Paint Job
#16
Lesson learned, get a clear bra installed on the next one! Damage is done to this one.
#17
Pleez! Cars can throw rocks too. Especially on roads as poorly maintained as the ones around Hampton Roads. And I'm not saying my SGM hasn't held up nicely overall. It looks just as good as Batmans after I detail it. I'm saying the paint is soft. My '98 ES paint was much more durable. But then again the roads were in better condition back then too.
Lesson learned, get a clear bra installed on the next one! Damage is done to this one.
Lesson learned, get a clear bra installed on the next one! Damage is done to this one.
Think of it like this - plastic cell phones rarely crack or chip, they just scratch. Glass on the other hand is harder than plastic, and doesn't scratch easily but chips or cracks more easily. Harder = brittle, softer = prone to scratches.
The Lexus clearcoat is less prone to chips, more prone to scratches. The Mercedes scratchproof clearcoat is much more prone to chips but won't scratch even in a machine car wash.
The best clearcoat is Infiniti's. Infiniti has a gel clearcoat which is both scratch and chip resistant. But that said, Infinitis' don't have the same smooth, high gloss and deep shine that Lexus finishes do.
#19
Thank you for your comments...However, I failed to mention that I have an 01 Lx470 in pearl white and the paint is Flawless..I hand wash it and wax it every 4 to 6 weeks like my BLACK 07 es350...........You r correct when u say paint is paint, but BAD SOFT PAINT is a nightmare....Glad that some of the Black paint jobs were not done like mine was...DEFECTIVE PAINT FINAL ANSWER
#20
White doesn't show abrasions though. I know from my BMW experience that they have the same challenges with Black.
Google "BMW Jet Black Soft" and you will see the same thing. Silver or white, no problems. This is why most BMW owners go for a Metallic off-black like Carbon or Jerez blacks.
Google "BMW Jet Black Soft" and you will see the same thing. Silver or white, no problems. This is why most BMW owners go for a Metallic off-black like Carbon or Jerez blacks.
#22
I have a black es and the front end looks awful after 10 months. She mainly drives hwy and has almost 20k on it already.
I'm going to have a buddy of mine paint at least the front clip in the next few months.
The accord we had last was black too and the Lexus front end after 10 months looks like the accord did after 3 yrs!
I'm going to have a buddy of mine paint at least the front clip in the next few months.
The accord we had last was black too and the Lexus front end after 10 months looks like the accord did after 3 yrs!
#23
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This is good information. I've been looking at used ES350's for a couple weeks and the one thing I have noticed is that they all seem to have chips on the hood.
Everything else on most of them is in good shape, but they all seem to have chips on them. I'll have to keep this in mind as I continue my search.
Everything else on most of them is in good shape, but they all seem to have chips on them. I'll have to keep this in mind as I continue my search.
#24
This is all relative as depending on where you live and the abuse your car takes on a daily basis your results will be different. Owners really need to compare apples to apples. Acid rain, salt, road conditions, temperatures, ultraviolet penetration all make a difference.
If you,ve owned several different makes of cars and have used them in identical environments and can see differences in how the paint wears then you can make valid comparisons. Especially if you've maintained them identically. Otherwise it's all subjective.
From my experience in owning cars in Louisiana and Texas as long as I maintain the finish using a high grade sealer and wax (Zaino) once every 6 months and wash the vehicle about every 1-2 weeks using clean non-abrasive wool wash gloves and virgin 100% cotton towels, I have not have any serious issues except with a Pontiac Grand Am that I purchased in '86. That was definetly bad paint but the dealer repainted the car (albeit with even worse paint).
As far as the ES it's one of the best finishes I have ever had on a factory car. I have also painted several cars and motorcycles with high grade products from Dupont and PPG and can truthfully say that Lexus paint is as good or better than these products.
Once again it's all relative!
If you,ve owned several different makes of cars and have used them in identical environments and can see differences in how the paint wears then you can make valid comparisons. Especially if you've maintained them identically. Otherwise it's all subjective.
