Bubbling paint

[arobot]

At 7500 miles, my 05 Elise continues to develop "personality".
The paint is bubbling up beneath the StarShield on the rear, driver's-side lower quarter section (behind the rear tire).
I swung by my dealer yesterday, where a StarShield rep happened to be onsite.They confirmed it is the paint and not the SS.
Given that the factory exhaust heat shielding is intact, and that the bubbling is on the exterior of a wheel well with lots of air flow, I'm guessing this isn't heat induced, but rather the result of improper prep work at the factory.
Has enyone else seen this?

[®ob]

looks like your starshield is yellowing as well

[cjay]

Hi arobot

I had the same problem, not quiet as bad. I complained to Lotus before the warranty ran out because I thought it may get worse.

After an 8 week wait they agreed to re-spray the rear bumper. The sent photos to the factory to get approval for the repair so they know about the problem. I was told the problem is moisture in the fiberglass.

I was also told excess buffing can cause the problem. I've been to the Lotus factory and some of the Elises were having a lot of work done on the paint at the end of the line. :-O

Unfortunately my Lotus dealer sent it to the worlds worst repair shop and the problem re appeared... 3 times. It's going to a different shop in a few weeks for the 4th attempt! If you get it fixed check the people know what they are doing

Good luck

cjay

[arobot]

Update:
The section of my car photographed in the original post has now been repainted twice.
200 miles & 3 months after the last repaint attempt, the section is bubbling up yet again.
I just called FVMC- looks like Don P. has left, and his replacement is still learning about these cars.

Has anyone out there had this problem successfully addressed?
Andre

[MikeW]

It looks identical to the paint bubbles in the pan or my rooftop evaporative cooler over the garage. Here's a couple of ideas from someone who hates painting a car:

The body is not being stripped 100% so the paint can stick.

Moisture may be coming thru the backside.

Or the metallic paint may not have a good clear coat sealing it. Is the metallic mixed with the clear like the solar yellow on mine? You'd then need a coat or clear over that to seal the metal particles well.

Anyway, it obviously looks like moisture caused it to bubble. Trapping it with the starshield makes it worse. I'd take a good look at the possibility of moisture coming thru the backside. It can also get TRAPPED inside the fiberglass if they wet sand and then shoot the paint. You might have to rework the backside of the bumper to seal it. Or get another bumper. Find a bodyshop that does Corvettes and knows fiberglass.

[arobot]

I picked up my car last Friday after the 3rd repaint of the lower rear quarter section due to bubbling paint (see original post).

By today (four days later) the paint has failed again- I imagine they'll want to repaint it a fourth time.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Vishus_1]

This is just shocking