Auto Body Shop Ruined My Paint

[Justin]

My car was hit on the rear bumper a few months back. Damage was minimal and basically the bumper just needed repainted and a bracket holding the bumper on replaced. The other driver put in a claim so I did not have to pay anything to get it fixed. I finally got the bumper repainted this week.

Anyways, I was washing my car today and while I was hand scrubbing the car I was confused as to why my paint felt rough. I had a closer look at the paint and was shocked when I realized that my entire car was covered in black paint spray (my car is silver). It looks like a light mist all over my car. I did not realized this when I picked the car up as the auto body has a gravel lot and the rain and wind made my car all dirty.

Now I got a huge problem and I don't know what to do. I have not tried to polish it off and even if polish will remove the paint spray I sure as heck do not want to spend an entire day polishing my car to remove it. I am a little scared to even try polish as i'll really be pissed if it does not take it off.

Anyone have any idea's for me? What should I do? What will remove the paint spray? I am guessing an auto body has some way to remove it by either a sand or polish but I don't like the idea of half my clear coat being taken away either.

[new_vr]

My car was hit on the rear bumper a few months back. Damage was minimal and basically the bumper just needed repainted and a bracket holding the bumper on replaced. The other driver put in a claim so I did not have to pay anything to get it fixed. I finally got the bumper repainted this week.

Anyways, I was washing my car today and while I was hand scrubbing the car I was confused as to why my paint felt rough. I had a closer look at the paint and was shocked when I realized that my entire car was covered in black paint spray (my car is silver). It looks like a light mist all over my car. I did not realized this when I picked the car up as the auto body has a gravel lot and the rain and wind made my car all dirty.

Now I got a huge problem and I don't know what to do. I have not tried to polish it off and even if polish will remove the paint spray I sure as heck do not want to spend an entire day polishing my car to remove it. I am a little scared to even try polish as i'll really be pissed if it does not take it off.

Anyone have any idea's for me? What should I do? What will remove the paint spray? I am guessing an auto body has some way to remove it by either a sand or polish but I don't like the idea of half my clear coat being taken away either.
A bunch of cars got sprayed at work when they tried to paint the road lines on a windy day. Tha contractor had to pay to get them all cleaned, and I heard (but not sure if it's true) that the place they took them to used a claybar to get the spots off.
I wouldn't have thought a claybar would be strong enough, so maybe(probably) there was more involved.
Have you contacted the shop?

[Justin]

A bunch of cars got sprayed at work when they tried to paint the road lines on a windy day. Tha contractor had to pay to get them all cleaned, and I heard (but not sure if it's true) that the place they took them to used a claybar to get the spots off.
I wouldn't have thought a claybar would be strong enough, so maybe(probably) there was more involved.
Have you contacted the shop?

No I have not. Just realized this after supper tonight when I was washing my car. They are closed for the long weekend.

[Jucius Maximus]

No I have not. Just realized this after supper tonight when I was washing my car. They are closed for the long weekend.

How do you know it was the auto body shop?

[Justin]

How do you know it was the auto body shop?

Well, it was not like that before I took the car there and now it is after I picked it up. I drove straight home after picking the car up (only 3km) and parked it in my drive way. I have not moved it since.

[Justin]

I just tried polishing compound on a small spot and it did not do anything. :(

[Jucius Maximus]

Document everything and take photos. For starters. I'm not sure what you would be necessary to take action against the auto body shop but you will need your evidence.

For starters you might want to report to the owner in writing what happened and ask for them to return it to the original condition.

[nwmrkt]

if worse comes to worse and they don't do anything...a claybar might/should work. Good luck.

[thephenom]

Unless you picked it up today, it's basically your word vs their word. If it was an insurance claim, you can possibly try to fight it and say you're not satisfied with their work. And hopefully the body shop will do it for good will to keep your insurance company as a client.

However, I don't understand how you didn't see a car covered in black spots when you picked it up. As much as the car is dirty, it's not hard to notice black spots all over the car especially in areas of the trunk or roof where it shouldn't be that dirt unless your car was using to rally around on the lot.

[curls00]

This is what a clay bar is very good at removing. If the body shop won't do anything for you, go spend the $20 and get a Mothers Clay Bar Kit and book a few hours to DIY. It's easy and will make your car look great afterwards, not to mention it'll completely remove the paint spray.

The sooner the better.

[Justin]

Unless you picked it up today, it's basically your word vs their word. If it was an insurance claim, you can possibly try to fight it and say you're not satisfied with their work. And hopefully the body shop will do it for good will to keep your insurance company as a client.

However, I don't understand how you didn't see a car covered in black spots when you picked it up. As much as the car is dirty, it's not hard to notice black spots all over the car especially in areas of the trunk or roof where it shouldn't be that dirt unless your car was using to rally around on the lot.

Well, the black spots are not large blotches. It looks like a fine mist so it was not noticable since the car was dirty. The car was really dirty when I picked it up. It had rained and was really windy. Since their lot is gravel dirt was stuck everywhere.

