Is200/300 Paint - A Question ?

[bigsul]

Hi,

I would like all the LOC Lexus vehicle owners to answer me a few questions. Any answers, whether positive, negative or indifferent will do. I intend to contact Lexus customer services again about their rather fantastic Anti-Chip paint claims <_< (see thread below). Any feedback will assist me with my enquiries.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/sho.../ST/f/31/t/3998

The questions about the paint on your vehicle are:

1. Are you satisfied with the finish, quality and durability?

2. Are you satisfied with its Anti-Chip properties?

3. How does it compare to other makes of vehicle you own, or have owned before?

Thanks for any answers, or just thanks for reading.

Cheers ...................... bs

[bigsul]

I'll be Mum.

I am not very satisfied with any of the paints qualities at all. I think it is brittle and too thin. As for Anti-Chip, what a joke. A particularly un-funny joke aswell. :(

My wife owns a Ford Escort and the paint is far more durable, and she does a lot more miles than I do. I have owned Renault, Peugeot and Honda prior to this car, and the Lexus paint comes in last in my opinion.

On a plus note, the colour is fantastic !

One plus note for the paint on a £27,000 car is not right. Not when the paint is apparently Anti-Chip anyway.

Well, I hope you all answer and I'll let you know what Lexus UK have to say.

Thanks ..........bs

[Bobski]

[SteveM]

I agree

Not satisfied with the durability, my IS200 SE in silver now has a very spotty bonnet due to what appears to be VEREY soft paint, not just the laquer coming off either but down to the black base coat !

My old Vauxhall was better and so was the renault before that, the best was my Volvo V40 !even in white !

Rgds Steve

[UKPulse]

Ok, the finish is good - got the car from new and there were no signs of it being a poor paint job. Durability, well that's not so good. The paint appears to be very thin, and in a couple of places where I've acquired a light scratch over the last year, there's a white undercoat(?) showing thru.

As far as anti-chip goes, I seem to be ok - there's barely a mark on it at the front. Whether this is down to Lexus Anti-Chip paint or just luck, who knows.

Compared to my last car, a red '97 Nissan 200SX which I owned from new for four years, the paint on the Nissan seemed much 'thicker' and more durable.

So all in all I agree with big' ... for an expensive car, the paint job could be better.

[Claire G]

I think the paint job is terrible for a car of this marque. It seems really soft and scratches and chips far too easily. As far as I'm concerned, this is the major downside to owning a Lexus.

[NigeSt]

I agree that the paint is less resistant to chips & scratches than I would expect.

It's quite possible that I notice these things more because I care more about this car and spend too much time cleaning it...

The survey should take into account colour, different colours may have different properties, and are also more prone to showing chips - mine is Royal Sapphire blue.

Another thing that annoys me about this... when I went into my dealer (Swindon) and asked for a touch-up pen, I told the guy the name of the colour and he went and rummaged in a drawer and gave me a Toyota touch up pen for a blue with a completely different 'Toyota' name. It's a close match, but I'm far from convinced it's the exact colour.

When I did the same thing for our family Nissan Micra, the guy at the Nissan dealer came out and got the colour code from under the bonnet.

Apparantly, for a Mercedes, the touch up pen is ordered to get the same paint batch.

Lexus don't come out well in this comparison.

As a side note, I also find that the windscreen (lexus branded) chips easier than I've noticed on previous cars.

Nige

[kev dood]

I have a 31st Jan '01 IS200 SE in Platinum Ice and although I love the colour, I would say the paint is not as durable as other cars I have had. It does feel/look a very thin coat (mind you panel thicknesses are thin too! - cost cut?)

I would be interested to hear the outcome of this.

Also noticed that as well as stone chips of bonnet, am getting chips/marks cut into bumber where the plastic on this is soo soft. Andrex would be interested in it I reckon!

[bigsul]

where the plastic on this is soo soft. Andrex would be interested in it I reckon!

:D :D

[TonyGoose]

1. Are you satisfied with the finish, quality and durability?

2. Are you satisfied with its Anti-Chip properties?

3. How does it compare to other makes of vehicle you own, or have owned before?

Mine's a 2001 SE in Royal Sapphire. In answer to your questions ...

1) The finish looks good to begin with but quality and durability are very poor.

2) Absolutely NOT.

3) Very badly. Without doubt the worst of any car i've owned.

I suspect the problem may be inappropriate use of drying additives in the paint mix ..

possibly combined with fast baking resulting in the weak brittle finish ..

which we all know and are frustrated about.

