Right, I am really into this detailing lark now. So I have a question or maybe a couple.

First off When I bought the car I crashed it driving off the forecourt. The thing had been insured for all of five mins.

Needless to say I did not drive away in my new car that day. To say I was distraught is an understatement.

On picking up the car after repair I noticed a difference in the paint surface to the driver and passenger door, these had been re sprayed with blending into the wing and rear quarter. It is particularly evident on the drivers door, less so on the rear passenger, the paint having a distinct glassy, wavy appearance, compared to the slightly mottled factory spray.

I guessed that this is a result of slightly over zealous polishing by the sprayer. another problem has arisen here, as there seems to be a slight depression in the panel just behind the door handle, I might try the freeze spray and hairdryer technique to see if it comes out. The doors were new so there is NO filler. On a bright sunny day parked on a gravel surface it looks a dog to me, and I despair, yet at other times I can live with it. I had it checked out by two guys who are pretty picky and they said it wasn't a bad job by any means, and the depression is no worse than you see on some other brand new cars.

So after that long winded story, here's the question. Will damned good detailing session even out the differences in the paint work? I appreciate it will never be quite the same, but it may help.

I will get some pictures up when I have had the chance to wash it to show the paint work. This may help some of you guys determine wether the freezer spray thing would work.

Thanks

It might be worth posting the question on the detailingworld forum with some pics and ask some of the pro detailers what they think. Depending where you live one might take a look at for you.

Sounds like orange peel effect on the door. Polishing alone will not solve this and need to be sanded down with wet and dry then polished. I've been into detailing for about 6 years and I'm still not confident enough to tackle this myself. Might be worth getting either a profession bodyshop or a professional detailer to sort it for you.

They could also look at the imperfection around the door handle.

HTH.

Can you give more details of the car in question? Age? Colour? Mileage?

Without seeing the car it is possible that a good going over with a DA or a Rotary will bring the old panels up to scratch as these will no doubt be faded and have had some wear and tear.........

Hi mate I am just waiting for an opportunity to take a few photos in good light so you can cast your expert eye over it. I will upload them asap.

It's beautifully sunny right now up here in Harrogate, but my wife is just going out in it, so collateral damage always looms on the horizon, esp. when she abandons it next to a battered old Datsun Sunny in the Asda car park!

My car is a race blue VRS Octy 06 reg with 18K on the clock.

Thanks for the pointers

Why don't you just complain to the insurance?

Most bodywork repairs are 3 warranted for 3 years and if they have done a crap job they should fix it.

Hi mate I am just waiting for an opportunity to take a few photos in good light so you can cast your expert eye over it.

I am no expert but I can at least give you some advice..........I guess for a comparison you could look at the recent work I did on Tom_vRS Octavia in this forum last weekend to see a similar mileage car and the paint coniditon but I will await to see you pics............

As cheezemonkhai has said though you should have a warranty with the repair work?

Sounds like orange peel effect on the door.

HTH.

Or the opposite, new cars these days seem to come with free orange peel to start with, if the bodyshop as avoided this then that wuild make the repaired door appear glassy compared to the rest of the car. Polishing will have no effect and you can hardly claim against the bodyshop for failing to match orange peel :(

this maybe a bit more severe but have you considered a full respray? this will mean all the panels will look the same colour and should fix your problems.

/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray5.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray4.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray3.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray2.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray1.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray6.jpg

Baker 21

Here are my pics....

/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray5.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray4.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray3.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray2.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray1.jpg/Users/andrewrobinson/Desktop/respray6.jpg

Baker 21

Here are my pics....

Can't see anything mate?

Why cant I attach the jpg's??

you need to go advanced, next to where it says quick reply and then there is the option to attach photos, down the bottom.

You've just put links to photos on your hard drive.

you need to go advanced, next to where it says quick reply and then there is the option to attach photos, down the bottom.

You've just put links to photos on your hard drive.

I am trying to do that. I may still be doing summat wrong though.

I hit the Advanced button and then bring up the manage attachments box. I then choose a file on the first of five buttons above each other. I then click upload, and I get 'uploading file please wait. It goes on forever and I give up. I have tried to upload jpgs and a pdf no joy

how big are the files?

Resize them to 800*600

OK. lets give it a try. You wouldn't know I was a designer and send files to clients all the time

another...

3rd time lucky...

last ones, why does this take so long? they are no more than 200kb each.

I can't see the problem in the picture, maybe the rear door is marginally rougher.

Since it's a new car I'd keep going back to the insurance until you are happy with it.

I have to be honest and say I am struggling to see any difference mate?

Where are you located? Happy to do a test area on your car if your not too far from me to see if the UDM will bring it back to the standard your looking for?

I'm a Designer too mate, what do you Design if you don't mind me asking?

I have to be honest and say I am struggling to see any difference mate?

Where are you located? Happy to do a test area on your car if your not too far from me to see if the UDM will bring it back to the standard your looking for?

I'm a Designer too mate, what do you Design if you don't mind me asking?

I wont bore everyone with details Sent a PM

Cheers

Andy

I wont bore everyone with details Sent a PM

Cheers

Andy