2006 In Body Shop - Are Plastic Body Panels Clearcoated?

[dalemccl]

My 4 week old Lava montone Vibe is in the dealer's body shop because someone backed into it in a parking lot. The damage is to the drivers side on the plastic piece that goes around the rear wheel, the cladding at the bottom of the car that runs from front to back, and to the rear 17" aluminum wheel. The dealer's body shop is replacing the piece that goes around the wheel and repairing the slight damage to the cladding. They say they will clearcoat these parts after painting them. I read in this forum that the plastic panels on the Vibe are not clearcoated at the factory. Does anyone know for sure? I am concerned that if they clearcoat pieces that were not clearcoated at the factory, the finish will not match the rest of the plastic on the car.Second question: regarding the damage to one of the 17" aluminum wheels (it has abrasions that got slightly into the aluminum). They say they are sending the wheel out for machining and re-powdercoating. If they machine a little aluminum off the wheel to eliminate the abrasions, it would seem like it would then weigh slightly less than the other 3 wheels. Is this a problem?

[LUVROK]

I'd ask for a new wheel.But, the material they shave off will be negligible as long as they rebalance the wheel/tire assembly after the tire is mounted on the wheel.

[Lancer]

I had 2 of my wheels repaired because of 'curb rash' (thank's hun! ) Other than the overspray on the inside of the wheel, they look great. Just like new. Your wheel will be rebalanced when they put your tire on after the repairs. So you should be fine. The amount of metal they take off will be very little so there wont be hardly any differance in weight.

[dalemccl]

Thanks for the replies and info regarding the wheel. Does anyone know the answer to my question as to whether the plastic body panels are clearcoated at the factory?

[nuvibe]

Is the lower part of your car the same color as the upper half, if yes then it should be clear coated, if not then they are not clear coated.... nuvibe

[dalemccl]

Quote, originally posted by nuvibe »Is the lower part of your car the same color as the upper half, if yes then it should be clear coated, if not then they are not clear coated.... nuvibeIt is monotone Lava. I'm glad to hear that it is clearcoated. What made me ask the question is that there have been some posts on genvibe that said GM doesn't clearcoat the plastic panels because they are flexible and a slight bump that is not hard enough to damage the panel could cause a visible crack in the clearcoat if it was clearcoated.

[nuvibe]

The other way to really make sure is take a little sand paper in an area where nobody can see and sand it just to see if it come's the color of the car, or if it's clear/coated. Color not clear coated, White is clear coated... nuvibe

[dalemccl]

Thanks nuvibe I will try that on the plastic side panels. Based on that test about paint coming off, I am pretty sure the bumpers aren't clearcoated because the first time I washed and waxed the car and rubbed a little too hard on the front bumper, my white polishing cloth ended up with red on it (my car is Lava red).The theory of not clearcoating so it doesn't crack with a slight bump makes sense for the bumpers, but not the side panels. I suspected the side panels are clearcoated, but I will check when I get the car back from the body shop.

[scherry2]

there is no clear coat on your vibe. on the plastic or the metal parts.