Cured Headlight Paint Peel (no such issue as paint rub...)

[MisterMac]

While this content is already within the massive peeling paint thread, I am creating this thread so it gets noticed. In my experience, the theory of "headlight paint rub" is debunked. While the driver side headlight may be revealing an overall paint problem with paint adherence to the front bumper, IT IS NOT rubbing the paint off.

Shortly after acquiring my Stinger I joined this forum and took a close look at my headlight area. I found peeled paint, as you can see in the photo. I took it to my dealer who ordered a new bumper. A couple days later I was detailing my car and paint rubbed off with my microfibre towel on the inside of the bumper where the hood lines up. Please see that photo.

I've had my new painted bumper installed for about a month and am now at 3,500 miles, or about 1,400 miles since repaint. There is zero sign of paint peel or rub, anywhere on the bumper.

I hope this helps each of you.

 

[DiabloStinger]

OK....

 

[Revvdmedia]

What you're saying is that the repainted bumper does not exhibit the paint rubbing issue?

 

[jondyer]

I certainly hope so, I am getting my bumper repainted as a part of the Yellow debacle. Please keep us in the loop regarding this.

 

[MisterMac]

What you're saying is that the repainted bumper does not exhibit the paint rubbing issue?

Correct

 

[forzanerazzurri]

Some of us already knew this. Its obvious that rubbing isnt the issue. A properly adhered paint job would not flake off like that if rubbed by another body panel. It would look like it was burned or rubbed with sandpaper and you would be able to see the primer underneath. This is another paint adhesion defect. The headlight rubbing the bumper just exacerbates the paint problem.

 

[DiabloStinger]

I wonder if it occurs when the cars are strapped down during transport to the US.. this would force some body panels tighter.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I wouldn't go so far as to say there is no headlight rubbing issue. It is obvious to me that the extended forward design of the headlight assembly causes it to contact the bumper. If this did not occur there would be practically zero incidents with paint coming off there. Of course, as said already, a paint adhesion issue is why the headlight assembly rub causes paint to flake/chip/peel off in the first place: the rub just makes it noticeable earlier.

With the number of cars out there "sporting" plastic bumpers that have paint adhesion issues (many of them years old), it seems to me a common problem in the industry, to get paint to adhere to plastic for the long haul of a car's operating life; across the board, across all brands. That is small comfort, only the "comfort" of "misery loves company".