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General Tech Paint cost

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I totally agree with using clear over metallic and graphics. I do hate the way it fails with age. Tiny blisters formed on my hood scoop and tag light on the '04 Cooper S. I painted the scoop satin black and put a chrome trim piece on the tag light. Now I see a few starting on my front bumper. This is a car that has been kept outside and driven for ten years so it's not too bad. But I will be faced with a respray if it keeps this up. Mini uses water based paint. In contrast my 1999 Japanese made Nissan Pathfinder is silver and has no blisters. I'm sure it was painted with solvent based paints. The paint was started to just wear away. It also has been kept outside for 15 years.
 
Hot Wings said:
Clear coat has an undeserved bad reputation. Sure there are a lot of flaking clear coat paint jobs out there. Most of them are from manufacturers and flat rate body shops. If you want a solid color then maybe clear coat isn't the best option. But when you decide on a metallic color clear coat is IMHO by far the best option, even considering durability and repair-ability. If the painter knows (and understands) his product chemistry and applies things properly the clear coat won't flake. This assumes the use of quality paint products.

My Bugeye will not be clear coated but if I had chosen a metallic color, 2 tone, or stripes, I wouldn't hesitate to use a base coat/clear coat system - and I hate to do things twice.
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Most of our cars never had metallic paint and restoring them to factory colors eliminates that factor. You don't need clear coat on solid color paint when it's applied properly. PJ
 
PAUL161 said:
You don't need clear coat on solid color paint when it's applied properly. PJ
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Very true. In fact for a solid color, if you are like me, a clear coat just doesn't look right. A solid color with clear looks kind of - "fake". But if you don't care about original and want a metallic or pearl......
 
Thanks for the feedback. I will go without clear coat based on your comments. This makes things easier and less costly
 
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