What's up with the Infiniti paint job?

[Infiniti Chica]

I know there have been a few threads on the paint on our cars, but the fact that regular washing using micro-fiber towels leaves tiny scars on it is, well, outrageous. My car has microscopic scratches all over the hood, back bumper area and elsewhere. Is this normal. These aren't your regular swirls lines, but long strokes of microscopic scratches that now dull the paint.

Any thoughts or solutions? Any ideas on how to restore and protect this very cheap paint job?

yes, I;'ll take both serious answers and the few who just have to toss in a humorous angle or two (just preapare to get zinged a little).

[rn79870]

Infiniti's aren't known for the strongest paint. Many have complained about it and there appears that there is little to be done short of having it reshot with a better clear coat. You might try some swirl remover if they are just light scratches and not into the paint.

Everybody here seems to like the Zaino products.

http://www.zainostore.com/

Actually, SVTCobra is the one to ask about car care products. He may be a little gun shy right now though.

[Beancooker]

zerothread/317670

That's what I did last October. I will polish it about once a year, and wax it well afterwards.

Costco sells some yellow microfiber towells that are great, after you cut off the hemmed edges. The microfiber doesn't scratch, it's the thread and stitching on the edges that do.

[G'd up]

so does any one know if zaino has protectant qualities in it like wax or is it only a polish. i know zaino makes my car look good but will it protect the finish?? last job i put 3 coats of z5 then topped it off with maguires tech wax. seems like after the wax coating my car looked worse then without it

[Victor]

The paint on my 94 J30T looks almost brand new, amazing for a 14 year old car. I have never waxed it in the three years I have owned it, and it is parked outside. I have never washed it either, just hose it off a couple of times a week because its parked under a tree and sap and pollen and leaves from the tree are always falling on it.

[Magnet 2112]

I have the same problem chica. It looks amazing in the shade but a nightmare in the sun. I use Maguires detailer after washing and drying with all micro fiber. It helps to tone down the scratches.

[abdoman]

To keep from scratching the clear coat, remove the sprayer from the hose and run water over the car. This will keep you from having to dry most of the car, then pat your car dry with a microfiber towel, don't wipe it. The less you touch the car with a towel, the less likely you are to get swirl marks.

I use the spotless car wash (the kind where you wash it yourself) often and only hand wash when I can't get it clean at the car wash.

[numskul]

I actually removed some paint on one of the splash guards with my power washer this weekend- just flaked off as if it was on the side of a house for 20 years....I wasn't doing anything I didn't do with my Toyota pickup for 8 years and 120k miles.

The paint is definitely one of the worst things about the G.

[smockers83]

I actually removed some paint on one of the splash guards with my power washer this weekend- just flaked off as if it was on the side of a house for 20 years....I wasn't doing anything I didn't do with my Toyota pickup for 8 years and 120k miles.

The paint is definitely one of the worst things about the G.

You took a power washer to the G??? Why? I cringe at the thought.

To minimize toweling, well actually to eliminate it completely, get the Mr. Clean AutoDry. I've been using that for years now, works awesome. Never have toweled off the car and it always comes out spotless (when used correctly).

[thahman]

My aero kit's black is chipping off on the front... not too happy about that!

[g35sedanlover]

1+ on Mr. Clean Auto-dry. That thing is awesome!!! I love mine. Has anyone painted their G? What does it cost for a paint-job (base & clear, no body work)?

[BigWill]

It's not just the swirls that the paint picks up easily, but also the ease with which it chips! Any little thing that hits the paint puts a chip in it.

[Alpinist]

My car is Blue Slate in color (07 G35S). Bird pop easily damages the clear coat. Even if I wash it off within hours. I called the dealership about it and they assured me that it happens to all cars and that Infiniti's paint is some of the best.I say bull****.

I have owned a few cars and motorcycles in the 24 years I have been driving and this is the mosy fragile paint I have ever seen.It also chips VERY easily.

Disappointed to say the least.

[numskul]

You took a power washer to the G??? Why? I cringe at the thought.

To minimize toweling, well actually to eliminate it completely, get the Mr. Clean AutoDry. I've been using that for years now, works awesome. Never have toweled off the car and it always comes out spotless (when used correctly).

Regular "light" power washing saves the clear coat. Knocking the dirt off with a power washer prevents scratching the surface while washing the car with a rag, towel or sponge which only picks up contaminants and scratches the clear coat as you wash. Using the power washer and a blower, I can clean 90% of the car without touching it. Then I can use a soft cotton towel with detail spray to get whatever film remains. For this to work you can't let it build up too long, so I generally do this 2x/week. It also works great on rims and tires.Many professional detailers will use a wide-spray power wash to start the detail and the dealerships almost all use power washers to maintain clean cars. Check your Infiniti dealer the next time you take your car in and they wash it (I never let them wash mine...) I bet they use a power washer or a automatic bay which uses a power washer. Obviously, you don't use a pencil fine spray, but rather a 40 degree fan shaped spray which is not too concentrated.My 8 yr old Toyota, with the exception of rock chips, looked as good as the day I bought it. This, I believe, was the result of regular washing with a wide-spray power washer and regular applications of Zaino Z2 and Z6. Another benefit is I can wash the whole car, including polishing the pesky 7 spoke rims on the '08 in less than 30 mins. Using the blower to dry eliminates dripping water from running down the side of the car after I wash and dry it.The problem I had the other day was a blemish in the paint, which caused to to not stick to the plastic splash guard like paint should. It was blistered and would have come off even if I washed it with a chamois mitt. The power-washer was not the cause. The crappy paint was! No need to shudder....

