rjmalm

What do you know about this comment re factory coating on the RC and RC-F?

From the RC RC-F owners manual:

Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coating
that is resistant to small surface scratches caused in a car wash etc.
● The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from when
the vehicle is delivered from the plant.
● The restoration time differs depending on the depth of the scratch and outside temper-
ature. The restoration time may become shorter
when the coating is warmed by applying
warm water.

Is there any more detailed information on this coating anywhere?

What are your owners seeing?

I was planning on the XPEL application on parts of the car but how much is it really needed
given this comment about the factory coating?

I also read this in the RC-F user manual:

Application of coatings to the vehicle body (vehicles with CFRP parts)

Do not apply any kind of coating to the vehicle body as doing so may damage the paint
or reduce its durability

Given that statement what do you think about using Zaktek coating?

Thanks for any input.

waynesreef

I read the same common. As it says the self healing paint will only work on minor scratches. I don't think it will heal itself when the paint damaged by rock chips. That's why I went ahead got 60% area of the car installed with Xpel.

ISF001

With respect to the carbon fiber, I presume coating does NOT include wax and polish?

NickZ

So does anyone know or have more info on the Self Restoring Coat? I also saw this in the owners manual, and it does not specify certain colors, so it must apply to all RC F's.

If this is the case, does this mean that we should not polish the vehicle? Would polishing the vehicle have any side effects if the polish contains abrasives? I think I saw someone ask this question in the Lexus Customer Service Forum, but there was no clear answer from the rep monitoring that forum.

This sounds like an awesome feature, but I would think that it would be critically important for us to know how to care for the coating.

ISF001

I know there have been other comments on this, but it is my understanding that all of the RC Fs have the new clear coat.

I did a little digging...

The clear coat is softer and more flexible. Lexus reworked the paint’s behavior at the molecular level and developed a high-density surface coating that is elastic. It deforms on impact and then springing back to its original gloss.

Now, I would not get out the sledgehammers.

Minor surface swirls and brush marks, when exposed to heat, should vanish. "The Lexus Anti-Scratch Clear Coating resists the effects of sunlight and acid rain, and requires no special treatment or maintenance on the driver’s part," based on my reading.

I will go after more information on this today--time permitting.

NickZ

Thanks ISF001! I know the manual said the carbon fiber bits do not have the coating on them (I believe your car has this from what I remember), but as you also stated, the manual does not differentiate between colors so all of the RC F's must have this.

I'm really hoping we can get an answer to the polishing question as well, I would hate to polish the vehicle a few times a year just to find out that the abrasives within the polish are actually removing or harming the new anti-scratch coating.

Ryanmcd

I asked this question in the Lexus customer service forum and it seems they did not know. I also called Lexus and they said wait at least 1 month for the paint to cure so I knew they had no idea as well.

What I plan on doing is polishing the car with the softest pad and least abrasive compound then seal it then wax it I will have my car next week so we will see.

ISF001

I just got a call back from Lexus...

The RCFs all have the "self-restoring" CLEAR COAT. The way it was explained is that when superficial scratches occur and swirls, the clear coat reforms.

Waxing and polishing is fine, but I will be received some information soon, and I will post it for you guys.

6i9

iTrader: (1)

I don't think it actually works. I picked my car up from Jim Falk BH and it had a ton of swirl marks when I first purchased it. I took it back and they did some detailing over a few days which got most of it out. However those swirl marks never "self-healed" over the course of the week or so I had the car before bringing it back to detail

RCFormante

iTrader: (1)

Obsidian is famous for swirls, so I didn't let the dealer touch my car at all and it was wrapped in self healing paint protection film right after I purchased it. BTW the red interior is called Circuit Red! Congrats on your car!

6i9

iTrader: (1)

lol oops Good call

I think I will look into at least the front clear bra but gotta fully polish before that. Your car is actually almost exactly the mods I would make. Looks nice

Ryanmcd

Thanks for looking into this and post what you find, I enjoy detailing cars so I don't want to screw anything up at the start

ISF001

With you there...I believe it is heat activated--hot water or a hot sun.

Let's see what they send.