Optimum Gloss Coat - did not work on my car! (w pics)

[kiteman]

I have a 2012 Camaro in a metallic black coat. A few years ago someone backed into me and I have my rear bumper replaced/painted. Little did I know the body shop did a very bad job. The first couple of years, oddly, there were no noticeable issues. But about 2 years ago I started noticing heavy swirls on all the areas they repainted/replaced. After a while I polished and reset, only to find after just one single personal wash (which I've been doing forever with never any swirling to note), the bumper looked hideous immediately! All I can think is they used some very cheap clear coat that just broke down molecularly over time, and now it is so brittle that even the lightest nudge and it's a swirl fest.

Time passed though and eventually I decided to polish it again and put on Opti. Followed the instructions exactly. I would say I am above average detailer as I've done this stuff for over 10 years, so I feel confident I did not screw up the application. Fast forward to a week later and I washed my car for the first time. Optimum No Rinse, with the preferred mitt, followed by some Autogeek recommended MF towels. Backed my car into the sun right after and swirl city again! It's like the Opti did nothing! So is something wrong with it or is my clear coat just in such disarray that absolutely nothing can help/hide its pure crapness?

So now here I am with an almost 10 year old car with the only seeming option that will work is to spend 20% of the car's value on replacing a darn bumper, but surely there has to be an explanation why Opti couldn't even protect it a little bit after ONE SINGLE WASH! Any thoughts???

Here are some before polish, after polish/opti, and after one wash with opti a week after application for you to look at. Not the greatest week after picture but all I got. The ripples that look like reflections in bottom left of bumper are swirls, as are the ones by the license plate. It literally looks nearly as bad as the first picture after that single wash. 689266892768925

[The Guz]

Coatings are not impervious to swirls and scratches. They tend to take on the characteristics of the paint.

Sounds like you have soft paint in that area if it swirls that easily.

[kiteman]

Coatings are not impervious to swirls and scratches. They tend to take on the characteristics of the paint.

Sounds like you have soft paint in that area if it swirls that easily.

Oh I didn't know that; I thought the coating was another layer so to speak. I too would have thought soft paint, but as I pointed out this was not a problem whatsoever the initial 2 years or so after the paint job. That just doesn't make sense to me.

Do I have any other option than a repaint?

[Bruno Soares]

Do I have any other option than a repaint?

Correct the paint one more time then have PPF installed? PPF does protect from swirls and actually heals itself a bit if you manage to swirl that up. Coatings won't protect you from swirls.

[kiteman]

Has anyone ever heard about this website where you buy a pre-painted OEM bumper?

EDIT: I actually just talked to the owner. This is what he said about the paint they use, and then I later asked about swirling and he had the 2nd response here:

"We use Axalta's premium waterborne line for the base coat and the corresponding clear coat."

"We have not heard of any issues like that from customers. I know we painted my personal car last year and have polished on restoration projects we have done and have not had issues with swirling"

Painted 2010-2013 Chevrolet Camaro Genuine OEM Rear Bumper Cover (https://www.paintedoemparts.com/store/p584/Painted_2010-2013_Chevrolet_Camaro_Genuine_OEM_Rear_Bumper_Cove r.html)

[The Guz]

Oh I didn't know that; I thought the coating was another layer so to speak. I too would have thought soft paint, but as I pointed out this was not a problem whatsoever the initial 2 years or so after the paint job. That just doesn't make sense to me.

Do I have any other option than a repaint?

That is a common misconception with coatings. It is a ridiculous claim by coating manufacturers.

This style camaro has medium to hard paint. The repaint is the soft paint. As mentioned PPF would be an idea so you don't have to pay for a repaint.

One thing that is notorious by body shops is they take a rotary to remove sanding marks. They then use a glaze that fills in the rotary holograms. After the first wash is when the defects are seen.

Check the price for a repaint vs PPF vs a pre-painted piece.

