Paint colour match technology?

[Natx]

Hi I bought a bmw 3 series a few months ago, very happy with it, only problem I've had is it had been fully resprayed from silver to white by a previous owner (the dealer I bought it from couldn't find out who) The v5 says the colour is now 'white' so has been changed properly.
I've been wanting to find somewhere where I can get a near enough exact colour match for one of the headlight washer covers to be painted as one has since fallen off so need a replacement to match the white. I've tried lots of spray cans from halfords in different white shades and none seem to match!
I just wondered if anyone knew of any conpanies who offer services to people who have cars which have been reaprayed a customised colour not factory? I have included a few pictures to try and show the colour as best I can, any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Edited by Natx on Monday 16th February 23:40

[Alucidnation]

I guess you might have to take it to a bodyshop to see if they can match it??

[entwistlecymru]

You need to find a paint supplier who has one of these:
http://www.xrite.com/sp60-portable-spectrophotomet...

[rottie102]

Alucidnation said:

I guess you might have to take it to a bodyshop to see if they can match it??

...which will take it to the paint shop so he might better go straight to the source and get a can of spray from there

[Natx]

entwistlecymru said:

You need to find a paint supplier who has one of these:
http://www.xrite.com/sp60-portable-spectrophotomet...

Thank you I will contact them tomorrow!

[Natx]

rottie102 said:

Alucidnation said:

I guess you might have to take it to a bodyshop to see if they can match it??

...which will take it to the paint shop so he might better go straight to the source and get a can of spray from there

I've tried all bodyshops in my area who all looked baffled at the thought of colour matching the paint LOL not much help!

[blade7]

entwistlecymru said:

You need to find a paint supplier who has one of these:
http://www.xrite.com/sp60-portable-spectrophotomet...

I asked 2 or 3 body shops about those and they didn't rate them, maybe they just didn't have one. One wanted to fix a shallow palm ding on my bonnet by repainting the whole front end on my Alpine white car, for £1400

[Natx]

I don't get why per body shops don't use this technology?! Definately a gap in the market somewhere for this sort of thing as I've been trying for months to find somewhere to help!

[BritishRacinGrin]

entwistlecymru said:

You need to find a paint supplier who has one of these:
http://www.xrite.com/sp60-portable-spectrophotomet...

My dad's got one of those, four and a half grand apparently!

OP have you tried doing it the old-fashioned way and finding some BMW colour swatches? Can you contact the previous owner to see if they remember?

[Natx]

BritishRacinGrin said:

entwistlecymru said:

You need to find a paint supplier who has one of these:
http://www.xrite.com/sp60-portable-spectrophotomet...

My dad's got one of those, four and a half grand apparently!

OP have you tried doing it the old-fashioned way and finding some BMW colour swatches? Can you contact the previous owner to see if they remember?

I've tried but the dealer I bought it from weren't sure either. I think it was a few owners before that had it re sprayed.
I have tried all bmw whites and my car is brighter than them. I've tried ford, seat, vw and mercedes whites to no avail!

[BritishRacinGrin]

Oh that's a pain. Spectrometer is looking like the way forward then. I wonder if there is a paint supplier near you which may have one? There's a company called 'Metalflake' near me who mixes paint.

[johnnyBv8]

Pay the £5 to DVLA for previous owners, and write a friendly letter to them asking to let you know if they had it painted - and what colour?

[996TT02]

Natx said:

rottie102 said:

Alucidnation said:

I guess you might have to take it to a bodyshop to see if they can match it??

...which will take it to the paint shop so he might better go straight to the source and get a can of spray from there

I've tried all bodyshops in my area who all looked baffled at the thought of colour matching the paint LOL not much help!

That's probably because the job is so small. Colour matching is something that all bodyshops should be capable of, something they must do on a near daily basis, but it involves trial and error which would make the exercise ludicrously expensive for you for what you want doing.

Is there not a paint shop near you that could mix up a specific colour for you in a spray can? If so they would have a colour chart, take it to the car, spend a few minutes finding the best match, and have a can made for you. Should not cost much.

[BritishRacinGrin]

^ that is what I expect Metalflake would do.

[R_U_LOCAL]

Try these:

http://www.premiumcarpaints.com/

They advertise locally that they can make up custom aerosols for any colour match. Based in Ashton-under-Lyne.

[ZX10R NIN]

Natx said:

Hi I bought a bmw 3 series a few months ago, very happy with it, only problem I've had is it had been fully resprayed from silver to white by a previous owner (the dealer I bought it from couldn't find out who) The v5 says the colour is now 'white' so has been changed properly.
I've been wanting to find somewhere where I can get a near enough exact colour match for one of the headlight washer covers to be painted as one has since fallen off so need a replacement to match the white. I've tried lots of spray cans from halfords in different white shades and none seem to match!
I just wondered if anyone knew of any conpanies who offer services to people who have cars which have been reaprayed a customised colour not factory? I have included a few pictures to try and show the colour as best I can, any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Edited by Natx on Monday 16th February 23:40

Go to a Body Shop most can mix paint on site we use an ICI system most good bodyshops should have this give them a call before you go over there. the thing is with white you need to know what tinters etc were used most good body shops will be able to do spray outs to get the perfect match. That way if anything else happens to the car they will have the formula to mix it up again.

[Alucidnation]

rottie102 said:

Alucidnation said:

I guess you might have to take it to a bodyshop to see if they can match it??

...which will take it to the paint shop so he might better go straight to the source and get a can of spray from there

Yes, thats what i meant.

[paintman]

Find a specialist bodyshop supplies motor factor that does paint.
Two I can recommend for those in their areas are Sayers at Northampton and Supertune at Castle Donington. (The paintmixer at the latter has been doing this since around 1974). Normal min quantity for an eyematch is 1/2litre & cost around £80. You can have the paint in solvent, waterbased or synthetic. You would need to check the minimum quantity if you wanted it in aerosols. If you have it as a basecoat you will need to lacquer it.
Usually better than the spectrometer mentioned earlier.
You will likely find similar in your area.
They will require a piece of the vehicle to match to. They don't need a paint code.
I do a lot of caravan body repairs - often in the middle of big panels so its got to be exact - & generally use Sayers. That it is white makes it rather easier than pale metallics & I have yet to have a bad white one from them.
Some bodyshops mix on site - as do I - but with the amount I do its easier to buy it matched. They also formulate it so when I need more I just ring them with their match code.

Edited by paintman on Tuesday 17th February 23:53