About 8 months ago I rather stupidly let Chips Away try and repair a small mark on my rear bumper....mistake number one.
After two failed attempts I decided that enough was enough and sent the car to a well known body shop to have the damage put right (at my cost). Now the rear bumper looks fantastic and I am happy, but at the same time I thought it would be a good idea to have the stone chips removed form the front bumper...mistake number two!
The bumper has now been painted three times and they are really struggling to match the colour (the car is 03, Seal Grey in A1 condition apart form the bumper!). There are three known matches for Seal Grey and the colours all seem too light/not right. To be fair the bodyshop have even had Dupont out to look and they agree the colour match is pretty awful and have subsequently remixed paint to try and obtain a better match to no avail. The latest attempt was using the original manufacturers paint (water based) and this too is not a good match. The problem is made worse because I own a printing company and can spot colour differences form a mile off (although the bodyshop are agreeing they are struggling here).
Now they have suggested that the only way I am going to be happy is to have the bumper, complete bonnet and wings blended in the nearest available match. Hopefully that way you won't see the hard line and colour difference where the bonnet and wings meet the bumper. Of course, this would not be cheap (they expect me to contribute here) and I am reluctant to start painting perfectly good paintwork.
I must stress that the workmanship of the bodyshop is NOT in question here, and in fact they have been incredibly professional and accomodating in the way they have handled this matter.
The colour miss-match is noticable from the sides and from the front, being too light from the sides, dark from the front.
I have had a look at second hand Boxster and 996's at OPD's and to be fair some seem to have a similar problem. I have been told that Porsche even have problems painting Seal Grey...is that true?
I really wish I hadn't had the stupid idea in the first place and wince every time I look at the car. I spent two hours polishing it tonight only to stand back and place my head in my hands.
I would like to take it to another bodyshop locally (West Sussex) but I don't know any reputable ones - any ideas?
Am I being too picky here, should I just drive it and get on with it or is it the bodyshop, what should I do?
Migration info. Legacy thread was 29626
After two failed attempts I decided that enough was enough and sent the car to a well known body shop to have the damage put right (at my cost). Now the rear bumper looks fantastic and I am happy, but at the same time I thought it would be a good idea to have the stone chips removed form the front bumper...mistake number two!
The bumper has now been painted three times and they are really struggling to match the colour (the car is 03, Seal Grey in A1 condition apart form the bumper!). There are three known matches for Seal Grey and the colours all seem too light/not right. To be fair the bodyshop have even had Dupont out to look and they agree the colour match is pretty awful and have subsequently remixed paint to try and obtain a better match to no avail. The latest attempt was using the original manufacturers paint (water based) and this too is not a good match. The problem is made worse because I own a printing company and can spot colour differences form a mile off (although the bodyshop are agreeing they are struggling here).
Now they have suggested that the only way I am going to be happy is to have the bumper, complete bonnet and wings blended in the nearest available match. Hopefully that way you won't see the hard line and colour difference where the bonnet and wings meet the bumper. Of course, this would not be cheap (they expect me to contribute here) and I am reluctant to start painting perfectly good paintwork.
I must stress that the workmanship of the bodyshop is NOT in question here, and in fact they have been incredibly professional and accomodating in the way they have handled this matter.
The colour miss-match is noticable from the sides and from the front, being too light from the sides, dark from the front.
I have had a look at second hand Boxster and 996's at OPD's and to be fair some seem to have a similar problem. I have been told that Porsche even have problems painting Seal Grey...is that true?
I really wish I hadn't had the stupid idea in the first place and wince every time I look at the car. I spent two hours polishing it tonight only to stand back and place my head in my hands.
I would like to take it to another bodyshop locally (West Sussex) but I don't know any reputable ones - any ideas?
Am I being too picky here, should I just drive it and get on with it or is it the bodyshop, what should I do?
Migration info. Legacy thread was 29626
