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Curiosity Insight

Curiosity Insight

Learning never exhausts the mind

How to Measure Paint Thickness on a Car?

September 4, 2020 By Miranda Jackson Leave a Comment

When measuring automotive paint, it is important to know that every car manufacturer uses a factory reference value for the paint thickness of their vehicles. The thickness of the original paint may even differ depending on the component of the car, for example, the thickness of the original paint the hood, not necessarily correspond to the thickness of the mudguard.

Basically, for most car manufacturers:

The standard thickness of the original paint on most car components is approximately 70 – 250 μm. For newer vehicles, the standard thickness can even be up to 400 microns. The original paintwork of the manufacturer may have a deviation of up to 40 μm at different points of the same vehicle component (e.g. mudguard). This is considered normal and is acceptable.

Car brand Model Paint thickness [μm]
Audi A5, A6, A7, A8
Q3, Q5, Q7
100
114-147
BMW X1
X3, M6, 5
X5, X6
5 (E60)
110
89-100
120-165
130-165
BYD F3 100
Chery Amulet
Tiggo
110-120
105
Chevrolet Lanos, Aveo
Captiva, Epica
Niva, Spark
Lacetti, Cruze
75-150
90-100
94-98
110-140
Citroen С5
С4
С3
110-130
75-125
90-120
Daewoo Nexia
Matiz
95-115
110
FIAT Albea
Punto
115-130
111
ford Explorer, Kuga
Focus
Mondeo
135-145
156-160
119-127
Geely MK
Otaka
80-100
75-80
Honda Accord 7
Civic 4D
Fit, CR-V
130-145
100-135
87-98
Hyundai Accent, IX 35
I30,
Santa Fe I40 , Elantra
Solaris, Sonata
Tucson
70-75
100-110
70-100
85-100
90-130
Infiniti FX35 116
Kia Sportage , Cerato
Picanto , Rio, Soul
Venga , Optima
Sorento , Cee’d
110-120
100-110
120-125
100-105
Lexus RX, ES, LX
CT, GX, LS
140-145
125-150
Mazda CX-7, CX-5
3, 6
85-120
110-130
Mercedes Benz C, E
GL, ML
230-250
90-110
Mitsubishi Lancer , Pajero
L200, Outlander XL
ASX
90-125
53-75
70
Nissan X- Trail , Patrol
Juke , Qashqai
Murano
Tiida , Navara
Pathfinder
Almera , Teana
75-120
110-125
95
105-115
100-110
130-150
Opel Astra ( Turbo, GTC )
Corsa, Zafira
110-157
115-120
Peugeot 308, 508, 3008
4008
Occasions
100-115
58-61
98
Renault Logan, Koleos
Fluence , Megne
Duster, Sandero
55-120
100-140
105-115
Skoda Octavia, Roomster
Fabia, Yeti, Superb
120-125
99-120
SsangYong Kyron 100-110
Subaru Forester, Legacy
Imprezza , Outback
Tribeca
110-115
125-140
120
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Splash , SX4, Swift
77-94
90-115
Toyota LC 200, Camry
Avensis , Highlander
Auris , Verso
Corolla
LC Prado
Prius , Rav4
110-130
80-120
110
106
77-93
80-90
Volkswagen Passat new
Multivan Highline
Golf, Polo, Jetta
Touareg , Tiguan
120-140
90-135
80-105
70-85
Volvo S 60
S 60 II
110-130
95-115

How do I know if it has been repainted?

If the deviation of the car paint thickness amounts to approx. 200 μm at different points of the same component (e.,g. mudguard), repainting can be assumed. Repaired or repainted areas usually have a paint thickness of 250 μm or more. With the help of the coating thickness gauges on amazon.com, such places can be “unmasked” in no time.

We hope we could help you with this short description. In case of doubt, we recommend looking directly at Google for your car model to find out which exact standard thickness the manufacturer uses for the original finish.

On which values can I orient myself?

The following table shows the thickness of paints according to car brands. These are rough empirical values that we have measured over the years on various vehicles.

With a car paint thickness gauge, the thickness or thickness of the paint layer and filler layer can be measured in μm (microns). The result provides valuable information on the condition of the paint – original, trowelled and newly painted or thin – as well as the paint surface, e.g. for a pending car polish with the polishing machine.

The following guide values can be used to assess the condition of the paint or the coating structure:

  • Paint layer thickness up to 100 μm: the paint layer is too thin
  • Coating layer thickness 100-200 μm: Original lacquer layer
  • Coating layer thickness 200-300 μm: The original paint was repainted
  • Coating layer thickness 300-600 μm: a thin layer of filler and newly painted
  • Paint layer thickness 600-750 μm: Thickness of filler layer and newly painted

With a car paint meter, there is no hidden repair and repainting – for more safety when buying used cars. A repainted vehicle does not have to be qualitatively inferior, but you should know before it’s been repainted.

Further possible use of this paint meter:

Material detection under the paint layer (sheet steel: magnetic, aluminum and plastic: non-magnetic). In particular, before the vehicle polish information about the substrate of the paint layer is important – to optimally adjust the polishing process and to avoid surface damage. Due to the magnetic function of the car paint thickness gauge, plastics and aluminum are immediately recognized (non-magnetic, indicator paint thickness gauge 0).

The identification of the paint underlay can take into account important parameters in vehicle polishing:

  • Different temperature recordings of the painted base material: sheet steel, aluminum, plastic
  • Temperature development of the material during polishing: Excessively high temperature or too rapid temperature development involves the risk of blistering on the paint surface, “tearing” of the paint surface from the painted base material and polishing through (in particular in the case of edges). Furthermore threatened structural changes of the painted surface in too hot or too hot polishing (so-called “frog formation”).

Background knowledge on the painted basic material:

  • Steel sheet: very good temperature absorption. The temperatures on the paint surface should not rise above 50 degrees when polishing, in exceptional cases, 70 degrees are possible in the short term. Deformations of the material due to excessive polishing temperatures (“frog formation”) usually revert to their original form (memory effect).
  • Aluminum (non-magnetic): Good temperature recording. The temperatures on the paint surface should not exceed 50 degrees during polishing. Deformations (“frog formation”) are no longer reflected in the original form.
  • Plastic (non-magnetic): Poor temperature recording. The temperatures on the paint surface should not exceed 50 degrees when polishing, with edges this value is already critical. There is a risk of blistering of the paint surface, “tearing” of the paint surface of the painted plastic surface and polishing (the greatest danger with edges, e.g., on front and rear aprons).

Filed Under: Science & Technology, Topics

About Miranda Jackson

I am a chemistry researcher and research various household products to make life easier and enjoyable for people around the world.

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