Touch-Up Paint for GS350
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 95
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From: CA
Touch-Up Paint for GS350
i just recently bought a new GS350 and was thinking about buying some touch up paint for "backup" purposes. since i plan on keeping this car for years, i'm sure that it'll eventually get dings and chips at some point. (i'm not going to go down the clear bra route.)
wanted to get some thoughts on the genuine Lexus touch-up paint. does it blend well if it was just a minor chip, etc.? also, i'm thinking that the stock color changes over time as the sun hits it over the years, etc. i assume the color matches less and less as the years go by?
more than anything, i was thinking about buying a bottle just to have it around, in case Lexus discontinues my color (Starfire Pearl) in the future. i don't think it's that expensive - guessing no more than $25/bottle?? but if this thing doesn't even blend well at all, i'd say forget it.
would like to hear thoughts or those that have actually used the touch-up paint in the past and how well did it blend, etc.
wanted to get some thoughts on the genuine Lexus touch-up paint. does it blend well if it was just a minor chip, etc.? also, i'm thinking that the stock color changes over time as the sun hits it over the years, etc. i assume the color matches less and less as the years go by?
more than anything, i was thinking about buying a bottle just to have it around, in case Lexus discontinues my color (Starfire Pearl) in the future. i don't think it's that expensive - guessing no more than $25/bottle?? but if this thing doesn't even blend well at all, i'd say forget it.
would like to hear thoughts or those that have actually used the touch-up paint in the past and how well did it blend, etc.
I had problems with touch-up paint matching my IS 250's Crystal White Pearl.
Starfire is very close to that color and a 3 stage paint too.
In the sun,white is very bright so you can't really see the touch-ups but out of the sun....
One reason why I went the clear bra route.
Lexus touch up paint is about $10.
Starfire is very close to that color and a 3 stage paint too.
In the sun,white is very bright so you can't really see the touch-ups but out of the sun....
One reason why I went the clear bra route.
Lexus touch up paint is about $10.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
You will always have problems matching a metallic or a pearl as the paint is multiple parts and getting it mixed up just right is VERY hard. Hey, it is even hard if you are a body shop and spraying the thing. Solid colors are easy - but these metallics can be a real pain.
I have used factory touch up paint as well as various other offerings and have recently had the best luck with Paint Scratch (http://www.paintscratch.com/). It is not cheap but for some reason, their mixes with the metallics seem to do the best.
-GT
I have used factory touch up paint as well as various other offerings and have recently had the best luck with Paint Scratch (http://www.paintscratch.com/). It is not cheap but for some reason, their mixes with the metallics seem to do the best.
-GT
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 16
From: NY/NJ
Paints R Us
i just recently bought a new GS350 and was thinking about buying some touch up paint for "backup" purposes. since i plan on keeping this car for years, i'm sure that it'll eventually get dings and chips at some point. (i'm not going to go down the clear bra route.)
wanted to get some thoughts on the genuine Lexus touch-up paint. does it blend well if it was just a minor chip, etc.? also, i'm thinking that the stock color changes over time as the sun hits it over the years, etc. i assume the color matches less and less as the years go by?
more than anything, i was thinking about buying a bottle just to have it around, in case Lexus discontinues my color (Starfire Pearl) in the future. i don't think it's that expensive - guessing no more than $25/bottle?? but if this thing doesn't even blend well at all, i'd say forget it.
would like to hear thoughts or those that have actually used the touch-up paint in the past and how well did it blend, etc.
wanted to get some thoughts on the genuine Lexus touch-up paint. does it blend well if it was just a minor chip, etc.? also, i'm thinking that the stock color changes over time as the sun hits it over the years, etc. i assume the color matches less and less as the years go by?
more than anything, i was thinking about buying a bottle just to have it around, in case Lexus discontinues my color (Starfire Pearl) in the future. i don't think it's that expensive - guessing no more than $25/bottle?? but if this thing doesn't even blend well at all, i'd say forget it.
would like to hear thoughts or those that have actually used the touch-up paint in the past and how well did it blend, etc.
For minor chips, the paint blends fine. White is actually not too bad to blend, but one "point" worth noting is that if the chip is smaller than the brush head, don't glob the paint on. Use the tip of a tooth pick and drop the paint in so that it fills the crack/chip. Keep it light, let it dry, then drop again. Usually two small thin coats work better than one big thick glob.
As for color differentiation, over time if you need to cover large areas, the color mismatch will be noticeable, but small touchups shouldn't be too bad. Use the multiple thin layer techinique again.
Why the "dislike" for clear bra?
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 95
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From: CA
did you buy these both through Lexus? if so, didn't know they carried a metallic pearl color. sounds like you recommend this over buying starfire pearl directly?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 4
From: CA
sorry for the confusion, what i meant was, it WAS the starfire pearl paint, but the second coat is for the metallic part on top of the base coat. Since our paint is a 3-stage paint.
Yes, you can just pick those up from local dealer.
Go to Longo if you are in CA and mention club lexus, i think they give you 10% off.
Yes, you can just pick those up from local dealer.
Go to Longo if you are in CA and mention club lexus, i think they give you 10% off.
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Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,892
Likes: 607
From: USA
Order it through our own vendor Carson Toyota. '
MSRP: $7.29 Carson: $5.81 each.
00258-00077-21 - Starfire Pearl
00258-00077-21BC - Base Coat (I don't recall the part# for this one, I will verify it once I get home)
Starfire Pearl is a 3 stage paint which is very difficult to match. You have the base coat, pearl coat and the clear. Even with the factory touch up paint, they're designed to help cover up chips, but match is not going to be exact.
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Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: USA
Not all colors, generally pearl and metallic colors.
With touch up paint, clear coat is not necessary as it's only a small spot that is just a touch up only. When you're refinishing a whole complete panel, you must apply clear coat.
With touch up paint, clear coat is not necessary as it's only a small spot that is just a touch up only. When you're refinishing a whole complete panel, you must apply clear coat.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 95
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From: CA
thanks. i think i got it......
so at the end of the day, for TOUCH-UPS i would ask for 2 bottles for Starfire Pearl.
1. base coat for Starfire Pearl (not white)
2. metallic for Starfire Pearl
But if i were to paint an entire panel, i would use a clear coat as well as the 2 above.
so at the end of the day, for TOUCH-UPS i would ask for 2 bottles for Starfire Pearl.
1. base coat for Starfire Pearl (not white)
2. metallic for Starfire Pearl
But if i were to paint an entire panel, i would use a clear coat as well as the 2 above.
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,892
Likes: 607
From: USA
thanks. i think i got it......
so at the end of the day, for TOUCH-UPS i would ask for 2 bottles for Starfire Pearl.
1. base coat for Starfire Pearl (not white)
2. metallic for Starfire Pearl
But if i were to paint an entire panel, i would use a clear coat as well as the 2 above.
so at the end of the day, for TOUCH-UPS i would ask for 2 bottles for Starfire Pearl.
1. base coat for Starfire Pearl (not white)
2. metallic for Starfire Pearl
But if i were to paint an entire panel, i would use a clear coat as well as the 2 above.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: CA
by the way, how do i order through carson toyota / lexus? i went to their website and couldn't find the paint. www.l-tunedparts.com
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,892
Likes: 607
From: USA
by the way, how do i order through carson toyota / lexus? i went to their website and couldn't find the paint. www.l-tunedparts.com
Gordon or Luis can assist you.