Hood Clear Coat
 

Car is a 2009 and sits in the sun year around. Hood was repainted by a shop in 2010 and I'm guessing whatever clearcoat that was used is suspect quality. You guys think a shop can polish this or is it time for a repaint?

[IMG]https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7426/2...1c887ab9_c.jpgUntitled by shaun scott, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7664/2...61bd5ddb_z.jpgUntitled by shaun scott, on Flickr[/IMG]

Rest of the car still cleans up nicely ):

[IMG]https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7337/2...ae095794_c.jpgUntitled by shaun scott, on Flickr[/IMG]

Shaun, I've been a detailer for 35+ years & it looks like clear coat has failed.
It may be possible to polish it ( can only tell in person ) keep in mind that is only a very short solution. That hot Texas sun will only destroy what ever is left! If you have the funds just repaint it!
Good luck :tup:

Appreciate the input! May just live with it until I can get a garage then get it repainted. How much you think a shop would charge to just polish the hood? Assuming they can, but I have my doubts it looks to be in pretty sad shape.

Polishing the hood should cost very little, heck if you lived closer I would lend you a polisher and you could do it free. Polish should be like 100 bucks id hope because its so easy to polish a hood, a repaint should also be under 1k. Maybe even half that depending on where you go and if they blend the surrounding panels. On that color they may want to blend because of the metallic flake.

shaun66, go to the store and get some Mequiars Ultimate Compound or some Scratch X 2.0. Also get a good microfiber towel if you don't have one. Try to polish the cloudy part with the compound and towel, using your finger to apply decent pressure through the twice-folded towel. Polish for about 10 seconds, let it cool, wipe off, and do it again. If, by then, you have nice shiny paint, then a good machine polishing should fix your paint or at least make it look a LOT better. If no dice, then save your pennies for a re-spray.

(note that you generally do not polish paint with a microfiber towel, but for one small test area, it'll get the job done)

Will have to swing by a shop when I get some time and see what they say. Thanks guys

mines doing the exact same thing just bought a basically new 2016 hood for 400 bucks

Ended up buying a harbor freight DA polisher on sale for 45 bucks. Used some Lake country pads and Megs M105/205 and the hood looks new again! Going to do the rest of the car this winter.

Make Sure you put some kind of sealant on it too, give you some kind of buffer between your paint and the elements. Wax would be too thin and burn off pretty quick if it's out in the sun every day.