[mk9750]

I didn't use the same company you did, but I also replaced the rear bumper on my 2007 Lexus ES350. It came prepainted, was a perfect match, and was in great condition when I received it. I installed it, waited the required 30 days, polished and coated with Optimum Gloss Coat. Turned out just fine.

I mean not to question your polishing ability, but from your description, either the bumper wasn't polished well enough before the coating was applied, or the washing technique caused swirling.

It is a misconception that coatings prevent swirling. But the few times I've been asked my opinion on swirls in coatings before, it's been equally issues with the polishing and with washing after the coating is installed.

I have no experience directly with PPF, but it could be a great solution for your situation.

One more note - I checked your link, and can tell you that the bumper I bought was half what it looks like you paid. I got mine from a company in Michigan off e-bay. If you decide to replace the bumper, perhaps try that?

Good luck!

[kiteman]

I didn't use the same company you did, but I also replaced the rear bumper on my 2007 Lexus ES350. It came prepainted, was a perfect match, and was in great condition when I received it. I installed it, waited the required 30 days, polished and coated with Optimum Gloss Coat. Turned out just fine.

I mean not to question your polishing ability, but from your description, either the bumper wasn't polished well enough before the coating was applied, or the washing technique caused swirling.

It is a misconception that coatings prevent swirling. But the few times I've been asked my opinion on swirls in coatings before, it's been equally issues with the polishing and with washing after the coating is installed.

I have no experience directly with PPF, but it could be a great solution for your situation.

One more note - I checked your link, and can tell you that the bumper I bought was half what it looks like you paid. I got mine from a company in Michigan off e-bay. If you decide to replace the bumper, perhaps try that?

Good luck!

Thanks, but the link I provided is OEM that comes PAINTED already. All I have to do is install.


Now I just need to know if anyone can tell me the quality of "Axalta Premium Waterborne" paint as I have no clue.

[mk9750]

Mine was painted already also. But it was painted when I ordered it, so it needed to cure before I could do anything.

[Cosmin]

So now here I am with an almost 10 year old car with the only seeming option that will work is to spend 20% of the car's value on replacing a darn bumper, but surely there has to be an explanation why Opti couldn't even protect it a little bit after ONE SINGLE WASH! Any thoughts???




looks like you fell for mass disinformation called internet!
...and not everything is as "advertised"

opti does not have anything to do with your swirls! period!
you , do have to do with the swirls , most likely your wash mitt or your hand pressure, and i see that all the time..people have same wash mitt or they have a heavy heand and not realize the pressure.
nope , your coating does not suppose to prevent your swirls , here is an operator issue.
something in your techniques or prep was not good , blaming the coating does not fix your issue.

Coating is just an extra tool in your maintenance tool box, helps to clean your car easier , makes the paint look good , and last couple years compared with regular wax or seal , so... you have the wrong info about what a coat does and does not....

nothing personal , but you asked for thoughts , that`s mine!

[psnt1ol]

Just my 2 cents on this issue...

I dont think the coating is the issue.

A little while back I saw a vid from Kevin Brown and Larry from Ammo discussing how excessive heat can cause damage on a paint system. It goes something like this... the paint system consist of 3 layers (primer, base coat, and clear). Each layer bonds to the previous layer in the order I stated. When heat is introduced to a paint system, all layers has a tendency to expand vertically and horizontally. When heat is introduce to the system too quickly then follow by quick cooling (like a novice using a rotary in a body shop), the movement from the polisher could cause the bonds between the layers to detach and when it cools down.. it might not align back up to the original position. Kevin described as buffer trails/swirls that keeps coming back over time. The damage might not be noticeable right away but it most likely will over time.

I am not an expert on paint but what kevin was describing seems to be very similar to your current issue. I hope I am wrong on this and you get to resolve this in an economical way.

[kiteman]

Mine was painted already also. But it was painted when I ordered it, so it needed to cure before I could do anything.

