My rocker panels to have orange peel appearance. It also is present on the lower parts of the doors. Does this go away with waxing or should I take it up with the dealer. The reflected image is not at all smooth. It is rouch on all rough and wavy. Ron
It is intentional. They left a thicker layer of clear coat to help protect the paint from being chipped by road debris.
I have found the "orange peel" at the bottom of the doors and that looks normal to me, several of my previous cars had it. My question is - where the heck are the rocker panels?
http://www.i-car.com/pdf/upcr/procedures/sp/sp71s.pdf Rocker Panel Defintion: Either of Two Structural Members, located below the doors, that support the Door Pillars and Floor Pan
I'm not sure that the "orange peel" coating is clear coat. If you gently use your fingernail to press on it, not scrape it you will notice that it feels rubbery. I've had a couple of cars that have this coating. I wish it would go further up the door, but it would be pretty ugly. But I think the paint jobs are much better now than they used to be, much more resistant to chipping and other environmental impacts.
