BASF updates Fundamentals of Automotive Refinishing document

BASF recently updated versions of its Fundamentals of Automotive Refinishing document for both its Glasurit and R-M brands. 

“BASF Coatings publishes the Fundamental Automobile Refinishing Concepts to provide a clear, consistent guide that supports best practices and warrantable refinishing standards across the collision repair industry,” BASF said in a statement to Repairer Driven News. “This document reinforces the importance of adhering to both BASF Technical Data Sheets and OEM procedures, which together ensure safe, proper, and durable repairs.”

The guide is available in English, French and Spanish. For more information visit here. 

The company follows a structured documentation protocol to ensure the accuracy and relevance of its technical resources, the email says. The document is reviewed by a subject matter expert every six months and updates are made as needed to reflect changes in industry standards, OEM procedures and refinishing technologies. 

“Compiled by the BASF Coatings group,  the guide serves as a trusted reference for refinish procedures,” BASF said its statement. 

It added that the document represents BASF’s position on key refinishing processes. Links to additional resources are included in the document. 

“To ensure repairs meet the highest standards of safety and quality, professionals should always follow OEM repair procedures and use OEM-approved refinish materials,” BASF said in its statement. “For further guidance, resources such as OEM1STOP, I-CAR, BASF Refinish, and OEM websites are recommended. Comprehensive instructions can also be found in the Glasurit and R-M technical manuals.”

The latest edition of the document includes a dedicated section on RADAR and ADAS-related precautions, emphasizing the importance of special formulations and repair planning considerations, BASF said their statement.

“Since the performance of RADAR systems located behind painted car parts can be affected by a variety of factors unrelated to paint, we assume no liability for RADAR functionality of car parts in their entirety,” the document states, “During the refinishing process of a car part with RADAR sensors behind it, it is necessary to follow the instructions of the car manufacturer meticulously. This may include calibration of RADAR systems and/or operation tests before considering a repair completed, depending on OEM recommendations. Thus, please check the respective OEM instructions when doing refinish work where RADAR sensors are involved.” 

BASF says that as refinishing needs evolve, it is vital for collision repair professionals to stay informed and adaptable 

“Advances in vehicle design, regulatory changes, and OEM trends are driving innovation in refinish processes and materials,” BASF says in its statement. 

BASF says notable developments include: 

“Complex OEM Color Palettes: Multi-stage coatings with translucent layers, ultra-fine metallic pigments, and matte finishes require precise replication. Matching these finishes often involves grey-shade undercoats and multi-step applications to achieve accurate color depth and sheen—especially critical for matte coatings, where polishing is not an option.

Surface Preparation and Contamination Control: Ultra-fine finishes demand meticulous surface refinement and cleaning—even on new OEM panels—to prevent visible defects. Matte finishes, in particular, are unforgiving to dust intrusion and surface imperfections, making contamination control essential, and additional panel blending considerations necessary for an undetectable repair.

Regulatory Compliance: As environmental and safety regulations evolve, refinish systems must balance performance, compliance, and efficiency. Ongoing training and awareness are key to achieving OEM-accurate repairs in today’s collision industry.”

Refinishing today is more technical than ever, BASF says in their statement. 

“Following OEM and BASF technical procedures not only ensures customer safety but also supports your reputation by delivering beautiful, long-lasting repairs,” the statement says

A critical safety note in the document that isn’t necessarily new but continues to be essential industry guidance involves the structural glass pinch weld area, the statement said. 

“Basecoat and clearcoat must not be applied to any structural glass pinch weld area if it has been repaired and bare metal is present,” the statement says. “This protocol ensures proper glass adhesion and maintains the structural integrity of the repair, in full compliance with OEM procedures.”

The 24-page document covers an extensive amount of topics under the categories preparation and undercoats, topcoats and finishing. 

Preparation and undercoats breaks down into ten different subsections spanning the refinishing of previously painted vehicles, OEM or aftermarket primed parts, flexible/non-metal parts, non-metal (plastic, composite) substrates, aluminum parts, molding/trim removal, masking, interior and underside, glass adhesion and use of greyshades. 

Topcoats is divided into ten sections focused on blending and or tinting for color match, three-stage and translucent finishes, let-down panels, special color processes, bumper color facts, repair size variances, clearcoat blending, matte clearcoat, RADAR and ADAS, hybrid and electric vehicle bake temperatures. 

Finishing has two sections focused on polishing and color sanding and wax, ceramic coating, decals and vehicle wraps after refinishing.

BASF at SEMA

John Shoemaker and Phil Knapp, of BASF, will be holding Society of Collision Repair Specialists Repairer Driven Education session during SEMA this year. 

The session “Unlock Hidden Profit: Leverage Missed Operations, Materials and Labor to Transform Your Refinish Department” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

“Maximizing paint profitability in a collision shop involves several key components that play crucial roles in the process,” summary of the session says. “Many managers and owners only look at the cost of paint compared to their sale to determine if they are profitable or not. There are a wide range of factors that are overlooked that affect paint department profitability and are not used as ways to create or track incremental improvement.”

The summary says that understanding where to identify missed opportunities can allow a more conscious approach and allows managers to provide the tools and resources to better-assess vehicle damage, identify necessary tasks performed and products used in the refinish process and to more easily communicate these processes with customers, insurers and members of the repair team.

The inner workings of the refinish P-pages to learn how to fully document refinish requirements.

• • How different finishes require different paint processes and learn that if they are not followed correctly can create waste through rework and excess product usage.
  • How reporting can monitor mixing accuracy, identify training requirements, detect process deviation and spot mixing waste that reduces paint profitability.
  • Unique processes and varied liquid costs that require accounting for the additional materials required. 

For more information about the Repairer Driven Education sessions or to register for the event visit here. 

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