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Author Topic: How do I get a good paint match?  (Read 5040 times)

Offline xxx_mojo_xxx

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How do I get a good paint match?
« on: April 10, 2009, 11:08:02 am »
Hi,

Current project in progress includes:

- OSIR lip spoiler
- R32 side skirts
- R32 rear bumper
- ECS torque arm insert
- Milltek exhaust

Understandly I had to get my body trims painted.  So I dropped them off to reputable bodyshop.  They took the chasis number (at the front of the car) and the paint code from some where in boot - wasn't looking.

The brief was to get a good colour match and finish on all parts.

Yesterday (after a weeks wait) I picked up the parts.  At first inspection I was really pleased with the finish.  With a spring in my stride I took the parts to the TTShop where I was getting everything fitted.

To cut to the chase...

Disappointment 1 - An hour into the fitting I was told the wrong exhaust had been delivered. I was told that I would have to wait until next Tuesday for the correct one to arrive.   :confused:

Disappoinment 2 - I decided to wander into the workshop to have a look at how things looked.  Took a glance at the front spoiler and I noticed a difference in the colour shade.  The new front spoiler was subtly lighter.

I suggested we hold-off fitting any of the other parts so I could get them checked.  Besides I needed to come back for the exhaust.  By this time my original side skirts had been removed... arrrrggghhh  :angry015:

So what did the bodyshop have to say...well they said the paint was as per the colour code and that there was very little that they can do apart from blend the colour into the other panels of the car - which I'm very, very reluctant to do....

I decided to phone a VW approved bodyshop and they confirmed that I had the correct part code for the car...but they did say that all cars have subtly different shades and that they usually paint a couple of samples to get the best paint match.  So, I asked how do you make the different shades...and the answer was a load of evasive waffle....

I got to get this sorted...but reluctant to take it to the VW bodyshop...as I'd expect them to charge somewhere around £400-600 on top of what I have already paid - assuming the current body shop can't get the colour sorted...

Looking for suggestions/ideas?
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Offline Top Cat

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2009, 11:22:45 am »
I am afraid it comes with the territory of getting bits sprayed especially plastic bits, all or most body shops blend in the paint work onto the next panels.  :rolleye:
All this being said a really good body shop will endeavor to match the colours correctly.
I have had my skirts painted and the colour does not match perfectly, but even my petrol cap is a completely different shade and that's factory.  :chicken:

Your choices are see how it looks when its all finished and polished, it should look better, or go to a top end body shop who will be able to match it and will blend it in seamlessly. but you will be paying for this.
I dont think its possible to spray the parts off the car bolt them on and have a perfect match, i just dont think it's as straight forward as that :smiley:
 
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Offline xxx_mojo_xxx

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2009, 11:45:11 am »
Thanks TopCat!

The plan is that I get the bits fitted on Tuesday and then take the car back to the original bodyshop to try and get a closer match to the original colour....

I don't think I'm being fussy when the paint match is as poor as below... (apologies for the photo quality - pic taken from my mobile)

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Offline Top Cat

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2009, 12:15:24 pm »
Wow that does look bad.  :chicken:
If it all turns into a disaster like my bits that got sprayed then give us a call, i have found a great body shop near me who will give you that extra bit of perfectionism that we all suffer from on here.  :smiley:
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Offline 182_blue

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2009, 12:18:14 pm »
Thats quite a bad match !!, even though they used the correct code they should have tried it to see what the match was like
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Offline snapey

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2009, 02:40:06 pm »
Take that back mate, any decent body shop shouldn't have even let the car leave the body shop with a difference to that extent, imagine if it'd been a quarter that needed doing and it came out like that, I certainly wouldn't have it.
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Offline winrya

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2009, 05:58:51 pm »
Body shops will generally want to blend the panels to stop this problem.  The problem is there are so many variations of the colours that its almost impossible to match a panel.   For example, when i had mine colour coded, there were 17 variations of diamond black pearl.  The test panels went along the lines of, more red, more blue, darker, lighter etc etc.  In the end i had to have it blended as the match was always slightly out.  I now cannot see any difference and have no idea where the blending ends. 
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Offline VC

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2009, 06:07:30 pm »
yup you're gunna need the parts blended into the main panels as you're metallic

tis a bad match though, surely the bodyshop should be able to see that
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Offline xxx_mojo_xxx

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2009, 06:15:01 pm »
Going to havreto wait until next week when I get the remaining bits back... I'm going to have to hold back on what I say to the body shop...I'm hoping diplomacy will get me the results I'm after...
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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2009, 06:44:06 pm »

Surely any tradesman worth his salt should see that what he is doing is not matching and get it sorted!  That is just not on.  :surprised:
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Offline stealthwolf

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2009, 08:12:05 pm »
When I scraped my car (two weeks after buying it) across both doors, I was gutted. But took it to a bodyshop that specialises in higher-end cars like Audis, Porsches, Jags etc and it cost me £500 to fix. Yup £500.

Soon after I'd had the respray, I told a coupla mates I scraped one of the doors and had it resprayed. Neither of them could tell me which one it was, even with £££ riding on it.

Moral of the story: If you want a perfect job, you'd better dig deep and pay top dollar for it.
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Offline MK1Campaign

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #11 on: April 10, 2009, 08:29:15 pm »
There are different variants to most colours.
The bodyshop needs to check these variants against the actual paint on the car to see which one matches best.

Saying this you never get a perfect match from plastic to metal panel eg bumper to wing as the paint sits slightly different.
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Offline xxx_mojo_xxx

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #12 on: April 10, 2009, 09:39:53 pm »
These three different variants you talk about - what additional colours do they mix in to get the three variants?
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Offline MK1Campaign

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2009, 02:44:00 pm »
Quote from: xxx_mojo_xxx on April 10, 2009, 09:39:53 pm
These three different variants you talk about - what additional colours do they mix in to get the three variants?

There isnt necesserly 3 variants. There could be more or less.
The paint mixing scheme they have tells them how to mix.
The dont mix in additional colours to the original formula.
Hope this makes sense.
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Offline xxx_mojo_xxx

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Re: How do I get a good paint match?
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2009, 03:28:43 pm »
Still don't understand...when mixing the paint they must have to blend in a number of different substances/colours?
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