Which Automaker has the best paint?
- Thread starter 317indy
- Start date
JasonD
New member
I assume we can only choose from your list, so I chose MB. Mercedes and BMW both have very good paint, but I find BMW has more orange peel (especially on the backside of the decklids or trunk) and Mercedes has harder clear which is a + in my book. Then again, I like BMW colors better, but that's not what you were asking.
armoredsaint
New member
Ferrari has the best paint job 
jimmybuffit
That'll buff right out!
Audi/Porsche/VW.
Hands Down.
Jeep is on the bottom of the list.
Jim
Hands Down.
Jeep is on the bottom of the list.
Jim
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Do I have this straight?
VW/Audi :Spies-Hecker
Porsche: Glasurit
VW/Audi :Spies-Hecker
Porsche: Glasurit
EBPcivicsi
GOT PREP?
I think RR paint ownz all. Their process is unmatched as far as I know, ZERO OP.
I find that Nissan has very thin paint with a tendency to have more runs, chips etc from the factory, Toyota to have the worst OP, and Honda's paint is thin with the softest clear. My 94 sherwwod forrest green pearl Accord would mar if I looked at it wrong. My civic is not far behind.
Jimmy Buffit, there is a guy in my neighborhhod that had one of the jeeps with the paint defect(I think they cut out a step in the paint process and it caused chipping). I saw him one day take a pressure washer to it and 1200psi removed every piece of paint from the vehicle. He said he was so tired of the paint peeling that he just wanted to get all over with in one shot. I guess I can't blame him. The now primer looking jeep is rusting like mad on top after about 6 months of exposure. Horrible situation.
Their process is unmatched as far as I know, ZERO OP.I find that Nissan has very thin paint with a tendency to have more runs, chips etc from the factory, Toyota to have the worst OP, and Honda's paint is thin with the softest clear. My 94 sherwwod forrest green pearl Accord would mar if I looked at it wrong. My civic is not far behind.
Jimmy Buffit, there is a guy in my neighborhhod that had one of the jeeps with the paint defect(I think they cut out a step in the paint process and it caused chipping). I saw him one day take a pressure washer to it and 1200psi removed every piece of paint from the vehicle. He said he was so tired of the paint peeling that he just wanted to get all over with in one shot. I guess I can't blame him. The now primer looking jeep is rusting like mad on top after about 6 months of exposure. Horrible situation.
imported_Burlyq
New member
I'm not sure of it's valadity but here's a thickness charts from a recent post.
German and Japanese cars: 4-5 Mils (1 Mil=1000th of an inch)
With the exception of:
Lexus-White and Tan: 5-7 Mils, Lexus- Black and Silver: 4.5-6 Mils
BMW: Silver: 6-7 Mils
FORD: Approx. 5.5-7 Mils
GM Cars and Trucks: Approx. 4.5-6.0 Mils, Jimmys and Blazers: approx 7 Mils
Chrysler: Approx. 5.5-7 Mils (Note Sebring hoods are fiberglass)
Dodge Cars: Similar to Chrysler
Dodge Trucks and newer Ram Pick-ups: Cab approx. Mils and the boxes approx 9 Mils
Jaguar: approx. 6-7.5 Mils (but they tend to vary)
Jeep Grand Cherokee: These read approx. 6-8 Mils, Wranglers: approx. 4.5-5.5 Mils
I had a Dodge diesel and the clear looked like it was a mile deep.
I also had a Ford Gel coat, and while it's not as deep as dodge, it's an extremely forgiving surface.
German and Japanese cars: 4-5 Mils (1 Mil=1000th of an inch)
With the exception of:
Lexus-White and Tan: 5-7 Mils, Lexus- Black and Silver: 4.5-6 Mils
BMW: Silver: 6-7 Mils
FORD: Approx. 5.5-7 Mils
GM Cars and Trucks: Approx. 4.5-6.0 Mils, Jimmys and Blazers: approx 7 Mils
Chrysler: Approx. 5.5-7 Mils (Note Sebring hoods are fiberglass)
Dodge Cars: Similar to Chrysler
Dodge Trucks and newer Ram Pick-ups: Cab approx. Mils and the boxes approx 9 Mils
Jaguar: approx. 6-7.5 Mils (but they tend to vary)
Jeep Grand Cherokee: These read approx. 6-8 Mils, Wranglers: approx. 4.5-5.5 Mils
I had a Dodge diesel and the clear looked like it was a mile deep.
I also had a Ford Gel coat, and while it's not as deep as dodge, it's an extremely forgiving surface.
6cyl's_of_fury
its naturally curly......
