Paint chips !
 

I have never before had so many issues with paint chipping on a car before. I had a 2008 350Z and didn't even have this many issues. The chips aren't even on the bumper or hood(although there is a TINYTINYTINY one on the hood) but along the side skirts below the doors. WTF, odd. Don't know why either. I just washed my car and found another new one on the driver side quarter panel just behind the side skirt. I guess I'm going to get the side skirts repainted and 3M scotch guarded. Anyone else having this issue ?

I only have 1250 miles on the 370 and had 8k on the 350 with less issues and I don't feel this is a Nissan doing something wrong issue because it's with a lot of cars these days with the paint not being led paint anymore(more with imports than domestics though).

I have a little chip on the hood and my front fascia looks like someone took a BB gun to it. Thank you Chicago highways...you'd think they were dirt roads.

My way of dealing with the chips is knowing that a repaint isn't the end of the world and that my car performs the same despite them.

its probably from your own tires, i know thats the area that gets beat up on cars when you drive them on gravel roads all the time, we ended up having to put a material similar to a clear bra on some spots to keep the paint on the car, it was just behind the door to the rear wheel on the very bottom of the body, not sure if this is exactly where you are getting your chips tho

TX roads
 

I have never seen so many rock chip incidents as I have since I moved here to Texas. But I personally think that the clear coat on the 370 is f-ing microscopic. I have a few on mine as well. Dont have this problem on my Titan or on my wifes Grand Cherokee.

The 370z rides a lot lower than the Titan or Jeep, probably picks more of the debris coming up from the road.

Do you have the splash gaurds?

Looks like Nissan went cheap again. The paint chipping is from very soft paint.
Need to get a clear bra asap.

Us owners of the G35's have been afflicted with this problem since day one starting in 2003 all the way up to 2007.

The new 2009 G37's have a self healing clear coat. Just more Flim Flam talk from Nissan. Cheap is Cheap no matter what you call it.

It's unfortunate because I think Nissan's quality is a tad shoddy. This is something you'd expect from cars with "10yr/100K mile warranties." But I also discovered a few paint chips around the skirt area when I was washing my car a couple days ago.

Let's be honest with ourselves, albeit the Z is a legendary sports car, you get what you pay for. Starting at $29K...you can see why some corners are cut. And I hate to add, but the interior is still somewhat cheap looking.

Have you ever noticed that the headrests on the stock seats flex forward and backwards-->flimsy.

That is part of the active headrest safety system....Read your manual.
A hit from the rear will cause you to sink into the seat, which will pivot the headrest forward for additional support in this type of accident. It's all in your owner's manual..

I know it's BS that you buy a freakin 30 - 40K car and have to worry about this sh** anyway, but maybe a good fix would just be to get another clear coat right when you get the car.

I'm with Spearfish, as long as the car performs the same.. paint scratches, chips, and ultimately (one day) door dings from careless people is going to happen.

Wait for the door ding threads to pop up. Someone's already backed into my Z in a parking lot and left their paint and a small dent in my hood... sigh. Good thing after buffing it's not noticeable but the dent kind of is if you stare hard enough. I've gotten over it though... it's a car, it's still fun.

I took mine to a spray n wash today (bought it !Friday!) - it's got a chip in the paint on the hood - two little spots. I thought it a bug, but after hitting it with the sprayer and it didn't come off, I used my finger...there's paint missing :(

1) Should I fix it?
2) How?
3) If not by me (knowing my luck), how much should it cost?

Here I was thinking I'd order some Zaino and start on that as soon as it comes in...

Junk Paint
 

Gang,

My 03 350 also was a chip magnet. I ran a bra and that didn't help. I had chips where I had never had chips on any other new car since 1964. Nissan just uses JUNK PAINT and there isn't anyway around that fact!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have 1100 miles on my new 370 and a clear bra and I already have chips.
:thumbsdown:

I just went over 3400 miles and have 4 chips on the hood, chips/dings all over front fascia, as well as a few right in front of the rear wheels. I have owned a lot of vehicles to include a Nissan Altima SER and have never seen anything like this. Yes the car is fun to drive but between the paint, oil temp issues and constant rattles throughout the interior I am beginning to question my purchase.

I called the dealer about the chips on my hood, requested and spoke to the general manager.

He said he wants to take a look at it tomorrow and "see what he can do" - which, more than likely as I see it, will be to take me over to the parts counter and order some touch-up paint, which I already ordered a bottle today just before the parts-desk closed on my way to band practice (in my truck) ($8), thinking at the time there was nothing I could do about it, so I should just drop-fill it as best I can and go on (sadly, I SUCK at repairing paint) - or pay $400 (which is what a company said they'd charge)

It had 51 miles when I test-drove it. I think I've got 300 on it now. I bet they won't do anything...

How does one do an invisible repair? I was planning on either DIY w/ claybar and Zaino, or taking it to someone to have it detailed (involving a claybar) - if there's a blem, it'll stand out. :(