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While doing a rinseless wash on my car, I noticed some white marks. They were smooth to the touch and looked like maybe something had been splashed onto the surface. The car is ceramic coated, so I was a bit surprised.
I took it to my detailer, but they couldnt buff it out. I think they even tried a bit of sanding, but didnt want to go further and risk damaging the paint. They said they hadnt seen anything like it before and suggested it mightve been caused by a harsh chemical, maybe from the road.
Right now, theyve recommended either leaving it as is or considering a small paint repair. Im waiting on a quote from their paint guy. Its not super noticeable, but I know its there!
Has anyone seen something like this before? Is there anything else I could try before going the repainting route? Im honestly surprised whatever it was managed to eat through both the ceramic coating and clear coat.
Experienced similar marks on silver after a box of white PVC pipe fittings fell onto the roadway from a service truck ahead of me. Marks were a very smooth thin PVC layer fused into the clear coat. Shop used a solvent wipe then polished with positive results.
I just re-read the OPs note. That is more likely over application of Ceramic, you have a high spot that was not wiped down and now will be hard and smooth. A good detailer can buff that down for you.
Last edited by Richard_Wallace; Apr 26, 2025 at 09:29 AM.
I just re-read the OPs note. That is more likely over application of Ceramic, you have a high spot that was not wiped down and now will be hard and smooth. A good detailer can buff that down for you.
That's what I thought as well, but the detailer couldn't remove it even with light sanding
Looks similar to an overapplication of ceramic I had on a previous car. One difference though is mine looked like more of a smudge which would be more consistent with a rubbing application, where this looks like more of splash making me think its another chemical which made contact while driving. Hope they can get this off.
Separately, I do like PPF for this reason.
Update: I was able to remove the marks completely using alcohol! I thought that the sanding / polishing the detailer did was a step above cleaners / alcohol so I didn't bother
Separately, I do like PPF for this reason.
I have PPF on the front and rear quarter panels, but after this scare I'll go do the rest.
Update: I was able to remove the marks completely using alcohol! I thought that the sanding / polishing the detailer did was a step above cleaners / alcohol so I didn't bother
I have PPF on the front and rear quarter panels, but after this scare I'll go do the rest.
Sounds like it was just ceramic coating high spot then. Was the detailer who didn't know how to remove it the same one who applied the ceramic coating?
Update: I was able to remove the marks completely using alcohol! I thought that the sanding / polishing the detailer did was a step above cleaners / alcohol so I didn't bother
I have PPF on the front and rear quarter panels, but after this scare I'll go do the rest.
Originally Posted by rasetsu
Sounds like it was just ceramic coating high spot then. Was the detailer who didn't know how to remove it the same one who applied the ceramic coating?
Thats insane that the detailer didnt immediately see that as a ceramic coating blemish.
Yeah the lines move from the wheel to the front bumper, i don't believe the car was moving when it happened. If it was moving the lines would be at the back of the blemish heading rear. Glad you got it fixed, humans make errors and it was able to be rectified. No biggie.
Thats insane that the detailer didnt immediately see that as a ceramic coating blemish.
Originally Posted by rasetsu
Sounds like it was just ceramic coating high spot then. Was the detailer who didn't know how to remove it the same one who applied the ceramic coating?
Yes it was the same shop. It's a reputable shop in Miami, they work on high end cars, and plenty of high end 911s. Not sure how they missed it, but I literally lost sleep over this thinking that if these guys can't take it out then what are the chances I can. In any case I'm glad it's fixed.
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Paint issue
