Paint Match for Suzuka Blue
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From: Phoenix
Paint Match for Suzuka Blue
Having gone through two shops, four manufacturers, and six different paint jobs on my rear bumper, I have finally obtained a good match for the color. Hopefully, what I have learned, will save some others the aggravation I've gone through.
[B] PPG [B] paint was the closest match of all, and took no modification to match. Dupont was way too red, and BSAF was not even close. One other major brand was also not close.
According to the paint suppliers as well as the body shops, first year colors are often difficult to match, even with "factory" codes using name brand products. (often called "factory packs"). As time goes on, and data comes in from aftermarket painting, the mix is refined and improved.
Most body shops will "blend" to make up for poor matching. This means that they spray the damaged panel with new paint and the dust the undamaged adjoining panels with a partial coat to hide the differences. I would not accept this suggestion by the body shop, so perhaps I brought on my own troubles, but my persistence resulted in a good match without violating virgin panels.
I also found that the affluence factor of the shop really had no bearing on the quality of the job. The priciest shop I went to, well known to the Scottdale elite, offered the poorest result and customer service, and had no facilities for indoor storage of vehicles.
When a body shop is presented with a color that is difficult to match, and the customer is not happy with the match, they have three options: 1. They will keep trying, and modify their in-house mix until a good result is obtained. 2. They will outsource a different name brand and hope for a good match with a "factory pack". or 3. They "blend" the mismatch with virgin body panels.
I think the first two options are acceptable. The last option is the cheapest for the shop to do. Labor time would appear to be their cheapest expense, as evidence by nearly 100% first-generation immigrants at the shops I visited. Out-sourced paint (not in bulk supply at the shop) is the greatest expense, as I found out when I paid the wholesale price of $150 for the paint and additives required to paint just one bumper.
[B] PPG [B] paint was the closest match of all, and took no modification to match. Dupont was way too red, and BSAF was not even close. One other major brand was also not close.
According to the paint suppliers as well as the body shops, first year colors are often difficult to match, even with "factory" codes using name brand products. (often called "factory packs"). As time goes on, and data comes in from aftermarket painting, the mix is refined and improved.
Most body shops will "blend" to make up for poor matching. This means that they spray the damaged panel with new paint and the dust the undamaged adjoining panels with a partial coat to hide the differences. I would not accept this suggestion by the body shop, so perhaps I brought on my own troubles, but my persistence resulted in a good match without violating virgin panels.
I also found that the affluence factor of the shop really had no bearing on the quality of the job. The priciest shop I went to, well known to the Scottdale elite, offered the poorest result and customer service, and had no facilities for indoor storage of vehicles.
When a body shop is presented with a color that is difficult to match, and the customer is not happy with the match, they have three options: 1. They will keep trying, and modify their in-house mix until a good result is obtained. 2. They will outsource a different name brand and hope for a good match with a "factory pack". or 3. They "blend" the mismatch with virgin body panels.
I think the first two options are acceptable. The last option is the cheapest for the shop to do. Labor time would appear to be their cheapest expense, as evidence by nearly 100% first-generation immigrants at the shops I visited. Out-sourced paint (not in bulk supply at the shop) is the greatest expense, as I found out when I paid the wholesale price of $150 for the paint and additives required to paint just one bumper.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 72
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From: Edmonton, AB
Originally Posted by Dave T,Jan 10 2002, 07:29 PM
Having gone through two shops, four manufacturers, and six different paint jobs on my rear bumper, I have finally obtained a good match for the color. Hopefully, what I have learned, will save some others the aggravation I've gone through.
[B] PPG [B] paint was the closest match of all, and took no modification to match. Dupont was way too red, and BSAF was not even close. One other major brand was also not close.
According to the paint suppliers as well as the body shops, first year colors are often difficult to match, even with "factory" codes using name brand products. (often called "factory packs"). As time goes on, and data comes in from aftermarket painting, the mix is refined and improved.
Most body shops will "blend" to make up for poor matching. This means that they spray the damaged panel with new paint and the dust the undamaged adjoining panels with a partial coat to hide the differences. I would not accept this suggestion by the body shop, so perhaps I brought on my own troubles, but my persistence resulted in a good match without violating virgin panels.
I also found that the affluence factor of the shop really had no bearing on the quality of the job. The priciest shop I went to, well known to the Scottdale elite, offered the poorest result and customer service, and had no facilities for indoor storage of vehicles.
When a body shop is presented with a color that is difficult to match, and the customer is not happy with the match, they have three options: 1. They will keep trying, and modify their in-house mix until a good result is obtained. 2. They will outsource a different name brand and hope for a good match with a "factory pack". or 3. They "blend" the mismatch with virgin body panels.
I think the first two options are acceptable. The last option is the cheapest for the shop to do. Labor time would appear to be their cheapest expense, as evidence by nearly 100% first-generation immigrants at the shops I visited. Out-sourced paint (not in bulk supply at the shop) is the greatest expense, as I found out when I paid the wholesale price of 0 for the paint and additives required to paint just one bumper.
[B] PPG [B] paint was the closest match of all, and took no modification to match. Dupont was way too red, and BSAF was not even close. One other major brand was also not close.
According to the paint suppliers as well as the body shops, first year colors are often difficult to match, even with "factory" codes using name brand products. (often called "factory packs"). As time goes on, and data comes in from aftermarket painting, the mix is refined and improved.
Most body shops will "blend" to make up for poor matching. This means that they spray the damaged panel with new paint and the dust the undamaged adjoining panels with a partial coat to hide the differences. I would not accept this suggestion by the body shop, so perhaps I brought on my own troubles, but my persistence resulted in a good match without violating virgin panels.
I also found that the affluence factor of the shop really had no bearing on the quality of the job. The priciest shop I went to, well known to the Scottdale elite, offered the poorest result and customer service, and had no facilities for indoor storage of vehicles.
When a body shop is presented with a color that is difficult to match, and the customer is not happy with the match, they have three options: 1. They will keep trying, and modify their in-house mix until a good result is obtained. 2. They will outsource a different name brand and hope for a good match with a "factory pack". or 3. They "blend" the mismatch with virgin body panels.
I think the first two options are acceptable. The last option is the cheapest for the shop to do. Labor time would appear to be their cheapest expense, as evidence by nearly 100% first-generation immigrants at the shops I visited. Out-sourced paint (not in bulk supply at the shop) is the greatest expense, as I found out when I paid the wholesale price of 0 for the paint and additives required to paint just one bumper.
Honda has done this on other cars like the NSX.
On a Formula Red NSX the clear coat has a red tint.
Not so much the color but the process to get a match.
My Suzuka blue bumpers are not an exact match to the metal surfaces. May be due to the flex additive the bumper paint has.
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