Not happy with paint quality

[4WDlifeform]

Hopping on the band wagon here (since everyone is now judging the Stinger's paint with a fine tooth comb...). I have the Aurora Black Pearl and having concerns with the top coat. It seems to scratch way too easy. Even micro fiber cloths are leaving etch/scratch marks. They polish out with wax, but I have to use a buffing pad anytime I touch the thing.

Is anyone finding similar issues? It is like the clear coat is very soft. Also, the orange peel is very disappointing for a $50,000 car. I feel the quality should be much better, and maybe it is on other black stingers?

I have never owned a black car, so maybe it is normal, I don't know? Anxious to hear thoughts. I'll try to post some pictures later today/tomorrow.

 

[forzanerazzurri]

Sounds typical for black. Also, severe orange peel is also common place on most cars these days. Just look at any new BMW M3 for an example of the level of orange peel that exists on an expensive car today. Put a sealant on it and dont touch it. Thats my advice for black.

 

[westcoastGT]

black shows all the problems( real and perceived) and is a tough color to keep clean . I have a white car and am very happy with the paint quality vs the German cars I've owned in the past

 

[StingerlondonON]

All of my vehicles have been black. Jeeps and Honda’s. Swirls were on every one. This stinger even had swirls under the Kia badging. I used a microfibre cloth yesterday and can now see lines in the clear coat. The other vehicles were similar BUT I also haven’t look so closely before ( due to all the talk here)

 

[Socalstinga]

I had the same swirl marks after the 2nd wash 1 month into ownership. the paint and the clear coat are rather thin. Like you said, wax/polish takes it out, but the swirls will be back. Always much more noticeable on darker colors. What i've done is have it washed/clayed/waxed, then I immediately go home and apply a product called Hydrosilex which is a spray on type of ceramic coating. It's helped "lock in" the wax after clay. The swirls come back with time and washes, but found it to stay mirror like and hydrophobic for at least 4-6 weeks and I park outside so it's exposed. I'm on my 6th week, so a clay/wax will be in order shortly followed by coating again with Hydrosilex.

If everything else holds up at year 3, I'll just custom paint it anyway.

 

[westcoastGT]

claying shouldnt be required so often , it can cuase swirl marks as well

 

[forzanerazzurri]

I had the same swirl marks after the 2nd wash 1 month into ownership. the paint and the clear coat are rather thin. Like you said, wax/polish takes it out, but the swirls will be back. Always much more noticeable on darker colors. What i've done is have it washed/clayed/waxed, then I immediately go home and apply a product called Hydrosilex which is a spray on type of ceramic coating. It's helped "lock in" the wax after clay. The swirls come back with time and washes, but found it to stay mirror like and hydrophobic for at least 4-6 weeks and I park outside so it's exposed. I'm on my 6th week, so a clay/wax will be in order shortly followed by coating again with Hydrosilex.

If everything else holds up at year 3, I'll just custom paint it anyway.

What does thickness of the paint layers have to do with hardness?

 

[Socalstinga]

What does thickness of the paint layers have to do with hardness?

Not sure what you're asking...I didn't mention "hardness" in my post....

All i'm saying is that the paint and clear coat is noticeably thinner on this car than on my MB and infiniti. you can see it and feel it.

 

[forzanerazzurri]

Not sure what you're asking...I didn't mention "hardness" in my post....

All i'm saying is that the paint and clear coat is noticeably thinner on this car than on my MB and infiniti. you can see it and feel it.

That was my point. Nevermind...

 

[bb123]

Hello all
I have a premium micro blue and the level of orange peel is treble, my last car was a 2015 black obsidian Q50s with no orange peel. I found the Kia paint to be a touch harder.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Do swirls have anything to do with the quality of the paint when looking at dark colors? The conversation isn't answering that directly. Dark colors are "expected" to show swirls; this is what I am getting from what is being said. Sooner or later, you will see swirls in the gloss. Does the clear coat on a Stinger compare in hardness elsewhere? I won't repeat my anecdote from the weekend. Just know that I think the Stinger has a really good clear coat after my experience.

 

[Ucinn]

My other two vehicles are black and they show everything..especially when sunny..at night and shady days looks awesome. By the time I get to the back of the car to clean it, you can already see the dust collecting on the front.. I'm so done with black cars...lol

 

[4WDlifeform]

Thanks all for the comments. I knew I was to expect a bit more cleaning/waxing with a black car, but didn't expect it to be THAT sensitive. And yeah, orange peel on any car these days is expected, but I wanted to hold a 50k car to a higher standard. It is unfortunate they can't come up with a better paint method that levels better when drying. If the car had any amount of reliable clear, I'd cut it down and buff, but I don't think that would be wise with OEM paint job. I'll let her be. Thanks all!

