Not all paints are created equal. Back during the days of the horse-drawn carriage, paints used natural bases, of which linseed oil comes to mind. In the 1920s, that all changed with the nitrocellulose lacquer paints of the DuPont Corporation. The automotive industry started using alkyd enamel paints in the 1930s. Three decades later, acrylic enamel paints would improve on the preceding formulation with significantly better durability.
Acrylic enamel also enabled a wider palette of colors. Automotive paints leveled up once again in the 1970s with the basecoat method, which is better known as clearcoat. As implied, a transparent layer of clearcoat seals the actual paint for improved protection against the elements. Universally adopted in the 1990s, the basecoat method applies to the most expensive paints offered by automakers today.
Enter matte paints, which are better described as matte paint finishes. The secret to achieving a matte finish is to use a low-gloss clearcoat referred to as – prepare to be disappointed – a matte clearcoat. Said type of clearcoat features a micro-rough finish that reduces the reflected light and sheen. Obviously enough, the matte aesthetic does come at a premium over satin, semi-gloss, and gloss paint finishes.
Photo: BMW
Take, for instance, BMW. As per the US configurator, non-metallic paints don't cost a single cent over the retail price of the M4 Coupe. Selecting a metallic paint such as Portimao Blue Metallic adds $650 to the final price. Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic, on the other hand, is $3,600 because of the Frozen bit, which is the Bavarian company's vernacular for matte.
It doesn't have to be this expensive, though. Over at Kia, the EV6 can be optioned in Steel Matte Gray for a far more reasonable $695. It should come as no surprise that sister brand Hyundai offers the Ioniq 5 in matte as well. At the moment of writing, Gravity Gold Matte and Shooting Star Matte both cost $1,000.
Given that matte finishes are the most expensive of the lot, it's only natural to assume that they're the hardest to take care of. As Jeremy Clarkson said on multiple occasions on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, how hard can it be? Turns the out the short answer is not that hard, really!
Never use automatic car washes
Photo: Hyundai
Admit it, you saw this one coming from a mile away. Be it a roll-over or a conveyor-type system, don't ever go to an automatic car wash with your matte-finish vehicle. Going to a conventional car wash and instructing the car washer not to use brushes or sponges on the paint isn't feasible either. Brushes and sponges cause uneven shiny spots. These spots defeat the purpose of a matte-finish paint job.
The resulting damage is costly to repair, which is why automakers that offer matte paints recommended the human touch over the automatic option. In case of damage, you will have to pay top dollar to paint the entire body panel rather than just the problem area.
Repainting a matte-finish panel also presents a problem in the form of the clearcoat mixture. Obtaining the correct degree and type of sheen is especially difficult, and it's even more so when you remember that your vehicle was likely painted by a robot. Worse still, not all bodywork and paint shops out there have or know what a gloss meter is used for.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG
Alas, you're left with two choices. You can either do it yourself or turn to Google for a professional who has the required utensils and know-how. Speaking of utensils, a soft wash mitt is preferred. As for the know-how, the number one rule is to rub gently. Before using the wash mitt, you should remove insect remains and other yucky stuff using a microfiber applicator pod. Use waffle weave towels for drying. Microfiber towels do the trick as well.
Most commercially available car wash soaps feature wax and oils that amplify gloss. In combination with matte paint, you can expect semi-gloss splotches. The way to go is a matte-specific formulation, which does cost more than soaps intended for glossy paint. Pressure washing should be done with pressures no greater than 2,500 pounds per square inch and fan tip-style nozzles held at 10 inches (250 mm) or more away from the paintwork.
What about quick spot cleaning for tree sap, road debris, or bird poop? Just spray the area with water to remove loose debris, then the cleaning product. You'll have to pick between matte paint cleanser, alcohol-based window cleaner, a solution made of 50 percent alcohol and 50 percent deionized water, tar remover, or road debris solvent. Spray the cleaning product on a microfiber towel, wipe lightly to remove debris, dry the area, and that's that!
Don't use traditional waxes and never polish
Photo: Alfa Romeo
We could talk about automotive waxes for ages, but as far as matte paint finishes are concerned, traditional waxes spoil the matte effect. While it makes sense on glossy finishes, regular wax fills in the imperfections of the matte finish, thus creating a shiny surface.
Rubbing compound, polishers, or mechanical cleaners shouldn't be used either. The same goes for detail spray or any other product made for normal paint. While on the subject of don’ts, the list of prohibited items further includes paper towels, cloth, and terry cloth.
For matte paint protection, you should treat your vehicle with specialized products such as OPAQUE matte paint wax from Swissvax and matte paint ceramic coating from Dr. Beasley's. Regarding their pricing points, make that $69 for 1.7 ounces (50 ml) of wax and a further $50 for 2 ounces (60 ml) of ceramic coating. Paint protection film is a good idea as well, but only if said film preserves the matte finish of the paint. To this effect, consider 3M Scotchgard Pro Series Matte Film or something similar.
What about matte vinyl wraps?
Photo: OCDetailing on YouTube
Matte-finish wraps also require a bit of attention. Similar to matte paints, vinyl wraps with a matte finish should be washed using the two-bucket system to eliminate contamination. Matte car wash soap and a soft mitt are recommended. Drying with compressed air minimizes abrasion, but waffle weave and microfiber towels work just as well. As long as you don't forget about the light wiping rule, that is.
If you're thinking about wrapping your vehicle in matte vinyl wrap, the 3M Series 2080 Wrap Film should be on your shortlist. The Maplewood-based colossus offers 2080 wrap film in a multitude of colors and in a variety of flavors, including satin and color flip.
The 2080 builds on the 1080 in a number of ways, chief among which is the protective film layer on the surface. Unfortunately, matte-finish wraps from the 2080 series don't feature said protective layer. In any case, choosing the pricier 2080 also gets you an improved MCS Warranty over the 1080, namely up to eight years of protection on vertical applications and up to three on horizontal applications.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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