Are C5 Door Handles Painted Differently?

[Choreo]

I bought my 2001 new, but it appears to me that the door handles have a "softer" paint on them (both sides)... it is right? Did they use a different paint or process? They also react different than the door panels when buffing out on my car.

[DUB]

Originally Posted by Choreo

I bought my 2001 new, but it appears to me that the door handles have a "softer" paint on them (both sides)... it is right? Did they use a different paint or process? They also react different than the door panels when buffing out on my car.

I do not know for sure...but I do know that the door handles are plastic...which GENERALLY requires a different process/materials so the paint will adhere properly. And knowing GM...they do not apply al lot of paint anyway. And with GM knowing that these door handles are high use items...they may have decided to keep tha paint film to a minimum so any excessive paint film would not effect the operation or function of the handle...and possibly cause paint to scuff off. I would not treat them the same as the other exterior panels if you are buffing aggressively with compound...and this may also include your outside mirrors. Your clear is thin enough from the factory...so be careful on how much you buff/polish the finish with compounds that have a lot of "cutting" power....or you may start the "milking-out" or "clouding" of the clear...which is the beginning of the end for the clearcoat being able to protect the basecoat from the UV's from the sun. I generally stay away from the handles with a buffer and polish them by hand when detailing out one after repairs/painting...unless I have re-painted/cleared the door handles in the process.

"DUB"

[Choreo]

Originally Posted by DUB

I generally stay away from the handles with a buffer and polish them by hand when detailing out one after repairs/painting...unless I have re-painted/cleared the door handles in the process.

"DUB"

Sounds like good advice.

[Bill Dearborn]

Not sure how they would have handled things so they could paint them differently. Everything on the car goes down the paint booth conveyor at the same time so the colors on every visible part of the car are the same. I believe the C5 video that came with the car shows the paint process.

Bill

[TCW]

For what it's Worth, I've owned two C5s and the door handles on either one of them matched the body color perfectly. Neither car had been wrecked.

These door handles were "parts bin" door handles. They were used on many GM cars at the time.

Tom