I wonder if some direct action might wake lexus up ?

We could park 100 IS's with bad chips outside Lexus HQ ...

invite auto express, top gear, JD power etc along too !

[kev dood]

Anyone also notice, pos. more on the silver, that along the back edges of the doors the paint looks thicker?

I thought when got my car, that maybe it had been sprayed but I have seen it on others!

Maybe they should have it that tick all over!

I guess we could all get one of those car nappies, like they have in LA etc! :P ;) :o

[RYX]

1. Are you satisfied with the finish, quality and durability?

2. Are you satisfied with its Anti-Chip properties?

3. How does it compare to other makes of vehicle you own, or have owned before?

1. Finish (driving it out of the showroom) looked good (as any new car should). Quality appears good - durability? Well......

2. I think "Chip Properties" would be more appropriate. I remember the car had to go back for an extra they'd forgotten to fit a week after I'd driven it out of the showroom. I asked them to touch up three chips (Don't think I'd done 50 miles yet). I was given the yarn about less lead in the paint etc.

3. By far the worst paint "duribility" of any vehicle I've owned.

Suffice to say it could definately put me off buying another Lexus :(

Rick.

[BruNo]

hmmm....i think lexus paint anti-chip resistance is much much better than Mercedes Benzes...... Benz has worst chip resistance.....KIAs are much much better. my lex had 3chips in 3years....my benz had 6chips in one year!

[bigsul]

I suspect the problem may be inappropriate use of drying additives in the paint mix ..

possibly combined with fast baking resulting in the weak brittle finish ..

Hi all,

A very technical critisism TonyGoose, do you have a technical background. I would not mind using that argument the next time I speak to Lexus UK. You can keep up to date with my progress on this link :

http://lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.p...ST&f=31&t=3998&

As I thought so far, a pretty negative opinion of the Lexus paint job. Keep them coming though, the more the merrier.

Ta ............ bs

[TonyGoose]

I suspect the problem may be inappropriate use of drying additives in the paint mix ..

possibly combined with fast baking resulting in the weak brittle finish ..

A very technical critisism TonyGoose, do you have a technical background.

Oh yes - i have many years experience of spouting technical sounding bullsh1t :D

In this case though, i'm just passing on info from a body repair shop.

I spoke to a couple and both agreed there's something not quite right with the IS200 paintwork.

The finish is too hard and brittle and the above was offered as a possible explanation.

Not sure if anyone else notices this but ....

Nobody associated with Lexus ever posts in threads about dodgy IS paint.

Almost like some sort of conspiracy of silence

Maybe they're under pain of death to reveal the truth :arrrggg-matey:

C'mon Lexus, get a grip on this problem - JD Power approaching

[Zee007]

As Tony says - this is not the first time this subject has been mentioned (do a search - you will find many, many threads on this.........) and I remember having issues with my bonnet which, after 3 resprays, was replaced in the end.

If we are really serious about this, I suggest strting some form of a petition to obtain the backing of all dis-satisified members, writing a constructive but firm letter to Lexus, with copies distributed and see what their response is.......

However, my question to you all would be this - what are you after? What do you want? Do you want resprays, new cars, compensation or just an explanation? That would help what approach we take....... :)

[bigsul]

However, my question to you all would be this - what are you after? What do you want? Do you want resprays, new cars, compensation or just an explanation? That would help what approach we take....... :)

I agree.

I started this particular thread, just to gauge an idea of the scale of the problem. In small terms of course, 14 negative opinions out of 15 indicates a wider overall problem with the Lexus paint process. I would like, if at all possible, more members to reply on this thread. We all know that there are more than 14 people out there who are unhappy with their cars paintwork. I am currently consulting Lexus UK about their ludicrous paint claims on their website, they are speaking to TME in Brussels before they get back to me. I am seriously considering contacting Which? personal service to see how I myself stand legally, of course this will also apply to all of you too. I have downloaded a copy of the Anti-chip paint website too, incase they wipe it off, just in case.

What do we all want from Lexus ? Some answers will do for starters, only a week to wait till they get back to me, so they say.

We have a voice, why don't we use it ?

bs

[Glenn]

I must agree about the Lexus paint finish unfortunatly. Before I purchased my IS 300 last week I have owned a 1999 GS300 SE for about 3 years. Every time I wash the car (once a month ish) I spend 2 hours going round with the old touch up pen. I don't really do much motorway driving but I always end up with stone chips on the bonnet Before I got the Lexus I had a Vauxhall Vectra SRI and clocked up over 90,000 miles mainly motorway back in those days and hardly ever had problems with stone chips??

