Chips Away - Problem With Paint Colour

[JonMil]

Contacted Chips Away yesterday about repair of a couple of minor scuffs on my Chimaera. Local franchise holder took all details and was due to call by today to quote work. He rang back today to say couldn't do job as my paint colour not listed in his manual (I gave the Body Code: P422-2055B, and name: Magnetique Blue).

Apparently Chips Away use DuPont paint. I explained that I thought TVR used ICI, but surely the colour could be matched in DuPont from the reference. Chap said he had had problems before matching TVR colours, said only option was body shop.

Anyone else had these problems, I went to Chips Away, because there had been several good reports on this Forum from other owners?

Anyone know any alternative operators in Cheshire that they can recommend (ideally using ICI), as it is not worth going to a bodyshop for a 15mm scuff and a few stone chips?

[Eddie 4.2]

Motor traders use Chips Away because they are cheap,want a proper job take to a body&paint shop


Eddie

[JonMil]

Eddie 4.2 said:

want a proper job take to a body&paint shop

Point taken, but I assume that a body shop would have to respray a whole 'panel'. I have two or three minor blemishes on different panels which don't justify the expense of respraying half the car. They were there when I bought it a year ago, and I have lived with them since. Most people would not spot them.

guam said:

Frankly any body repair specialist can only match the paints if the have the mix values and the codes

Eddie 4.2, being in the trade yourself is the TVR Body Code I quoted sufficient info to describe the colour? The dealer I bought off told me that it was a Citroen colour (it's just a alight silvery blue pearl), but of course TVR may have given it a new name. If I could find out the Citroen name, I would be sorted. Any info gratefully received.

[thatch]

I used Chips-away, and they were great! Sourced the paint myself from TVR, (as he too could not provide) and he was happy to use.

Would happily recommend


Andy

[zippee]

Would a friendly TVR bodyshop be able to help if you phoned them and explained the problem?
By the way that is a fantastic colour!!!!

[honestfreddie]

JonMil said:

Contacted Chips Away yesterday about repair of a couple of minor scuffs on my Chimaera. Local franchise holder took all details and was due to call by today to quote work. He rang back today to say couldn't do job as my paint colour not listed in his manual (I gave the Body Code: P422-2055B, and name: Magnetique Blue). Apparently Chips Away use DuPont paint. I explained that I thought TVR used ICI, but surely the colour could be matched in DuPont from the reference. Chap said he had had problems before matching TVR colours, said only option was body shop. Anyone else had these problems, I went to Chips Away, because there had been several good reports on this Forum from other owners?

Hi John, As a Chipsaway franchisee I can understand how you feel. But spare a thought for me, I have a Starmist Blue Chimaera and can't carry out my own repairs. To date TVR are the only manufacturer I have had trouble with trying to get hold of the formula to mix the paint. You can't do it by guess work as the paint is mixed to within 1/100th of a gram, and most paint codes have between 3 and 7 variants of the same colour. If it was me I wouldn't carry out any repair unless I can mix the paint to the correct formula and year of registration. It’s easier for a body shop as they can lose the repair over a large area if the colour match isn't 100%.

Eddie 4.2 said:

Motor traders use Chips Away because they are cheap,want a proper job take to a body&paint shop Eddie

After reading your profile I understand why you say "Take it to a body shop"

[Wacky Racer]

Chim 450's pale blue tuscan was "keyed" from end to end about two years ago and "chipsaway" did a superb job for £200 IIRC...........

[Eddie 4.2]

honestfreddie said:

It’s easier for a body shop as they can lose the repair over a large area if the colour match isn't 100%.

Your right matey,some colours can be a right arse,sorry matey if it looked like i was takeing the piss



Eddie

[Greenie]

I think the problem is that the chipaway type people have to use solvent based paints. Apparently getting the colours in water based paint is easy but solvent based paints from ICI are hard to get hold of in small quantities.

I would also be interested to now where it is possible to buy small quantities of solvent based ICI paints.

