GatorGX

Below are links to the many threads on CL where I could find people debating whether the Black Onyx GX470 (or other Lexus vehicles) has a clearcoat or single coat paint finish. Discussions seem very inconclusive. I know this is an old debate.

I called Lexus regarding our new Black 2006 GX and was put through to a technical support specialist. They read me something from their computer system for the GX (not sure if it was 2006-specific or not) along the lines of, "All exterior colors have a three-coat paint process that includes a clearcoat layer..."

I know this does not make it necessarily true, but just one data point.

Do others have other data points claiming whether the Black Onyx GX's have a clear coat layer or not? Please post them here if so.

If there is evidence that the black onyx paint process for the GX changed at some point please let us know.

I probably missed many in the list below but here are several...

GX470 "Black Onyx clearcoat or not" links:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=black+clear
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=black+clear
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=black+clear

Other Club Lexus "Black Onyx clearcoat or not" links:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=106615 (have any Black Onyx GX owners done this experiment?)
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ht=black+clear
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...int+clear+coat
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-2nd-gen-1998-2005/534-drying-the-car-black.html

Lexus Owners Club (USA) Forums "Black Onyx clearcoat or not" links:
http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=21342
http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...howtopic=22531

jjbodean

i have been told that lexus does now clearcoat black vehicles and have been for the last few years. they definitely did not in the past. i am still not sure if they do or not to be honest with you, but i will be glad when we find out!

gs400jon

I had a GS400 and now a GX470 that are Black Onyx. Both cars have MagnaShield and just don't have the slick feeling after being washed like the ES330 and LS460. The ES (Millennium Silver) and LS (Mercury Metallic) also have MagnaShield. Based on that alone, I'd say the Black Onyx does not have the clearcoat finish.

allisonb1013

My husband and I just had this discussion with our salesman. We just bought an 07 LS460 in Obsidian (black). I specifically asked if this car has a clear coat. The salesman's answer to me was that the Black GX and all Lexus with the color named Black do not have a clear coat. If, however, they have some other name but appear to be the color black (i.e. - Obsidian) then they do have a clear coat.

GatorGX

Yup, like I said... seems like a different answer around every corner. Judging by the swirl marks I see only in the bright sun on my Black Onyx GX, I still tend to think that it has a clear coat. One of these days I plan to try the test mantioned in one of the links in my original post to see what the real deal is.

rj4510

If you wax/polish a car and find the car color on your polishing cloth, it's not clear coated. When I wax my GX, I get black on the cloth.

In the past, clear was much more likely to crack and peel on darker colors. I was under the impression however, this problem was resolved in the 90s

GatorGX

Thanks rj4510, yeah, that is similar to the test suggested in one of the links above. By the way, what year is your GX? In case we find out at some point that Black Onyx GX's changed somewhere along the way.

rj4510

My GX is a 2003

GatorGX

allisonb1013 thanks. I was just at my dealer and my sales consultant said basically the same thing.... that Lexus did not clearcoat their black colors until 2007 when the black with a new name (Obsidian) entered the lineup.

Basically, the GS, IS, and SC dropped Black Onyx and went to Obsidian in '07 (all used Black Onyx through 2006) and the new LS comes in Obsidian as you said. Here is a good list:
http://www.scionlife.com/toyota/#GX

I guess if I go with Zaino products on my GX I will opt for the Z3 instead of the Z2... supposedly they are interchangable and neither will hurt a car with/without clearcoat... but the Z3 is for non-clearcoated cars and adds some ingredients to supposedly protect the paint almost as well as a clearcoat. Have not investigated too much but I read that in one of the posts I found.

GatorGX

Here is what I got from Lexus Customer Satisfaction. Summary, no clearcoat.

Subject
Does 2006 GX470 w/ Black Onyx have clearcoat?

Discussion Thread
Response 01/25/2007 01:50 PM

Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction. We are dedicated to providing superior service. In circumstances that require our attention, we will assist in the resolution process.

I apologize for the delay in response to your email. The 2006 Lexus GX 470 Black Onyx exterior paint does not come with a clearcoat. Please contact your local Lexus dealer to better assist you with your inquiry regarding what type of coat is used to protect the paint surface.

If you require further assistance, please respond to this e-mail, or contact Lexus Customer Satisfaction at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., or Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Time.

Sincerely,

Lexus Customer Satisfaction

Aristanet

I have black 2005 LS430 and black 2007 GX470 and when they are parked next to each other in the driveway, paint looks the same to me.

GatorGX

Thanks Aristanet. Yup, that would make sense given what we've found now.

GatorGX

More info. I spoke with the body shop manager at our Lexus dealer. He first said yes, Black Onyx does have a clear coat. I questioned more. Then he said that the Black Onyx is just a single-stage paint that has the protective enamel mixed in with the paint. But he said when his body shop has to replace a painted part they have to two stage it with paint and then a separate clear coat. So what this manager meant when he was thinking "yes" was that the paint still has the same stuff as a clear coat does, it's just mixed in with the color coat. This may be the source of some of the mixed answers...

From http://gtaindetail.com/clearcoat/ (under "Do all cars have a clear coat?")

"...all cars do have some sort of enamel to protect them from oxidizing and fading however a small percentage have this enamel mixed right into the pigmented paint. This is called single stage paint. Paint with a clear coat (or the enamel on top of the pigmented paint) is called two stage paint."

also interesting... from same site:
Single Stage Paint

"Single stage paint is pigmented paint with the protective enamels of a “clear coat” mixed right into it. That means there is no layer on top of the pigmented paint, but it is still protected as if it was covered by a clear coat. These finishes can be buffed in the same way as a two stage paint job. Since the enamels move towards the top layer of the paint it is important to use the same kind of caution when buffing single stage paint as you would when buffing two stage paint. If you remove too much the paint will lose the protective benefits of the enamel and will oxidize..."