 

[westcoastGT]

Thanks all for the comments. I knew I was to expect a bit more cleaning/waxing with a black car, but didn't expect it to be THAT sensitive. And yeah, orange peel on any car these days is expected, but I wanted to hold a 50k car to a higher standard. It is unfortunate they can't come up with a better paint method that levels better when drying. If the car had any amount of reliable clear, I'd cut it down and buff, but I don't think that would be wise with OEM paint job. I'll let her be. Thanks all!

Clear coat and paint thickness can be measured , take your car to the best auto detailer in your area and ask them the questions you have about these concerns and see what they say . I honestly think the Stinger paint and clear is on par or better with what I've had on BMWs

 

[Tonkabob]

Thanks all for the comments. I knew I was to expect a bit more cleaning/waxing with a black car, but didn't expect it to be THAT sensitive. And yeah, orange peel on any car these days is expected, but I wanted to hold a 50k car to a higher standard. It is unfortunate they can't come up with a better paint method that levels better when drying. If the car had any amount of reliable clear, I'd cut it down and buff, but I don't think that would be wise with OEM paint job. I'll let her be. Thanks all!

What is your build date? (Look in the door jam). 2017 builds have more paint chipping issues which might be caused by the clear coat or lack of. 2018 builds seem pretty solid.

 

[Socalstinga]

FWIW, I'm not bashing the paint job - is it great, I wouldn't say so but it is good. At least for those not experiencing issues. but my infiniti and beemer in the past did not collect swirl marks this early and I didn't exactly baby those (i used to use car washes that used the machine bristles). And comparing to my Benz now, clearly night and day to the eye and to the touch. But 70k vs. my 41k GT1, I'm not complaining.

@MerlintheMad you are correct, however, in that the paint is relatively strong. one month into ownership and a truck dropped wooden pallets on the fwy ahead of me and went through a wooden storm. There are scratches, but it did not penetrate the paint surface. so that would probably say it's pretty "hard"?

 

[bumble bee]

I feel bad some cars are as PIA!

 

[Christopher]

Here's some tips for minimizing swirl marks. I'm a bit OCD with my car and particular about my paint and caring for my car. Bottom line is black and darker color cars will show more marring because of how light reflects in the scratch. More light is reflected off lighter color cars so you don't see the marks as much.

That said... here's some things you can do...

1. Don't take your car to a carwash with hard brushes... in fact... don't use those car washes regardless of the material used. Your car is being washed with someone else's dirt.
2. Stay away from harsh polishing compounds and paint cleaners.
3. No polyester towels!
4. Dirty chamois cloths.
5. Using a dry towel on a dusty car. No dirty car dusters.
6. Not properly rinsing wash mitts.
7. Rince car thoroughly before washing.
8. Don't scrub your car hard. Go light over it with a properly soaped mitt.

Use a good quality car polish (not wax) to remove the marks. Meguiar's Swirl X is designed for swirl marks. Use a cutting polish to remove deeper marks. Meguiar makes an Ultimate Compound that works well then use the Swirl X to finish. I usually wash my car with a pressure washer and use a mitt and a good car soap only on the really dirty parts. A pressure washer works good on the bugs. Wet them down and let it soak for a bit, then pressure wash over. I then dry with soft terrycloth towels, using two towels on half the car. I probably use six towels total, but you're less likely to transfer dirt. I do have the yellow so they aren't noticeable, but I used the same technique on my black Explorer and it always looked showroom with very little swirl marks. Of course everyone has their own tried and true method. I know some people use two buckets for washing and rinsing the mitt.

 

[4WDlifeform]

Here are some pictures of what I am finding. Note, my wife drives this car as her DD and has to park outside during work. The occasional bird dropping occurs, so I told her to clean it that day with a MIRCOFIBER cloth and soak it down with a cleaner. But, maybe she is pressing too hard? See first picture. Second picture was my fault. Again, microfiber cloth caused this, and now clear coat is chipping away from what used to be a scratch that probably could have been polished away. 3rd picture is just more deep swirls that are found in places. Mostly the hood has these marks. I am afraid if I don't polish these out right away, they will chip like the first one.

 

[4WDlifeform]

@Christopher Thank you for the tips. I use much of the practice you shared. We never use even touchless car washes! We keep our car wash stuff well kept and in a cabinet away from dust/etc that my shop/garage often sees.

We used to own the 72 pictured below. Custom paint (me and a friend who is a pro) painted it. We showed the car and I was very anal about cleaning it and keeping that paint like glass. We no longer have the car, but I still have all the washing and polishing tools/supplies that we used to take care of that car. This Stinger paint is way too sensitive. I didn't even realize the blemishes we had were that bad until I told my wife I finally got around to posting this. Then she made me take the pictures above. Really upset about it. I'll try buffing it out in a day or so to see if it can recover.