Can anyone tell me if my car had/does have a clearcoat?

[e325i]

I just bought my first e30, an 89 325i in CirrusBlue Metallic? I think its called. Anyways, I just washed it last night and it looks like a flat color, very dull and "dry" looking. Do you think it just needs a wax/buff or did the car just not get cleared, like it was a single stage paint job?

Thanks

[AndrewBird]

Some e30s came in single stage, but I"m not sure which colors. Someone should chime in.

From the sound of it, it's probably single stage and is just faded/oxidized. A good cut/polish should bring it back to life if it isn't too bad.

[VAPORBLADE]

FWIW my SCHWARTZ 1987 325e had no clear on it. I almost think my SCHWARTZ 89is has none as well.

[Dustin]

being a metallic, i would assume it has a clear, but maybe not. bmw didn't always do things perfectly.. can you see clear flaking in any places? that's a dead giveaway right there. if it's just oxidized and fading, hit it with a cutting/polishing compound, then claybar it, wax it, glaze it, and seal it.

[monty]

Get yourself some rubbing compound, rub out a spot, if color shows up on the rag or what ever you use its single stage, if not it's clear coat.

[Bill-B]

How about sterling silber

[Schniddy]

My 87 325e has clear

[JasonC]

My 87 325e has clear

My schwarz 87 325es don't have a clear on it.

[doucy2]

this is my car now, can anyone link me to a good walkthru of reviving the paint, and give me some suggestions of products you have found to work well.

[GaryE30]

I would say get some car polish and go at it then a couple of nice coats of wax. Of course all of this is preceded by a nice wash.

[Van Westervelt]

Nearly all metallic paints are going to have clear coat. Most non metallic paints are going to be single stage. People do mess up on resprays though.

All Schwarz cars should have no clearcoat. If it does, its been repainted.

[BmwEvoSport]

Its true , the only colors that did not have clear coats on them are , all non metallic colors , Black. White and Red , all the other ones did , you can not do a single stage metallic color and still have a high gloss, In the late 80's there was a option from the factory to have clear on some of the no metallic colors if the car was ordered , but it was a 600.00 option if i can remember.

[rodrigo]

this afternoon i washed my car and then went ahead and tried rubbing out some dark spots from being under a tree. i applied a heavy granular rubbing compound and went to town until my arms were exhausted...no color residue on the applicator pad, nor the buffing cloth.

mine is a '89 Cirrusblau-Metallic 325i...and mne also suffers from the same 'dry, flat' syndrome on the paint.

tomorrow, im going to town with a wheel! :D

[Van Westervelt]

All metallics are clear coated. Clearcoat is near impossible to "bring" back in most rough forms. You have to reshoot it.

[rodrigo]

All metallics are clear coated. Clearcoat is near impossible to "bring" back in most rough forms. You have to reshoot it.

that sucks...guess im going to have to spring for a repaint at some point, then :(