Glass Top Fading???
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 54
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
Glass Top Fading???
I recently purchased a 2000 C5 Coupe and it came with both tops. However, a 1 foot section from front to back of the finish is faded. It reminds me of the way a car looks with old faded paint. I'm curious if there is a process to polish this out or how to make it look better? I wanted to simply wax it, but I'm not famaliar with the make-up of the top and didn't want to make something any worse than it already is. I searched the forums but the best info I could find was stuff on the glass top flakes. Thanks in advance for the help!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 2
From: Simpsonville SC
They are all like that. I have one and it did the same thing. I bought a new top from another C5 owner and I tried to sand mine down and polish it. IT DID NOT WORK! Some guys have succesfuly polished them out. I have a glass top that is pretty much ruined, I might can get it painted but it doesnt last very long. Your best bet is to find out who exchanges them and buy the new one. There is a company out there who will take your old top and sell you a refurbished one for a pretty good price. Sorry I dont know who the company is, hopefully someone will chim in and tell you. Good Luck Man!!! 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 9
From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by CPapin
I recently purchased a 2000 C5 Coupe and it came with both tops. However, a 1 foot section from front to back of the finish is faded. It reminds me of the way a car looks with old faded paint. I'm curious if there is a process to polish this out or how to make it look better? I wanted to simply wax it, but I'm not famaliar with the make-up of the top and didn't want to make something any worse than it already is. I searched the forums but the best info I could find was stuff on the glass top flakes. Thanks in advance for the help!
Last edited by tsts; Aug 3, 2006 at 09:53 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Brian,... thanks for the info. I had a guess that polishing isn't possible.
Tim... I'm suprised this has happened to many different people. Sounds like something GM should handle if it is very common, but I guess we won't see that will we.
Thanks to everyone for the advice!
Tim... I'm suprised this has happened to many different people. Sounds like something GM should handle if it is very common, but I guess we won't see that will we.
Thanks to everyone for the advice!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 993
Likes: 0
From: PA
I ran a poll a couple of years ago and it should almost 25% experienced the delamination of the Lexan.
No, it can't be polished out. GM is not interested in fixing the issue, but they will sell you a new top
. LOL
No, it can't be polished out. GM is not interested in fixing the issue, but they will sell you a new top
. LOL
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Has anyone noticed on there glass top little scratches all over it . It looks almost like it's ready to shatter. You can see it really bad when the sun shines on it but the scratches don't connect and you can't feel them on the top itself it's like there in the middle layer of the top.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette CA
I was able to sand and polish mine out. Started with 200 grit sandpaper and graduated up to 2000 grit, then fine polishing compound (swirl mark remover). You need to WET sand it. It's not perfect, but a whole lot better than it was! Looks great from 10 feet away, but you can still see some fine sanding marks up close. But it was a whole lot of work, too!
I'll eventually paint this top, since I don't have a painted top for it, and buy a used glass top off the forum or e-bay. Seems like the going price for like-new glass tops is about $500 -$600. About the same price as the exchange services, but you don't have to send your top off and wait for it to come back.
Good luck!
Dave
I'll eventually paint this top, since I don't have a painted top for it, and buy a used glass top off the forum or e-bay. Seems like the going price for like-new glass tops is about $500 -$600. About the same price as the exchange services, but you don't have to send your top off and wait for it to come back.
Good luck!
Dave
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 269
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From: Shawnee OK
I was told the heat from having the glass top on in the summer is what causes the cracking look in the top. they said the glass top was only a winter top. mine is the original from 99 and still looks olmost perfect but it doesnt see the heat very often either
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
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From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by TioSterling
I was told the heat from having the glass top on in the summer is what causes the cracking look in the top. they said the glass top was only a winter top. mine is the original from 99 and still looks olmost perfect but it doesnt see the heat very often either
