Paint chips !
 

I have never before had so many issues with paint chipping on a car before. I had a 2008 350Z and didn't even have this many issues. The chips aren't even on the bumper or hood(although there is a TINYTINYTINY one on the hood) but along the side skirts below the doors. WTF, odd. Don't know why either. I just washed my car and found another new one on the driver side quarter panel just behind the side skirt. I guess I'm going to get the side skirts repainted and 3M scotch guarded. Anyone else having this issue ?

I only have 1250 miles on the 370 and had 8k on the 350 with less issues and I don't feel this is a Nissan doing something wrong issue because it's with a lot of cars these days with the paint not being led paint anymore(more with imports than domestics though).

I have a little chip on the hood and my front fascia looks like someone took a BB gun to it. Thank you Chicago highways...you'd think they were dirt roads.

My way of dealing with the chips is knowing that a repaint isn't the end of the world and that my car performs the same despite them.

its probably from your own tires, i know thats the area that gets beat up on cars when you drive them on gravel roads all the time, we ended up having to put a material similar to a clear bra on some spots to keep the paint on the car, it was just behind the door to the rear wheel on the very bottom of the body, not sure if this is exactly where you are getting your chips tho

TX roads
 

I have never seen so many rock chip incidents as I have since I moved here to Texas. But I personally think that the clear coat on the 370 is f-ing microscopic. I have a few on mine as well. Dont have this problem on my Titan or on my wifes Grand Cherokee.

The 370z rides a lot lower than the Titan or Jeep, probably picks more of the debris coming up from the road.

Do you have the splash gaurds?

Looks like Nissan went cheap again. The paint chipping is from very soft paint.
Need to get a clear bra asap.

Us owners of the G35's have been afflicted with this problem since day one starting in 2003 all the way up to 2007.

The new 2009 G37's have a self healing clear coat. Just more Flim Flam talk from Nissan. Cheap is Cheap no matter what you call it.

It's unfortunate because I think Nissan's quality is a tad shoddy. This is something you'd expect from cars with "10yr/100K mile warranties." But I also discovered a few paint chips around the skirt area when I was washing my car a couple days ago.

Let's be honest with ourselves, albeit the Z is a legendary sports car, you get what you pay for. Starting at $29K...you can see why some corners are cut. And I hate to add, but the interior is still somewhat cheap looking.

Have you ever noticed that the headrests on the stock seats flex forward and backwards-->flimsy.

That is part of the active headrest safety system....Read your manual.
A hit from the rear will cause you to sink into the seat, which will pivot the headrest forward for additional support in this type of accident. It's all in your owner's manual..

I know it's BS that you buy a freakin 30 - 40K car and have to worry about this sh** anyway, but maybe a good fix would just be to get another clear coat right when you get the car.

I'm with Spearfish, as long as the car performs the same.. paint scratches, chips, and ultimately (one day) door dings from careless people is going to happen.

Wait for the door ding threads to pop up. Someone's already backed into my Z in a parking lot and left their paint and a small dent in my hood... sigh. Good thing after buffing it's not noticeable but the dent kind of is if you stare hard enough. I've gotten over it though... it's a car, it's still fun.

I took mine to a spray n wash today (bought it !Friday!) - it's got a chip in the paint on the hood - two little spots. I thought it a bug, but after hitting it with the sprayer and it didn't come off, I used my finger...there's paint missing :(

1) Should I fix it?
2) How?
3) If not by me (knowing my luck), how much should it cost?

Here I was thinking I'd order some Zaino and start on that as soon as it comes in...

Junk Paint
 

Gang,

My 03 350 also was a chip magnet. I ran a bra and that didn't help. I had chips where I had never had chips on any other new car since 1964. Nissan just uses JUNK PAINT and there isn't anyway around that fact!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have 1100 miles on my new 370 and a clear bra and I already have chips.
:thumbsdown:

I just went over 3400 miles and have 4 chips on the hood, chips/dings all over front fascia, as well as a few right in front of the rear wheels. I have owned a lot of vehicles to include a Nissan Altima SER and have never seen anything like this. Yes the car is fun to drive but between the paint, oil temp issues and constant rattles throughout the interior I am beginning to question my purchase.

