Jet wash removed laquer on my S3!!!

[S3needer]

Hi all,
I brought my 51 plate, black metallic, S3 a month ago and have stupidly been jet washing it with my girlfriends jet wash.
I've obviously been getting to close to the paintwork because recently ive noticed areas of dullness on the paintwork. Especially on the bumper. These areas are really soft to the touch and hazey - I'm sure ive taken off the laquer!!! :-(

Is there anything I can do to sort this out, or do you know of any specialist help that can rectify this without a full respray???

Your help is much appreciated...

Jet-wash-muppet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[god_thats_quick]

I've been using a very powerful jetwash on my S3 for over a year and it's never done anything like that... my dad's lexus is a different matter though any laquer on all plastic parts has come off, but this normally looks like another layer, have you tried polishing it?

 

[S3needer]

Havent tried polishing it. I think its happened because I got way too close (a few inches from paintwaork) - I find it takes all the bug splats off that way (oh, and the laquer!)

I suppose its more likely to happen to the bumper as its plastic, right?

 

[nervus]

I once smashed a headlight with a jet wash so never again, they are over the top IMO! Handwash only

 

[god_thats_quick]

still not sure it's the laquer, can you see lines around the edge, normally laquer starts splitting away and leaving edges you can see, I have one of the good karcher pressure washers and I frequently use it about 5mm away from the paint, no problems what so ever on my S3 anywhere, or on my dad's lexus anywhere on the metal, and I've been told the only problems on the plastic are caused by the paint lexus use not bonding to the plastic properly. can you take some pics of the problem?

 

[AndyMac]

Not necessarily, the jetwash didn't leave any lacquer that had lifted. It's very eficient in its lacquer removal. I guess if I'd left it for a few weeks this might have been apparent, but after the miserable failure of my touchup efforts it was off to the bodyshop as soon as I could get it booked in.

 

[god_thats_quick]

hard to tell from the photo's but it appears to me the laquer layer is intact, might be seperating from the lower layers to cause the strange effect, agree with j8436741 makes sense to take it to a good body shop, try and get a recommendation from someone that has used somewhere before.

 

[AndyMac]

From the photo's Nick it doesn't look like it's actually stripped the lacquer. With mine it was obvious the lacquer had gone as it dipped down from lacquer to paint, ie. you could see & feel the 0.2mm difference where the lacquer had gone. It may just be the photo's aren't showing this but if it is a smooth transition between the 2 areas then the lacquer is still intact.
I would persue it with Audi if this is the case as that shouldn't happen. It's like it's had a reaction to something spilt on it (maybe bird cr@p, which can be really acidic) rather than the lacuer peeling from over enthusiastic jet washing.

 

[S3needer]

Thanks for all your comments guys! Andy - its got to have been from the jet wash and not due to a spillage as there are about 7 areas of damage on the bumper. some of those are detailed patterns of what looks like lacquer damage and some areas of very hazey, soft to the touch, areas. There are a couple on the rear bumper also. None of this was apparent before jet washing the car.

I am totally confused now!

Maybe the lacquer hasn't come off completely but has definately been damaged in some way. Hopefully Martins audi can explain whats going on later today. I'll let you know what they say...

 

[nervus]

often in a stone chipped area, water gets forced under in between the laquer and flat base coat and sits sandwiched between giving a clouded look. I bet thats what it is!

I wouldnt be getting audi to repaint it either. Get a reputable specialist to do the work, the work ive seen my audi stealer do is shocking!

 

[jcs356]

[ QUOTE ]
.... Also, there was no mention of any accident in the HPI report.

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO, HPI reports are a complete waste of time & money. The DVLA had my car still registered as stolen 7 months after I got it back post theft, and 6 months after HPI had given me an 'all clear' report for my £40. I had specifically got the HPI check done to make sure everything had got sorted out after my car's 10 day 'holiday'. I only found out by accident when I tried to put a private plate on my car and the DVLA said "no you can't it's nicked!" I complained to HPI and they just said their report was accurate. Yeah, right!