My Paint is RUINED!!!!

single · #1 (**permalink**) 01-23-2004, 10:06 AM

I wanted to get my front/rear bumpers resprayed since the recent cold/snowey/ice'y weather had taken its toll on my bumpers. In the meantime, I always detail my car top to bottom atleast once a month...many local people have commented on the feel/look/quality of my 12 year old paint job. Other than minor scratches, one or two dings, and the shotty front and rear bumpers, my car was immaculate on the outside.

So last week, I decided it was time to get the bumpers done...we were haveing a nice week (60+ degree's). I get a few quotes, check out a few shops and end up going with the cheapest. Reason being, it was winter and I figured there was a good chance that I would have them repainted before spring. So I turn my keys over, not expecting a perfect job, but a nice one. First time it was done, I go and check it out and find a few blemishes, beyond my standards. The guys were nice, and repainted it again. Get it back, looked great. Since that day, we have had all cold nasty days until today.

So I go outside and wash my car, like I normally start my detail. I start washing, and realize that it keeps looking dirty. So I wash again, thinking that since is was only 40-50 degree's, the dirt wasn't comming off. By the second wash, I really don't understand, so I decide to take a closer look. When I get up close to the paint, it appears as if there is a LOT, and I mean A LOT of metallic gold overspray. I think to myself, nothing new...dealt with overspray before. My first attempt was a light one, only claybar'ing the car. Car looked a tad better, but thats when I saw the mass of the problem. It was by far deeper than I thought. I get out the orbital and some Meguiars Fine Cut Cleaner and go at it. I get done, not any better. I follow with a small coat of medium cut cleaner, no luck. Much more than this, and its beyond my skill level and confidence. At this point, I am down about 4 hours of work, and its just looking worse(maybe im just getting more pissed). I am not sure what to do, it covers my ENTIRE car. The business side of me says go back to the shop and demand it be fixed, but the personal side of me says that I wouldn't let anyone by myself get within 100ft of my paint. From this point, it looks as if the entire car is going to need to be resprayed at minimum. I don't want that place to touch my car, so it looks like I might be out $2000+ dollars. Arggh...I am just really pissed off about this.

Any ideas?

Wes

P.S. Just looked at my wheels when I took a break typing this, and realized there is a lot of overspray on my wheels, black. I've only tried A-Z Wheel Cleaner, and it didn't move.

SilverDinanM3 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-23-2004, 10:12 AM

that happened to me a yaear ago with my 328i, i just kept taking it back, against my better judgement, until they fixed it. By the 3rd time they fixed it right and i was happy. So my advise is take it back a couple more times and if it gets worse or shows no improvement, then ask that thay pay to have it done at another shop. I'm picky about my car too and i DO NOT like when there is something wrong. I hope it all works out.

single · #3 (**permalink**) 01-23-2004, 11:28 AM

Yeah, I am the same way. I notice every imperfection regarding my car. The dents are small enough that no one would see them unless you were a foot away, but they bug they piss out of me. I may just bring it to a really good shop and tell them to wetsand the car.

Wes

Clay'87IS · #4 (**permalink**) 01-24-2004, 08:06 AM

Dang, that sucks. Definately take it back until it gets fixed. I have a friend who brought their x5 to the dealer to get something fixed....when they got it back the windshield had a layer of clearcoat on it! I guess this is a not so rare problem?

Steve Hamilton · #5 (**permalink**) 01-27-2004, 12:20 AM

I detail stuff fresh out of 6 different body shops. This is WAY more common than you'd think. My advice is to bring it back and tell them they need to wetsand it for you, and check the brand of paint they use. I do work for one place that uses OEM BMW paint, and one that uses PPG and there is a HUGE difference. The same guy sprays (long story), so the quality of the work is not an issue.

Long and short, go back and demand they do the job right. Make sure they finesse the entire car when they are done.

Greg · #6 (**permalink**) 01-27-2004, 08:54 AM

Might want to try some Prepsol or mineral spirits to see if that takes it off or Autoint ABC.

single · #7 (**permalink**) 01-30-2004, 04:30 PM

Thanks to some local guys, I am going to work on some wetsanding. The shop is half-ass and I would prefer to not ever step foot in there again. Looks like I may be dropping my engine soon, perfect time to wetsand the entire car to get the OEM orange peel off as well.

Thanks,

Wes

DoubleShot · #8 (**permalink**) 01-31-2004, 05:41 AM

wow, you paid $2000+ to have the bumpers repainted, and got that kinda service...

wow...

single · #9 (**permalink**) 01-31-2004, 05:07 PM

I paid like 400 for the bumpers, but its going to require almost 2000 in work to get what they messed up fixed.

Wes

LordGop · #10 (**permalink**) 02-09-2004, 01:07 AM

That sucks....I had a 94 jetta a while ago (gone now) and I bought it red....Looked way to pull me over and chick like (used it as a daily driver) so I took it to a 1 day paint and auto body (if I remember right) and I had them repaint it 2 times and repaint/redo certain parts a 3rd time till they got it right(painted black).
THOSE PLACES ARE AWFUL!!!.

Don't worry I would never take any of my other cars there. (or ever even thought about it)

Go to a BMW dealer or other fine shop, its worth the extra WHATEVER the amount in a certain range. I learned that in this paint field it seems like it is really get what you pay for.

Sorry to hear that happened to you. Take TONS of pics of the damage!!! If you choose not to go back then fine sometimes I just bite it in the butt too. But, if you have problems with the wetsander you have pics what how the car was before!!! Start covering bases to avoid anything else going bad. I REALLY hope you get it all back to how it was either way, good luck.

OH P.S/EDIT: Glad you use Meguiars I love they stuff, even got their buffer =). Love the gold class wax.

TheWiseGuy · #11 (**permalink**) 02-10-2004, 11:29 PM

Yeah generally when there is any type of orange peel or overspray over the clear coat alone you can wetsand it. The grit sandpaper matters a lot. For a very slight area of overspray you may want to you a 1200 grit or higher. If you go with a lower grit you may sand too deep. The way I always look at it is that the finer grit you go with, the longer it may take, but also the smoother you can get the paint with out going too far. Remember that wetsanding is not the only step in that process. You must also couple that with the right type of buffing compound. I suggest a Meguiar's diamond cut compound first, then their swirl mark remover.

TheWiseGuy · #12 (**permalink**) 02-10-2004, 11:30 PM

Oh also a little tip NEVER sand without wrapping the paper around a sponge.

rondal · #13 (**permalink**) 03-07-2004, 12:28 AM

take pics of it first off in the sunlight and then take it back and demand they fix it. i work at a shop and if a car went out like that we would all get fired on the spot. they have to fix it. if they dont say you want your $$$ back for the bumpers and if not you will seek legal means to get it back.

usually get ppl moving

JsnE36M · #14 (**permalink**) 03-31-2004, 12:42 AM

"so it looks like I might be out $2000+ dollars."

That's pretty cheap to paint an entire car... It was 541 bucks to repaint my rear bumper, but the owner of the shop is my friend and did it for 225.

QUALITY job and you could never tell it was painted.

I sugest you lookaround for a better shop before you have it painted, if you do.

Quoat to repaint my car a compleatly different color including engine bay was 5-6k.

And you better bet I'd have that shop paying for it.

There was a Corvette at my friends shop getting the whole car repainted. It was getting paid for by a shop who had messed up his paint. So they paid for it and had another shop do the work.