So, I am in a bit of a predicament and need your honest opinions.

My passenger side fender has had body work done to it, a lot of it, but there is no frame damage which is relieving. Whoever did the body work did a piss poor job because the body filler is cracked and rusting through creating a horrible eye sore. The front bumper is also scrapped and cracked from the previous owner driving it onto those concrete stops at parking lot stalls.

The corrective action for me would be to buy a new OEM bumper and fender, and then have them painted at a body shop. I spoke with a reputable body shop today, and he said that it will be off a shade no matter how close they get, which I already acknowledged being that it is silver.

My question to you is, If you were in my position, would you live with that body filler fender and cracked bumper, or attain new body parts and learn to live with that shade difference?

Thanks, guys.

 

Paint the whole car?

 

I would replace those panels and search out a better paint shop. The better ones "typically" are doing the high end cars. I would ask around in your local S2K forum for a recommendation.

 

I'd get the new parts but you shouldn't need to repaint the whole car or live with poorly matched paint. A good painter can blend it in to the door/rocker panel and also the hood and you'd never know.

This was my old s2k which had some paint work done. It was blended on the driver side of the car. See if you can pick out where the blend was done. If you find it you've got good eyes because it looks like the same color all the way down the side to me.

 

^ You've got me, can't tell a difference! Looks great, as does the stance!

I talked to another shop today which deals with higher end cars like you suggested Vanishing Point, and they said they could get close to my shade without blending.

 

I would definaely get new parts....and whoever says they can match the parts without blending is lying. Even if its a Ferrari, they recommend blending the adjacent panels to match. That is the only way. Your match will will be 90% there. I would get a quote on just the parts being painted versus blending them. Then decide from there if the price difference is worth it to you.

Most people cant tell the different in the 90%. Are you one of those people?

 

I'd try getting a good condition used set of fenders and bumper in the classifieds, they do come up from time to time. At least the paint will be factory and have some age to it that may just match the rest of your car.

 

If they would of said to me "going to be off a shade no matter how close we get" I would of walked out rite there, they are making excuses to do a crap poor job. Go to someone else, get a second, third and maybe even fourth opinion. Research the work those shops you talk to have done, and get recommendations from people who are happy with the shops, AND take a look at that persons car in detail to see what the shop missed, and how it looks after time has passed on that paint being exposed to time and the elements.

 

Yes research, but the shop is being honest and it will be off a shade. The ones telling you it will be perfect are just looking for the job. Like I said, most cant even tell about that 10%

I would honestly go with the shop everyone in your area recommends who would be most willing to work with you if you do cheap out and panel paint and not blend.