paint and bodywork | Ask Honest John

Ask Honest John

Most recently answered paint and bodywork questions

My new Lexus has a Supagrad coating applied before delivery. The dealer says 'only wash it, don't wax/polish it'. I would normally use Autoglym Aqua Car Wax after every wash and other Autoglym wax/polish...

Minor damage - repair or leave it?

Yesterday I discovered some minor damage to the rear door of my Mazda 3 (purchased three months ago). I don't know how or when it happened. It's quite a shallow dent but it looks like the paint has cracked....

Jaguar S-Type - how much will a respray cost?

I want to respray my silver Jaguar S-Type. What would be a realistic price and what would you specify as essential to do a good job?

Should I repair small dents before part-exchanging?

My son has owned a Alfa Romeo 159 1.9 JTD since 2009, which has 48,000 miles from new. It is a 2007 plate car and until two weeks ago was in very good condition. He was looking to change his car and putting...

How can I prove my car was damaged before it was delivered to me?

I collected a new SEAT Leon ST just before Christmas, which I am very happy with. After five days of ownership I noticed a small dent, chipped paintwork and scratches to the front wing and bumper. I was...

Are Dacias susceptible to rust problems?

I'm thinking of buying a new Sandero Stepway; however, I've been told that Dacias suffer with rust problems. Is this true?

BMW want £600 to fix a small scratch - What's the cheaper alternative?

I have scratched the plastic painted surface immediately behind the tow bar on my BMW X5. My local dealer has quoted £600 to repaint a small section. Can you advise on an alternative?

What's the difference between metallic and non-metallic paint?

I am in a process of buying a new Volvo XC60. I want to get it in white, but cannot decide if I should opt for metallic or non-metallic. What do you think?

Scratched bodywork - should I fix before part exchanging?

I will be trading in my 2010 Mazda 3 1.6 diesel with 80,000 miles on the clock for a new Volkswagen Golf. The Mazda has some bad scratches and I've been told it will cost £900 to repair. Is it worth getting...

Can I use bleach to clean my car?

Will using bleach or a weed killer to get rid of green moss/lichen on my paintwork? Or will it simply damage the bodywork?