Paint chips

[Bmac]

With winter just around the corner I washed and waxed my 2 year old, 20,000 KM, red Stinger today and I wax it with very good quality products twice a year. I drive strictly around town, never been on gravel, minimal highway use and like to keep it well maintained all of which should be ideal for optimum paint care. Today I saw more paint chips, from tiny to substantial, than I have had on my last 6 cars. The hood and front of car have numerous dings with several even down both sides of the side of the car. The featured black chrome trim is even worse and very hard to maintain. Point being is that I am far less than pleased with the paint quality of this Stinger. Did I get a one off bad paint job or is this a common occurrence with the Stinger/Kias in general??

 

[NS_Stinger]

I think it's been pretty well documented that the Stinger has both weak and thin paint not to mention quality issues around adhesion and paint even flaking off some cars. It's definitely not a strong point for the car. I got a new chip last weekend on my side skirt and pulled out my paint pen for the first time, I'm almost certain KIA put silver paint in my thunder grey paint pen because the colour doesn't match in the slightest...

 

[Hawk853]

I picked up a Kia touch up paint pen for $13 off EBay. I have one door ding to repair this week. I’m going to attempt filling it, topping it off with clear, a little wet sanding and compound after. Luckily I have some left over ceramic.
My front PPF has taken some significant rock strikes in stride.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I was three months into ownership when the growing attrition on the front of my Silky Silver caused me to get full frontal PPF. Since then, minimal impact damage. The dark chrome grille trim has some impact damage but it is acceptable.

Vis-a-vis paint quality and thickness: the Stinger's paint is not "thin" compared to other cars. Paint is just ugh

But the quality is questioned by some, as here. I think that there is some kind of paint quality standard "slippage" along the way. Kia gets their act together and things run smoothly for a while, then something starts to "slip" in paint procedure. They fix it again. So, a relative "few" vehicles get adhesion issues, or the paint damages easily. This like a crap shoot. My car is fine. Yours is not.

All I can suggest is to invest in PPF in all the areas where you tend to take damage. Nicks, dings along the sides of the Stinger are very rare: that you have any is an indicator that the paint is not up to standard strength-wise. If I saw damage appearing behind those side vents, along the doors, I'd be doing a repair, then more PPF: cheaper than a respray or even a wrap (still not sold on the idea of a wrap; ever since I found out that wrap doesn't resist road debris like PPF does).

 

[Bmac]

I think it's been pretty well documented that the Stinger has both weak and thin paint not to mention quality issues around adhesion and paint even flaking off some cars. It's definitely not a strong point for the car. I got a new chip last weekend on my side skirt and pulled out my paint pen for the first time, I'm almost certain KIA put silver paint in my thunder grey paint pen because the colour doesn't match in the slightest...

Ditto with the factory red touch up paint pen I got when I bought the stinger. A yellow pen might have matched up better. Don't get me wrong, I still love my stinger but the paint sucks

I was three months into ownership when the growing attrition on the front of my Silky Silver caused me to get full frontal PPF. Since then, minimal impact damage. The dark chrome grille trim has some impact damage but it is acceptable.

Vis-a-vis paint quality and thickness: the Stinger's paint is not "thin" compared to other cars. Paint is just ugh

But the quality is questioned by some, as here. I think that there is some kind of paint quality standard "slippage" along the way. Kia gets their act together and things run smoothly for a while, then something starts to "slip" in paint procedure. They fix it again. So, a relative "few" vehicles get adhesion issues, or the paint damages easily. This like a crap shoot. My car is fine. Yours is not.

All I can suggest is to invest in PPF in all the areas where you tend to take damage. Nicks, dings along the sides of the Stinger are very rare: that you have any is an indicator that the paint is not up to standard strength-wise. If I saw damage appearing behind those side vents, along the doors, I'd be doing a repair, then more PPF: cheaper than a respray or even a wrap (still not sold on the idea of a wrap; ever since I found out that wrap doesn't resist road debris like PPF does).

Thx for your input. I already covered up the side vent form the wheel well side as soon as I noticed mud and debris coming through. I think it was more of a design issue than function as very few cars have these vents. I have done some PPF but would need to do the whole car which isn't going to happen. Maybe I'll try the squeaky wheel theory at the dealership. Not too hopeful to this end but you can't score if you don't shoot

 

[Hawk853]

Update to the touch up paint pen I bought from EBay (galeanaautogroup), it’s not actually automotive paint. I’m not sure what it counts as.

I prepped the scratched and chipped areas with alcohol and a light scuffing, then applied the clear in the lightly scratched areas and orange in the deeper chips, I let it cure until the next day. I prepped the areas I filled with Orange in the same way and the alcohol completely dissolved the touch up paint. I then out of curiosity wiped the clear coat touch up with the same result - It instantly dissolved. Weird. Even nail polish requires acetone as a solvent and won’t react to alcohol.

I was hoping to fill the few areas before ceramic coating. But the alcohol based prepping products would have had the same effect. Just going to source a small amount of real paint.

I contacted the seller and they made a bunch of lame excuses. It is what it is, but they still want to claim it’s authentic Kia automotive paint.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Does your touchup kit have this kind of tip?

Nowhere does it say "Silky Silver" on it. Just a color in the end of the cap. (I've never used the clear coat.)

I also have this "Korean" one. It seems to be an aftermarket product. No mention of Kia anywhere on it. But the storage container does have the paint code. I've used the "pen" tip maybe once. The little brush is handy.

I have no idea if alcohol "melts" these. But I can tell you that, even after days of "curing", if you try to wet sand the touched up spot, it will turn dark; and it never seems to get really hard; you can push your nail into it. So, it's probably the same "stuff" that your Federation Orange is. Bleh.

 

[Hawk853]

Does your touchup kit have this kind of tip?
View attachment 50237
Nowhere does it say "Silky Silver" on it. Just a color in the end of the cap. (I've never used the clear coat.)
View attachment 50238View attachment 50239
I also have this "Korean" one. It seems to be an aftermarket product. No mention of Kia anywhere on it. But the storage container does have the paint code. I've used the "pen" tip maybe once. The little brush is handy.
View attachment 50240View attachment 50241
I have no idea if alcohol "melts" these. But I can tell you that, even after days of "curing", if you try to wet sand the touched up spot, it will turn dark; and it never seems to get really hard; you can push your nail into it. So, it's probably the same "stuff" that your Federation Orange is. Bleh.

A brush would make application more precise. Sounds like these “pens” are all some sort of pseudo- paint material.
I’ve purchased Honda paint in the past that came in a little jar and was actual paint.

I have a few things I want to paint orange and will just get some mixed.

edit: maybe this stuff is real...

2020 Kia (All Models) Colors of Touch Up Paint

Touch Up Paint for your 2020 Kia (All Models)

www.automotivetouchup.com

 

[Buklau]

I’ve had my Stinger for 8 months now and put on 40,000km+ (mostly highway, cruising 105km/h, not tailgating), and I have probably over 12 rock chips ranging from dot sized all the way up to pea size, and going into the black coat of the car.

My dad’s old 2007 Toyota RAV4 with 250,000km has less rock chips than my Stinger... The paint quality isn’t the best it seems for Stingers... atleast for my Ghost Grey/Ceramic Silver.

 

[MerlintheMad]

edit: maybe this stuff is real...

2020 Kia (All Models) Colors of Touch Up Paint

Touch Up Paint for your 2020 Kia (All Models)

www.automotivetouchup.com

I think so. Good find!

 

[cjbigcog]

Have been using Dr. ColorChip for many years. Always get good results.