netlander

Hi All. My 2003 ES300 has over 200,000 miles and still runs well. However the clear coat is fading, started on the top and now spreading to the trunk area which now have a white tint. Anyway to reverse this process or maybe even delay it? Help?

speedkar9

Keep waxing it.
Eventually you'll have to get it re-clear coated, if the base coat is in good shape.

mmatheny

Is there a way to remove the clear coat without damaging the base coat?

linhughes

I had my 2003 ES 300 detailed with buffing and recoated - turned out worse than when it started. This guy was professionally certified, he apologized but it was not from his lack of trying or knowledge; just my car. Lot of money wasted when it could have been put in to re-paint the car. If your car has not been protected all these years inside a garage then it might be too far gone. Sitting out in hot Texas heat when I worked was a killer on my paint.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Do you happen to have any pictures? Usually professional detailers can measure the thickness of your paint before attempting any polishing to prevent further damage. I wonder what went wrong in this scenario.

Paint is like skin, it needs to be moisturized(waxed) on a regular basis to prevent it from cracking/drying out. Depending on the climate, waxing once a year is recommended. Once the paint cracks, it's too late and it will eventually need to be refinished, like speedkar9 said above.

linhughes

Tried taking pictures but you can't tell anything as the car is black. Far off it doesn't look that bad but up close it looks like white flecks all over it. Will have to be re-painted to get rid of it.
As far as what went wrong, can't say. He was a professional and does airplanes, antique cars and he apologized saying he didn't know the paint was that bad. He just kept polishing though until there was nothing left of the clear coat at all. Spent a lot of time on it and the interior was great. Disappointed.

surgeon0

Try taking pics in different light situation or angle.... partial shade, or direct light with pic angled etc.

speedkar9

You could cover it with vinyl wrap.