36 replies to this topic

[NormantheDog]

As a newbie I have noticed how many adverts talk about bubbling and I have read some of the old threads on here about the problem but what I can't decipher is how common this is, do they all eventually suffer this? What is the cure a respray? Does it deteriorate and eventually blow the paint and if so how long does the normally take. If there is a thread on here that answers these questions could someone give me the link as I have tried all the words I can think of. Should this be taken account of in the price of the car for sale if it is going to eventually need a respray? Are there lots of other well know issues, I have seen engine mounts and timing belts comments so I guess I need to reread the 'buying a VX' section again. Cheers

[ChrisS1]

try searching osmosis

[ChrisS1]

have a go on this one to get yourself started

[AliM]

not all cars get it. My first set of clams didn't suffer at all, but the replacements have both had it and they were off 2 different cars. Totally hit and miss i think

[cressey]

I'm no expert on this but I think it's down to the curing of the clam. Some of the earlier clams retained a lot of moisture, particularly in the centre of the rear clam because of the boot lining. If the car is left out in the winter, this moisture freezes, expands and hence the bubbling. Eventually it can crack the paint so a resort is required. Garaged VX's don't seem to suffer as badly for obvious reasons. I know there's company's that grind the fibreglass back and fill it to prevent it happening again during a respray. Apart from that, engine mounts are a problem as you say. And don't expect much from the heater. There's lots of little quirks but that's to be expected of a car manufactured in this volume. Hope this helps.

[cressey]

Resort? Meant respray but iPhone thinks its cleverer than me.

[Goosenka]

not all cars get it. My first set of clams didn't suffer at all, but the replacements have both had it and they were off 2 different cars. Totally hit and miss i think

Also depends on where the car has been kept throughout its life. Even though some are kept under cover during winter outdoors it may still happen. Sadly when they were made the process of making the clams and painting them was not great, moisture gets in and bingo - paint bubbling. Clam spray is the only solution. Luckily mine was garaged throughout its life with very little wet weather usage and the bodywork is in wonderful condition .

Engine mounts - again do not panic about these. Its not a major job to do and fairly cheap. Some go quicker than others and I would suspect this may be done to driving style, track use etc. To buy new OEM mounts is about £60 delivered and a few members on .org supply a fitting service. But really its no big deal.

Timing Chain - again check service history.

IMHO the important thing when buying a VX is Service History. Yes paint bubbling will happen on some but again quick re-spray and job done. The service history is golden on these and will determine your journey and experience as a new owner. A genuine enthusiast will have a service history and receipts to show everything done. That is the 'peace of mind' element when buying.

Found this link

Edited by Goosenka, 02 February 2012 - 08:08 PM.

[NormantheDog]

Thanks all, I have just spent the last half hour on osmosis.

[turbobob]

I've posted on paint bubbling numerous times on here. A search for blistering or bubbling should give you a number of threads on the matter. Others have already alluded to the problem. The grp is porous and therefore absorbs moisture. Osmosis strictly speaking probably isn't correct. The moisture is probably in the clam from the manufacturing stage. You can also suffer bubbling in high temps / being in direct sunlight as the moisture evaporate and causes blistering. To cure it the paint needs stripping back and also the gel coat. Then it needs baking to get the remaining moisture out. Then reseal with a gel coat (its quite common to use epoxy resin for this).

[mark_vx]

Hi all, I have only just bought a VX so I haven't got the experience you people have. However before i bought a car I spoke to Mike Harris of Westgatecalssics.co.uk. Mike is an old hand at restoring VX220s it was from these forums that I got his name and he seems to be highly recommended. I asked him about bubbling and he said (don't quote me word for word but this is the gist of what he said). I have never been able to clear bubbling for more than 12 to 18 months. It always comes back I've tried everything I can think of to stop it. I then asked if it was the weather that causes, he said No, I've known people who always garage their cars and get the problem. I think it's the curing process, sometimes it isn't complete and is still giving off gasses after curing. VX220s seem to be particularly prone for some reason. That is all I can remember him saying. I have bought a VX with no bubbling but there is evidence of extensive touching up and spraying so I fully expect to see some coming through in the next year or so :-(

[NormantheDog]

This isn't helping my battle with the wife, she wants an S2000 which has very few problems and is generally cheaper...................

