E30 clear coat--how soft?

[stevehecht]

I have been going on the assumption that the older the car the softer the clear coat. Only because the new bimmers have hard ceramic-based coats. Just how soft ARE our clear coats? It makes a difference when choosing which polish to use on the car. For instance the Menzerna are supposed to be designed for the ceramic based coats while a product like Optimum Finish Polish is indicated for older, softer paints. (They are both light polishes.)

[StereoInstaller1]

Most E30 colors are single stage.

[John in VA]

If your clear-coat hasn't already flaked, crazed or peeled, I would categorize the original as fragile or hard after 20+ years. Be careful!

[TrentW]

Only the metallic colors are clear coated from the factory.

[stevehecht]

If your clear-coat hasn't already flaked, crazed or peeled, I would categorize the original as fragile or hard after 20+ years. Be careful!

hey John...fancy meeting you here. So stick with mild/medium cut polishes and no yellow pads. I've used an orange pad with a medium cut polish and it worked out OK. But I will be careful. Didn't know the paint is single stage.

[StereoInstaller1]

Pretty much all, but the metallic colors are base/clear