Removing clearcoat? How?

[Roger]

I have an '01 Altima with the clear coat finish peeling off both outside rearview mirrors. About half the CC is gone on each. I'd like to remove the remaing CC and respray with a new clearcoat finish. But how do I remove the clearcoat without damaging the underlying mirror material (plastic I think. It's not metal)??? I tried 600 grit sandpaper and it left scratches. The auto shop guys said chemicals will react to and damage the plastic housing as it removes the remaining clear coat finish.

 

[moribundman]

Looks like UV light and acid rain are doing a good job at removing clearcoat. Probably you should sand, prime, and paint the mirror housings.

 

[benjamming]

brake fluid?

 

[tom slick]

the new clearcoat will fill in the scratches left by fine sandpaper as long as the scratches are in the paint the basecoat only, if they go through it then you need new basecoat. the basecoat is very thin so you will have to be really careful.

 

[00 scrub]

wetsand it, than you ar going to have to either roatary or use POrt Cable buffer to remove the sanding marks.

 

[Amkeer]

I would have brought it to the attention of the manufacturer before I touched it. Its obviously defective. You are SOL now!