Scratches in paint under clear coat

Mike · 07-24-2009, 10:10 PM

scratches aren't under the clear coat. If they were, the clear would have corrected them. I sand powdercoated parts all the time before I clear them and no scratch marks are ever visible, plus I painted my own 240Z with the help of an automotive painter, and couldn't believe all the imperfections in the base coat that didn't show up at all after clearing.

blackbird · 07-25-2009, 10:48 AM

I have a Black 2009 370Z. The car is covered in scratches. At the 370Z forum there are numerous comments from various Black 370Z owners who all have minute scratches on their cars. Brand new Black Z's, that still have the white tape on them, at the dealerships have the scratches. I would strongly suggest that NISSAN USA address this and contact the owners of Black Zs and correct this. The scratches do not show up on other colors.

My_Tampa_Z · 07-27-2009, 03:47 PM

My black Z has the scratches tooo and it drives me crazy..nothing I have tried has gotten to go away..so i wll live with it...most people do not notice.

Mike · 07-27-2009, 07:11 PM

its just black, not a defect. I have 4 black cars and they all have scratches.

blackbird · 07-27-2009, 09:42 PM

I went to a car show on Saturday. Paid particular attention to Black cars. I knew the other Black cars wouldn't have scratches. I was actually a bit taken back. The modern black cars had scratches. There were all kinds of cars. 1 370Z, me. Various muscle cars from 60, 70 etc. Older black cars looked good. No scratches but evidently within the past 18 years things have changed. My black 91 300ZXTT didn't have scratches. My 93 was Blue with no scratches. I liked one reply I got to get rid of scratches - park in the sun. But I live in New Hampshire, I may to import the sun. Maybe Stillen has a portable sun.

NXTAZEE · 07-28-2009, 01:36 PM

All cars get marring to a certain extent depending on how hard the clear coat is. New cars have water base, environmentally friendly paint, which usually makes them softer than older paint. Z's have a soft clear and mar easily, and black just shows this more than most colors. Blackbird, the reason most of the cars at the car show didn't have marring in the paint, is because most people who show their pride and joy usually have them polished before a show. If you want your car to look as good as the ones at the show, just have it polished. As far as parking in the the sun to rid your car of marring, not going to happen as Z's don't have the self healing paint found on some of the Infiniti's. Proper washing is the key to lessen the marring in your paint. The two bucket wash technique is essential. My previous Jetta was a nightmare. The paint was so soft that the first wash after polishing it, marred the paint again. The new Z's are not nearly as bad as my old Jetta, as I have worked on one already.

blackbird · 07-28-2009, 09:28 PM

My point was that the older cars weren't painted with this water base crap. I'm not all that PC or Green. This is my first car with "soft" paint. The newer cars did have scratches or marring. I may sit this year out but when I have the redundant payout, I'll have the car painted with some decent Enamel. Re self healing may be why my Infiniti's didn't show marring.

blackbird · 08-01-2009, 06:55 PM

In the on-going saga: went to dealer. Dealer contacted NISSAN. Dealer said they haven't heard of this. Dealer says he'll work with me. Has his own detailer who has been doing this for 48 years (old like me) who's wife had a Nissan quest - Black with scratches. He fixed it. He will do mine.
Big question to anyone: I just looked at the rear plastic bumper. Found small scratches, the kind you get when you drag the vacuum hose across the rear bumper. (Hey, who knew?). Anyway, got the KIT Scratch Out. Scratches gone. Cannot find other scratches in plastic parts. Could someone explain why please? Thanks.

blackbird · 08-07-2009, 09:24 PM

Took car to dealer. The detailer "compounded" the car and put on a sealant. Looks outstanding. He suggested Mothers Cleaner Wax. In daylight no scratches at all. In flourescent barely see a few. Waxed car. sawa few light scratches not the gazillion as before. Added second coat. Looks great in any light. The Service Manager said he didn't hear of any other dealer having this issue. I told him to check the rest of his black cars. But he did get the car taken care of. Happy driver now. Tomorrow, Stillen headers, HFC, Gen 3 intake, Grounding kit and under pulley.

07-24-2009, 10:10 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	scratches aren't under the clear coat. If they were, the clear would have corrected them. I sand powdercoated parts all the time before I clear them and no scratch marks are ever visible, plus I painted my own 240Z with the help of an automotive painter, and couldn't believe all the imperfections in the base coat that didn't show up at all after clearing. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

07-25-2009, 10:48 AM	#17 (permalink)
blackbird Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 179 Drives: 09 370Z BLk GTM TT Rep Power: 16	I sent this to Nissan USA I have a Black 2009 370Z. The car is covered in scratches. At the 370Z forum there are numerous comments from various Black 370Z owners who all have minute scratches on their cars. Brand new Black Z's, that still have the white tape on them, at the dealerships have the scratches. I would strongly suggest that NISSAN USA address this and contact the owners of Black Zs and correct this. The scratches do not show up on other colors.

