[adityasatish]

Originally Posted by robincsamuel

From all these discussions, it looks like it could be. But, in that case, it should be there in all the cars, right?

Compare this to another dark coloured car - grey/black/blue. You will definitely observe this because all the points where you see the grayish paint is all CED (Cathodic Electro Deposition) and is usually neutral colour like grey, white, beige so that it blends in with the main colour. This is not a dealer or transit issue - this is a cost saving effort from the factory. Whatever colour you see at the bottom is all overspray from the robot's sweep above that. It is quite obvious the robot's sweep doesn't go down to that level. If you ask me, you can get it touched up but if it doesn't bother you, let it be. The CED looks intact and it's main purpose is rust prevention.

[Raghu M]

Originally Posted by robincsamuel

Yeah, I'm checking with them. They have contacted me just now and they were about to arrange a pickup to check and fix the car. But I'm not comfortable with the dealer pickups, and I don't want them to fix it without finding the root cause. So I'm planning to visit them asap, their body shop is 70kms away from my home. From all these discussions, it looks like it could be. But, in that case, it should be there in all the cars, right?

I am not sure about my statement, am just a little skeptical. I hope it turns out to be a miss from the factory. Be sure when you hand over the car to them. I would not leave my car for too long with them unless they know where the problem occurred. It would be wise to have a dashcam installed too. If you don't have it yet, you can procure one, it's always good to have things recorded.

[headbanger]

I looked in our Sonet and there is no such gap in painting. I don't know if this adds to the confusion but I couldn't find any missing paint in our Sonet. Mine is a black one, so any such gaps would have been a dead give away.

Edit: Just noticed that OP's car is black too.

[robincsamuel]

Originally Posted by adityasatish

Compare this to another dark coloured car - grey/black/blue. You will definitely observe this because all the points where you see the grayish paint is all CED (Cathodic Electro Deposition) and is usually neutral colour like grey, white, beige so that it blends in with the main colour. This is not a dealer or transit issue - this is a cost saving effort from the factory. Whatever colour you see at the bottom is all overspray from the robot's sweep above that. It is quite obvious the robot's sweep doesn't go down to that level. If you ask me, you can get it touched up but if it doesn't bother you, let it be. The CED looks intact and it's main purpose is rust prevention.

I'd just leave it as is if that's the case. But are you sure all the manufacturers follow the same process, I mean CED?. Asking since I don't see anything like that in their video,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3rom2EuNpw

Kia has offered touchups or whatever fix required, but I'm always doubtful about the quality when it comes to repaint/touchups. Also, a little scared if they'll end up repainting the entire door.

I think I'll be convinced if I see the same in some other cars, at least the same batch. But, I'd still consider it as a defect.

Originally Posted by Raghu M

I am not sure about my statement, am just a little skeptical. I hope it turns out to be a miss from the factory. Be sure when you hand over the car to them. I would not leave my car for too long with them unless they know where the problem occurred. It would be wise to have a dashcam installed too. If you don't have it yet, you can procure one, it's always good to have things recorded.

Yeah, I don't want to leave the car with them too long. Probably I'd stay with them if they allow that. And yes, I do have a dashcam installed.

Originally Posted by headbanger

I looked in our Sonet and there is no such gap in painting. I don't know if this adds to the confusion but I couldn't find any missing paint in our Sonet. Mine is a black one, so any such gaps would have been a dead give away.

Did you check it with a flashlight? It was difficult to see the issue in daylight. Just to confirm, the issue is below the door panel near the corner.

And can you tell me the manufacturing month?

[srh]

To me, this just seems to be a case of skimping. KIA is applying the top coat only to visible areas. Other areas which aren't visible are left with just the anti corrosion coating & maybe the base coat. This is just a cost cutting measure.

[headbanger]

Originally Posted by robincsamuel

Did you check it with a flashlight? It was difficult to see the issue in daylight. Just to confirm, the issue is below the door panel near the corner.

And can you tell me the manufacturing month?

Mine is Oct 2020 batch.