From my experience in owning cars in Louisiana and Texas as long as I maintain the finish using a high grade sealer and wax (Zaino) once every 6 months and wash the vehicle about every 1-2 weeks using clean non-abrasive wool wash gloves and virgin 100% cotton towels, I have not have any serious issues except with a Pontiac Grand Am that I purchased in '86. That was definetly bad paint but the dealer repainted the car (albeit with even worse paint).
As far as the ES it's one of the best finishes I have ever had on a factory car. I have also painted several cars and motorcycles with high grade products from Dupont and PPG and can truthfully say that Lexus paint is as good or better than these products.
Once again it's all relative!
#25
This is all relative as depending on where you live and the abuse your car takes on a daily basis your results will be different. Owners really need to compare apples to apples. Acid rain, salt, road conditions, temperatures, ultraviolet penetration all make a difference.
If you,ve owned several different makes of cars and have used them in identical environments and can see differences in how the paint wears then you can make valid comparisons. Especially if you've maintained them identically. Otherwise it's all subjective.
From my experience in owning cars in Louisiana and Texas as long as I maintain the finish using a high grade sealer and wax (Zaino) once every 6 months and wash the vehicle about every 1-2 weeks using clean non-abrasive wool wash gloves and virgin 100% cotton towels, I have not have any serious issues except with a Pontiac Grand Am that I purchased in '86. That was definetly bad paint but the dealer repainted the car (albeit with even worse paint).
As far as the ES it's one of the best finishes I have ever had on a factory car. I have also painted several cars and motorcycles with high grade products from Dupont and PPG and can truthfully say that Lexus paint is as good or better than these products.
Once again it's all relative!
If you,ve owned several different makes of cars and have used them in identical environments and can see differences in how the paint wears then you can make valid comparisons. Especially if you've maintained them identically. Otherwise it's all subjective.
From my experience in owning cars in Louisiana and Texas as long as I maintain the finish using a high grade sealer and wax (Zaino) once every 6 months and wash the vehicle about every 1-2 weeks using clean non-abrasive wool wash gloves and virgin 100% cotton towels, I have not have any serious issues except with a Pontiac Grand Am that I purchased in '86. That was definetly bad paint but the dealer repainted the car (albeit with even worse paint).
As far as the ES it's one of the best finishes I have ever had on a factory car. I have also painted several cars and motorcycles with high grade products from Dupont and PPG and can truthfully say that Lexus paint is as good or better than these products.
Once again it's all relative!
#27
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
There are flaws in anything man made. You will not find the perfect paint job even on exotics. Just learn to deal with it since cars are made to be replaced later on
#28
Umm yes it does matter. You can buy cheap paint or good paint. Ppg omni is crap comPared to house of colors. 20 bucks a can or 500 a can. I've owned several new hondas, mitsubishis and now this Lexus. I can tell you the Lexus is full of chips after 10 months. Here in fl we have love bugs too and on some of the hondas I neglected them for 2 weeks and still the paint is fine. The Lexus I washed the bugs off every other day or at lest every 5 days this summer. I am going to
Get the front clip resprayed with a good ppg.
Get the front clip resprayed with a good ppg.
#29
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
Umm yes it does matter. You can buy cheap paint or good paint. Ppg omni is crap comPared to house of colors. 20 bucks a can or 500 a can. I've owned several new hondas, mitsubishis and now this Lexus. I can tell you the Lexus is full of chips after 10 months. Here in fl we have love bugs too and on some of the hondas I neglected them for 2 weeks and still the paint is fine. The Lexus I washed the bugs off every other day or at lest every 5 days this summer. I am going to
Get the front clip resprayed with a good ppg.
Get the front clip resprayed with a good ppg.
Like I said earlier, the laws regarding the types of paint are changing overtime. You cannot compare 90s paint to paint that we have now. Something changed, whether becoming more water based or whatever. To add to this argument, I'm asked to inspect peoples cars at most meets that I attend whenever there is an issue. All the newer models are affected around the same unfortunately
#30
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Lexus is well aware of their paint problems
http://www.protectingtheconsumer.com...t-problems.php
My name is on the class action law suit. My paint job is a joke. Everybody is in shock after they see it and when I tell them Lexus wouldn't do anything about it.
My name is on the class action law suit. My paint job is a joke. Everybody is in shock after they see it and when I tell them Lexus wouldn't do anything about it.