Author Topic: VW Paint Thickness  (Read 6038 times)

Offline Cass

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VW Paint Thickness
« on: 05 October 2008, 23:52 »
Anyone know the average VW paint thickness for the GTI  :huh:

The reason I ask, is that I had my car professionally detailed last week and the thickness of the DBP paint/clearcoat on the roof is significantly less than that of all the other panels on the rest of the car (these are described as being totally consistent with VW standard paint quality). I don't have the actual figures yet as I'm awaiting email confirmation from the detailer.

By way of history, my car had to have the bonnet resprayed (twice) to correct a paint fault at delivery (basically some scrote pulled up the wiper arms prior to/during the PDI and took slivers of paint off the back edge of the bonnet - 2 cosmetic touch ups and 2 full bonnet resprays to correct - you do the maths - was the fault corrected the first, second, third or fourth time :rolleyes:).

Sadly, and even more unfortunately (why me, again), after the second full bonnet respray, some overspray or solvent :cry: found it's way onto the roof and etched itself quite deeply into the clearcoat. It could not simply be removed by polishing and more aggressive mopping would seem to have been carried out. I was led to believe that the roof had been fully repainted, however the paint depth readings would seem to preclude that remedy. I've just emailed the dealer bodyshop and await their response. The last thing I want to do is put my newly detailed car back in their hands again but sadly I have to do that later this week as the aircon condensor/dryer/other is being replaced under warranty :angry:

I'll also be contacting VW Customer Services but want to be sure of my figures first.

Cass
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Offline 182_blue

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #1 on: 06 October 2008, 07:01 »
What colour is yours cass ?, let me know the thickness and I will tell you if it's ok, it should be around 130 microns but can drop to about 90 if it's been heavily mopped

Offline 182_blue

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #2 on: 06 October 2008, 09:56 »
PS a repainted panel would see around 200+ microns imo, i once tested a lamborghini and it was 1200 microns all over :shocked: :shocked:

Offline Cass

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #3 on: 06 October 2008, 10:24 »
Cheers blue - it is Diamond Black Pearlescent. Just got an email with the figures from the detailer - the rear/sides average 118 - 128, bonnet 218 - 235 (indicative of a second layer of paint and consistent with my respray) and the roof is only 75 - 89 :shocked: with the lowest reading being at the location where the overspray/solvent damage was. According to my detailer, this is evidence of harsh compounding on the roof, backed up by evidence of rotary induced swirling and thus he was only able to correct it about 80-90%. His opinion was that the roof looked dull, indicating that the compound had not been worked down properly. Doubtfull that the roof could be machine polished again to avoid burn through the clear coat to the paint.

Haven't heard from the dealer bodyshop yet but I'll be taking the car to them tomorrow.

Cass
Now: VW Touareg Altitude V6 TDI 3.0 240 bhp, Diamond Pearlescent Black
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Offline 182_blue

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #4 on: 06 October 2008, 10:33 »
75-80 is quite low, and cant have been repainted as theres no way a human sprayer could get it that thin, i really wouldnt polish the roof again the paint on the roof is quite thin anyway so its had alot taken off, but not as much as you may fear, it should be ok though as long as you keep it protected, see what they say, if it looks ok now perhaps get them to sign something to say if the clearcote does pack up in the future they will correct free of charge, or just get them to re clear it, im just dubious or getting anything resprayed as it can cause more problems than it cures !!

ps, he said it looked dull, is that before or after he polished it ?
« Last Edit: 06 October 2008, 10:34 by 182_blue »

Offline Cass

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #5 on: 06 October 2008, 10:54 »
75-80 is quite low, and cant have been repainted as theres no way a human sprayer could get it that thin, i really wouldnt polish the roof again the paint on the roof is quite thin anyway so its had alot taken off, but not as much as you may fear, it should be ok though as long as you keep it protected, see what they say, if it looks ok now perhaps get them to sign something to say if the clearcote does pack up in the future they will correct free of charge, or just get them to re clear it, im just dubious or getting anything resprayed as it can cause more problems than it cures !!

ps, he said it looked dull, is that before or after he polished it ?

That was before - it does look good now but as a perfectionist, he wasn't 100% happy with his work but didn't want to risk going through the clearcoat and recommends not having it machine polished again due to this risk. Rest of the car is great - unfortunately got no pics as the light was flat and it was also pi$$ing down when I collected it. More rain also forecast in NE :sad:

Thanks for the advice about the dealer situation - I'll make sure something is logged on their database and will be writing to VW CS. Nothing back from bodyshop yet and I really don't want to go down the respray route but that seems to be the only long term solution.

Cheers,

Cass
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Offline 182_blue

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #6 on: 06 October 2008, 11:10 »
If you get them to leave it ensure you have something in writting from them, its unlikely they will want to leave it, as they will just want to respray it and this will mean blending in on your sides and more polishing by them and will ruin the detailing you just had done, so tell them if they do respray you want the profesional detailing paying for

Offline Cass

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Re: VW Paint Thickness
« Reply #7 on: 06 October 2008, 11:31 »
Cheers blue, already thought of that :wink:

Good advice.

Cass
Now: VW Touareg Altitude V6 TDI 3.0 240 bhp, Diamond Pearlescent Black
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