Bubbling paint on bodywork

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
1
  1. My model of MX-5 is: NC PRHT
  2. I’m based near: Cheltenham
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: body paint bubbling

I have some paint which has started bubbling, it’s on the panel that hides the roof mechanism, on the edge below the window of the hard top, it looks like it’s being caused by water sitting on the edge.

  1. Can I diy this and what sort of time / tools would I need?
  2. Is it better to hire a professional, what sort of price should I expect and any recommendations close-ish to Gloucestershire.

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Thanks in advance

2

I would get a professional to take a look at that. A few members in the past have had a few paint blisters on that deck panel, maybe moisture present when it was painted, who knows. It’ll probably need all stripping back bare and repainting. A blessing that it’s one separate panel from the rest of the car, matching the colour is another possible headache depending on which it is.

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3

That doesn’t sound cheap, I will do some research to find companies nearby.

I believe the colour name is copper red

4

I have owned 2 MX5 PRHTs and both of them have suffered from paint bubbles on the rear deck panel.

My understanding is that the folding roof and cover deck panel are made from Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) and the bubbling is caused by moisture which was not fully removed during the original curing process coming out under the paint over time.

Probably worsened by the fact that water expands when the car is exposed to temperatures below freezing over the winter.

I had that panel rubbed down and resprayed twice by the Mazda dealer which supplied me the car new but the bubbles came back both times.!

I read elsewhere that the only way to cure the problem is to have the panel rubbed down, then baked to remove any remaining moisture before repainting. There are specialist companies who deal with GRP bodied vehicles around who are best placed to do that.

Both of my cars had smaller bubbles than in your picture but it sounds like the same problem.

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5

Mine has some small pimples on the rear deck lid but too small to bother with at the moment. I bought the car with them on it and was well aware that if it didn’t have them it may develop them in future. Looks like you’ve been unlucky as they’re quite bad.

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6

I’ve just had some small bubbling on the deck lid paint too :frowning:

I’m considering popping the blisters with a pin and dabbing touch up paint on the pinholes…

7

Ours had exactly the same on that panel along the leading edge in several places. Recently sold the car to a neighbour who has had it in to the paint shop to sort out. They had 2 attempts and got all but 2 of the blemishes out. So it seems a common problem.

I believe getting the paint matched is the hardest and possibly most costly thing, so if you get it done might be cost effective to get any other marks sorted out at the same time for only a small extra cost.

8

Don’t do that, will probably end up looking worse.

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9

You’re probably right, but I’m a fiddler and might just do one to see how it goes.

10

How did it go? I have the same issue on mine, going to attempt to touch it up when the weather dries up a bit.

11

Hi

I had this on my old copper red PRHT on a 54 plate. If its the panel with the third brake light on that panel is mad of polycarbonate. DO NOT attempt anything to remove it as the whole panel would need to come off and get a professional to deal with it. Try looking for a breaking MX-5 for that panel in the same colour while the original gets repaired.

I hope that helps.