[abdoman]

Keeping a layer of wax on your car will help prevent damage to the clear coat from bird droppings and bugs. A lot of cars have the same problem with the clear coat as many of the manufacturers have gone to environment friendly paints.

I do exactly what numskul does to keep his car clean and my car looks just as good as the day I bought it.

No matter what you do, towels (even microfiber) can and will pick up dust, dirt, etc and use it to scratch your clear coat.

[Sentientbydesign]

My paint isn't smooth, it looks like the clear has texture. Is that normal?

[abdoman]

It can be - it could be "orange peel". This is where the surface of the paint looks like an orange peel. It's very common on newer cars, especially BMWs. I haven't really noticed it on an Infinitis but it could occur.

[oldandslow]

NumskulWhat kind of a blower are You using? I need to get one!

My power washer!

[smockers83]

Regular "light" power washing

Gotcha, when I think of power washing, I don't think of "light", but I guess the car wash by hand would be a power washer clean up, too.

[heliochrome85]

two words. CLAY BAR! seriously, the trunk of the G (where the lettering is) is the dirtiest part of the car. Go to any autoshop/walmart/target and pick up a clay bar. nothing could be easier. do it and be amazed.

[numskul]

NumskulWhat kind of a blower are You using? I need to get one!

My power washer!

Echo leaf blower. I think any leaf blower would work, though. I like gas (no extension cord to roll-up) and this is what I had for working in the yard so it is what I use.I also have a compressor and auto-roll-up air hose in the garage that I can use to blast air into the mirror housings if required.

[Sentientbydesign]

Echo leaf blower. I think any leaf blower would work, though. I like gas (no extension cord to roll-up) and this is what I had for working in the yard so it is what I use.I also have a compressor and auto-roll-up air hose in the garage that I can use to blast air into the mirror housings if required.

Somebody take this guy's G away!!!

Just be careful with those tools. One false move means detriment to your paint job.

[C-Kwik]

This is generally a problem with all new automotive paints. Perhaps paints in general. With the move to more environmentally safe paints, paints have become much softer than they used to be. This makes it much more prone to chipping and scratches.

As for microfiber towels, the "threads" in them are much to small to cause visible scratches from just wiping down the paint. Perhaps the edges of the cloth like someone mentioned, but I'd also look into the materials you are using to soap the car and scrub with and make sure you are getting a good amount of sud and using enough water.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I think i am going to have to try Zaino products. I have some time over the weekend to detail the car. I will elt you guys know how it works for me\

DJ

[numskul]

I think i am going to have to try Zaino products. I have some time over the weekend to detail the car. I will elt you guys know how it works for me\

DJ

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

I think you will like the products- clay is cheaper at pep boys and just as effective. I love the Z2 polish and the Z6 finishing spray. They also have a new product (zclear???) that you just spray on and leave on, after z2 and z6. You apply multiple layers of the polish over weeks/months. After a while, it will look like you melted glass over your car- the shine is that deep. Use VERY little of the product.I am gettting a ration about the sprayer and blower, but the real credit for my deep scratch-free shine goes to Zaino. Cotton or microfiber towels don't matter- just use expensive ones. Cheap ones will scratch regardless of material.

The tire dressing is awesome too. Not to shiny, but very clean looking. Don't forget the tire dressing.

Best of luck- I might put another coat of Z2 on this weekend, too!

[rn79870]

Has anyone had the front of their car repainted? And if so, has that repainting resulted in more resistance to the chipping scratching problem?

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

I think you will like the products- clay is cheaper at pep boys and just as effective. I love the Z2 polish and the Z6 finishing spray. They also have a new product (zclear???) that you just spray on and leave on, after z2 and z6. You apply multiple layers of the polish over weeks/months. After a while, it will look like you melted glass over your car- the shine is that deep. Use VERY little of the product.I am gettting a ration about the sprayer and blower, but the real credit for my deep scratch-free shine goes to Zaino. Cotton or microfiber towels don't matter- just use expensive ones. Cheap ones will scratch regardless of material.

The tire dressing is awesome too. Not to shiny, but very clean looking. Don't forget the tire dressing.

Best of luck- I might put another coat of Z2 on this weekend, too!

thanks for the post. I will have to order some stuff. Im thinking zfx, z2,z5 z6 and z8... I have clay so no need to buy that!

DJ

[audtatious]

Has anyone had the front of their car repainted? And if so, has that repainting resulted in more resistance to the chipping scratching problem?

On other Japanese-built Nissan products a repaint pretty much solved the issue. There are more stringent laws concerning paint in Japan thus the chipping issue (from what I hear).

[g35sedanlover]

anyone know what a re-paint costs?

[Infiniti Chica]

anyone know what a re-paint costs?

I have a friend with a BMW 540, he paid $600 to have the front end painted recently.