[Justin]

This is what a clay bar is very good at removing. If the body shop won't do anything for you, go spend the $20 and get a Mothers Clay Bar Kit and book a few hours to DIY. It's easy and will make your car look great afterwards, not to mention it'll completely remove the paint spray.

The sooner the better.


Do you really think that will work? I tried polishing compound and tried scratching a couple spots off with my finger nail and neither did anything.

[AGR-1]

Its probably overspray and its probably also on the glass.

Clay bar the entire car, and clay bar the glass using glass cleaner as the liquid for the clay bar.

It usually happens when you go to body shops for the $ 300 paint repair.

[Justin]

Its probably overspray and its probably also on the glass.

Clay bar the entire car, and clay bar the glass using glass cleaner as the liquid for the clay bar.

It usually happens when you go to body shops for the $ 300 paint repair.


Well, it is not overspray from when they were painting my car. They had my bumper off so the car was not even in the paint booth. The paint is also not the same color as my car.

I think I know what happened. I drove by the place and had a look. There is an exhaust vent coming out of the side of the building and the building metal siding is all covered in paint spray around the vent. I am guessing that is where they vent the paint booth. They parked my car near the vent so I am guessing with the strong wind all the paint booth exhaust ended up on my car.

I am not going to spend my time and money removing the paint spray from my car. They can do that since they are responsible. If they dont fix it, there is always the small claims court route.

I've never used a clay bar but I can't see how it could work. This is automotive paint on my car, not road contamination or spray paint. How would a clay bar be able to remove automotive paint spray without doing any harm to my car's paint? Maybe I am wrong??

[gilboman]

I've never used a clay bar but I can't see how it could work. This is automotive paint on my car, not road contamination or spray paint. How would a clay bar be able to remove automotive paint spray without doing any harm to my car's paint? Maybe I am wrong??

a claybar will work.

[curls00]

Well, it is not overspray from when they were painting my car. They had my bumper off so the car was not even in the paint booth. The paint is also not the same color as my car.

I think I know what happened. I drove by the place and had a look. There is an exhaust vent coming out of the side of the building and the building metal siding is all covered in paint spray around the vent. I am guessing that is where they vent the paint booth. They parked my car near the vent so I am guessing with the strong wind all the paint booth exhaust ended up on my car.

I am not going to spend my time and money removing the paint spray from my car. They can do that since they are responsible. If they dont fix it, there is always the small claims court route.

I've never used a clay bar but I can't see how it could work. This is automotive paint on my car, not road contamination or spray paint. How would a clay bar be able to remove automotive paint spray without doing any harm to my car's paint? Maybe I am wrong??

You are wrong. I'll bet you a properly-used clay bar WILL indeed work. I've removed overspray, tar, surface rust (from rail dust), etc... with a claybar. It "pulls" the overspray/contaminant from the paint, so to speak.

Just follow the directions, take a bit of pride in your hour or two with the car, and you will have a car that looks great, and the paint WILL be a LOT smoother, shinier, and longer lasting. Don't forget a decent wax or polymer sealant afterwards... to give it that finishing touch, and of course, the protection.

Good luck in small claims court. You have no proof, just your word vs. theirs, and it's just going to waste more of your time than simply getting it done yourself.

[Crisqo]

Try wet sanding and a coarser compound...
it'll be much easier than playing around with a claybar..

[l69norm]

Try wet sanding and a coarser compound...
it'll be much easier than playing around with a claybar..

Take it back to the auto-body shop first. The car might just need to be wiped down with a pro grade cleaner (like an enamel reducer). It dissolves overspray without harming the paint.

An alternative would be a detailing shop.

[curls00]

Try wet sanding and a coarser compound...
it'll be much easier than playing around with a claybar..

So, you'd rather make the clearcoat thinner and also tell a detailing newb to try wetsanding, rather than get rid of the contaminant without harming the cleracoat or jeopardizing the paint finish... interesting.

Please don't give advice you know nothing about.

[enforcerviper]

You are wrong. I'll bet you a properly-used clay bar WILL indeed work. I've removed overspray, tar, surface rust (from rail dust), etc... with a claybar. It "pulls" the overspray/contaminant from the paint, so to speak.


+1

[Justin]

Took that car back to the auto body shop today. A few people looked at it and all agreed that it was pretty bad since the entire car has a fine mist over it. They are going to do whatever it takes to remove it. They tried a couple solvents and they did not work. I mentioned a clay bar and only and one guy there had ever used one. He said he used it on his own truck after the same thing happened to it while parked outside the shop:confused: Another guy tried hand polishing on a small spot and it removed it slightly but not great.

They said they will either power polish the whole car or use a clay bar. They said they would have to get a clay bar from somewhere, since they don't use them at the shop, if they decide to go that route.

I hinted that I would prefer them to use a clay bar since i don't like the idea of half my clear coat being power polished off so I hope they do it that way.