I called the dealer about the chips on my hood, requested and spoke to the general manager.

He said he wants to take a look at it tomorrow and "see what he can do" - which, more than likely as I see it, will be to take me over to the parts counter and order some touch-up paint, which I already ordered a bottle today just before the parts-desk closed on my way to band practice (in my truck) ($8), thinking at the time there was nothing I could do about it, so I should just drop-fill it as best I can and go on (sadly, I SUCK at repairing paint) - or pay $400 (which is what a company said they'd charge)

It had 51 miles when I test-drove it. I think I've got 300 on it now. I bet they won't do anything...

How does one do an invisible repair? I was planning on either DIY w/ claybar and Zaino, or taking it to someone to have it detailed (involving a claybar) - if there's a blem, it'll stand out. :(

Also, regarding chipping, I don't know if it's a jap-thing, or a formulation requirement - but, my other car, a 2006 Honda Civic (black), has a lot of chips, even exterior rust where I've not repaired it in time.

If I'm stuck DIY on the paint repair, I'll practice on the Civic...then see if I can FIND a chip on my 97 Ranger...I think the paint on that truck will outlast the truck...(red)

Please next time read carefully what you have typed.
All it takes is just add 2 more letters ("an") or (anese),in your first sentense.

Some people still are sensitive about these things.

try Dr. colorchip. I haven't used it myself but have heard good things about it. its a touch up paint kit with a process to blend it in.

Dr. ColorChip: Automotive Paint Chip Repair Systems

I think it's a case of being *over-sensitive* if someone lets that ("jap") bother them, and they need to get some thicker skin. (That said, would people who have thicker skin be offended easily by those with thinner skin telling them they are offended?)

Besides, maybe I was abbreviating "Japanese Automaker/Automotive Product"...

Yeah, I've been going back and forth on it and the LAHGHRWAUSRE product (exaggeration of the name, can't remember what it's called - but it starts with an L)

Langka......Personally I've never had any success with that...

Good to know...

That said, I spoke to the GM at the dealership today, he looked at it, and said they'll take it to "their" autobody shop (not their in-house guys, a 3rd party shop) and have them touch it up - if it comes back and I find it unacceptable, they'll repaint the hood! Probably a bit excessive, the most I think about it, but, if it looks like "I" did it, it'll be unacceptable (unfortunately) - he mentioend they'll blend it in, so that's promising...

Wow...

Granted, I've not had a lot of new-car-dealer experiences, but this guy just made me a customer for my next vehicle...at least...

With my car being black, what are my chances it'll look "perfect" again w/ touch up if done by a pro-shop? The chips themselves weren't through the color coat...maybe that helps, maybe not...?

Face it, this 370Z is an awesome car, but once again: you get what you pay for. When my friend got his 1993 RX7 brand new from the dealership, it was worse than just paint chips, excess oil consumption (a quart every 2 weeks), trim parts i.e. stereo knobs literally breaking off, his rear wheel (the stock 5 spoke) even cracked from the lug nut hole to a spoke when we took it to the drag strip. He didn't own that car much longer, he sold it.

I'm just mentioning this because I think the 370 is akin to the FD3S, especially the sport-package. It's delicate in many areas...hopefully not the areas that count i.e. motor/tranny/suspension/brakes/electrical etc.

I'm paranoid as hell about getting rock chips... 3m clear bra worth the money/time?

It definitely seems to be the norm with the 350z/G35 crowd and I don't expect it to be much better with the 370z/G37. The Nissan paint and the low ride height just doesn't work out too well.

I've heard good things about the clearbra but I've seen how it is on white cars. It's no bueno, just yellows and looks like crap. I guess I'll just have to repaint it at some point or another.

My Z is now at the dealer. They gave me a new Altima as a loaner. CVT Transmission is whack - reminds me of the mid-80's FWD sedans, where you mash the gas, the engine winds up to about 4K, and the car rolls forward..meanwhile the engine stays around 4K...

Usually sounds you'd hear from a trailer park, with 4 fatties in a buick with a bad muffler and badly faded paint.

