Clearcoat "peel" - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 06:10 AM

While giving a good wash I noticed that there are a couple of small areas on the front bumper where it looks like the clearcoat is peeling. Kinda like skin after a good burn. All of the paint looks good still, but I want to stay ahead of it. Kinda OCD like that.

What is the best way to "fix" this, shy of a body/paint shop?

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 06:36 AM

Does it have any accident history? Don't see any good/perm solution short of a repainted bumper cover. Should be less than $600 for a quality job. Take photographs to document your "cosmetic" repair only for the next buyer.

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Does it have any accident history? Don't see any good/perm solution short of a repainted bumper cover. Should be less than $600 for a quality job. Take photographs to document your "cosmetic" repair only for the next buyer.

No accidents. One family car, so I know the history. The spots are REALLY small (like I said, I'm being a little OCD about it

), so I don't need to do anything, just want to.

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffinhunter

No accidents. One family car, so I know the history. The spots are REALLY small (like I said, I'm being a little OCD about it

), so I don't need to do anything, just want to.

Take to a good body shop. Have them look at it. Maybe they can hit it with a coat of clear for a couple hundred bucks.

If they can do it, you remove the bumper cover (saving $$), clean out your rads and AC condensor, deliver the cover to the body shop, and return in a few days and replace the bumper.

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 07:17 AM

Are you using a power washer to clean the car?

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Are you using a power washer to clean the car?

Kind of. I use it on the wheels, and on low setting to get the soap off. I don't use it on a high setting on the paint. I'm paranoid that would strip the paint right off. It's only 1,600 PSI at highest, and I get nowhere near that.

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffinhunter

Kind of. I use it on the wheels, and on low setting to get the soap off. I don't use it on a high setting on the paint. I'm paranoid that would strip the paint right off. It's only 1,600 PSI at highest, and I get nowhere near that.

That's what I thought. You may want to re-think this process.

woodsman · 08-06-2013, 09:32 AM

maybe it's stone chips in the clearcoat. Wax or repaint.

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 09:40 AM

Dr. Colorchip time?

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

That's what I thought. You may want to re-think this process.

I thought of that, but the pressure I am using is less than ony of the self service places, or a drive through would be.

However, I will not be getting near the "peeling" area.

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Dr. Colorchip time?

What is this Dr. Colorchip you speak of?

There is no loss of color/paint

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsman

maybe it's stone chips in the clearcoat. Wax or repaint.

It might be a stone chip, but there is no color loss.

Would a solid waxing "cover" that up?

By solid I mean detailed

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 09:53 AM

Post some photos.

woodsman · 08-06-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffinhunter

It might be a stone chip, but there is no color loss.

Would a solid waxing "cover" that up?

By solid I mean detailed

a chip in the clearcoat ONLY. The colour is the first stage than the clearcoat is applied. A good coat of wax will fill in the loss of surface height and add shine, just like a clearcoat does.

Flavor 987S · 08-06-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsman

A good coat of wax will fill in the loss of surface height

Really? With all the wax/sealant on my car, it should look as big as the new 981.

Coffinhunter · 08-06-2013, 02:58 PM

Not the best photo, but it's raining and had to do this in my garage.

It's about the size of a pencil eraser.

fatmike · 08-06-2013, 03:46 PM

This is fairly typical. Plastic bumpers simply aren't the best for holding paint.

It's not the end of the world. Either ignore it, or get it re-sprayed.

The alternative is to wait for your car to end up in a fender bender, then you get a new bumper on the house...

/

patssle · 08-06-2013, 05:10 PM

Quote:

The alternative is to wait for your car to end up in a fender bender, then you get a new bumper on the house...

I thumped my front bumper on my Mazda 3 back in 2009. It was very minor damage so wasn't worth $800 to replace. I had that car for 4 more years waiting for somebody to hit it. Hoping every day. Never happened.

woodsman · 08-07-2013, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffinhunter

Not the best photo, but it's raining and had to do this in my garage.

It's about the size of a pencil eraser.

It's possible to get a 'blow-in' which is where a pro sprays a little clear in a small area and then uses thinner or a special blending solvent to get the old and new clear to meld. Then it's buffed. Most would be unable to see the repair but you would!
DO NOT wet sand the problem area as clearcoat can be buffed to perfection but the base/colour coat cannot. You could wax it once a week for a few and see if it improves.