Help please - metallic "sparkle" paint match?
Discussion
My BMW's just had some paintwork to the rear quarter and bumper following a scrape and although the colour seems to match fairly well the "sparkle" in the metallic is noticeably different from the rest of the car.
The colour is mineral grey and has a fairly subtle level of metallic from the factory but the repaired area has much more sparkle. The clearcoat seems a lot thicker/heavier than the rest of the car too but I don't know if this would make it more sparkly?
I rejected the repair and the dealer took the car back saying they'd re-paint it but all they've done is flat back the new clearcoat and re-machine polish it and the surrounding panels!
The metallic effect still looks way off in the sun and now it's got a glass like finish on the new paint which doesn't match the orange peely effect of the rest of the car.
Before I take this further is my expectation of the BMW dealer's paintshop too high, should they be able to match the factory metallic sparkle?
The car is only 6 months old and rest of the paintwork still like new. I know I'm probably fussier than the average punter but I took it to BMW as they assured me it'd be as good as new
The colour is mineral grey and has a fairly subtle level of metallic from the factory but the repaired area has much more sparkle. The clearcoat seems a lot thicker/heavier than the rest of the car too but I don't know if this would make it more sparkly?
I rejected the repair and the dealer took the car back saying they'd re-paint it but all they've done is flat back the new clearcoat and re-machine polish it and the surrounding panels!
The metallic effect still looks way off in the sun and now it's got a glass like finish on the new paint which doesn't match the orange peely effect of the rest of the car.
Before I take this further is my expectation of the BMW dealer's paintshop too high, should they be able to match the factory metallic sparkle?
The car is only 6 months old and rest of the paintwork still like new. I know I'm probably fussier than the average punter but I took it to BMW as they assured me it'd be as good as new
Thanks guys.
They insisted they'd corrected it by painting it again. I disagreed but they said it's now been signed off and that if I'm still unhappy I should take it up with my insurance company and get their assessor to check it!!! My insurer didn't want to know as I'd specified I wanted it to go to BMW rather than their own bodyshop
Fortunately my dashcam recorded their "repaint" and proves my car never went anywhere near the paint booth!!! They've now said a communication issue with their bodyshop caused the issues and they'll take it in again to re-do it. I don't even want to consider it's not going to be right after the 3rd attempt...
They insisted they'd corrected it by painting it again. I disagreed but they said it's now been signed off and that if I'm still unhappy I should take it up with my insurance company and get their assessor to check it!!! My insurer didn't want to know as I'd specified I wanted it to go to BMW rather than their own bodyshop
Fortunately my dashcam recorded their "repaint" and proves my car never went anywhere near the paint booth!!! They've now said a communication issue with their bodyshop caused the issues and they'll take it in again to re-do it. I don't even want to consider it's not going to be right after the 3rd attempt...
mon the fish said:
Our local BMW dealer took 12 attempts to paint the rear doors on the Mini Clubman we had. We eventually got so p*ssed off with them we sold the car
Wow, just wow! 
I'm surprised they took back that many times never mind failed to fix it after so many attempts. After the second "attempt" on mine (as they didn't actually put any paint on) they were very reluctant to look at it again. It's only the dashcam footage and threat of taking it up with BMW UK which seems to have changed their tune as it's now booked in for a repaint next week. I'm not confident at this stage that they won't try to cut corners again, but we'll see..
Edited by Flat6 on Tuesday 20th June 14:15
Nightmare said:
Yes they should be able to match it. There are numerous grades of flake to go in paints (amongst other things) and they've used the wrong thing.......they need to check the paint code properly.
There are usually several different shades of each colour & this will depend on what batch of paint was in use at the time the car was built -or in some cases where a manufacturer has several different plants - where the car was built. They all have the same paint code shown on the vehicle - and in the build information held by the manufacturer for the vehicle & accessible via a franchised dealer's parts dept so you won't find a 'batch number'.
As far as the OP's Mineral Grey is concerned - code as B39 or BW39 - in the Nexa Aquabase system I use I currently find 3 'standard' shades for which I have swatches and a further 12 'specials' which don't..
The longer the colour has been available the more shades there are likely to be.
An eye match could be an option but even then I've had them come back wrong.
