Suggestions for some really bad paint?

R

RyanDe680

New member
I have an upcoming car to work on this weekend. I went to go see it yesterday. It is a BMW 325ix, silver and is a '91.



Here are a few pics:



05-1.jpg




04-1.jpg




02-1.jpg




I went and checked out the car yesterday and the whole body is in the same shape. The paint feels either very oxidized without showing terrible white spots of destruction or has no clearcoat left.



I am contemplating 1 of 2 solutions:



1. Compounding with some OHC and an orange pad



2. Wetsanding and starting from the very beginning.



I am not sure I want to wetsand the whole car because I am unsure as to what is left of the clearcoat (if any) as well as the thickness of the paint. I am going to try the OHC and orange pad first.



Any suggestions? I think I can manage this, but am curious as to what you guys think as well.



Thanks. :up
 
It looks as if the previous owner either used a Brillo pad or steel wool, it was that bad.



Funny thing is that a lot of scratches passed the finger nail test somehow...
 
you know ive seen the same effect on older cheapie paint jobs, chances are that would polish and look okay and then return to looking bad within a few weeks



bet its a bad paint/clear job and not brillo pad marks
 
I've owned two BMW's of that generation and the clearcoat peeled on both of them. The first was an '86 535i and the clear started peeling off the roof, trunk, and hood in that order, leaving a flat color finish showing. Same thing is happening on an 87 535is that my son is driving.



BMW must not have had their paint process worked out properly in those years. Looks to me like your 3 series had similar problems and someone may have tried to deal with it quite unsuccessfully. That is clearly going to be a challenge and I'd doubt if you can get it back to "original". It goes beyond owner neglect to some type of paint issue.

Good luck.
 
admac said:
wow, the closeups look like brushed stainless steel. crazy.
Click to expand...



Haha, great comparison. It actually looks like the brushed aluminum trim that was available in the E46....



I am going to try and use the OHC and orange pad.
 
Pass on it, the paint appears to be on the verge of clearcoat failure, the paint looks really checked and crazed.



Rudd Company, Inc. - Manufacturers of quality paint and coatings since 1912.



Definition - All of these are caused by stresses on the film and substrate.

Cracking - An advanced stage of checking or crazing whereby the breaks in the film are so deep as to expose the underlying substrate. Usually occurs as straight lines, often running with the grain.

Checking - In between cracking and crazing. Larger cracks than crazing, less total cracks than crazing, but not always seen in straight lines with the grain unlike cracking.

Crazing - The appearance of minute, interlacing cracks or checks on the surface of a dried film. Usually seen as an extreme amount of tiny cracks.



Possible Fixes for Cracking/Checking/Crazing

Strip and refinish

Sand and recoat
 
Scottwax said:
Pass on it, the paint appears to be on the verge of clearcoat failure, the paint looks really checked and crazed.



Rudd Company, Inc. - Manufacturers of quality paint and coatings since 1912.



Definition - All of these are caused by stresses on the film and substrate.

Cracking - An advanced stage of checking or crazing whereby the breaks in the film are so deep as to expose the underlying substrate. Usually occurs as straight lines, often running with the grain.

Checking - In between cracking and crazing. Larger cracks than crazing, less total cracks than crazing, but not always seen in straight lines with the grain unlike cracking.

Crazing - The appearance of minute, interlacing cracks or checks on the surface of a dried film. Usually seen as an extreme amount of tiny cracks.



Possible Fixes for Cracking/Checking/Crazing

Strip and refinish

Sand and recoat
Click to expand...



Have you seen something like this in person Scott?



Thanks for the suggestions guys, I appreciate it!
 
RyanDe680 said:
Have you seen something like this in person Scott?



Thanks for the suggestions guys, I appreciate it!
Click to expand...



Yes, that is why I suggested you pass on it. Odds are you will make it look worse because all those cracks will fill with whatever you polish it with. Reminds me of the full sized GMs and their checked paint on the horizontal surfaces. The whole top of the car would be dull but the sides still shiny.
 
I agree with clearcoat failure or soon to be and I have done tons of those. That's what happens when a car has been buffed and brushed too many times and the clear gets thin and light. Remember it is a 1991. Give it a shot if you want anyway with a pc. I would keep a rotory off that. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
 
Thank you Scott! I forgot what that was called and I have not done one in years. Crazing!

I can't believe I forgot that one, as much as I want to forget those nightmares.



It's very common on silvers and golds mainly. I remember a lot of older silver GM's did that and the old laquers also did that in the 80"s.
 
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