Tell me about Lexus paint....

[paxfish]

I worked on the Wife's 2002 SC430 this past weekend. I focused on horizontal surfaces.

The car's first ten years were spent mostly in a garage, but I can see swirls remaining from years of good lovin' by the previous owner. I found out how thin the clearcoat is after I punched through in a small spot while trying to compound out a scratch. Just as the scratch disappeared, I realized a quarter-sized section was down to the paint! Ah well.

The paint is a very dark purple metallic - looks black in low light.

I guess the question is, how far must you go? Will those swirls impact the life of the coatings I apply? It is a daily driver, kept outside in Maryland weather.

Here are the results of my efforts - Swirl X and Meguiar's Ultimate polish, followed by BlackICE Paint sealer. Soon to be topped with some 845.

I can see the swirls still, but she certainly has no idea and thinks it is gorgeous.

The question remains - how far do you go?

 

[ken tuep]

That's a tricky question. For me, I only polish until about 75% are removed. Usually that has been a safe % for me. I usually compound/polish to smooth out the big defects, but not necessarily remove them completely, since I haven't got a ptg.

I don't think the swirls will have any negative effect on bonding of any coating. That comes down to the prep. Swirls may not be pleasing to the eye, but neither is spots of basecoat showing. Y


I don't think there is a definitive answer of when to stop. But if your intended audience is satisfied, then I'm satisfied(mostly) .

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