Raised paint bumps/what is this paint defect?

[Cadillac Hunter]

Hey everyone, long time lurker, first post!

Background on this car.....

Just bought this 2016 Cadillac ATS V in White Diamond Tricoat paint. 35K on it, originally from Michigan. I am in the Seattle area.

Paint was in decent condition when I bought it, normal chips and dings for a lease vehicle but not thrashed.

Onto my journey over the last month... Newish detailer here, hobbyist but I am a 15 year veteran master Cadillac technician so being around cars isn't new to me.

I did a decontamination wash, used a combo of Optimum Ferrex and Meguiars Spray clay( I ran out of Ferrex on the body so I switched to the Meguairs which seemed pretty decent) and used an Auto Scrub sponge to mechanically decontaminate the paint by hand using Nanoskin Glide for lubrication.

Paint actually has very minimal scratches or swirls that I could detect but I have read Cadillac has prety hard paint or maybe I got lucky.

I need some advice on some mystery paint defects on mostly the hood. They are small raised bumps, about the size of mechanical pencil lead or slightly larger on the hood. Have not seen them elsewhere on the body.

I though they might be super hard tree sap. Finger nail won't budge them nor did the AutoScrub. I tried 70% IPA on a microfiber towel, letting soak and then wiping but no luck.

First 4 attached pictures show one near or on the reflected light. Any thoughts on what these are and their removal? There are maybe about 20 across the hood.
I was worried about trying to compound or polish them out. They look like they might be under the clearcoat. If they are and I polish the top off I am worried I might expose more issues.

I have some Griots One Step Sealant, CG VSS and the CG V series line though I am looking at buying some Sonnax products to do any compounding or polishing.

I have a second condition on the hood as well. These are more circular divots, not raised like the other ones. I attached pictures as well, last two.

These look like normal fisheyes but not sure.

The hood on this car is carbon fiber, I have heard this can cause some weird paint defects. When I bought the car I had a gentlemen inspect the car in Michigan before it bought it and he did paint thickness measurements across the whole car, all pretty uniform between 5 and 6.5 mils so I think all paint is original.

Let me know what you guys think, I know Mike Phillips is not a huge fan of white cars but I love the tricoat!

Thank you so much for any help!

Hunterhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200901/ee78ad80773ded297e8d6b846eddca40.jpg

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[Klasse Act]

Looks like dirt in the paint[emoji848]

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[Coatingsarecrack]

Second the dirt especially with fish eyes. Don’t know much about V’s but i’m assuming carbon fiber isnt factory so probably not painted in a good environment. If so will need some wet sanding


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[DUBL0WS6]

Is it on top of the paint or under the paint?

[Cadillac Hunter]

Second the dirt especially with fish eyes. Don’t know much about V’s but i’m assuming carbon fiber isnt factory so probably not painted in a good environment. If so will need some wet sanding


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkFactory carbon fiber hood.

Is it possible its been like this since new?

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[Cadillac Hunter]

Is it on top of the paint or under the paint?It looks like it is in the clear....but not 100% sure.

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[Cadillac Hunter]

Any harm in compounding the hood anyway to take care of a few other swirls?

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[Eldorado2k]

Don’t know much about V’s but i’m assuming carbon fiber isnt factory so probably not painted in a good environment.

Lol. It’s a V-Series Cadillac, of course it came with a carbon fiber hood from the factory.


Factory carbon fiber hood.

Is it possible its been like this since new?

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Unfortunately probably so, since that tri coat has to get painted 3 separate times it stands more of chance for little imperfections such as that to happen. The good thing is that it should be hard to spot on that White Diamond paint. I feel your pain but things can’t always be perfect.


Any harm in compounding the hood anyway to take care of a few other swirls?

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Should be ok, just start less aggressive at 1st.

Please post pics of your Cadillac once you’re done detailing it. Or even before.. Would love to check it out.[emoji1417]
And welcome to the forum.

[Cadillac Hunter]

Lol. It’s a V-Series Cadillac, of course it came with a carbon fiber hood from the factory.



Unfortunately probably so, since that tri coat has to get painted 3 separate times it stands more of chance for little imperfections such as that to happen. The good thing is that it should be hard to spot on that White Diamond paint. I feel your pain but things can’t always be perfect.



Should be ok, just start less aggressive at 1st.

