Do I have a clear coat?

Does my 1985 Audi 4000S have a clear coat? It is Alpine White paint code (L90E). How can one tell if the car came with clear coat? was there cutoff dates by mfgs? or was it specific to the color?
 
~One mans opinion / observations~



Most cars manufactured from 1990 on (with the exception of single stage paint systems) have a clear coat. To check, take a cleaner type wax and in an inconspicuous place like a door jam rub the surface using a medium to heavy pressure and wipe off. If there is no paint colour (this is somewhat difficult to see with silver paint) on the cloth it has a clear coat finish.



~Hope this helps~



Knowledge unshared is experience wasted

justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ Jon
 
Some white vehicles are still not clearcoated. As a general rule non metallic whites, blacks and reds were the last colors to go from single stage to basecoat/clearcoat. I would almost say 100% that if it has the factory paint job it is singlestage.



blazer95
 
pdsterns said:
Does my 1985 Audi 4000S have a clear coat? It is Alpine White paint code (L90E).



No, your 1985 Audi 4000S was not painted with a clear coat finish when it was manufactured.



The Audi white did not change over to clear coat until after 1990.
 
pdsterns said:
Thanks Frank, I followed TOGWT's advice and came to same conclusion. So what about my buddy's 84 alpine white BMW?



Your buddy's 84 alpine white BMW (paint code 146) was also not painted with a clear coat finish when it was manufactured.
 
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