Polaris metallic, color code 060, includes both Polaris and Polaris PVC-frei. The PVC-frei version was introduced during the 1973 model year, an effort to solve the paint failure issues of the predecessor Polaris metallic paints. "PVC-frei", however, was clearly not an effective solution to the metallic paint crisis. Most of these finishes failed within two to four years of the car's manufacturing date. BMW NA, in 1975-76, was offering to re-paint -- well, have a local body shop re-paint -- the affected areas provided the paint failed within three years of manufacture. This rewarded those owners who did not garage their cars while it punished those owners who garaged their cars. The paint on my '76 -- always garaged -- began failing about four years after its manufacture. BMW NA said "Sorry, Charlie!"
PVC-frei was an early two-stage paint. Many body shops in the mid-‘70’s were unable or unwilling to even attempt a two-stage finish. My dealer, after re-painting the driver’s door above the beltline — scratched when my rear-view mirror was snapped off while the car was parked on a narrow street — returned my then-year-old car with a dead-flat gray panel, surrounded on all sides by the glossy original silver paint. I complained that the dealer’s body shop was returning the car with the panel solely primed. They responded, “No, that’s the Polaris color coat but our body shop can’t deal with the clear coat!” I found a body shop with broader experience.