07-27-2009, 07:11 PM	#19 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2186	its just black, not a defect. I have 4 black cars and they all have scratches. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

07-28-2009, 01:36 PM	#21 (permalink)
NXTAZEE Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 530 Drives: 2010 370Z 7AT Rep Power: 17	All cars get marring to a certain extent depending on how hard the clear coat is. New cars have water base, environmentally friendly paint, which usually makes them softer than older paint. Z's have a soft clear and mar easily, and black just shows this more than most colors. Blackbird, the reason most of the cars at the car show didn't have marring in the paint, is because most people who show their pride and joy usually have them polished before a show. If you want your car to look as good as the ones at the show, just have it polished. As far as parking in the the sun to rid your car of marring, not going to happen as Z's don't have the self healing paint found on some of the Infiniti's. Proper washing is the key to lessen the marring in your paint. The two bucket wash technique is essential. My previous Jetta was a nightmare. The paint was so soft that the first wash after polishing it, marred the paint again. The new Z's are not nearly as bad as my old Jetta, as I have worked on one already. __________________ 2010 Carbon Silver 370Z 7AT charcoal int. sports package \| Clear Bra \| Invidia Gemini CBE \| CF B-Pillars \| CF Fangs \| CF Z emblems \| Swift Springs \| 20mm & 25mm Spacers \| SPC Camber Arms \| Brushed Aluminum shift knob

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What do people think of Clear Bra Paint Protection?	rbratton	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	304	01-18-2013 04:31 PM
Am I the only one with the bad clear coat?	ENT-Z	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	17	05-24-2012 09:29 AM
Clear Bra Wax	cg370z	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	2	05-20-2009 09:29 PM
Scratches on the center console	bpd138	Exterior & Interior	4	05-16-2009 08:36 PM
Powder Coat Door Handles?	eXo5	Exterior & Interior	6	05-13-2009 09:29 AM

07-27-2009, 03:47 PM	#18 (permalink)
My_Tampa_Z Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tampa Posts: 21 Drives: '09 Blk 370z All opt Rep Power: 16	My black Z has the scratches tooo and it drives me crazy..nothing I have tried has gotten to go away..so i wll live with it...most people do not notice.

07-27-2009, 09:42 PM	#20 (permalink)
blackbird Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 179 Drives: 09 370Z BLk GTM TT Rep Power: 16	I went to a car show on Saturday. Paid particular attention to Black cars. I knew the other Black cars wouldn't have scratches. I was actually a bit taken back. The modern black cars had scratches. There were all kinds of cars. 1 370Z, me. Various muscle cars from 60, 70 etc. Older black cars looked good. No scratches but evidently within the past 18 years things have changed. My black 91 300ZXTT didn't have scratches. My 93 was Blue with no scratches. I liked one reply I got to get rid of scratches - park in the sun. But I live in New Hampshire, I may to import the sun. Maybe Stillen has a portable sun.

07-28-2009, 09:28 PM	#22 (permalink)
blackbird Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 179 Drives: 09 370Z BLk GTM TT Rep Power: 16	My point was that the older cars weren't painted with this water base crap. I'm not all that PC or Green. This is my first car with "soft" paint. The newer cars did have scratches or marring. I may sit this year out but when I have the redundant payout, I'll have the car painted with some decent Enamel. Re self healing may be why my Infiniti's didn't show marring.

08-01-2009, 06:55 PM	#23 (permalink)
blackbird Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 179 Drives: 09 370Z BLk GTM TT Rep Power: 16	In the on-going saga: went to dealer. Dealer contacted NISSAN. Dealer said they haven't heard of this. Dealer says he'll work with me. Has his own detailer who has been doing this for 48 years (old like me) who's wife had a Nissan quest - Black with scratches. He fixed it. He will do mine. Big question to anyone: I just looked at the rear plastic bumper. Found small scratches, the kind you get when you drag the vacuum hose across the rear bumper. (Hey, who knew?). Anyway, got the KIT Scratch Out. Scratches gone. Cannot find other scratches in plastic parts. Could someone explain why please? Thanks.

08-07-2009, 09:24 PM	#24 (permalink)
blackbird Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 179 Drives: 09 370Z BLk GTM TT Rep Power: 16	Took car to dealer. The detailer "compounded" the car and put on a sealant. Looks outstanding. He suggested Mothers Cleaner Wax. In daylight no scratches at all. In flourescent barely see a few. Waxed car. sawa few light scratches not the gazillion as before. Added second coat. Looks great in any light. The Service Manager said he didn't hear of any other dealer having this issue. I told him to check the rest of his black cars. But he did get the car taken care of. Happy driver now. Tomorrow, Stillen headers, HFC, Gen 3 intake, Grounding kit and under pulley.