Is a re-sprayed panel as good as original?
Discussion
Bought a car recently which seems in really good condition, with the exception of quite a few small widely spread stone chips around the front end, mainly over the bonnet (SLK so sloping nose). Took it to a bodyshop who, quite rightly I think, said it'd be a mess trying to touch in each one individually and the best thing they could recommend would be to respray the bonnet and front bumper and blend it into the front wings so there was no obvious "edge" to the new paint. They quoted about £500 (to include touching in a couple of other tiny areas. Basically the car should be pretty much perfect once done.
But I've got this irrational fear that the paint on the bonnet will then never be as good as the factory finish. I know it's probably daft because plenty of nearly new cars get pranged panels which need re-spraying, yet you never spot resprayed cars (unless they're done badly).
So re-assure me, will it be ok?
But I've got this irrational fear that the paint on the bonnet will then never be as good as the factory finish. I know it's probably daft because plenty of nearly new cars get pranged panels which need re-spraying, yet you never spot resprayed cars (unless they're done badly).
So re-assure me, will it be ok?
)SV8Predator said:
TRUENOSAM said:
In some cases its better because the paint is so finley spread on new cars to save money from the factory
What? 
HTH.
If they're painting the bonnet and bumper, why do they feel the need to blend the paint into the wings?
They are painting a complete panel, that sits at different angles to the adjoining wings - a slight colour mismatch would be hard to detect, as the light will be refracting at differing angles - unless they're planning on a liss poor colour match....
Blending can lead to horrible problems later on as the blended panel is basically prep'd with scotchbrite and lightly blown over and then lacquered - this can lead to the paint crazing over time
They are painting a complete panel, that sits at different angles to the adjoining wings - a slight colour mismatch would be hard to detect, as the light will be refracting at differing angles - unless they're planning on a liss poor colour match....
Blending can lead to horrible problems later on as the blended panel is basically prep'd with scotchbrite and lightly blown over and then lacquered - this can lead to the paint crazing over time
From experience silver is a bad colour to get resprayed. I had the front of my car resprayed to cover stone chips and it wasn't perfect. I've never seen a paint job that is as perfect as the factory job.
People may notice stone chips now. People won't notice the respray - however you will!
People may notice stone chips now. People won't notice the respray - however you will!
Torquey said:
From experience silver is a bad colour to get resprayed. I had the front of my car resprayed to cover stone chips and it wasn't perfect. I've never seen a paint job that is as perfect as the factory job.
People may notice stone chips now. People won't notice the respray - however you will!
silver is a bugger. I had the front end of my Jetta repainted (silver), and there is a slight mismatch, and I used the best bodyshop in my areaPeople may notice stone chips now. People won't notice the respray - however you will!
Ari said:
Bought a car recently which seems in really good condition, with the exception of quite a few small widely spread stone chips around the front end, mainly over the bonnet (SLK so sloping nose). Took it to a bodyshop who, quite rightly I think, said it'd be a mess trying to touch in each one individually and the best thing they could recommend would be to respray the bonnet and front bumper and blend it into the front wings so there was no obvious "edge" to the new paint. They quoted about £500 (to include touching in a couple of other tiny areas. Basically the car should be pretty much perfect once done.
But I've got this irrational fear that the paint on the bonnet will then never be as good as the factory finish. I know it's probably daft because plenty of nearly new cars get pranged panels which need re-spraying, yet you never spot resprayed cars (unless they're done badly).
So re-assure me, will it be ok?
Year of car and how long you anticipate keeping it is of relevance here.But I've got this irrational fear that the paint on the bonnet will then never be as good as the factory finish. I know it's probably daft because plenty of nearly new cars get pranged panels which need re-spraying, yet you never spot resprayed cars (unless they're done badly).
So re-assure me, will it be ok?
Which are?
carmadgaz said:
Had a section of my (dark metallic blue) Mazda's bonnet and even if you know where the blend is like I do (I saw the car while it was being prepped) you cannot tell it has been done. Depends on a correct paint and the sprayer knowing what they are doing though.
Same with the door on my Mrs' mazda - I couldn't see the join, no matter how hard I looked. So I'd get it done and not worry.I agree with the assertion that the painted panel can be better than factory, witness a colleagues 5 series that got pranged, the repaired panel was far superior than the original BMW black paint that appeared to have been applied with a roller.
I put new wings on my old MK2 Golf and got a better result with rattle cans than VW did at the factory as I painted it and flatted it, cut it and polished it, result was like glass compared to the Orange peel effect from VW, it didnt last as long as the factory paint though, mainly down to cheapo pattern wings and cellulose not being as resillient as two pack.
Main issue for me, regardless of finish is the colour match, not always just in daylight, I had an Opel Mata that looked great in daylight but like it was tartan at night under sodium light.
Body and Paint is an art form, some seriously talented people that do all this, generally factory paint nowadays is brilliant but you cant beat a craftsman with a Robot.
I put new wings on my old MK2 Golf and got a better result with rattle cans than VW did at the factory as I painted it and flatted it, cut it and polished it, result was like glass compared to the Orange peel effect from VW, it didnt last as long as the factory paint though, mainly down to cheapo pattern wings and cellulose not being as resillient as two pack.
Main issue for me, regardless of finish is the colour match, not always just in daylight, I had an Opel Mata that looked great in daylight but like it was tartan at night under sodium light.
Body and Paint is an art form, some seriously talented people that do all this, generally factory paint nowadays is brilliant but you cant beat a craftsman with a Robot.
Torquey said:
From experience silver is a bad colour to get resprayed. I had the front of my car resprayed to cover stone chips and it wasn't perfect. I've never seen a paint job that is as perfect as the factory job.
People may notice stone chips now. People won't notice the respray - however you will!
a) You need a better painterPeople may notice stone chips now. People won't notice the respray - however you will!
b) Most factory paint jobs are rubbish
That's my experience from many years in the motor trade and being around restored show cars
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