Hi All,

 

I recently washed the car and it quickly became obvious that the bonnet looks like it's covered in fag ash - lots of white spots on what should be a red bonnet!

 

I asked a mate who basically said there's nothing to be done apart from having the bonnet taken back to primer and re-sprayed. I'd like to think there's a cheaper option that at least improves the look somewhat. Painting in the chips will probably look worse. Painting and polishing perhaps?

 

I'm a bit new to all this, I'm not building a show car I just want the car to look the best she can for every-day driving. Any advice for DYI improvements would be great

 

 

Is it definitely chips rather than something like paint splattered on there?

 

Getting it vinyl wrapped might be a cheaper option.

Edited 21 October, 201312 yr by Dr Zoidberg

Yeah, they're definitely chips, got some depth there for sure.

 

Vinyl might be a good option, I'm guessing I'd fill/level/seal all the chips and then wrap it. Is it hard to find colour-matched vinyl? 

No idea, but could be worth a couple of phone calls.

 

As you'd want the holes filling first, it could be worth going at them all with a touch up pen and then using some very fine wet and dry to bring it all to a level, then polishing it. You might be pleasantly surprised at the results, and if not then vinyl it anyway.

There's a few people here with experience of this kind of thing who will no doubt be along soon.

one of these? - http://www.drcolorchip.com/store/road-rash-paint-chip-repair-kit.php

 

i think theres a UK version but I cant remember what its called?

'Road rash' is quite common and is just a build up over time of small stone chips. Best dealt with by first build up the paint from the centre of the chip till it's proud, then after your happy with the amount of paint build up and allowing it to dry for 24 to 48 hours, sand them down with some wet'n'dry wrapped around a block or use a 'de'nibbler' first to take off the majority then sand back 3,000 grit will do the job, then give it a go over with a cutting compound and then finally with a finishing polish. This can be done by hand but will be hard going so if you have a rotary polisher or access to one then all the better. If it's your first time or a little wary of doing something like this, get a scrap panel from a scrappy and have a practice.

Dud this to my wife's car - bonnet was peppered by the rest of the car was gleaming.

Properly cleaned out the chips, laid layer upon layer of thin paint coverage until it was just proud.

Left for a couple of days then using soaked wet and dry with a washing up liquid solution as a lube I carefully took back each lump slowly. The second it started to dissappear I didn't go any further.

Using a DA polisher I then lightly cut the bonnet then polished to literally an as new finish. Couldn't believe the result. You couldn't feel or see 90% of the chips even close up.

Nice one