[GeorgeBC]

This isn't helping my battle with the wife, she wants an S2000 which has very few problems and is generally cheaper...................

My dad owns a s2000 on an 07 plate and its definatley not cheap to run! over £400 a year tax, insurance is high and it depreciates really heavily. If you get an older one then tax and depreciation is a lot less.

Ive driven it over plenty of miles and it bores me compared to the VX

Edit:- Its crap on juice as well compared to the VX and service costs at honda are more expensive than VX specialists.

Edited by georgebc, 02 February 2012 - 09:01 PM.

[Boss VX]

Mike Harris had a go at fixing some of mine whilst he repaired other parts following a crash. Both fixed areas show evidence again but stable - however it went through the horrors of last winter (poor thing - in a barn this winter) so Im not suprised really. I just have little cracks and blisters on a few areas on the car. Just touch them up as others will eventually come. No point wasting thousands on rework - just sort it before sale.

[NormantheDog]

This isn't helping my battle with the wife, she wants an S2000 which has very few problems and is generally cheaper...................

My dad owns a s2000 on an 07 plate and its definatley not cheap to run! over £400 a year tax, insurance is high and it depreciates really heavily. If you get an older one then tax and depreciation is a lot less.

Ive driven it over plenty of miles and it bores me compared to the VX

Edit:- Its crap on juice as well compared to the VX and service costs at honda are more expensive than VX specialists.

That'll help to start with. I know about the tax as my other car is over the 400 pound mark, need to keep below '55' plates really.

[Harry Hornet]

Ive a 9 year NA (from new).lived out all its life, daily drive.. .some parts of car are like small pox, you never know when or where its going to happen, but to an untrained eye it is not noticeable and unlike rust it wont caus3e due concern I noticed this morning an area on passenger door about size of 50p coin suddenlly bubbled over night... it was -8 out my way.. As for your wife, dont forget to buy her a blanket when she is a PX in this weather

[turbobob]

I disagree that its not treatable. I work with a similar material. Pcbs. They are a similar porous material. And believe me if they have moisture in then with the temperatures they are subject to (240 degrees celcius ) they blister. The key to the repair is in the baking.if we need to bake the pcbs they are baked at 105 degrees for 48 hours. So when the panel is stripped back to the grp then it needs baking for longer.

[ghand]

This isn't helping my battle with the wife, she wants an S2000 which has very few problems and is generally cheaper...................

My dad owns a s2000 on an 07 plate and its definatley not cheap to run! over £400 a year tax, insurance is high and it depreciates really heavily. If you get an older one then tax and depreciation is a lot less.

Ive driven it over plenty of miles and it bores me compared to the VX

Edit:- Its crap on juice as well compared to the VX and service costs at honda are more expensive than VX specialists.

Also it will not pull you out of bed unless at over 5k rpm but then its awsome,but do you want to be ragging the thing all the time to feel a bit of bant ? They are a nice car.

[GeorgeBC]

Similar performance to an na then

[jimmyfloydreturns]

This isn't helping my battle with the wife, she wants an S2000 which has very few problems and is generally cheaper...................

My dad owns a s2000 on an 07 plate and its definatley not cheap to run! over £400 a year tax, insurance is high and it depreciates really heavily. If you get an older one then tax and depreciation is a lot less.

Ive driven it over plenty of miles and it bores me compared to the VX

Edit:- Its crap on juice as well compared to the VX and service costs at honda are more expensive than VX specialists.

Also it will not pull you out of bed unless at over 5k rpm but then its awsome,but do you want to be ragging the thing all the time to feel a bit of bant ? They are a nice car.

Make that 6,000 rpm

[NormantheDog]

As a conclusion then, has anyone carried out some kind of poll to determine how common this is and if there is a certain 'age' that appear to be 'pock' free? My worry is to shell out 10k go to my grage one morning and find the dreaded pox! The cars are cheap compared to simlar sports cars but surely the cost of a respray would be horrific - 2k (complete) or 20% and with no complete asurance that it is cured?