Paint Question for a Friend

[ChallengerHK]

A buddy of mine is having the bumper cover of his Honda painted after he got rear-ended. The body shop is having a hard time matching the paint (grey). He was told that the paint code supplied by the manufacturer doesn't specify a color, but rather a range of colors that they have to futz with to get it to match. I was under the impression that the paint code specifies a formula.

For what it's worth, I had him verify that they use the same brand of paint as the manufacturer, and they at least claim that that's the case.

[ted]

true, todays codes can have 10 or more variances in the color, most likely will have to paint quarter panels to get a good match.

[72hemi]

I know Gm has the same problem. Have you ever noticed how the rear bumper of a Corvette doesn't match the rest of the car? That is because the bumpers are painted at a different facility. They get it close but that's it. All I can say is good luck.

[farmboy70]

Have the body shop check the field formulas for the coded color. Also the reason most bumper fascias don't match the body is they are painted by the manufacturer of the fascias and not at the factory the car is built at so the color rarely matches perfectly.
I agree they may have to blend the quarter panels.
Dave

[426HEMI]

Plus the fact that there is a flex additive added to the bumpers that do not help with the color match.

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks for the help, guys.  I'll pass it on.

[73dce]

Most bumpers dont match because the paint looks different on plastic than metal.  As for matching the color, any painter can match a color by adding the specific color needed.  If its gray and too dark, then just add a color to make it lighter, all paint systems have charts for it.  My advice would be to take it to a body shop that will match the color.

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks for the advice.  Because it's going through insurance, he doesn't have an option at this point of changing shops.  On the other hand, I had a little fender bender the Monday after Thanksgiving, and my bumper cover matches perfectly, so you're right, it can be done.

[71340RT]

I work for a company that makes and paints bumpers and plastic related parts for the OEM's. I currently work on the paint line inspecting parts and can tell you we can be off as much as 10 shades on the color. I think it is worse now than it was years ago but we paint around 10,000 parts a day and have 25 different colors. I have a Stratus RT that is Satin Pearl White and the bumpers looked yellow compared to the rest of the car but Dodge said they all look that way and would not repaint the bumper. I hit a deer with the car when it was 3 weeks old in the front end and the paint up front looked like a perfect match when I got it back so a good painter can mix the paint and match it I know for sure.

[berna4406]

 Plastic parts accept paint differently than metal parts or panels.I paint cars for a living and have been doing it for the last 23 years.If you go to a PPG certified shop they should have a poster and a handout explaining why your bumpers may not match up to the car itself.I have painted many bumpers the same time with the car itself and it is always slightly different.Plastic bumpers and parts accept paint differently it has to do with the type of plastic,static electricity,and type of solvent.Paint reps has a hard time explaining to shop owners this problem but it happens with all paint systems in all shops.The new water borne system is suppose to match up better.We'll see if it does soon enough.
                                                                 Thanks Sam