How to correct these paint defects

[gdlabo]

Hello,
I have a 2013 Black Honda pilot with the following paint defects. Not sure if they are etchings from bird droppings, etc. I tried compounding and polishing with no success. Is the next step to try and wet sand them out, then follow with M105 and M205, and then a sealant and wax? Any input is appreciated.

Thank you

[dcjredline]

Yes

[gdlabo]

What grit sandpaper should I start with?

[WristyManchego]

Bird poo etching mate.

Google the hairdryer technique, doesn’t always work but it’s worth a try before permanently removing levels of clear coat.

[TTQ B4U]

What grit sandpaper should I start with?

You won't need much. I come across marks like that on cars I do and use 3000 grit. Doesn't take much. Better to work slow and refine where needed, especially if you're not using a Paint Thickness Gauge.

[Setec Astronomy]

You won't need much. I come across marks like that on cars I do and use 3000 grit. Doesn't take much.

I can't say I agree with that. If you're talking about a shadow mark, then maybe, but that/those (I think those are two different pictures of the same spot, but maybe two different similar spots) are crinkly/crazed looking which IMO are unlikely to be improved much by sanding, and could get worse.


Better to work slow and refine where needed, especially if you're not using a Paint Thickness Gauge.

Now that I agree with. OP, please, please, PLEASE be very careful with this if you opt to sand, especially if you've never done anything like that. There are many, many sad threads here which start with "I tried to sand this chip/scratch/etch and now the whole area is a different color...what happened?" They also frequently have content like "they didn't have any 3000 grit so I got 1000 grit instead" or "it started looking a little better so I just kept going".

Car paint is really thin, it looks to me like it's mechanically compromised from the chemical etch, you can get in a lot of trouble in a hurry with sanding, please be careful.

[gdlabo]

I have both 1500 and 3000 grit right now, but I definitely do not want to make things worse. I will google the hair dryer technique. I may also try some M105 as well as last time I tried Griots correcting cream(not their fast correcting cream). I will also try to read up on wet sanding paint.
Thank you

[rlmccarty2000]

I going to go with Setec, it looks like paint bubbling and sanding will possibly make it look worse. There is no real solution except a repaint. But the damage it already done, sanding will only take it down to base then primer.

[gdlabo]

Is the consensus to try sanding them out, or is repainting the only option?

[Setec Astronomy]

Is the consensus to try sanding them out, or is repainting the only option?

Can you get some closer-up pictures? How many spots are there, and where are they on the car?

If you can't live with them the way they are, and are considering a repaint, it certainly can't hurt to try to sand them first, if it goes bad, just get the repaint. But let us look at some better pictures first.

[gdlabo]

Here are a few more pics.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181029/f24d30b19882fe178f2696187f88d825.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181029/0bf8bdeb53053913092ca753f093e251.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gdlabo]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181029/318eb70db0bf7b18ff0249c19346ad37.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181029/f3d3f63ece1a531556180441a4d5a5fd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181029/643f750663aebfacf4007d92ff7c4f62.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Setec Astronomy]

I'm sorry, you can't fix that.

[dlc95]

I'm sorry, you can't fix that.

This.

[Natron]

In my opinion, those are not fixable. They are too deep and the paint is cracked. If you do not have a paint thickness gauge, and you have already compounded, let it go. Sorry