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Auto Body Paint job or Auto detailing work ( Paint oxidation/degradation)?
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Thanks for providing insights for my Car issues.
I noticed some stage paint oxidation/degradation my old car(1999 Camry GREEN Color) on roof /trunk area.
I showed the issue to auto detailing shop. They are suggesting to go for paint job
I checked with local auto body shop. He want to go for roof and trunk painting. They are saying any other solution will bring the car to same state after 6 months.
I am not sure, which options to go.
I like to post the pictures to get some valuable guidance on stopping the progress of oxidation.
Are there any DIY ideas to fix this issue?
Are there any other forums to give ides to these issues?
The clearcoat is shot. Depending on how deep the milky stuff is an abrasive cleaner/wax might take off a layer and restore the color for awhile, but you'd be doing it over every few weeks until the clearcoat is completely gone and which point there would be no more gloss to the finish. And it would still look like crap up close.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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From the picture the clearxoat is gone, sanding it would go through the color coat so repair is about the only way. For a car that age, try. $500 job from one of the chains like Maaco, I would not spend for a really good paint job that's almost the value of the car. You must be in a really sunny area. I recently sold a 1997 Escort and the paint was still like new. We only get maybe 2-3 months of sun.
my advice on this would be to sand off the old clear coat, and use rattle cans, or dupli-color paint system and repaint the car yourself. you might spend about $250 in paint and materials, but you would end up with a decent paint job that will last at least three to five more years. that will give you plenty of time to decide if you want to keep the car or replace it.
Paint does hit a point in which it can't be brought back. At that stage the only thing you can do is get it repainted. Sun, salt, tree sap, bugs, etc are hard on a paint job and one should be waxed at least twice a year for it to hold up, but even then, paint still deteriorates. Those of us without a garage are at a big disadvantage!
People think detailers can work magic and make anything look new again but once paint hits a certain point in oxidation, nothing will bring it back to even acceptable. All you would be doing is wasting money. The detailers are turning down a pay check so I'd imagine they definitely feel they won't accomplish anything. Have another detailer look at it, just in case that shop is busy and doesn't want to give any business away!
To me it sounds like the best approach may be to get the trunk/roof painted. That is, if you want to save money by not painting the whole car. One thing to think about though is how good will they be able to blend the new paint to get a decent match of the current 17 year old paint. That may be a toughy and them doing it correctly will extend the painting a good bit past the roof and trunk, as they'll need to blend into the panels. Or is a good blend actually necessary and will just painting the panels be acceptable to you.
I don't detail cars (other then my own) but have a business detailing boats and once the sun has done it's damage, there is nothing I can do. Amazing the number of people who think I have a magic buffer that can bring 15 plus year old, chalked up gelcoat and faded paint back to like new condition. Then they get mad when I suggest they get a quote for getting it painted and I don't even do that.
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