Paint parasite?

[Clutch]

Hello everyone –

I’m seeking wisdom on this puzzling problem with my paint that developed very rapidly. I’ve never seen anything like it. Hope the pic is clear. This blotching area sprang up in a matter of days on my right front fender – but only the fender not the hood. This leads me to rule out an external spillage since it would have gotten on both. Likewise I see nothing happening under the hood or in the wheel well that could seep out and damage the fender. The surface remains smooth to the touch.

It appears that something is coming up through the paint – or is it down through the clearcoat - or is *between* the paint layer and the clearcoat layer? Is that even possible? It looks like it’s eating the paint, thus the term “parasite” for lack of a better description. Could this be rust coming up from underneath? Anyone ever seen anything like this? Any ideas on cause or cure? Can it be fixed without a total strip and repaint? I’m stumped, so thanks in advance for any comments or advice.

[epdarks]

There was a gal with an Estoril 4.6 with the same problem.

[bcredliner]

There is no change in the feel from the good portion to the problem area?

Since it happened over a few days it may be splash from something on the road. In the first photo it kinda looks like it could have been something on a towel that was swiped across that area. Has it been in for service or through a carwash recently? From second picture it looks like the clearcoat is hazing from something splashed on it that ran down.

Looks like a question for a good paint shop.

[Ricky Bobby]

Were any contractors/pest controllers/fertilizer sprayers in your area recently that the car might have been exposed to?

[giodog2000]

Did someone work in the engine bay (open hood) and leaned over the engine with hands on the fender with brake fluid all over or some other kind of chemicals? Just brain storming here

[X5SND]

Any paint/body work done lately? Might be accelerated by the stronger UV rays this time of year..strange.

[msammy]

Has that fender ever been hit/repaired/repainted? Reason I ask, look at the fender gap from windshield to turn signal light, it's looks like the fender is out of alignment, therefore, the fender was repaired with a bad paint job that's deteriorating.

[giodog2000]

So many questions, so little answers!

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by msammy

Has that fender ever been hit/repaired/repainted? Reason I ask, look at the fender gap from windshield to turn signal light, it's looks like the fender is out of alignment, therefore, the fender was repaired with a bad paint job that's deteriorating.

Ding ding. Deff shitty body work.

[epdarks]

Here is another example, could be a different problem.

Paint peeling from my E53 X5 - is yours peeling too?