Paintwork

I've got a '97 Honda Civic and it has this chip in the paint on the door (it sorta sticks out as it's more than just a crack in the paint), doesn't really bother me as it's an old car but I want to take through a car wash and am a little worried that will make it worse.

Could I just use touch up paint on it! or would it need to be taken to a panel beater! don't fancy spending a couple of hundred on this.

http://i.imgur.com/Lqal2.jpg http://i.imgur.com/kSnpw.jpg

Thanks.

I've got a '97 Honda Civic and it has this chip in the paint on the door (it sorta sticks out as it's more than just a crack in the paint), doesn't really bother me as it's an old car but I want to take through a car wash and am a little worried that will make it worse.

Could I just use touch up paint on it! or would it need to be taken to a panel beater! don't fancy spending a couple of hundred on this.

http://i.imgur.com/Lqal2.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Lqal2.jpg

Thanks.

If it were me I would go to the paint shop (any) and get some (epoxy) enamel close to the colour of the car and paint it myself with a brush just on and either side a bit of the cracked areas.

A car wash shouldn't hurt it as the paint is still sticking to the panel. You could perhaps put some clearcoat on it to seal it from the air and keep it together otherwise you're into a few hundred to have the panel painted.

Thats a hard pic to see whats what. But from what I can see you have either got scratches or by the look of it cracked filler. If its cracked filler more water will seep in over time and cause rust under the filler and eventually it will cause more problems. Theres not alot you can do as water will have already got in there. You could try drying it out and putting some thick paint over it to try and seal it but looks like the damage is already done. Best bet is grind it out then smooth it out then seal it. Look horrid but better than just trying to sel whats there.
Thats just going off what I can see.

Ditto. From what I can see from the pic, it definitely looks like cracked filler.

I was going to post a similar response to yours earlier today, but couldn't find the will . lol.

Good on for for providing such good advice, so often on here.

What's epoxy enamel!

I agree totally.OP you have a bigger problem than paint cracks.

Yeah, Cheers ;-)

Another solution; often a door the same colour can be had if the colour is popular. Find and fit replacement door.

It's actually worse than the pics show as the paint is popped up, as in you could probably get your fingernail under it and pull it off.

Guess it would be a good idea to pop past a panel beaters and get a quote or something.

It's actually worse than the pics show as the paint is popped up, as in you could probably get your fingernail under it and pull it off.

Guess it would be a good idea to pop past a panel beaters and get a quote or something.

That's also a possibility, could just swap em at a wreckers.

Even getting one from a wrecker outside of your area (like Strongs here in Acks who do Hondas) and having it sent to you might work.
I bought a stolen / recovered Honda Prelude from Turners. It had a bashed in door and the boot / spoiler missing. I got replacements from Strongs and didn't need to paint them.

Looks a bit like some of the "great" condition classic cars fully restored just for export. Just employ some mexicans, give them a couple of cans of bog and some paint, and of we go, bring in the colonials lol.

Anyway . Back to part of your original question. lol.

The car wash wont make it any worse than the rain and wind.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I've emailed a couple of wreckers to get an idea of prices for a replacement door or an exchange with my door.
Will also probably pop round to a panel beaters sometime and see how much they think it would cost to fix.

If it's not too expensive I might just get it done but if it's going to be a few hundred then it's not really worth it.

Try Google if you want to know. Thanks.