Please post pics of your Cadillac once you’re done detailing it. Or even before.. Would love to check it out.[emoji1417]
And welcome to the forum.Thanks for the welcome.

Here are a couple pictures.

They are hard to spot so once I get it polished, sealed and waxed I will reassess how much they get my OCD going.

I may have the body shop we use come look at the hood as I need the rocker panels repainted, see what they think they could do for me.

Thanks for all the replies!

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[Mike Phillips]

Just bought this 2016 Cadillac ATS V in White Diamond Tricoat paint. 35K on it, originally from Michigan. I am in the Seattle area.

I need some advice on some mystery paint defects on mostly the hood. They are small raised bumps, about the size of mechanical pencil lead or slightly larger on the hood. Have not seen them elsewhere on the body.

I though they might be super hard tree sap. Finger nail won't budge them nor did the AutoScrub. I tried 70% IPA on a microfiber towel, letting soak and then wiping but no luck.



Must be defect that's IN or part of the paint resin. My guess is this panel has been re-painted?





These look like normal fisheyes but not sure.



They don't look like fish eyes to me?





The hood on this car is carbon fiber, I have heard this can cause some weird paint defects. When I bought the car I had a gentlemen inspect the car in Michigan before it bought it and he did paint thickness measurements across the whole car, all pretty uniform between 5 and 6.5 mils so I think all paint is original.



Most affordable Paint Thickness Gauges only measure metal, not both metal and carbon fiber.






Let me know what you guys think, I know Mike Phillips is not a huge fan of white cars but I love the tricoat!




I own a white car and I love PEARL whites. What I don't like is using white cars or boats for TRAINING purposes because there not as good as dark colored cars and boats for before and after VISUAL IMPACT.


I want anyone that takes a class with me to have a GREAT experience and part of that is seeing the before and after difference. I do use white cars and in fact I have a white car for wet sanding in my upcoming 3-day class. It's not what I want but it's what I have so I'm going with it.


Training Cars - For the September 2020 Detailing Class (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-3-day-car-detailing-bootcamp-classes/127422-training-cars-september-2020-detailing-class.html)

It's PEARL too...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4099/1937_Ford_Slantback_001.JPG



I think your car and the paint on your car looks amazing!


:dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

More....


See post #15

Solvent Popping in Fresh Paint (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/70894-solvent-popping-fresh-paint.html)


:)

[Cadillac Hunter]

Must be defect that's IN or part of the paint resin. My guess is this panel has been re-painted?




They don't look like fish eyes to me?




Most affordable Paint Thickness Gauges only measure metal, not both metal and carbon fiber.






I own a white car and I love PEARL whites. What I don't like is using white cars or boats for TRAINING purposes because there not as good as dark colored cars and boats for before and after VISUAL IMPACT.


I want anyone that takes a class with me to have a GREAT experience and part of that is seeing the before and after difference. I do use white cars and in fact I have a white car for wet sanding in my upcoming 3-day class. It's not what I want but it's what I have so I'm going with it.


Training Cars - For the September 2020 Detailing Class (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-3-day-car-detailing-bootcamp-classes/127422-training-cars-september-2020-detailing-class.html)

It's PEARL too...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/4099/1937_Ford_Slantback_001.JPG



I think your car and the paint on your car looks amazing!


:dblthumb2:Yes, the hood could not be read by the paint gauge so its possible it was repainted.

I know you like white paint just ribbing you a bit, I have read many of your articles and they are great!! The videos too!

I thought it might be solvent pop but not experienced enough in paint to call it out, that is why I was not sure on the fisheye label either.

Thanks for the comments and compliment Mike!

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[Eldorado2k]

Yes, the hood could not be read by the paint gauge so its possible it was repainted.


It more likely couldn’t get a reading due to it being carbon fiber rather than it being repainted.

My paint gauge can’t get a reading on my brothers new Ford F 150 because the panels are aluminum.

[Cadillac Hunter]

It more likely couldn’t get a reading due to it being carbon fiber rather than it being repainted.

My paint gauge can’t get a reading on my brothers new Ford F 150 because the panels are aluminum.Yes that is what I meant.

It's crazy this car has so much aluminum throughout it.

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[Eldorado2k]

Yes that is what I meant.

It's crazy this car has so much aluminum throughout it.

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How much does that car weigh?