The flanks of this X300 are covered in tiny spots. At a glance you would never see them, but close up they look like rust bubbles or possibly drops of paint from a clumsy spray job. I do not think it's the latter, because although this particular car has been repainted, I've just noticed exactly the same effect on our other X300, which still has it's original paint.




(The picture makes them look much bigger than they are.)

As you can see, it's just tiny round spots - no veins. And what a strange place to start rusting... Around the windscreens and all the other usual trouble areas absolutely fine.

Anyone else seen this?

 

by flanks,if you mean upper quarter panel then yes its an odd place.in the years i've had in the painting cars it does not look like rust out,for some reason the paint is letting go of the body.that is a common problem with laquer paints and under coats[primers].it is possable that it was repaired with them[laquer]if its an old paint job.in the last 10 years or so very few people use it any more.as for your virgin paint it could have been touched up at the dealer when new,who knows?..steve