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Hey guys, I've been searching the net and the forum and can't find any answers so I'm going to throw the question out to you:

With matte black and satin paint, is there a different process to looking after the paint?

See, I've heard a lot of talk amongst friends and forum goers about this int he past. I keep hearing how matte/satin look great but are a pain in the ass to keep that way. They're prone to accidental polish when washing and coming up with glossy streaks in through the flat finish.
I can say with experience that I've personally seen a friends Datsun burnout car up close and it's painted complete flat black. However there are parts in the paint where the eucalyptus tree in the backyard has grazed against it over night with the dew and rain and has managed to leave a streak in the paint that has up up glossy.
I know that you can't polish matte paint (defeating the purpose of it if you did) but what kind of treatment does one have to keep in mind to keep it a consistent flat colour?

There is flat paint and there is flat paint. By that I mean, done properly it has that amazing dull plastic finish. Conversely, done poorly it looks like primer...
The reason I I ask is because I need to respray the hardtop and pillars soon and this is one of the options.
I'm looking for a finish like this http://www.rpmgo.com/images/bmw_m5_tuni ... _black.jpg I really love that smooth vinyl look!!!
here is another pic http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/320 ... 854873.jpg

But if it's going to be a pain in the ass to keep pretty, then I'll just stick with a factory low sheen black like the strip at the bottom of our doors.

You might be enamoured with a matt finish but you will be joining a short queue and devaluing the car. I would imagine that the best way to maintain a grunge look is to do nothing. Paints will over a long period dull off from weathering. Best plan is go and talk to a auto paint supplier ie ones who actually understand products and pricesses and ask for advice or someone like PPG may be able to tell you.

Mat paint on cars is almost impossible to keep looking as you intend it to, as every little scratch or abrahsion becomes a shiny mark.
Every time you wash the car, the dirt will also cause swirls and scratches and these are VERY noticeable on mat finished paint.
Sorry to say, but mat finished paints are only for show cars that never get dríven.

However, there is a good way around this, and this is to use a plastic film applied over the paintwork in the desired colour and finish.
The mat finish will stand up to a lot more abuse than mat paint, and when you get sick of it, as you inevitably will, you can then just peel it off and start from scratch again.
Many signwriters can supply and fit it for you, and you can even have logos etc printed on the vinyl before you stick it on, to give it a very personalised look.

If you do have mat paint on your car, then the best way to get rid of shiny marks is to use a fine sandpaper to scuff out the shiny bits.
However, you also run the risk of the sanded section still looking different to the rest of the car.

Yeah thanks guys! Yeah Benny I was considering the vinyl wrap route after seeing a BMW having the same treatment http://www.e90post.com/forums/attachmen ... 1271656698

That's what I really want on the hardtop! Thinking though, where can I actually get this done? It looks like a pain in the ass with the hardtop considering it's all one item and can't be done in sections.