Exterior question!

Discuss washing, waxing and detailing information as well as interior/exterior cosmetic modifications. This includes neons, body, cosmetic wheels, etc. Even under the hood detailing.
Post Reply
2000BonneSSEI
SE Member
SE Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:40 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Bonneville SSEI
Location: Plattsburgh, NY

Exterior question!

Post by 2000BonneSSEI »

After a lot of searching and literally finding nothing, I am now going to ask and hope someone has a clue. I know it's very common with the Bonneville to have their clear coat be pretty much "burnt" through. The clear coat is very spotty on my car, and there are several spots on the car like the hood, trunk, and quarter panels, in which the clear coat is for use of a better word just gone. Is there any way that I can fix this horrible looking paint? Like a detail...or I've heard that some people scrape off the clear coat and just leave the base paint? Basically what I'm asking is, is there any way to fix this? My car is a 2000 Bonneville SSEI with 180k
User avatar
crash93ssei
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
Posts: 7671
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Location: Midland, Michigan

Re: Exterior question!

Post by crash93ssei »

I've never really seen any 2000+ Bonneville with clear coat failure, if that is the case though I wouldn't recommend "scraping" off the remaining clear and just leaving the base coat, that would look absolutely terrible.

Any chance you can grab a couple pics of the areas you are talking about?
Ryan
Image
2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
User avatar
1tinindian
Posts like an LG3
Posts like an LG3
Posts: 363
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:26 pm
Year and Trim: 2004 SLE Premier Edition

2005 GXP
Location: Rockford, Iowa

Re: Exterior question!

Post by 1tinindian »

Sand,
Prime,
Repaint.

Short and sweet, but this will give you the best, long lasting results.

And NO, you can't just re-clear it either, it doesn't work that way.

Leon
Image
2006 GTO
2005 GXP Bonneville (his) (SOLD)
2004 SLE Bonneville (hers)
2004 SLE Bonneville (sons)
2006 GXP Grand Prix (sons)
1998 SLE GMC Sierra
1991 Yamaha FJ1200
1983 Trans Am (SOLD)
1979 Trans Am
User avatar
CMNTMXR57
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 5841
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 10:45 pm
Year and Trim: 2006 STS-V, 2004 GTO, 2009 G8 GT
Location: CHICAGO

Re: Exterior question!

Post by CMNTMXR57 »

Leon nailed it.

taking off all the clear that is left and leaving the basecoat, won't help. The base color coat doesn't have hardeners in them that help resist mother natures forces. And leaving it like that not only looks like crap in general, will look REALLY like crap in a year!! Flat, dull, and probably showing rust or other rot.

The only way is to have it completely sanded (wet sanding), back down to that base, fixing any damage to the base (which would involve priming and new color), and then being re-cleared. The clear coat isn't there to just make it look shiny. It's the hard, protective coat that helps seal out everything.
Image

Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2011 Camaro SS
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
Post Reply