Disclaimer: I searched and didnt get what I wanted.



I am VERY close to buying an '05 TL Navi and I have a question regarding the paint.

My I35 sport has more paint chips than I've ever had on any of my cars combined. (Okay close to it) I absolutely hate that fact and want to know what experiences there are with the TL. I'd hate to buy another car that chips like that, and I wont consider bras or clear bras, so paint/clear coat quality is a concern.


Your thoughts/experiences?



Thanks!

 

I thought lots of cars in this era have the same problem...?

 

I've had 3 Accords before my TL and the paint is on par with that...

That being said, I am NOT astounded by the durability of the paint. It is NOT the best in that manner. Looks real perty, but you'll be getting chips if you drive on the highway...

From my several month review a while back:

Some things I don't hear alot about:
1. The paint isn't that durable. I think I have more chips than I should at this point of the game. While the clear bra would help the front half of the hood, why bother? The top half of the hood will still get creamed. Half good/halg bad hood would look goofy IMO. I'll stay with the consistant battle scars. The only paint blemish from the factory is between the bumper and the front quarter panel just under the headlamp. It's peeling a little. I know this is a known issue and will address it whence I get to the dealer for whatever work I need.
2. The windshield is not durable at all! I cannot believe how many little nicks I have in it. From the inside, you don't notice them (which is lucky for me). From the outside when washing though, OMG... This thing is CLAY! LOL Nothing is cracked yet, these are all very small. I look at my friends Chrysler, Audi and Mitsubishi and there's aren't nearly as bad.

Hope this helps...

 

ive had a 2nd gen tl and now i have a 3rd gen tl. i have to say that the paint is a lot weaker on the 3rd gen tl. my paint is chipped on the hood and front bumper (naturally) but also on the doors. i dont think my doors were hit either, because there are no dings or paint from another car.

 

This doesnt make me too happy. I really wanted to get away from paint chip headaches like I have with my I. Although the interior may outbalance that whole situation.

Anyone have normal wear?

 

i have a small chip right above the grill on the hood... just noticed it today upon washing the car. i think i just might have to go with a clear bra, since i only had the car for less than a month (but i made a couple long trips, about 700 miles total on the freeway)

what do you have against clear bras?

 

I have normal wear but the paint these days isn't the best. You have to take care of it. Also keep in mind I dont drive on the highway much. I really wouldnt let this make your decision IMHO. G'Luck

 

Chips are inevitable with all cars. Whats the problem with the clear bra? i had one of my FX35 and you could only see if it u came right up to the hood.

 

My previois car (Lexus ES300) had paint chips all over the front of the hood and front end-- it just made me ill . . . My TL has just 10K miles and woll be a year old this month-- there are no (nil, nada, none) paint chips on it any where.

I cheat: the is a full nose bra on the care. I am not thrilled with the looks of the black bra on the SSM-- but I can't tell you how good I feell when I take the bra off and wax the car to find NO chips, dings or other imperfections.

Hwy when this Acura bra gets old and raddedy-- I'll get anothe one. I would guess the "clear bra" protects as well. The care is "debadged" (no ACURA or TL on the back-- and with the full bra, many, many people ask what kind of car is that...?

 

I just noticed today that I have a rather large paint bubble on the passenger side door. It doesnt look like it is from any chips or scratches as the paint is still in tact, its just risen a mm or so above the rest of the door surface. Im driving to the service department next week.

 

My previois car (Lexus ES300) had paint chips all over the front of the hood and front end-- it just made me ill . . . My TL has just 10K miles and woll be a year old this month-- there are no (nil, nada, none) paint chips on it any where.

I cheat: there is a full nose bra on the car. I am not thrilled with the looks of the black bra on the SSM-- but I can't tell you how good I feell when I take the bra off and wax the car -- to find NO chips, dings or other imperfections.

Hwy when this Acura bra gets old and ratty-- I'll get anothen one. I would guess the "clear bra" protects as well. The care is "debadged" (no ACURA or TL on the back-- and with the full bra, many, many people ask what kind of car is that...?

 

is the bubble forming under the black trims? it's not a rare occurance, and can easily be fixed. acura/honda uses "tape/vinyl" instead of paint on those trims.

 

my paint is flawless, had it for almost a year and a half and I don't think I have a single chip. I do mostly intown driving though. on the other hand I have cracked a windsheild . TL is a great car though

 

Thanks for input guys, time to think it out.

