Why Car Paint Fades — and How to Fix It

The main culprit: UV

Years of sunlight break down the pigment and lacquer, dulling the colour and eventually causing the clear coat to fail. Reds and dark colours show it first.

Oxidation and neglect

Without occasional cleaning and protection, paint oxidises into that chalky look. Bird mess and tree sap accelerate it.

Can it be polished back?

Where the lacquer is still sound, machine polishing can often cut back the dull layer and bring the colour back to life.

When it needs a respray

Once the lacquer has failed, polishing can't save it — refinishing is the lasting fix. We'll tell you honestly which yours needs.

From the workshop

Audi S3 — deep metallic blue bonnet refinish

A full bonnet refinish in Audi's deep metallic blue — one of the colours that shows every flaw in prep and every mismatch in colour. Under the booth…

See the job