I dont think there are many car makers that consistently get away from the dreaded OP, I have even seen a RR posted here by Scottwax that had OP. Personally I have seen Audis, Mercs, Bimmers, Porsches - all had OP to varying degrees to name some higher end vehicles price-wise.
And best is soooooooo subjective - less or no OP, scratch resistant CC, easily polished CC, soft CC? Members here will have varying opinions based on experience or preferences. If you are looking for a "definitive" answer, I dont think you will find it.
And best is soooooooo subjective - less or no OP, scratch resistant CC, easily polished CC, soft CC? Members here will have varying opinions based on experience or preferences. If you are looking for a "definitive" answer, I dont think you will find it.
Corey Bit Spank
Active member
My choice was for Chrysler on the list, and Jaguar overall 
hftw Audi 6
New member
Audi isn't a choice huh?!?! I would say they do i have one and have been around a bunch and have noticed no orange peel on new cars. While some new cars, trucks, and SUV's of other makes have large amounts of orange peel. but the list i would say GM. Family has had a bunch with minimal orange peel.
Krautfed 03
New member
Even though Audi has a finicky finish, they look absolutely gorgeous when detailed properly.
My A4 is a PITA to remove scratches, and ironically, if you look at it the wrong way, it scratches!:nixweiss
My A4 is a PITA to remove scratches, and ironically, if you look at it the wrong way, it scratches!:nixweiss
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Right on the money Krautfed
Accumulator
Well-known member
Quality paint, *real* quality, is pretty hard to find. If you're *really* discriminating, most factory paint is of quite poor quality.
ScottWax nailed it; it's Bentley, hands-down.
Ferrari? Ever see a 550 up close? Maybe the new ones are better, I dunno.
My Benzes always had orange peel, but that was a while ago. But the last '05 I saw had it too.
I've seen some new-style 7 and 5 series Bimmers that were the same way.
Audi? This one I know pretty well. I've had maybe a dozen and I've driven many, many more. Even the paint on our A8 and S8 is just awful (and it's better than I had on our A4/A6 cars, let alone the earlier ones). Orange peel that isn't even remotely uniform, inconsistent metallic, so-so quality at best in the "hidden areas" like doorjambs, etc. and I've even found the sort of under-paint contamination that would be out of place at Maaco. It is *pretty* paint, but it's not high quality. Between the paint quality and the new front end I'm sorta undecided about buying the new S8 when it comes out.
None of my Porsches were any better (quality wise) than the Audis, with the exception of the single stage one. That was nice paint ('78 Guard's Red).
Anybody who really appreciates quality automotive paint really oughta go look at a Bentley. So nice it's truly a pleasure just to look at it. They really are a whole 'nother ballgame compared to anything else on the market. And that includes RR these days. The paint on the new Phantom I saw was nothing really special, looked like a nice Benz or Bimmer to me, maybe like one that had been wetsanded a little.
ScottWax nailed it; it's Bentley, hands-down.
Ferrari? Ever see a 550 up close? Maybe the new ones are better, I dunno.
My Benzes always had orange peel, but that was a while ago. But the last '05 I saw had it too.
I've seen some new-style 7 and 5 series Bimmers that were the same way.
Audi? This one I know pretty well. I've had maybe a dozen and I've driven many, many more. Even the paint on our A8 and S8 is just awful (and it's better than I had on our A4/A6 cars, let alone the earlier ones). Orange peel that isn't even remotely uniform, inconsistent metallic, so-so quality at best in the "hidden areas" like doorjambs, etc. and I've even found the sort of under-paint contamination that would be out of place at Maaco. It is *pretty* paint, but it's not high quality. Between the paint quality and the new front end I'm sorta undecided about buying the new S8 when it comes out.
None of my Porsches were any better (quality wise) than the Audis, with the exception of the single stage one. That was nice paint ('78 Guard's Red).
Anybody who really appreciates quality automotive paint really oughta go look at a Bentley. So nice it's truly a pleasure just to look at it. They really are a whole 'nother ballgame compared to anything else on the market. And that includes RR these days. The paint on the new Phantom I saw was nothing really special, looked like a nice Benz or Bimmer to me, maybe like one that had been wetsanded a little.
George-absolutely right on Rolls. Their paint used to be incredible like the Bentley but apparently BMW is cutting some corners because the Phantom I detail has several areas with orange peel. The overall paint is very nice compared to most other cars and is very rich looking but orange peel on a $328,000 car? Ugh.
You can clearly see the orange peel in the area the open garage door is reflected off of:
The trunk lid also has noticable orange peel while the hood is practically flawless.
You can clearly see the orange peel in the area the open garage door is reflected off of:
The trunk lid also has noticable orange peel while the hood is practically flawless.