Lexus paint is terrible.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: NY
Lexus paint is terrible.
The paints Lexus uses on cars is just terrible. I wash and wax and detail my cars every month but for whatever reason this smokey granite mica color never seems to shine.
I have washed, waxed, polished the car many times but honestly within 2 days its back to its dusty self
. Anyone agree?
I have washed, waxed, polished the car many times but honestly within 2 days its back to its dusty self
. Anyone agree?
Driver
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Crenshaw
same problem...
The paints Lexus uses on cars is just terrible. I wash and wax and detail my cars every month but for whatever reason this smokey granite mica color never seems to shine.
I have washed, waxed, polished the car many times but honestly within 2 days its back to its dusty self. Anyone agree?
I have washed, waxed, polished the car many times but honestly within 2 days its back to its dusty self
. Anyone agree?
same problem with my GS...paint just terrible...the clear coat is coming off..its an 06..
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
No problem with my obsidian black 2008. Just monthly full body waxing (using car wax and not polish "wax"), and frequent, if not daily, water wash only. I use only microfiber wipe and not old cotton shirts/cloth. If I can feel some roughness on surface, I do minor claying to smoothen it again.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 421
Likes: 7
From: TX
Totally agree that the paint is horrible, but not because it doesn't shine. Mine shines very much. However, when I was out to lunch, and a bird did its business right on the passenger door. I couldn't get home until 4hrs later, but immediately washed it off. Guess what, it stained it. No matter how many times I tried to buff it off, it won't go away.
The MB paint is 10x better. It got keyed three times, and I was able to buff it off all 3 times.
The MB paint is 10x better. It got keyed three times, and I was able to buff it off all 3 times.
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Driver
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 184
Likes: 2
From: Texas
I'd have to agree that the paint leaves a lot to be desired for such an expensive grocery getter. I only have about 29,000 miles on my 2007, I'm the original owner, the car has been garage kept but still I have some chips and hair line scratches. I don't think it's held up well under normal or sub-normal conditions, at least it's not any better then my beater VW Rabbit - and that's about $30K cheaper...
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: NY
Totally agree that the paint is horrible, but not because it doesn't shine. Mine shines very much. However, when I was out to lunch, and a bird did its business right on the passenger door. I couldn't get home until 4hrs later, but immediately washed it off. Guess what, it stained it. No matter how many times I tried to buff it off, it won't go away.
The MB paint is 10x better. It got keyed three times, and I was able to buff it off all 3 times.
The MB paint is 10x better. It got keyed three times, and I was able to buff it off all 3 times.
Every time I wash the ES see some odd looking scratches obviously from the terrible quality of the paint. 
The BMW paints are very high quality shine like BRAND NEW. Our 325XI has 58k miles and it gets washed and waxed every few months and it looks BRAND NEW. The leather in the BMWs crack and look like **** though not the case for Lexus leather looks brand new.
On the MB paint had 100k miles on the ML350 and it looked very nice for its mileage better then the ES that's for sure! I'd have to agree that the paint leaves a lot to be desired for such an expensive grocery getter. I only have about 29,000 miles on my 2007, I'm the original owner, the car has been garage kept but still I have some chips and hair line scratches. I don't think it's held up well under normal or sub-normal conditions, at least it's not any better then my beater VW Rabbit - and that's about $30K cheaper...
Driver
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
I have an '08. The only complaint that I have about the paint is that it seems to chip somewhat easily. I have several chips on the front with only 36K miles on the car. Otherwise the paint has held up really well with no polising or waxing yet.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Ca
'08 with Smokey Granite Mica - shines great. Picks up the same amount of dust as my 335i did or as my Titan, which is 'Smoke' in color - basically the color of dirt. Dust accumulation is not a function of paint quality...
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 742
Likes: 5
From: Lexus Town, USA
It's called waterborne paint. Its junk, unless it is topped with a durable hard clear coat. The day Toyota figures this out, I will be very happy. They also need to stop using single-stage (non clearcoated) paint.
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: PA
Car paint has been water based for a long time now. I am not aware of ANY car sold today that does not have clearcoat on top of the paint.