No offense intended to fatties (like me), or buick owners, or bad muffler owners, or badly faded painted car owners.


I'm sure it's a nice car, but after spending 20 minutes in the Z, going to the Altima...personally, I think my 2005 Civic Sedan is "better" in terms of driveability. Maybe it's like the movie "Twins" - the Z got all the good - lol...

Dealer called, said they want to keep the car overnight, feather the repair in better and reshoot the hood. They said they wanted it perfect.

Wow!

Cool...

I wouldn't recommend repainting the hood for a few chips. To properly repair chips you need to apply a tiny bit of undercoat if it's down to the metal, then put multiple coats of paint in the chip so it is a little higher than the surrounding paint. Also each application of paint should be about a day apart so it dries. At this point it needs to be wet sanded down level with the surrounding paint. Then it needs to be machine compounded to remove the wet sanding marks and then machine polished to a high gloss. This usually makes the chip undetectable. I never like to repaint unless it is absolutely necessary. This process should only be done by a professional or someone with a lot a practice.

I agree. I hope it looks as good as what I have in my head. I'll know in 1.5 hours or a little less!

Curious, how many coats of paint and clear coat on the 370?

I was just complaining about this to a friend of mine this morning.

I rarely drive mine anywhere over the 45mph speed limit and still have 3 tiny pin marks on the front bumper and another running up beside the windshield.

Been calling the dealer to get some touch up paint but I keep hearing they cannot get it in chicane. WTF?!?!

Gave my baby a hard once-over, and I can't tell where it was and the gloss is consistent and "right". A+!

Now I just gotta wait 1-2 weeks before having it detailed, like I was planning to have done this weekend...


Dealer's name:

Jackie Cooper Nissan, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Those guys will be a hell of a good review from me :)

:happydance:

You don't have to wait at all to have it detailed, if they did what I explained earlier. Sealing up over a tiny chip is perfectly fine. If it was repainted then you can still get it polished to perfection right away, but you should wait 30 to 90 days for the paint to gas off before you wax or seal it. If you don't wait to have it waxed or sealed it will not gas off and the paint will remain very soft. I say this assuming your detailer uses body shop safe products that do not contain waxes or silicons that will affect the gassing off of the paint. If so he will have to follow with an alcohol wipe down to remove the silicones.

Anyways I'm glad it worked out for you and that you sweet ride looks great once again.

I don't know how many coats of paint there are but I can tell you that there is an average amount of paint on them. I had a 370Z at my house last week and took a digital measurement of the paint, and it was very consistent at around 5 mills thick. Most paints I measure are between 4.5 to 5.9 mills thick. I tested a black 370Z and found the paint to be quite soft. The blue one which I measured was not as soft.

Well, regardless, I'm going to hold off before I have it detailed.

I don't know exactly what they did, but it looks new. I have an eye for flaws and was LOOKING for something to be wrong. Nope, nadda...looks great!

I was thinking of buying Quixx to take care of my first dent/scratch. Anyone have any experience with it? Consumer reports rated it very highly, also, my dealership is getting in a bottle of red touch up paint. I'd rather not shell out the cash to have it repaired just yet.

I had to special order my touch up paint because it was a new color and they didn't stock it. It took about 3 days to come in. I think it ran about $12-15. They didn't seem to have any problems getting it.

I had to order the touch up paint after only two weeks and many chips and dings. Clear bra has helped tremendously and I'll never buy another car without making arrangements to have a clear bra installed. I can't say I've had any more dings on my Z as compared to any other car I've owned. At least in FL, there are a ton of dump trucks spraying your car with sand and rocks as they drive down the fast lane on the highways.

One note on the touch up paint. It has a dual dispensor with a ball point and brush. Expect to only use the ball point once before it dries up to never be used again.

-ZCarGo-

fyi, its not just nissan. car companies are required to use a water based paint now, to reduce ozone ********. toyota did the switch a few years back, and got a similar response from owners. water based paint will be softer, period.

Sadly...

Too bad the whole car isn't made of aluminum. I'd sandblast it to bare metal and hit it with clear...

Or anodize it. :)