Yes. Used flashlight, checked all doors. Here is a pic of driver's door.

[robincsamuel]

Originally Posted by headbanger

Yes. Used flashlight, checked all doors. Here is a pic of driver's door.

Can you please check the curved part facing the ground, like the video I shared below?

https://youtu.be/secPQOR66es

A friend from Kia Sonet group on facebook shared a video and I see something similar. Not sure if it’s the same issue, he’s checking in detail. Attaching a screenshot from the video below.

[ashwinprakas]

I've seen a similar miss on my Bullet, I just presumed they didn't pay much attention to the areas not usually visible.



Regards,
A.P.

[vishwasvr]

Like most suggested, check same models at the dealership and you'll get a clearer answer!

On a lighter note, thank goodness Kia/Hyundai doesn't offer Nardo Grey as an option.

You get it when you get it!

[Stratos]

Generally, overspray is only in areas that the customer will barely or never notice (underside of the hood, chassis parts and so on).

It is a common practice throughout the world and a accounts to saving for the manufacturer on the excess paint cost.

There is no reason for it to be here on the outer side of the side-member unless the car was resprayed at the dealer and this area was mistakenly missed.

Best to check with the dealer as this finish is not ok to be in such a visible area.

[TrackDay]

Second post here as I forgot to ask in the my previous one. Is there any rubbing of the door on the main car frame i.e. the point where the door touches the bottom floor portion. Maybe if there is some tightness/rubbing the paint could be wearing off on the main frame/beadings. Not sure if this is technically possible. Maybe others can comment on the same.

[robincsamuel]

Originally Posted by vishwasvr

Like most suggested, check same models at the dealership and you'll get a clearer answer!

The dealership only has the new models as the same model is no longer available.

Originally Posted by TrackDay

Is there any rubbing of the door on the main car frame i.e. the point where the door touches the bottom floor portion.

I don't see any rubbing as such. If it's due to rubbing, that'd feel different when you glaze your hands over the area, right? Though one door feels rough, all others just feel like the clear coat. Also, that'd leave marks on the other side as well I think.

Originally Posted by Stratos

Best to check with the dealer as this finish is not ok to be in such a visible area.

I'll do that. Kia service contacted me and asked me to visit their body shop to assess and fix it. They offered pickup, but I don't want to do that. The body shop is 70-80kms away from my place and I already have plans to visit that city end of this month for some other reason. So I'm planning to visit them at that time.

The S.A shared a few pictures, and there's no such issue with those cars. So I think even if it's a factory issue, it's not designed to do that. Or they might have fixed it as the cars he checked are the new model.

Photo shared by the S.A

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by robincsamuel

I'll do that. Kia service contacted me and asked me to visit their body shop to assess and fix it.

If I were you, I would not just have them fix it but also have them clarify on how it happened in the first place. If they damaged it in the showroom and fixed it without letting you know, they should come clean with. It is unacceptable for a showroom to hide such an incident.

Chances of this thing happening in the factory is possible, but very rare. If it did happen, it would be a batch of cars and not just one.

[naikameya]

The official review photos do not seem to have this issue but can't say for sure from the photos. But I am damn sure our reviewers would have caught this.

Aren't there Sonet owners here on Team-BHP who can check this on their cars? Either way, I suggest you do not accept any fix till you figure out why this exist. This could be a damaged car repainted. These can't be ones missed at the factory level.

[nitkel]

Originally Posted by Stratos

If I were you, I would not just have them fix it but also have them clarify on how it happened in the first place. If they damaged it in the showroom and fixed it without letting you know, they should come clean with. It is unacceptable for a showroom to hide such an incident.

Chances of this thing happening in the factory is possible, but very rare. If it did happen, it would be a batch of cars and not just one.

The chances of this happening at the showroom and all doors requiring repainting are also very rare. So the best possible outcome for the OP would be to get it repainted and get some years of guarantee/warranty on the paint. The car seems fine otherwise. To the OP: Get the issue sorted and put it behind you. If you dwell on it too much then the car will never be in a satisfactory condition for you to really enjoy owning it.