MAJOR Rant: Nissan Black paint on the Z stinks

[greyd]

I have a 2023 black Performance Z & I had the dealership ceramic coat it after I bought it. No problems with the paint. I do notice that a bird poop after it's cleaned off will leave a bit of an etching but by the next day it's gone.

 

[50thZ]

Bird poop is super acidic and bad news for ANY paint. Plus, if it is left there for any amount of time say a week it will burn through. My wife Altima is proof of that.

 

[50thZ]

The Z with the premium paints come with some sort of paint anti-scratch? For what it is worth anyway.

 

[Zhoop44]

Reading this thread is why I had my previous car full PPF. If I kept the car, it was a no brainer since the paint was basically bullet proof. Easy to maintain too. Unfortunately, I traded in for the Z and new owner is the happiest. . The cost wasn’t worth it but it did provide serious peace of mind.

My Z has nothing on it other than dealer applied detailing crap. Just may have to deal with it to avoid another sunk cost. I’m convinced nothing works as advertised except PPF unless you are ultra meticulous and want to continually maintain the paint.

 

[CPerdomo]

I'll do my best to not get a time-out, or get the thread locked with my pottymouth.

I've had my 2024 Sport 6MT since April 2024. I love the thing. It has been babied, and garage-kept. I bought a 2004 Buick couch-on-wheels to drive in the winter. When I first got the Z, I clayed it, and applied Meguiar's Hybrid ceramic wax. It works great. (I applied it to my Durango at the same time. I clay-mitted the Durango in July 2025 and the wax is still working on an outside-stored NJ vehicle.)

From Jan-March of this year, I washed, clayed, applied wax remover/surface prep, de-ironed, re-surface prepped, then used DIY Detail's gold standard polish with a waffle pad and a DA buffer. All little rainbows and scratches magically went away.

https://diydetail.com/products/gold...Yg-wiQIvOcAOCqZavjan34cz9hh4b52mh7PCCdzbZbUlE

I then used surface prep AGAIN to remove all polishing debris. I then applied Adams Polishs advanced ceramic coating.

https://adamspolishes.com/products/...wwdgFLSiKYXZw5k18GchMPAPXdibzxaGTzjkM-rcFMWoZ

Yeah, there is the little-bottle 10H marketing hyped ceramic. Honestly, I was scared poopless to apply real ceramic due to the threat of an 8 year long high spot.

The application was simple, and easy. I DID leave a high spot that I found 4 months later. It came off no hassle.

That brings me to my RANT. Yeah, it is a black car. someone digs a hole in dusty dirt 1 mile away and it shows up on my paint. i know that and accept it. The car is for driving. Washing her is theraputic.

What I CANNOT abide is PAINT THAT WHEN BIRD POOP SITS on IT FOR 3-4 HOURS ETCHES THE FRIGGING PAINT!!!! I removed the poop 3-4 hours after the pooping occurred. (Estimate because it was dry.) I detail sprayed it. Next day, I foam cannon washed her.

THE PAINT IS ETCHED!

Now yes, I'll probably get the following comments:

- Should have used POWERFUL ceramic.
- Should PPF my car.

But seriously Nissan. WTH?! I am so pissed. Yeah, I curbed a rim. Yeah, a rock dented my dash HOOD. BOTH are understandable. $#!+ happens. But having a car that can't survive poop?!

I also have a black diamond Z. It is a headache.

 

[Meg_Z]

I also feel your pain, sadly black is my least favorite color. I had a few black cars and motorcycles and keeping them clean is/was a royal pain. My Indian Challenger and Z are black and the only reason I purchased them was availability and price.

The bike was heavily discounted because it was a new 23 and the 24 were coming out. The Z was pre owned and was the least expensive in geographic area I live in. Luckily I’m past the phase of getting upset about things like paint etching, chips etc..

Vehicles are made to drive and unfortunately things will happen to them like the chip in my windshield. I do hand wash them and try my best to keep all my vehicles clean. I did get PPF on the Z’s most exposed areas which was well worth it. Honestly in my opinion most black paint is terrible no matter who the manufacturer is.

 

[BeShizz]

PPF is a must, especially for black. I PPF'd all the top black portions and ceramic coated the rest. Will PPF the rest of the car when I get some extra cash.

 

[steve2150]

I also feel your pain, sadly black is my least favorite color. I had a few black cars and motorcycles and keeping them clean is/was a royal pain. My Indian Challenger and Z are black and the only reason I purchased them was availability and price.

The bike was heavily discounted because it was a new 23 and the 24 were coming out. The Z was pre owned and was the least expensive in geographic area I live in. Luckily I’m past the phase of getting upset about things like paint etching, chips etc..

Vehicles are made to drive and unfortunately things will happen to them like the chip in my windshield. I do hand wash them and try my best to keep all my vehicles clean. I did get PPF on the Z’s most exposed areas which was well worth it. Honestly in my opinion most black paint is terrible no matter who the manufacturer is.

I have a 2025 Performance noticed this while waxing it just about 2 months old, have not shown to service yet but tried to the sales mgr in bright sunlight but could not dee it. Clearcoat is smooth looks like the paint sprayer hesitated at the factory. Only wortied if it will crack or peel eventually. Had another brand of car looked like this near rear window and got worse. If it is just a factory miss no big deal but worried if it will affect clearcoat.

 

[TheMarkedOne]

I have metallic gray so I don't have any issues with paint since everything just blends in lol. But was thinking of doing PPF on the front.

 

[Zhoop44]

PPF is a must, especially for black. I PPF'd all the top black portions and ceramic coated the rest. Will PPF the rest of the car when I get some extra cash.

Should have done the front first since that’s were it will get sand blasted.

 

[Gerwulf918]

I hand washed mine, Turtle Wax. A few days later and bird poop....washed it a couple of days later, I seriously can't find where that poop was on the car, that was a couple of weeks ago, just went out and looked. A lot of water spots and dust (I live a short way down a dirt road). And Yeah, I have a black 2024.

 

[RobotAZ]

I think my white paint job is relatively good for factory.

 

[Zhoop44]

I think my white paint job is relatively good for factory.

White is the absolute best color for a car. Hides all flaws!

 

[Dying Star]

Can we remove the two tone black cover on the roof considering it’s a wrap either way? I’m just curious

 

[raceheart]

Can we remove the two tone black cover on the roof considering it’s a wrap either way? I’m just curious

It's not a wrap. Don't let that raised edge fool you.
It's paint.