I just picked up this Honda civic CX. 80% of the car has excellent paint, but the roof and driver side door has paint issues. If you look at pictures of the roof, there are white fade spots, and what looks like peeling paint particles? And on the door, it looks as if the clear is peeling away form the paint.

I was going to try to buff the paint, but in my research, I read that doing that could potentially further damage the paint. What do you paint guys think my options are?

I appreciate the help

 

Its shot, the clear coat has been baked off by the sun, save for a paint job or buy another car.

 

Yah boss I would not buff or polish that car. I actually am in the process of getting all of my licensing for auto detailing. Those spots you see are exposed primer and/or bubbles in the clear coat, if you try to use a polisher your more than likely going to strip the rest of the clear coat, and subsequently some of the paint underneath. That Honda Red (looks Milano Red) is known for turning Honda Red-Pink. To save it though you would definitely need it resprayed, there is no quick fix for this. Sorry to be the one to have to tell you. To be certain about the areas that look white just take and run your nail across the vehicle or the places in question. If your nail gets stuck anywhere at all, it is for certain paint issues.

 

Just like what they said. And try to find a local autobody shop that can paint your ride at a lower price.

 

Its the clear de laminating not bubbles... Buffing it is just going to make the clear flake off.. Re-finishing is the only answer for this.. Now you can buff the rest of the car and make the paint look good on the rest and just have the panals that need fix just re finished.

 

Yah, I said bubbles just based on how they appear, as I stated in my comment I'm in the Auto Detailing business. As you can see in his pictures though part of it is on the roof, you can't simply re-finish or spot paint the roof of a car buddy. Your body will be Milano Pink and the Roof Milano Red. A car with paint problems to that extent could have damage underneath that has started that you can't see yet. Again, no quick fix. You want this thing to shine it needs a re-spray.

 

yea this needs to be repainted. theres no saving it by cutting, buffing and polishing. I work at a body shop and seen this a lot on red cars. my current car, red tsx, I bought it in the same condition as yours and had to repaint it. so start saving up for a paint job.

where you located?

 

Im located in East Bay, Berkeley. I bought it off a lady who rarely drove it, she told me it sat outside on her driveway most of the year, so I could imagine the paint getting destroyed. The body panels of this car are so straight, its a shame I have to loose the original paint. Thanks for all the input fellas, glad H-T members are helpful.

 

I hear ya there man. Sometimes getting an answer isn't always what you want to hear, but it's the reality of things. I'm working on an EM1 Currently and called Maacco to see what it would cost to have it repainted as I am having the same issue just mainly on the trunk, and they said around $800 bucks so you can get it done at a fair rate. My suggestion to you or anyone else driving around a Milano Red Honda ... if you have it repainted ... buy a car cover for it. They aren't terribly expensive and although it is a hassle to put it on and remove it all the time you will make the luster of your paint last for much longer. Also another thing you can do is (after repainted of course) is if you are familiar with using a Circular/Rotary polisher, you can actually buff it quite regularly and then seal it ... I'd say maybe 2-4 times a year if you really want to keep that luster with a "Paint sealant" This is the same product Car Dealerships offer you when you buy a new automobile. It is almost like a protective film that goes on top of even the clear. Good luck buddy