Abstract: An aqueous composition for pretreating and depositing a coating on metal substrates is provided. The coating composition includes from about 1,500 to about 55,000 ppm based on the aqueous composition of a Group IIA dissolved metal ion, from about 100 to about 200,000 ppm based on the aqueous composition of a dissolved complex metal fluoride ion wherein the metal atom is selected from Group IIIA, Group IVA, Group IVB metals, Group VA, Group VB metals; and water. The composition is substantially free of Group IIA metal fluoride precipitate. This is desirably achieved by including in the aqueous composition a complex metal salt which is different than the salt associated with the complex metal fluoride ion, with the complex metal salt being capable of complexing free fluoride ions to prevent a precipitation reaction with the Group IIA metal ion. A method of preparing such an aqueous coating composition is further provided.