The results of investigations on the thermal stability of selected automobile finishing metallic lacquers are reported. Thermal analysis and pyrolysis techniques have been used to study the degradation behaviour and to determine the residual quantity of ash. The samples were decomposed in air and additionally pyrolysed in nitrogen atmosphere at a tempeature of 450-degrees-C and different residence times by use of a modified Bayer-ICI-Shell (BIS) combustion apparatus. The qualitative and quantitative investigations of the decomposition or pyrolysis products were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).