Someone once told me whilst I was thinking of buying my first Lexus that even the wind scratches it I now know what he meant.

So yes, the paint finish does need to be looked into I think.

Cheers

Glenn

[Dops]

its going to take you days to read all these ..

I've just picked up my S/Hand IS200, it had two stone chips which I had fixed but expect to get more. I'll be using any high-protection wax or polish if such a thing exists.

I think it's us excepting lower quality in the face of an otherwise superior car (we let them get away with it!!)

Dops

[bigsul]

Someone once told me whilst I was thinking of buying my first Lexus that even the wind scratches it

Thinking about the wind scratching it, scratches it

bs

[guitareth]

I'm really glad this issue has been raised again. A long thread about this grew on this board last year, and there was talk about submitting a formal letter to Lexus UK, but apparently nothing happened. To answer your questions:

1. Are you satisfied with the finish, quality and durability?

The finish, as new, LOOKS great, but there's got to be something suspect about the quality as the durability is pants!

2. Are you satisfied with its Anti-Chip properties?

Definitely not. Within 2 weeks of getting my new IS200SE last March it had its first stone chip on the bonnet. Since then has gathered another 5 or 6 on the bonnet and one on the roof line just above the windscreen. It's not like I'm driving high mileage or in fast driving/gritty roads situations where car would be more at risk. Most of my drivinbg is in and around town at low speeds. I appreciate that any car will be at risk of chips if it gets hit with enough impact, but what bugs me is that from my own and others experience it does seem the Lexus paint chips more easily than most.

3. How does it compare to other makes of vehicle you own, or have owned before?

I just had an Escort before this. Had it for 5 years and only had a couple of chips on the bonnet in all that time. In every other way the Lexus is a quality marque so it disapponts me to find the paint chips so easily.

Was speaking to a Chips Away guy and asked him if he'd seen this a lot on the Lexus's. He said yes, it appears to have a paint problem, but interestingly he said Mercs are even worse!

I really do hope this time we can raise this formally with Lexus, and show them there really is a problem.

Away out to give my baby the weekly wash now, so hope I dont find any new ones <_<

Cheers

Gareth

[bigsul]

I really do hope this time we can raise this formally with Lexus, and show them there really is a problem.

I should be getting a call back from Lexus UK @ week Monday.

Hope you never found any new chips !

bs

[Tricky Dicky]

Hi Guys

I agree with everyone, this is my first Lexus and every time i wash it i find new scratches. The latest one yesterday on the bonnet which looks like cat scratches. Mine has to stay in the drive and cats love a warm bonnet if i catch one sitting on the bonnet it is going to love a warm bullet. As i was saying the scratches have gone right down to the undercoat which on a Blue car is White so the only way to get rid of them is a respray.

Not immpressed.

Prevoius car was a Nissan had it for 3 years with no sign of cats.

[Monster-Mat]

Lexus is not the only car manufacturer going through this "paint" problem.

BMW also had a run of problems after moving to new modern paint practices.

HVLP high volume low pressure and the use of water based paints. BMW have now moved back to 2PAC paint which most pre 2000 cars were painted in.....prior to about 1980 most cars were painted in celulose

as far as i understand, lexus use the HVLP water based paint process.

i must admit though that my white seems to be quie resistant to stone chips, i only have a few, but my previos cars black and blue both suffered terribly from chips, especially the blue......which is a metalic.

my view is the metalics or pearls are the most prone to chipping.

on a further note, the "anti-chip paint" is actually the paint on the lower half of the doors..the paint with the orange peel effect, and not the paint on the bonnet this is normal paint.

another thing i have found is that the bumpers are very soft, i actually have stones embedded into the plastic

mat

[Brian Berry]

An accessory for my ladder fell on top of the bonnet of my IS200 SE and I had a local car sprayer I have been using for 30 years repair the dent and spray the entire bonnet. He used a hard metallic paint which comes from Germany. I had a few paint chips before hand but not many. It now looks very good! But for how long remains to be seen.

I think that when comparisons are made with other marques it is necessary to consider with cars such as Kia and smaller model Fords etc that they will never be driven owing to their mechanics at the faster speeds attained by quality cars like Lexus, BMW and Mercedes. A stone hitting the front of a car driven at 70mph + will do a great deal more damage than hitting a car driven at 45mph.

I do however hope that the next Lexus comes with a more durable surface.