Raised paint bumps/what is this paint defect?

C

Cadillac Hunter

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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!

Hunter
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Looks like dirt in the paint

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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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Coatingsarecrack said:
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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Factory carbon fiber hood.

Is it possible its been like this since new?

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

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

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

Cadillac Hunter said:
Factory carbon fiber hood.

Is it possible its been like this since new?

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Click to expand...

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.

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

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Click to expand...

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.
And welcome to the forum.
 
Eldorado2k said:
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.
And welcome to the forum.
Click to expand...
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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Cadillac Hunter said:
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.
Click to expand...

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


Cadillac Hunter said:
These look like normal fisheyes but not sure.
Click to expand...

They don't look like fish eyes to me?


Cadillac Hunter said:
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.
Click to expand...

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



Cadillac Hunter said:
Let me know what you guys think, I know Mike Phillips is not a huge fan of white cars but I love the tricoat!
Click to expand...


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

It's PEARL too...

1937_Ford_Slantback_001.JPG




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


:dblthumb2:
 
Mike Phillips said:
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

It's PEARL too...

1937_Ford_Slantback_001.JPG




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


:dblthumb2:
Click to expand...
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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Cadillac Hunter said:
Yes, the hood could not be read by the paint gauge so its possible it was repainted.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Eldorado2k said:
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.
Click to expand...
Yes that is what I meant.

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

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Coatingsarecrack said:
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
Click to expand...

Carbon fiber hoods for 3rd Gen Cadillac V models were produced by Tier 1 supplier, Magna. Not only were the hoods molded by Magna, they were also painted by Magna. As such it is not surprising to see some paint defects since Magna's paint system is not on the level of the system at the Lansing assembly plant. That said, a hood with 20 defects should have been flagged by QC - if not by Magna at least by Lansing.
 
57Rambler said:
Carbon fiber hoods for 3rd Gen Cadillac V models were produced by Tier 1 supplier, Magna. Not only were the hoods molded by Magna, they were also painted by Magna. As such it is not surprising to see some paint defects since Magna's paint system is not on the level of the system at the Lansing assembly plant. That said, a hood with 20 defects should have been flagged by QC - if not by Magna at least by Lansing.
Click to expand...
And if not by the first owner.....but maybe it is a repaint. I will look closer when I am home for signs of a repaint...

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