Identify these spots on my roof
 

So yesterday I washed a bunch of pollen off my car, in the afternoon. I didn't chamois it, went inside for about 10 minutes, then came out and drove her around town. Later last night, as the sun started to go down, I went ahead and gave her a full and proper wash. While doing so, I see these spots start to materialize all over my roof. There's a couple on my trunk as well, but not NEARLY as bad or big.

Attachment 287356

This one is probabaly the worst one:
Attachment 287357

The spot in the second picture, you can BARELY feel if you run your fingers over it, but none of the others. These spots literally popped up in the course of a couple hours, and I initially thought they were water spots, but the more I think about it, the more I'm worried it's my clearcoat (still the factory paint).

Any ideas on what they are, and, more importantly, how to get rid of them?

OP,

with the way the outer edge looks, its clearcoat.

A water spot doesn't have a white outer edge and you can't feel the really. If its catching your nail its clear.


Travis

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Would using a compound/polish work to get rid of these unsightly spots, or would that be dangerous to the paint? What other ways are there, short of a new paint job?

If it is the clearcoat a respray is the only way to fix it. If it is a spot then it can be removed if you know what you are doing and use the right equipment and product.

What kind of price am I looking to get hit for, for a respray? I know it's subjective, so a general idea of how much I should pay is what I'm looking for...

If it is just the roof panel or the whole car?

It's primarily the roof, but there are small (and I mean tiny) spots popping up in random areas. The roof is the worst though.

Well for the roof I would say $1,000.00 or so. For the whole car you are looking at $5,000.00+ for quality paint and work. If someone does it cheap then it will likely be done with many corners cut and it won't last or look good.

My daily (98's GSR) was repainted a year before I bought it last year, and the clear coat is already peeling badly. But the previous owner paid like $1500.00 to have the whole car painted so I am not surprised.

.... Damn.

Last question: how long does clearcoat last once it starts spotting like this?

That depends. It is also rare for factory paint, we have several locals with 10 year old pain that looks near perfect after 10 years of texas sun. But a lot of that depends on care as well, some people never properly polish and seal their cars.

This is mine, aside from the front mazdaspeed bumper and sides, it has never been resprayed.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...70bd639b40.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...065f287d19.jpg