Paint blemish on new car.

[avenger]

We bought a new car last night, and in the garage tonight I noticed a bit of a blemish about the size of a fifty cent piece. It's only visible when you get the light on it to cause the blemish to glare. Up close it kind of looks like a finger or body oil smudge of some sort. No cleaning, rubbing or wax seems to do anything, so it must be in the finish. If the light isn't right on it, I don't see it, so I don't believe it's in the red.

What is this, and can this be fixed by the dealership if I take it in? I don't know much about car paints, but it's kind of gutting to find something like this on a one day old car.

Thanks!

 

[Loz H]

surely if its brand new they can sort it?

 

[avenger]

Yeah, I plan to have them do it in any case. Really I'm looking for the peace of mind of knowing if it's something easily fixed (hopefully easy enough to do while I wait), or something worse. If they can just buff it out, or maybe polish it that would be great. If it looks like something that would need real work done to it, that would be a bummer. I wonder what caused it too.

 

[Gorms]

Looks like acid etching from bird poo! Might be able to tidy it up with a buff but will need more attention to get it perfect.

Take it back and let them sort it out.

 

[l33th3tr33]

+1 on bird s**t. Depends how long it was on there as to how easy it'll come off.

 

[Mr Plums]

Is that the paint thats flaking off below the s**t mark? I cant make it out because of the light.

 

[avenger]

No, it's really all shine. The light is hitting the blemish and lighting it up. If you move to the side and the light goes off of it, you couldn't find it if you tried. That's why I like to describe it as something that looks like body oil since it has that oily look when the light hits it. But otherwise, you can't find it. We looked the car over really well before driving it off the lot, but it was starting to get late and the sun angle didn't hit it in such a way as to show this blemish. So, we didn't see it until today.

It's possible you're seeing the reflection of the garage light above it too. That's the bright spot under it, and it's mirroring the light and the box the light is in, which I suppose could look like a paint flake or bubble.

 

[Scrooge]

It's bird s**t etching. Sometimes easy to get off but most times it's a royal pain in the ass.

 

[imprezaworks]

Is that a 'brand new car'? Only ask as it looks like the bonnet has been painted.

 

[Fred@BTM]

^most cars these days are painted mate, they'd rust otherwise

 

[yellowbelly]

Wow Fred seems to have fallen into the "Cleaning Fairy" section of the forum again, someone help him get back to somewhere technical

 

[imprezaworks]

Probably just the reflection lol

 

[mi16chris]

Yup it's a bird sh1t mark they piss me off and can be very hard to take out

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah I know that mate, was referring to below it.

 

[Gally]

The paintwork looks shockingly bad. Never mind the bird poo etching.

Also beware, lime etching does etch into the lacquer and whilst removable in a lot of cases, it can show up later.

Lacquer has a memory and marks, just like flattening marks from sanding can come back after polishing.

Personally if that was my car, i'd be looking to have the bonnet painted properly.

Just to give you an idea on the memory thing. We sanded a wing for painting and the etching actually showed up after painting. Heat plays a massive part.

 

[Inequality Street]

I hate birds and there poo's

 

[imprezaworks]

Their only human mate.

 

[Derek172]

What car is it, the paint looks awful on it for a brand new car. The finish is shocking for that little section.