Found roughness in paint

[95se]

I was excited today that I was going to get my car looking almost new and going to take pictures but unfortantely as I was polishing I noticed a rough area on the drivers side door which Ive not noticed before. I think its new in the last 2 weeks. The only other place Ive only noticed this is around the fog lights down low in the front bumper cover which I assume its because its on plastic and maybe caused by heat but have never noticed it anywhere else. I washed the car today for the first time with Wolfgangs auto bath, polished it with Wolfgang's polish enhancer then used the sealant. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Cameron

[budman3]

Did you use a clay bar? Depending on what is causing the roughness, chances are clay will remove it... claying is almost a mandatory step in detailing.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

I was also thinking clay should help .... it only needs to be done 1 or 2 times a year at best.

[95se]

Well, the paint is in pretty good condition. I don't think the roughness is caused from contanimants. It feels like sandpaper. I was worried that the amount of washing I've done has damaged the clear coat or something. I wash it anywhere from once a month to once a week with meguires deep crystal car wash soap then this time I used Wolfgang's autobath shampoo. I started claying the hood with DP clay and lubricant but noticed there were small streaks so I stopped and since the paint was pretty smooth I just went ahead and started polishing then sealed it with Wolfgang. The doors still have factory paint. Rest of car has had body work from little instances.

[amy5732]

still sounds like it needs to be clayed.

[budman3]

Originally Posted by amy5732

still sounds like it needs to be clayed.

Yup ... as I already said, claying is essentially mandatory. Even new vehicles off the lot come with contaminants, so even a stout wash routine can't prevent it. But since the other panels have been repainted then what you are noticing could be paint overspray, which would be a little more tricky to remove. Claying and using a paint cleaner will probably yield the best results.

[David Fermani]

Originally Posted by 95se

I don't think the roughness is caused from contanimants. It feels like sandpaper. I was worried that the amount of washing I've done has damaged the clear coat or something. The doors still have factory paint. Rest of car has had body work from little instances.

I'd think again. I'd be willing to bet that the roughness is overspray from the prior paint work. Even if the panel that is contaminated isn't anywhere near the panel that was painted, it doesn't mean that it didn't get sprayed with some paint from the vehicle in the bay next to it while in the shop. I see it all the time when I walk through body shops. Technicians will be priming panels with a another vehicle right in its backdrop.
You could wash a car 10 times a day for a month and it wouldn't make the paint feel rough. If anything, it would make it feel smoooth.

[95se]

My brother-in-law painted it. He does all his painting in a paint booth. Last paintwork they did was the hood, top of fendors and roof because when they painted them before they had a bad batch of clear coat. They said they had a few other cars come back and it was warrantied by pbg. He had my car 2 weeks. Don't recall it when it came out though it may have been there before. I think its just old paint. Since the doors still have factory paint the top layer (whatever that is) has come off. Not sure. But he is very careful about oversray. The color is about the same.