MsPerky

My nephew in Chicago does ice racing in his car - not an S2000, though.

Emil St-Hilaire

Bill,have it wrapped in a glossy BRG.

freq

Ask HeyItsGary to chime in on his Suzuka Blue blending attempt.

Scooterboy

I think Matt in VA had his Suzuka painted recently after the return trip from Durango.

Heyitsgary

Ok- My story...

2002 Suzuka... About 8, maybe 9 years ago, I was hit while on I95 by a mud guard from a semi. I honestly can't recall if they replaced the hood and bumper or repaired them. It's been some time, They did however have to respray them and blend them into the fenders. Some slight discoloration on the bumper (expected IIRC because of the plastic vs. metal). I'm sure I could search here and find some thread about it...

About 5 years ago, I roll into the back of a trailer (dumb!). The bumper gets a tiny crease in it. I choose to do nothing. Over time and into this year, it starts to peel and flake, leaving several spots that are now just primer. Also, I have a myriad of dings and spots on my hood. One is easily an inch long and 1/4 inch wide and deep.

Move on to 2017. I get hit while sitting at a light. The rear bumper is damaged, all cosmetic and no other damage. I bring it to the place that did the original bumper/hood work. The insurance is covering the rear bumper. I decide that I will pay for a new front bumper and paint ($1100 instead of repair and paint for $800) for the front. I get it back - it's a very bright day, things look good. About a month later I walk into my garage and the light is different and the front bumper looks very grey to me (or compared to the hood). The rear bumper color matches but seems too metallic. The franchise has been sold in the last month - but the other store in the franchise is owning the resolution.

I've been over to talk to them twice. They kept the car and had the paint rep come out to scan and find a suitable blend. They made 4 samples. 1 is close, 3 are horrible (but, oddly, are close to the original blue. Bill- look at your door jamb. For me, it's remarkable how much the car has faded normally over 15 years (garage kept, 95K miles). The shop has also said that trying to blend again would be bad. They would need to blend so far back on the fenders that they'd likely have to blend into the doors. That's more "off the car" work, respray and clear than the bumper alone. At that point, it becomes a question of a full spray and a $6K to $8K nut to crack which I'm not willing to spend. My choice is to try one more respray of just the bumper to get something close enough that I'm "OK" with. I am also seeing chips along the fenders now too. Just 15 years of wear and tear on a car that is on the road and the track.

Someone thought blue would be easy to blend... Not the case. I recall when the car was new. It was like a chameleon. It was a dark, deep blue at times, lighter, traditional 'Suzuka"-like at times, purple-ly at times, in bright light, it looked like silver. The light on the straight panels is different than the light on the angles or curves. At any time from one angle I can see multiple colors.

Good Luck Bill with whatever you choose.

dlq04

Gary, sadly your experience supports my original comments - "A total respray is the only way you can be sure everything matches 100%. If you are already planning to do more than half the car it might be worth the extra few thousand to go all the way. Good paint jobs around here can easily run $5k to $10k."

Legal Bill

Thanks Gary. One thing I know for sure, the front bumper never really "matched" the rest of the car. In some light, the difference jumps right out at you. In others you have to study it to seat. But it never matched. When people complain that their resprayed bumper does not match, I always wonder "to what degree?" Even one of the bodymen I visited asked when I had the front bumper resprayed previously. Never happened.

I guess I have to accept the reality that this is not going to be an imperceptible repair. I still have not heard back from the solo specialist. My plan is to e-mail him after Thanksgiving and if I don't hear back in 48 hours, move on.

Heyitsgary

Agreed Bill- I think as the owner of it originally, you saw it first and "know" the difference. I also know what my front bumper looked like originally. I think that's what I'm hoping for - something close enough for me to accept as the similar difference of what I remember.

Dave- I'm not going there. Sure, it's my S, but that amount is a nice chunk of change towards whatever's next on my list. I'm not so proud that my 15 years old car can't have imperfections.

Legal Bill

Sent the one-man shop an e-mail today. I'll give him a day to get back to me and may follow up with a phone call.

Legal Bill

I spoke with Phil. He says I'm on his list but has a project to complete...