks like that too.

[Teaguer]

$500 eh, its probably not worth doing until I save up to have the whole car repainted. I took it to a pro detailer today and he said he could help it a little bit but in the end it'd be a waste of my money (the guy was really nice and helpful).

Yeah thats basically what I was saying .
That you might as well live with until you do a full respray , or trade for a Honduh or whatever . :D

[dirty30]

$500 eh, its probably not worth doing until I save up to have the whole car repainted. I took it to a pro detailer today and he said he could help it a little bit but in the end it'd be a waste of my money (the guy was really nice and helpful).

Mine is doing the same thing in almost the exact same spots. Waxing used to work but recently it isn't as effective. May I suggest a pirate flag on the hood?