[honestfreddie]

Eddie 4.2 said:

honestfreddie said: It’s easier for a body shop as they can lose the repair over a large area if the colour match isn't 100%. Your right matey,some colours can be a right arse,sorry matey if it looked like i was takeing the piss Eddie

It's ok I have broad shoulders

[rolex]

What do Chips away actually do? If you have a bad scratch in the middle of a door do they make a localised repair just around that area? If you take your car to a decent paintshop they will repaint the whole door. I cannot see any other option. Has anyone got any pics of a pepair by Chips away?

[victormeldrew]

guam said:

spraying flip paints (if its one of those) takes a completely differing level of skill, that the average smart repair outfit just doesn't have

Really? The "flip" paints are easier to match than metallics, as easy as flat paints. Silver metallic is the worst to match properly.

And yes, ChipsAway do a localised repair. Depending on the skill of the operator you should not be able to see the join. Provided they can match the paint codes of course!

[B.N.D.]

Try Alan at Body Care Products, Warrington. 01925633803. Re. matching colour and where to get in 300ml spray cans and 100ml brush on. I got mine made up at Halfords. Bernard.

[TSS]

It can depend on the type and area of the damage. Chipsaway did a very good job on an 8cm scratch on my Tuscan’s rear wing (Formula Red). I supplied the paint and the repair was 99% invisible. However on a big stone chip on the bonnet they were only able to make a slight improvement over what I’d done myself with touch up paint. Overall I’d recommend them though. It was not expensive and they were very helpful.

[JonMil]

Thanks for various replies.

Greenie said:

I think the problem is that the chipaway type people have to use solvent based paints. Apparently getting the colours in water based paint is easy but solvent based paints from ICI are hard to get hold of in small quantities

thatch said:

I used Chips-away, and they were great! Sourced the paint myself from TVR

TSS said:

I supplied the paint and the repair was 99% invisible

thatch & TSS: Following on from Greenie's comment above what sort of paint did you supply to Chips Away? Solvent or water based. How much did you have to buy?

As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I have been led to believe that my colour is a Citroen colour. As a result I have been taking an unhealthy interest in Citroens over the last couple of days. Have seen a couple of 2002 Xsara's that seem very similar in colour, will pop into a dealer next time I pass one and see if they know Citroen's name code for the colour. This may be listed in Chips Away manual. Anyone here own a light blue pearlescent Citroen (see picture of my car on profile)?

[TSS]

I gave Chipsaway a pot of touch up paint my dealer got for me. I think the dealers get it from the factory. It’d be worth calling your dealer as getting it from the factory is probably your best bet for a proper match. They didn’t charge me anything for mine. I don’t know if it’s solvent or water based paint I got from TVR, but you don’t need very much as Chipsaway will only use a very a tiny amount.

Alternatively, physically take the car to a Chipsaway franchise. They have folders full of thousands of colours, listed by manufacturer. Each colour sample is about 7cm x 2cm with a hole punched in the middle so you can hold it over your car and check for a colour match visually. If you can get the colour code from Citreon rather than TVR that might well help too.

[jessica]

JonMil said:

Eddie 4.2 said: want a proper job take to a body&paint shop Point taken, but I assume that a body shop would have to respray a whole 'panel'. I have two or three minor blemishes on different panels which don't justify the expense of respraying half the car. They were there when I bought it a year ago, and I have lived with them since. Most people would not spot them. guam said: Frankly any body repair specialist can only match the paints if the have the mix values and the codes Eddie 4.2, being in the trade yourself is the TVR Body Code I quoted sufficient info to describe the colour? The dealer I bought off told me that it was a Citroen colour (it's just a alight silvery blue pearl), but of course TVR may have given it a new name. If I could find out the Citroen name, I would be sorted. Any info gratefully received.

call the factroy with your paint code.. I did that with mine..
TVR rosso starmist....Honda Toreno Red. Nice man at halfords made it up for me cost £6.00 for a small bottle 100ml at a guess. and it is perfect.
seriously. apply with a pin for small chips and a brush for larger then T cut and zymol in when dry quick polish and good as new.