Just today I was in the garage on the passanger side and went to walk by the mirror/motorcycle (thats parked next to it) welp my cellphone that was on my belt clip touched my mirror leaving a small scratch.

With the Z paint a scratch is nothing new....

anywho, I whiped out the almost always used scratch X and did my thing with it.

I noticed the rag had paint on it from my car. I've never seen this before on a car other then something I've painted myself (with out clear coating) even using my normal wax, it's still able to turn the rag red.

I'm thinking that the mirrors are not clear coated the scratch x isnt removing the clear coat, its removing the paint!

This makes sense as to why a few people are having problems with the paint on their mirrors fading.

 

I'm not sure about this one. I think that all painted surfaces should be clear coated, I doubt Nissan just decided to skip the coat on the mirrors

 

Go out and buff your mirrors using something like scratch x or swirl mark remover and see if paint comes off on your rag.

if its clear there shouldnt be anything on the rag.

in my case..... red paint.

 

ScratchX+mirrors = red rag for me too. Mine were slightly oxidized when I got it, and used ScratchX shine them up.

I don't think they're clear coated.

 

Wow, wierd.

I don't use those products so I wouldn't know.

 

Do any of you have the same results from working on the front bumper?

 

If you have those results on the front bumper, I would seriously question the chemicals you are using on your paint.

 

It's not from chemicals. when you're removing scratches you're SANDING the clear coat. Scratch X, as with any other product is abrasive.

Keep in mind, One of the first things done after a fresh paint job is to sand the new paint, then buff it out to a shine.

However, if you see paint on your rag it's a good sign you're sanding directly on the paint, not a clear coat.

 

I have confidence in what I am doing with regards to detailing. I have confidence with regards to the chemicals I am using. I, however, do not have much confidence in Nissan's paint quality and like others in this thread with their questions for the mirrors, I doubt that the front bumper cover on my DB 350Z was clear coated.

 

I don't know, call me dumb but it makes no sense to me for the front bumper not being clear coated

 

I don't know about my mirrors, but I know for a fact that my front bumper has CC. I just noticed yesterday that it is starting to blister up from the paint in a small area.

*sigh* looks like a trip to the dealer for me.

 

..And likewise, it makes no sense that the mirrors wouldn't be either. Like you said, it makes no sense that any painted surface on the vehicle would not be clear coated. Maybe Jeffie and I just got the $hit end of the stick.

 

True, it doesn't make any sense. But it remains to be the case that some cars have certain components that were not clear coated.

Not every section of the vehicle is painted at the factory. And not every vehicle will have the same paint treatments.

 

Wow, I never realized the paint was such a big issue. What year cars do you all have?

 

Early 2004.

 

Interesting...I have an early 03 with no problems. But then again, I havn't tried scratch-x on my paint or anything like that.

 

This happened to me from using the meguiar's clay bar and lots of quick detailer spray. Still seemed to rub off some paint.

:shrug:

 

I've claybared every surface on my car a few times since I've had the car (about a year) and I havn't had any paint come off?

What do you think the dealers will say if you take the car back to the dealership and question it? I am sure they will blame it on the stuff you are using

 

I'm not worried about it so much so that I'd want to deal with the dealership. I plan on having the front bumper re-painted and probably add the Veilside V1 lip.

 

I've used scratch x for a few years now, I've never had a problem with it. It's only done good things for my crappy nissan paint.

Learn how to paint a car or just how painting a car works, scratch x is nothing more then very fine grit sand paper, something that's used on cars left and right.

Ever taken your car to have it detailed? guess what! they used a product like scratch x. if not, the car would still have every single little scratch still on it.

If scratch x freaks you out you could always use some toothpaste. same deal. just a tad bit less harsh.