Paint polish/refresh

halberd · Post by **halberd** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:02 am

The paint on my red Roadster is beginning to look a little dull. Its still got the clearcoat thankfully but it's just beginning to look tired. I was gonna do a full repaint because of all the tiny stone chips but until then, I want to polish her up.

I know literally NOTHING about polishing cars, so can someone recommend a good product to use to make my tired red paint look as best as possible? Also should I use a buffer? My flatmate has one. Also is there a way to remove/hide/repair paint chips?

dynofiend · Post by **dynofiend** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:29 am

The easiest way is hand polishing, but it depends on the condition of the paint currently as to what impact something simple like that will have. If you can possibly take a picture showing the condition (close up) of a typical area, ideally showing scratches or any paint fading that you have, that might help determine the best course of action.

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:29 am

simple......go to repco. Buy the car restoration paint kit.....it will more than likey be on special soon for fathers day. Follow instructions are you will have a nice shiney red car.....

I used this kit on my MR2 and it worked great.

p.s a buffer WILL give you better results but always read the instructions on the polish before you use it

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:00 pm

http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/viewtopic.php?t=9813

halberd · Post by **halberd** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:19 pm

dynofiend wrote:If you can possibly take a picture showing the condition (close up) of a typical area, ideally showing scratches or any paint fading that you have, that might help determine the best course of action.

Here's the back of the car. Excuse the dirt, it needs a wash desperately (and a tidy up in the passenger footwell). It has the back end sort of sticking out of the carport so the fading is worse on the back.

The other pic is some of the paint chips relative to the size of my hand, the photo didn't come out well but you can see some white specks

So, what should be the course of action?

Sorry sprtsa, can't afford to pay anyone else to do it :p

old scrubber · Post by **old scrubber** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:56 pm

your paint has oxadised, a good cut and wax will bring it back, red needs a good coat of wax,

malcster · Post by **malcster** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 5:24 pm

Yeah red and silver are the 2x worst colours for fading so need extra special care.

Growler · Post by **Growler** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:49 pm

malcster wrote:Yeah red and silver are the 2x worst colours for fading so need extra special care.

Most jap imports will fade. Japan has lower UV levels than we do so they don't need as much protection as we do. (And thats why Jap import tyres crack a lot easier too).

thebears · Post by **thebears** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:10 pm

What's your location?

Have a look through here as well, http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/viewtopic.php ... highlight=

If your up in Auckland I may be able to help!

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:39 am

Just a heads up. The red cars didn't have a clearcoat on the paint. Its a solid colour paint. Thats why it fades. I use meguires fine cut cleaner. Followed by the polish. Them a carnuba wax.
After that its just a maintenance wax as required.
You could just slip all the hard work and get some quotes from car detailers for a detail. Then you just have to worry about the maintenance waxing

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:43 am

My red car most definitely has a clear coat and is also fading severely, not to mention the clear coat is flaking off in en masse now.

halberd · Post by **halberd** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:57 am

Thanks SLYDIT

But my other red car definitely has a clearcoat, it's peeling off everywhere

Maybe you mean the Eunos Roadsters didn't as they are imports (my peeling one is an MX5)

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:49 am

My one is an eunos. I think they all suffer the same fate

Ah well, one day it'll get tidied up

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:59 am

Bit of advertising here (sorry!) I got my car repainted for $1300! GT Pro Panel and Paint down in Onehunga.

Super happy with the job! Highly reccomend if the paint is effed

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 10:54 am

chris wrote:Bit of advertising here (sorry!) I got my car repainted for $1300! GT Pro Panel and Paint down in Onehunga.

Super happy with the job! Highly reccomend if the paint is effed

Did you get the door jams done and everything or just a exterior job thats cheap!

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:01 am

Kieran wrote:
chris wrote:Bit of advertising here (sorry!) I got my car repainted for $1300! GT Pro Panel and Paint down in Onehunga.

Super happy with the job! Highly reccomend if the paint is effed
Did you get the door jams done and everything or just a exterior job thats cheap!

Yup - Door jams done too! Although mine was just a respray, a brighter white + more clear coat.

Btw, to clean up your door jams a quick wetsand does the job!

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:02 am

Oh so it wasn't stripped back just painted over?

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:10 am

I think they stripped it back, I couldn't tell you! I know they stripped the bumpers and fenders back, But hell $1300 on a 20 year old car, it looks like new

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:02 pm

chris wrote: I got my car repainted for $1300!
Super happy with the job! Highly reccomend if the paint is effed

Hell that would barely cover consumables if i was repainting a car

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:01 pm

If it has a clearcoat then its been repainted

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:02 am

SLYDIT wrote:If it has a clearcoat then its been repainted

Was thinking this earlier also, as I believe only later NAs (maybe only NA8s?) were clearcoated.

Paint polish/refresh

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