Edited by paintman on Tuesday 20th June 21:27
paintman said:
There are usually several different shades of each colour & this will depend on what batch of paint was in use at the time the car was built -
or in some cases where a manufacturer has several different plants - where the car was built. They all have the same paint code shown on the vehicle - and in the build information held by the manufacturer for the vehicle & accessible via a franchised dealer's parts dept so you won't find a 'batch number'.
As far as the OP's Mineral Grey is concerned - code as B39 or BW39 - in the Nexa Aquabase system I use I currently find 3 'standard' shades for which I have swatches and a further 12 'specials' which don't..
The longer the colour has been available the more shades there are likely to be.
An eye match could be an option but even then I've had them come back wrong.
Just to add to the problem of different variants as highlighted above ...... when the paint is applied it's kind of matt and not sparkly. It's not until the lacquer is applied that the paint shows its 'true colour'. And even then it might look perfectly fine inside - even under the brightest of lights.or in some cases where a manufacturer has several different plants - where the car was built. They all have the same paint code shown on the vehicle - and in the build information held by the manufacturer for the vehicle & accessible via a franchised dealer's parts dept so you won't find a 'batch number'.
As far as the OP's Mineral Grey is concerned - code as B39 or BW39 - in the Nexa Aquabase system I use I currently find 3 'standard' shades for which I have swatches and a further 12 'specials' which don't..
The longer the colour has been available the more shades there are likely to be.
An eye match could be an option but even then I've had them come back wrong.
Edited by paintman on Tuesday 20th June 21:27
Sunlight can really play tricks with 'the sparkle' and shows up the slightest difference - even the height/strength of the sun during different seasons can make repairs look a lot different.
Blending the paint further can help - but how far does the painter know how to blend ??? How will it look when it's lacquered and then seen at different angles in different strengths sunlight?
In the main painters try their best to get the best match possible - but they're only human, mixing a small amount of paint to match what was originally made in huge batches in a multi-multi-million pound factory and then trying to replicate (by hand) what was originally applied by multi-million pound robots.
No disrespect to the OP's problem (or anybody else who has found themselves in a similar situation) - but a paint repair is in all honesty just a 'cosmetic' repair.
Can anybody think of any other cosmetic repair to anything that is scrutinised for colour match, finish, etc, in as much detail as a paint repair on a car????
The only thing I can think of is restoration on an old master painting!
Just to close this I can now advise after some pain in getting them to do it again I've just got the car back and it's much much better! 
Both the colour shade and metallic flake are now consistent with the rest of the car. Pity it took 3 attempts and a lot of hassle to get there but I'm happy with the result so it was worth persevering.
I was beginning to wonder if it was just me with high expectations but they've proved that's not the case so thanks for the advice of those who posted above.
Both the colour shade and metallic flake are now consistent with the rest of the car. Pity it took 3 attempts and a lot of hassle to get there but I'm happy with the result so it was worth persevering.
I was beginning to wonder if it was just me with high expectations but they've proved that's not the case so thanks for the advice of those who posted above.
I’ve been searching forums and came across this thread. I have the exact same problem! I have and X4M Competition in Sophisto Grey Xirallic, which is extra sparkly in the sun.
Had an accident over Xmas, three months after getting the car, and it’s had both the front and back bumpers replaced. The front one looks ok (although still a lot sparklier but not as noticeable) but the back looked darker and much more sparkly. I took it back and they’ve since repainted it and blended it. The colour match looks much better but it’s still a lot sparklier, and now they’ve blended it, the back quarter panels also look odd.
I’m going to contact them again but I’m not holding much hope they’ll be nice about it as the manager was already saying he could get an ‘Inspector’ to sign it off but out of courtesy he’ll do it again. I also have the same insurance problem, as I took it to a garage of my choice they won’t intervene.
It’s hard to tell in pictures but will try to take some shots when the sun’s out next.
Had an accident over Xmas, three months after getting the car, and it’s had both the front and back bumpers replaced. The front one looks ok (although still a lot sparklier but not as noticeable) but the back looked darker and much more sparkly. I took it back and they’ve since repainted it and blended it. The colour match looks much better but it’s still a lot sparklier, and now they’ve blended it, the back quarter panels also look odd.
I’m going to contact them again but I’m not holding much hope they’ll be nice about it as the manager was already saying he could get an ‘Inspector’ to sign it off but out of courtesy he’ll do it again. I also have the same insurance problem, as I took it to a garage of my choice they won’t intervene.
It’s hard to tell in pictures but will try to take some shots when the sun’s out next.
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