Oh, I see. Thanks for the information. Is your bumper OEM? My only concern is if I buy a painted bumper, since my car is almost 10 years old won't the paint on it have faded, and the new bumper won't actually match the color of the bumper with new, non-10 year old paint on it? Is that really a concern with paint these days?


looks like you fell for mass disinformation called internet!
...and not everything is as "advertised"

opti does not have anything to do with your swirls! period!
you , do have to do with the swirls , most likely your wash mitt or your hand pressure, and i see that all the time..people have same wash mitt or they have a heavy heand and not realize the pressure.
nope , your coating does not suppose to prevent your swirls , here is an operator issue.
something in your techniques or prep was not good , blaming the coating does not fix your issue.

Coating is just an extra tool in your maintenance tool box, helps to clean your car easier , makes the paint look good , and last couple years compared with regular wax or seal , so... you have the wrong info about what a coat does and does not....

nothing personal , but you asked for thoughts , that`s mine!

It's fine if people want to say that, but the rest of my car does not get swirls being washed in exactly the same manner (can't you see in the picture above the swirled bumper the quarter panel looks fine?). My wash technique may not be perfect, but there is an inherently different problem altogether with this particular bumper vs. the rest of my car and I can't emphasize this enough.


Just my 2 cents on this issue...

I dont think the coating is the issue.

A little while back I saw a vid from Kevin Brown and Larry from Ammo discussing how excessive heat can cause damage on a paint system. It goes something like this... the paint system consist of 3 layers (primer, base coat, and clear). Each layer bonds to the previous layer in the order I stated. When heat is introduced to a paint system, all layers has a tendency to expand vertically and horizontally. When heat is introduce to the system too quickly then follow by quick cooling (like a novice using a rotary in a body shop), the movement from the polisher could cause the bonds between the layers to detach and when it cools down.. it might not align back up to the original position. Kevin described as buffer trails/swirls that keeps coming back over time. The damage might not be noticeable right away but it most likely will over time.

I am not an expert on paint but what kevin was describing seems to be very similar to your current issue. I hope I am wrong on this and you get to resolve this in an economical way.

This sounds very much like what I am likely experiencing.

[Mdjas]

Bumpers especially if plastic are usually always a slightly different color in certain lights. In most cases even brand new cars. The flex agent they put into paint for bumpers changes it slightly. Honestly i wouldnt worry it being a big difference. Only other thing u could do is buy primed bumper and have body shop blend it in to other panels when they paint it.


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[mk9750]

Kiteman,

My bumper was NOT OEM. But it matched as perfectly as I could ever discern.

I work in the color industry full time. My company makes liquid pigment dispersions and actual paint, including automotive paint. That doesn't make me an expert, but I do know more than the average person might. Today's color matching technology is unbelievable. My car was 13 years old when I needed to replace the bumper (2007 and I was rear ended in 2019), and the match was as spot on as I could have hoped. I was VERY satisfied.

Again, I repeat, good luck to you.

[kiteman]

Kiteman,

My bumper was NOT OEM. But it matched as perfectly as I could ever discern.

I work in the color industry full time. My company makes liquid pigment dispersions and actual paint, including automotive paint. That doesn't make me an expert, but I do know more than the average person might. Today's color matching technology is unbelievable. My car was 13 years old when I needed to replace the bumper (2007 and I was rear ended in 2019), and the match was as spot on as I could have hoped. I was VERY satisfied.

Again, I repeat, good luck to you.

Thanks for all of the responses. I think I found the Michigan seller on eBay you may have used, I spoke to him and he relieved me of the concerns I had. Looks like my bumper shipped will run under $500 (although in this time the link I provided you of the OEM bumper has reduced to $800). Not sure the additional $300 is worth the OEM bumper or not...I don't know if I mentioned it but the current bumper I have is not OEM and it does not fit right. Not sure if they manufacturer of this bumper is just poor quality or if I should expect all non-OEM bumpers to have a poor fit. Regardless, something I need to consider.

FYI to the other folks who mentioned the Opti Seal doesn't keep swirls away--what the heck is the point of it at all then?? Is it just a more permanent sealant so you aren't applying regular sealant a couple of times a year?