Ls 430 Paint Problems

[viscorad]

Has anyone else had problems with the paint finishes on the LS 430 model?

I have a 01' which has NEVER been in the snow or salt and has always been garaged.

The paint defects were first noticed about 6 months after the care was purchased and are getting progressively WORSE.

Unfortunately, I live in a more remote area and the nearest dealer is 4 hrs away. The salesperson from the original dealership has contacted Lexus (muliple times) and I was supposed to be receiving emails and phone call, which have NEVER materialized. :whistles:

Initiall, the dealership claimed "ACID RAIN". Well. I have a 98 Dodge Ram diesel that has NEVER been in the garage and is used to plow my driveway and head into the north woods.............and it has a BETTER paint appearance than my LS.............help.

Are there other owner out there with a similiar experience??????????

[VBdenny]

Ouch, well all I can say is that the paint on my pearl white 90 LS 400 is still perfect. Sounds like Lexus is using Ford paint now. What color is the paint? and where are you?

[viscorad]

Sorry,

I thought I put the color in my earlier post.

It is Black...............hey I know black is tough to keep looking good, but I've had OTHER black vehicles without a problem.

The vehicle is in Northern Michigan.

I guess I should have bought the S500 or the 740il.

What interests me is the TOTAL lack of interest on the part of Lexus in addressing the issue............let alone a solution.

Mechanically this vehicle is awesome...........blew away a new Impala SS. You should have seen the look on the young guy"s face when he was "walked" by a 40 something in a LS!!!

[SW03ES]

Its not a problem across the board, just an isolated issue. What type of paint defects are we talking about, and can you take some pictures. I might be able to help you.

[viscorad]

Steve,

It's funny you asked for pics, I just took a few today while detailing the care. I will download them tonight and see how they come out.

The defects look like little bubbles where the paint is missing right down to the metal (1-3mms). Yes, I have a few rock chips and scratches (who doesn't ?). But rock marks usually leave a scratch on the hood, especially near the curve of the hood. These chips are back further on the hood.............it would have had to "rain" stones. Also the deck has similar defects.

The small areas where the paint is missing leaves small whitish defects.

Love the car..........hate the finish. The wife also has a white Lx 470 which we love. It has more miles than my LS and the paint finish is perfect. She drives the same roads I do AND drives during the winter with ice/snow and all the rest of the garbage on the roads. It makes no sense why my LS looks the way it does.

If you have any valuable info. I can be reached @ Viscorad@voyager.net

regards

[SW03ES]

I got your pictures via email.

From what I have experienced with Lexus paint is that it is in reality quite brittle. That is, it isn't as resistant to chipping as other finishes from other manufacturers. I've seen this with my father's 98 LS400 and with my own ES300. It is interesting that you aren't noticing this as much with your wife's LX470. Is it possible that since it leaves a whiteish defect in the paint you're not noticing it as much on the LX? The primer is whitish, which makes it stand out like hell I know (mine is almost black).

Where does the car sit out during the day? Away from any trees or such? There's no possibility that it could be prone to hits by say acorns? Or something of that nature? How does the roof look? In all honesty, you'd be really surprised where rocks can come into contact with the paint on a car. Generally what I've seen of Lexus paint is that its more easily chipped by rocks, which could explain why you're seeing chipping where you'd never noticed it before. I recall seeing some chips on the rear deck of my father's LS, attributed by an independant body shop to the brittle nature of the paint.

I can steer you in the direction of some products, which may not remedy the problem but will definately help you live with it. One, is a product called "Xpel" which can be installed by your dealer, or plenty of other type places just run a search for it on the web. Its a superthin clear bra that is applied to the front of the car to resist chipping by stones and such. Its expensive, but helpful. May not be so much what you're looking for because the main % of your issues aren't with the front.

Another is a great paint touchup device called the Autosharp Pen. Its colormatched touchup paint that is inside an easy to use, precise pen. May make you more able to hide those blemishes. www.autosharppen.com

Moreover though, don't let up on Lexus. Keep calling the customer service line. Eventally they'll dispatch someone to your home to examine the car. While they may not pay for it, they'll at leas help you find out whats causing it. It has to be coming in contact with something somewhere. Acid Rain couldn't possibly cause that much damage. You'd have to pour pure acid on it to go all the way to the metal...

[jzz30]

try and put your truck in the garage and see what happens :P maybe theres something in your garage thats doing it? just a suggestion

[VMF]

i have a 96 Ls and 91 legend, paint on legend is much brighter then on LS, plus i got some overspray on LS after repaining my fender, any1 knows how to get rid of it? compound and clay bar helped, but i still got some left

[SW03ES]

try and put your truck in the garage and see what happens :P maybe theres something in your garage thats doing it? just a suggestion

Hell, you never know.

[viscorad]

Thanks for all the (helpful) feedback,

I guess what I am really looking for..............Am I the only one with this problem or other 01' LS owners (?black paint?) experiencing similar problems.

Steve, you say it's NOT a problem "across the board". I guess I would like to hear from other owners of the same vehicle that THEY are not having the same concers about their finishes.

Thanks again, I'll keep looking for feedback from other owners as well. B)

p.s. as for the suggestion to put the Dodge in the garage...............it took it one further............I put the dog out there............he seems fine except for the "spots"...........but then again he is a German shorthair!!

[SPRUCE SC300]

I have owned 4 Lexus's and have never come accross a paint problem.

They must be using FORD paint now.

Hey There’s always Mako or Earl Schwibe..

Good luck!

[SW03ES]

I have a Ford with 140,000 miles, and my paint is perfect ;)

I've seen MANY LS430s, both back when I was considering getting an 01, just in parking lots and stuff, I know several owners and yours is the first instance of this I've seen/heard about.