Paint - Polishing Basecoat Clearcoat Exterior Finishes
87pontiac15Bulletin Number: 88-10-8
Reference Number: 881702
Publish Date: 12/87
Subject: POLISHING BASECOAT CLEARCOAT EXTERIOR FINISHES
Models
Affected: ALL VEHICLES FINISHED WITH BASECOAT CLEARCOAT PAINT
"This bulletin is a reissue of bulletin 86-2-7, dated 5/86. It is being reissued as a reminder to all dealers on the care of basecoat clearcoat finishes."
Some assembly plants are using a basecoat clearcoat paint system to finish vehicle exteriors. Dealers, in some instances, are machine polishing these vehicles prior to delivery to enhance the gloss and appearance. This polishing may leave swirl marks in the paint finish which may cause customer dissatisfaction. Therefore, machine polishing as a part of new car preparation is not recommended.
Because basecoat clearcoat finishes have a natural glossy appearance, machine compounding and/or polishing is neither required nor recommended unless a repair is necessary. Compounding has a dulling effect on the gloss and will cause the finish to appear flat. Polishing will not restore the original gloss level.
If a repair is not required, washing a vehicle with cool water or a mild detergent and water will restore its natural gloss. Dirt that is difficult to remove can be dissolved with a suitable wax and grease removing solvent.