So last year, I was in a front end accident and got a check from the insurance company. I had all the repairs done at a buddy's shop and then had the car repainted due to lots of oxidation and peeling paint at, well, Earl Scheib, since it would be in my budget to do so.

My paint doesn't look nearly quite as good as the factory paint, which I knew would be the case anyhow.

Is there something I can do to bring that pure gloss shine to it?

 

From the looks of it you have severe orange peel. Shitty paint job overall. After a panel is painted they are supposed to sand and buff the paint to bring the gloss out and level the surface if there are any areas with more clear coat. They've done a half assed job of finishing the job. Find a detailer who can check the depth of the paint and polish it properly. Keep in mind this may end up costing in excess of 500 bucks. If the guy charges lower than that ask yourself where he's cutting corners and get a proper idea of what he's doing. Also make sure he is insured in case he burns through the paint and you have to get it repainted.

 

Hey Illmat1k, sorry for your lesson learnt the hard way !
There's really nothing much ya can do at this point, except perhaps a repaint at another shop. Ya generally get what ya pay for and ya knew that going in to Earl Scheibs. I wouldn't waste money trying to detail or correct a shoddy paint job. Live with it until ya can afford a better quality shop to paint your car.

 

It looks like it isn't polished TBH... Perhaps do what Vidur suggested.. I think with a Polish it wont look THAT bad.

 

Do you know what type/method of of paint was used? That's the first thing you gotta know before finding hopefully a cheap solution, other than a real solution of a high quality paint job lol.

 

The basecoat doesn't really matter. When we're talking about paint we mean the brand of the clear coat that was used since that will be the layer that's being polished. Polishing is cutting so you are going to loose some density with regard to your paint.

 

You dont need to know what brand of clear was used. Doesnt matter if its ppg or duplicolor.

Find a detailer and have him give you an estimate to polish the car.

 

Thanks for the all the input guys.

I mean the paint is warrantied through Earl Scheib and have several areas where its showing some peeling, so I'm sure that there are very few coats of paint. I'll be taking it back to them and letting them know how shitty the work was and point out that paint should not peel like that.

I'll also have to have a professional detailer take a look at it and see what my options are other than a whole new repaint.

 

It wouldnt matter if there was 20 coats or 1 coat of paint. If its peeling its because of improper prep, not the amount of layers of paint

 

Yea im in with kris. Prep is the number 1 when it comes to paint. Shitty prep leads to shitty finish.

 

Ya get what ya pay for.....don't blow any more money trying to detail buff a shitty paint job.