Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a multicoat refinish, in which process a metallic basecoat is applied by spraying to the pretreated old finish and dried and then a clearcoat is applied to the basecoat and the clearcoat is dried together with the basecoat. The process is characterized in that the aqueous basecoat composition is applied such thata) in a first spray pass the aqueous basecoat composition is applied to the pretreated area of the old finish until a boundary is reached,b) the area of the old finish coated in step (a) is then coated in a second spray pass with the aqueous basecoat composition,c) steps (a) and (b) of the process are repeated in the region of the old finish which adjoins the previously coated region of the old finish, again until a boundary is reached, andd) process step (c) is carried out until the entire component to be coated is provided with a basecoat.