 

I'm surprised your Infiniti has that many chips...I have a black 1995 G20tA and the paint has held up very well in that regard.

 

Im not quite sure what you mean by "trims" The bubble is pretty much right in the middle of the door...

 

Can you post of pic of it? I'm thinking maybe it's tree sap. I had that happen to me once. It was on the trunk lid though.

 

I'll post a pic...not tree sap. Before I restored my 67 mustang the paint had similiar bubbles on it...I guess I can describe it like this. When you weld and the torch tip is dirty (using argon shielding gas) and the angle isnt just right, when you finish the bead often the weld will bubble up. The bubble on the car door is not as extreme but is similiar to a bad weld bubble.

 

the prob is that it is cheap thin crap if was thicker more quality paint job it would chip so easiliy

 

The paint being thin does not contribute to more chipping, it has more to do with an impact from an object which breaks the bond.

If the paint is too thick, you get orange peel.

Other factors I have noticed over the years in my area. (Winter conditions).

Most major towns/cities do not use sand anymore as an abrasive in the winter, they used crushed stone which result in pebbles with alot of sharp points.

I have customers in Montreal that have stone chips on the tailgates of their pickups since the city of Montreal has been using crushed stones.

Most cars paints of the past 20 years are using a 2 coats systems, Base Colour coat and then a clear coat to bring out the shine. With this base coat/clear coat system, they can't paint them as thick as a single coat or you get "Orange Peel".

Also, some cars by their aerodynamic design expose more sheet metal to road debris and are thus more prone to paint chips.

Being in an area that has winter 5 months out of the year and with 30 years driving experience, the only ways I have found to prevent stone chips are as follows;

Buy the cars and put it on display in you living room (Not practical).

Apply Gravel Guard to the Whole Car (Ugly!!!)

Apply 3M paint protection film to all exposed areas in the front.

Do not tailgate other vehicles.(This one will also save a few windshield).

Best regards from Montreal

frenchnew

 

Why did Acura lower the quality of paint on the '04 TLs while continuing to use a 4-coat system on '04 RLs?

 

I didn't know that they lowered the quality of the paint on the TL; but as far as the RL - cost differences. The RL costs so much more than the TL, that the RL owners would be right to expect a better paint job... just a guess?

 

Infiniti used the same paint process on my G20 as they did on the Q45.

 

Orange peel is a result of a/the specific paint process and or application technique, not from applying multiple coats etc. Several of the street rod/muscle cars I painted had 2-3 coats of base and up to 6 coats of clear. It all depends on your product and application.
I will agree that whether thin or thick the paint still chips. Some paint is just more resilient to impacts than others. Lacquer was always easier to chip than enamel. Also, if thick the paint can have a tendency to result in a larger chip than if a thin paint was stuck by the same object.


From what I have experienced with my 04 WDP TL, the paint is about equal to the other cars I have owned in the last 6 years.

 

If you are talking about the old Q45's I have yet to meet an equal on paint quality. I have owned a 1990, 1991 and 1992 Q45 and I am amazed at the quality of paint. Cant say the same about their trannys or fuel injectors, but thats a different matter.

 

The only way to avoid paint chips is to avoid trucks which are the major culprit in throwing up debris from the highway. ANY car is going to get paint chips if you follow close behind a truck on a highway. Stay back...way back...and avoid roads that have a lot of debris from the winter snow removal. It doesn't matter how good the paint is, if you have rocks, stones, and other stuff hitting the paint at 60+MPH, you're going to get chips in the paint unless you've got a clear bra. The TL has a very aerodynamic front end, and as such is more likely to get paint chips due to the design. I'm very carefull with my car, don't drive it in the winter, and stay away from trucks and I still have 3-4 chips in the bumper.

 

I have to say that that paint on my TL has been amazingly strong compared to the paint on my 97 Camry. The So far I only have a noticeable chip and one very tiny one at the leading edge of the hood from debris kicked up on the highway. However, I do about 90% city miles so that may explain some things. Like some members here, I make it a point to stay well back of traffic on the highway and don't drive on the very far left or right lanes much due to accumulation of little rocks there. A small rock thrown from the tire of a truck will hit at close to 100mph if you factor in the fact that you are already doing 65mph and the rock is being shot at you in the oppposite direction at a good clip! No paint can survive that. I don't have the clear bra either.

dsc888