Does anybody's white diamond paint look splotchy? Or is this typical of white diamond paint?
White Diamond paint splotchy
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I am hoping that nobody took this as a slur against their own personal CTS-V or their choice of color for their car. I am asking because I am looking at a '09 CTS-V in Diamond White, and the side of the car that the sun shines on looks normal but the shade side of the car looks somewhat splotchy, and I am wondering if it is me, or this its typical of Diamond white when not in the sun? I am definitely not slamming anybody's choice of color of their car, nor their ride.
'08 STS-V Sedan Black Formerly three CTS-V's, XLR and STS4N*
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I have noticed this effect on other cars as well. I don't think it is a big deal rather an issue with that type of paint.
Cadillac DTS Lux III 07, DHS 04, Allante 93 06 XLR Platinum
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Diamond white looks different in that it varies with light exposure. One side in the shade will look altogether different in the sun. Diamond white looks the best in full bright sun. I have had 5 Diamond whie cars and none match each other, some variance in model years. Very hard to match in collision repair.Doug-J
I have noticed some areas are lighter than others, depending on how the light hits it. I think they didn't cover some areas as well as others. The paint looks to thin at times. This is probably a common problem on all the white cars. It takes several coats of White Pearl to cover and with all the cut backs, well.........you know. Cecil..........
Mine is definately splotchy -- was just talking to my son about it. Pictures won't do it justice but it is noticible in person. I'll be checking with my service manager in a week or two. Before my '04 Black Raven V1 I had a white diamond Aurora and did not have this problem. Hopefully others will weigh in. Thanks for bringing this up.
I really feel bad about bringing this up, as nobody likes to have their car choices criticized, but it was bothering me. One of the local dealers has a white diamond, maybe grey with titanium inserts interior, auto, beautiful car but when looking at it the other day the passenger side was in the shade and not lit up by the sun, and I thought that I noticed somewhat splotchy paint in the area of the front door. Was definitely a turn-off for me. Broke my heart, as if I have to order one, it was going to be white. Now, no. Probably moving to the thunder grey camp. This definitely looked like it was thin in some areas.
I have a black 09 V and the paint work shows a tremendous amount of orange peel. I noticed it at the dealership but I examined several Cadillacs and the issue appears to be model wide and all colors. I think it reflects mass production painting. It is disappointing especially when I compare it to several of the other black cars I own some of which were painted at the factory but with more hands on work. I suspect too that this reflects part of the price of the car. It is certainly a bargain IMHO.
Jeff
Jeff
I am going to post up something that I really don't want to. I went to the dealer today after work to verify that I was not seeing things the other day.
I looked closely at the passenger side of the diamond white CTS-V, and it does look like the paint is very thin on the passenger front door, a little thin on the passenger side rear door, and then returning to normal thickness towards the rear quarter panel. I went and looked at a diamond white Escalade sitting directly outside in front of the showroom, but outdoors. It showed the same thing, passenger front door very thin, gets better at the rear door, and then returns to normal towards the rear of the car. Not much orange peel on any of the diamond white vehicles, but heavy orange peel on the black CTS-V that they had. I am not very happy with my findings, but I did confirm my suspicions. Not very happy with the results. Are these vehicles painted after assembly by robot? Or are these painted as separate parts by robot & then assembled. I am going back tomorrow and hope that the thunder grey solid roof is still there.
I looked closely at the passenger side of the diamond white CTS-V, and it does look like the paint is very thin on the passenger front door, a little thin on the passenger side rear door, and then returning to normal thickness towards the rear quarter panel. I went and looked at a diamond white Escalade sitting directly outside in front of the showroom, but outdoors. It showed the same thing, passenger front door very thin, gets better at the rear door, and then returns to normal towards the rear of the car. Not much orange peel on any of the diamond white vehicles, but heavy orange peel on the black CTS-V that they had. I am not very happy with my findings, but I did confirm my suspicions. Not very happy with the results. Are these vehicles painted after assembly by robot? Or are these painted as separate parts by robot & then assembled. I am going back tomorrow and hope that the thunder grey solid roof is still there.
I have a silver STS-V and its the same except the side in the sun looks more splotchy. I think its the paint and how it is applied. A few more coats would fix it im sure.
It has little bumps all over it, similar to the surface of an orange.
BTW - I just went out and took a close look at my black Raven copy, and I don't see the orange peel effect at all. And no thin spots either. Anyone else .. ?
Rob
'08 STS-V Sedan Black Formerly three CTS-V's, XLR and STS4N*
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Orange peel is the rough paint surface that really looks like orange peel. It is best seen with light hitting it. Most cars have some of it and it really is indicative of how much time is spent rubbing out the finish. Problem is if the finish is thin then rubbing out will rub through the finish.
Edit Rob beat me to it.
It would be my guess that the reason that you see more orange peel in the black is that it is not a premium paint, and does not have an extra $950 price tag attached to it. I think that black is the only non premium paint and all of the others, diamond white, crystal red, tin or tri-coat blue, and thunder grey, are premium paints and are better processed, and therefore, very little orange peel. Just a guess on my part though. It would also be my guess that the paint jobs turned out at the first of the year are better than they are now in general.
Gary, you may be right although I think the added cost for the other colors is because they are mettalic paints. This incidently is an excellent technique for hiding orange peel as the mettalic flecks in the paint reflect the light and do not allow the eye to perceive the orange peel as easily. Flat paints are much less forgiving especially dark colors.
Jeff
Jeff
I am sure that you are correct, and I also think that the added cost is due to the metallic paint, which has always been more costly, but I think that any manufacturing entity would expect to spend more time avoiding and / or removing any defects that happens with their standard paint. Couple that to the fact that they are not doing real well financially and I think that we see a picture emerging. I would bet that if you go find examples of paint processing done in the first of the year and compare it to examples of their paint process currently, I think that there might be a definite difference. It would be interesting to put individual manufacturing dates to particular cars and compare them. Or month by month. Sort of a visual statistical analysis, if you will.
My White Diamond is "Splotchy". (Built 04/09)
It is most apparent on the side surfaces but not limited to them. To a lesser degree, I can also see it on the trunk, roof and hood.
I wonder if this is the desired effect??
I am not bothered by it, but can see how some would be.
It is most apparent on the side surfaces but not limited to them. To a lesser degree, I can also see it on the trunk, roof and hood.
I wonder if this is the desired effect??
I am not bothered by it, but can see how some would be.
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