Cadillac CTS-V - Paint Restoration on the V

When I bought the car from the previous owner, you could tell it wasn't really taken care of. Interior was really dirty, which is one of the reasons I swapped from tan to black, and the paint was in bad shape. I contacted a guy that does paint corrections and got him to come spend and afternoon on the car. Definitely a night and day difference.

Here are some before pictures after a wash using APC to remove any prior waxes. Paint was rough everywhere on this vehicle.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/6.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/7.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/8.jpg


Once clayed and dried, the true condition of the paint was revealed.


http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/9.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/10.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/16.jpg


Test spot on the hood to get a process dialed in.


http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/17.jpg



The process was a three step. Each step included a particular pad, polisher and coordinating polish. In all, 4 different machines were used and over 10 pads.

Some places improved better than others but overall I would say
about 85%+ of the defects were safely removed.


http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/19.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/20.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/28.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/29.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/30.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/31.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/335.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/33.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/36.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/37.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/38.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/39.jpg


http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/40.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/41.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/49.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/50.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/52.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/53.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/55.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/57.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/58.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/59.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/62.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/63.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/64.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/65.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/72.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/75.jpg

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t422/LuxuryMobile3/2005%20Cadillac%20CTS-V/74.jpg




Glad I decided to give this a try before repainting.

turned out great imo hope you enjoy it

woow looks amazing

I am immpressed.. Great work.

Good work. I've done this a couple times, both on my car and my friends' cars. All it takes is a Porter Cable random orbital buffer, a couple varieties of pads, and a few different polishes. I typically use Meguiar's products for paint repair and wax, with a couple of Eagle One and Armor All products thrown in for tire and interior work. It's costs about $250 to get set up, and after that, you're just replacing pads and buying more expendables as necessary.

Back from the dead. Very nice.


Nothing looks better than clean black paint. Nothing looks worse than dirty black paint.

Looks awesome. Motivation for me to go out and clean my car up

Wow!! Nice comeback.

Very impressive

Was definitely in need of some work because even after a thorough wash, it didn't look clean. The guy spent around 9 total hours of work on this thing to get it back to how it looks now and I couldn't be happier. I still need to get my front bumper, hood, both mirrors and spoiler repainted for it to look 100 %. Some of the rock chips in those and the fade in the spoiler was just too deep for it to be taken out with this correction. Over all though, the car looks 10 times better than originally.

Good work. I've done this a couple times, both on my car and my friends' cars. All it takes is a Porter Cable random orbital buffer, a couple varieties of pads, and a few different polishes. I typically use Meguiar's products for paint repair and wax, with a couple of Eagle One and Armor All products thrown in for tire and interior work. It's costs about $250 to get set up, and after that, you're just replacing pads and buying more expendables as necessary.

+1 on this. It really is fairly easy to do. Mine is also black and looked as bad if not worse than yours. Meguiar's works pretty good then a good wax.The Porter Cable buffer is idiot proof. I had A Camaro and sanded the entire car down and buffed it back to look awesome.

Holy SHIT that paint was bad..

Beautiful! I need this done!

Looks great! I feel your pain...my paint was the same way when I bought it. Did the correction myself. Feels great to bring 'em back!

I would love to do this, or have it done. Then I remember I live on a dirt road and I may as well bite the bullet and deal with dirty cars.

What does something like this cost? My paint is pretty faded (dark black looks almost like a blackish gray) and I'm curious if it could be restored. I sort of intend on getting it painted but if something like this could do it then I'd be all for it.

The total process cost me $350, this included him coming from Pensacola to Panama City which is a 2 hour drive, and he spent 9 hours working on it. I don't have the know how on paint so I wasn't willing to dive in and mess it up more. Over all, I'd say every penny was worth it though, and definitely changed my mind about repainting the whole thing. I'd say give it a try before you get into repainting.

What does something like this cost? My paint is pretty faded (dark black looks almost like a blackish gray) and I'm curious if it could be restored. I sort of intend on getting it painted but if something like this could do it then I'd be all for it.


Depends on the amount of work needed, the shop's or individual's overhead, the area you live....

I'd say anywhere from $150 to $300 for the full job.

I've got the Porter Cable DA polisher, but I'm wanting to buy a high speed buffer to make the work really easy. A couple quick passes with a buffer with a wool pad, then switch to the DA with some swirl remover, then a fine pad for polish, then wax/sealer should do the trick for me.

awesome work..

Great work! I'm glad to see this, I've some swirl marks of the worst kind!

Amazing work, wish I had those skills!

I do this for people, I'm still amazed sometimes what I get out. Do you mind stating what the fee was?

Looks like the previous owner took it repeatedly to a bad car wash. A lot of it looked like brush swirles from dry and dirty brushes at a car wash.

Looks great!

I can't imagine how my paint looks being as I dont have a garage for her to sleep in. I take care of her but I have yet to really take care of her.