Hi All,

A little over a month ago I bought a '12 Malbec Black M37x. The dealer wanted to wash the car for me but I was insistent they didn't touch it with their dirty cloths and water. The next day I washed it and noticed these milky/hazy dull splotches only visible at an angle with light reflecting off the clear coat but the clear coat is shiny. I took it to a detail shop and they thought a proper buffing might take care of it, it didn’t. They think it’s under the clear coat. I did some research online and I’m not sure I would call it full blown clear coat failure.
Well I wanted to at least get it documented with my sales guy and the sales manager so I emailed them to have it on record and asked about it. They never responded . To make a long story short the general manager got in touch with me just as a courtesy sales follow-up so I told him about the lack of response, etc. He seems very willing to handle this personally, here is his response about the issue, “I have seen in the past where moisture gets under the clear coat and It looks like a dull finish. This can be corrected by using a heat gun to draw the moisture out of the clear. I would have to look at it to be certain”.
Is he blowing smoke up my ****?

 

2008G-man,
I think this is what the GM might be refering to, but don't quite know if it will solve your issue:
http://www.infinitig37.com/TSB/1PF10.pdf

Hope this helps, Good Luck !!!
Russ

 

Paint will sometimes show ‘hazing” after removing the protective polyurethane transit protection film on new shipped vehicles. The temporary hazing, which can appear as a slight dull discoloration, stain, or raised surface in the paint is caused by the paint finish absorbing moisture trapped below the protection film, which may cause the affected paint finish area to temporarily discolor.

Correction- In most cases, by applying Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and exposure to sunlight allows the moisture to evaporate within a few hours. For colder climates, moisture evaporation recovery can be accelerated by placing the vehicle indoors and/or using a portable infrared heat lamp (or professional-type heat gun).

Allow the affected area to outgas by not using a wax or sealer on the affected are for a few days

 

Thanks guys, I took the car in and the GM and Service Manager were very nice, told me everything I wanted to hear. I have an appointment next week as this dealership brings in a paint specialist once a week to work on this kind of stuff. He is going to take a look and see what can be done. The GM and SM are not opposed to repainting the trunk lid and hood but that will be their last resort. In reading that TSB, I did seal and wax the car already, that is when I was noticing all the spots ..... TBC

 

I have the same problem but already applied a sealant.

 

Yeah, I applied the sealant too .... we'll see what they have to say on Tuesday.

 

Please post the results. I have a scheduled service next week & may wish to pursue a solution. Looks like clouding to the right of my rear door's window. Very noticeable but I seem to be the only one that sees it.

 

OK, the car is at the dealer. The paint specialist was not in yet so I didn't get his first impressions. A new development is, on the hood I have a few spots that look like clear coat failure. They are not large, the largest is about 3/16" round. I'm, no paint guy but I'm pretty sure the only solution for that is a re-paint. To be continued .......

 

I have a dealer appointment tomorrow for first oil change. Going to bring this up with service tech. Also let you know what they decide.

 

FYI, You will get a "haze" on your Malbec after a while just from the course of time and residue I assume. A good detailing will take it away. I started seeing it after I had the car around a year. Yours maybe be different due to the car being new but keep this in mind for future reference.

 

Yeah, this is something I believe because it was sitting around with the plastic on it for too long. I got a great deal on the car which I speculate is because it was in inventory for a long time. My cars are garage kept and always detailed.

Detailers already looked at it and tried to buff but they said the milky/haze is in/under the clear coat.

 

I think the plastic was on mine too long as well. During my test drive, the plastic where the paint is bad was still attached. They later took it off after I signed the paperwork.

 

OK, got a call from the Service Manager, they were able to get the trunk fixed, he didn't say what was done but I think it was a wet sanding. For the hood, there was signs of clear coat failure so they are repainting the hood. I'm being told Black is an easy color to match, etc so I'm trusting it will look good. Probably get the car back on Friday. Fingers crossed ............

 

Ahhh I see, FYI mine is garage kept too. Haven't even driven it 3,000 miles yet this year. Mine did buff out so yours must be under/in the clear coat.

 

Update: Brought this up to the dealer this morning on my first service. It was very noticeable under their lights. I had to wait 1.5 hours but they did polish it out & now it looks as good as new. My first service/oil change was free so I am very pleased & not that upset about my wait. Didn't cost me a penny, just time.