Brand new car - Bumpers don't match - ?

Yeah... that's surely not been repainted in port. If it has... it's the best "port paint" I've ever seen!:eek:

There is a terminal over close to the Atlanta airport, manufacturers from everywhere, coming in by train, then shipped via truck to around Georgia (basically anywhere in 200 miles). I used to go there all the time to pickup vehicles that were damaged, dead batteries, flat tires, you name it. They didn't fix anything there.... it all went to the perspective dealerships.

AFAIK.... your parts were painted in completely different places, maybe even different countries! Combine that with different codes, maybe even different paint manufacturers, and ABSOLUTELY the fact that you have to add flex additive for painting the bumpers and I'm not sure you'll get them any closer.

If you DO manage to talk the dealership into repainting them, DO NOT let them paint the bumpers on the vehicle, and DO NOT let them "blend" your clear coat into your fenders, hood, trunk, etc. If you manage to get a shop with a painter that's been doing it for 20 years, has excellent eyes, is willing to go to whatever steps it takes with a sun gun and doing multiple spray outs to get the color just right.... THEN is when you pull the trigger.

Thing is.... even if you can get someone to match it perfectly... the chances of ending up with a blemish, a few specs of trash, solvent pop, fisheyes, all of which may happen on a respray, are pretty high, and fairly common. Sorry.... :(
 
Let me tell ya that my wife's Murano in Pearl White had the same problem AND a respray made it worse. I'm just glad I didn't ##### about the back bumper also (which is only slightly off).
 
:idea:

1.) Get yourself an estimate for an XPel Ultimate
install on a few of the most vulnerable panels
of your vehicle—front/rear clip, for example.

2.) Then go to the Dealership and express your
concerns of the mismatched paint on the bumpers.

3.) Count on them to tell you that they are so sorry...
we'd like to help you out...but: blah, blah blah...

4.) Negotiate for a monetary settlement.
{Only you'll know what that settlement
will eventually "cover"}


Bob
 
FUNX650 said:
:idea:

1.) Get yourself an estimate for an XPel Ultimate
install on a few of the most vulnerable panels
of your vehicle—front/rear clip, for example.

2.) Then go to the Dealership and express your
concerns of the mismatched paint on the bumpers.

3.) Count on them to tell you that they are so sorry...
we'd like to help you out...but: blah, blah blah...

4.) Negotiate for a monetary settlement.
{Only you'll know what that settlement
will eventually "cover"}


Bob
Click to expand...
They will never give him a monetary settlement.a warranty administrator will come to look at it,and if approved they will eat the labor and materials to make it right as long as he gets that car there asap.The only way for monetary settlement would be court.
 
GSKR said:
They will never give him a monetary settlement.a warranty administrator will come to look at it,and if approved they will eat the labor and materials to make it right as long as he gets that car there asap.The only way for monetary settlement would be court.
Click to expand...
Whoa...you don't know for sure!

{Go to Court:
Yep. There's always a (hidden) "Goodwill Warranty".}

And what the heck is a warranty administrator?? :laughing:



Bob
 
I saw this first hand at my fathers shop. Dealership work on new Chryslers. Paint shade was always different on fascias and body panels. Respray could match worse, and flexibilty on the factory paint is better than aftermarket.
 
Don't worry about it. I work for a VW dealer and a lot of metallics don't match up perfect. So here's the scenario. You take it back and they paint it. Then its not cured as well as the factory paint or has fish eyes or dust in the clear coat. They when you drive it a stone puts a chip in it. What did you gain? Nothing except you now have "non factory paint " on it. There are a lot more issues in life that those bumpers.I've been in the car business for 38 years and have seen it time after time. "paint my hood it came with a chip in it" Then they don't even wash the car for months at a time. Unless it's actual damage don't mess with it.
 
cardaddy said:
Yeah... that's surely not been repainted in port. If it has... it's the best "port paint" I've ever seen!:eek:

There is a terminal over close to the Atlanta airport, manufacturers from everywhere, coming in by train, then shipped via truck to around Georgia (basically anywhere in 200 miles). I used to go there all the time to pickup vehicles that were damaged, dead batteries, flat tires, you name it. They didn't fix anything there.... it all went to the perspective dealerships.

AFAIK.... your parts were painted in completely different places, maybe even different countries! Combine that with different codes, maybe even different paint manufacturers, and ABSOLUTELY the fact that you have to add flex additive for painting the bumpers and I'm not sure you'll get them any closer.

If you DO manage to talk the dealership into repainting them, DO NOT let them paint the bumpers on the vehicle, and DO NOT let them "blend" your clear coat into your fenders, hood, trunk, etc. If you manage to get a shop with a painter that's been doing it for 20 years, has excellent eyes, is willing to go to whatever steps it takes with a sun gun and doing multiple spray outs to get the color just right.... THEN is when you pull the trigger.

Thing is.... even if you can get someone to match it perfectly... the chances of ending up with a blemish, a few specs of trash, solvent pop, fisheyes, all of which may happen on a respray, are pretty high, and fairly common. Sorry.... :(
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is the info I was looking for as I have zero experience with port resprays / fixes. It really does make me feel a bit better that this "normal" and not respray.

joebrez said:
Let me tell ya that my wife's Murano in Pearl White had the same problem AND a respray made it worse. I'm just glad I didn't ##### about the back bumper also (which is only slightly off).
Click to expand...

MikeC said:
I saw this first hand at my fathers shop. Dealership work on new Chryslers. Paint shade was always different on fascias and body panels. Respray could match worse, and flexibilty on the factory paint is better than aftermarket.
Click to expand...

I definitely fear opening a can of worms with a respray and you raise a good point with the flexibility.

WAXOFF said:
Don't worry about it. I work for a VW dealer and a lot of metallics don't match up perfect. So here's the scenario. You take it back and they paint it. Then its not cured as well as the factory paint or has fish eyes or dust in the clear coat. They when you drive it a stone puts a chip in it. What did you gain? Nothing except you now have "non factory paint " on it. There are a lot more issues in life that those bumpers.I've been in the car business for 38 years and have seen it time after time. "paint my hood it came with a chip in it" Then they don't even wash the car for months at a time. Unless it's actual damage don't mess with it.
Click to expand...

The cure and long term durability would definitely be a concern, not to mention any imperfections due to lack of proper prep. Do any dealerships actually bake their paint jobs? Seems most just air cure and that process is really reserved for the high end shops.


Okay - I think everybody has convinced me to leave well enough alone. Pretty much all of my underlying concerns about pursing a "fix" have been reiterated in the prior posts and confirmed what I was thinking. If this is the worst thing that happens to the car during the course of ownership, I'll count my blessings. I'll just have to chalk this up to a life lesson and learn from it for future purchases.

I don't disagree with those that say I should raise this to the dealer, but honestly, other than a repaint I'm not sure what I'd get out of it as I don't take my cars anywhere for anything other than inspections, alignments, and tires.
 
Unless it's a huge variance, the manufacturer won't cover the mismatch under warranty due to it being a normal occurrence. In fact, every mass produced vehicle has mismatched trim regardless of color.

This happens because the trim (bumpers/moldings/mirrors/handles/etc) isn't painted with the same paint as the bodies. That, and not at the same plant as the bodies either.

The paint manufacturer establishes a paint code and a set of variances that the vehicle manufacturer and suppliers have to follow. This variance could have an allowable -2 or +2 variance based on the "0" that the paint manufacturer establishes. This means that every painted part has to fall within this range to be an acceptable color match. What really throws things off is when the body is at a -2 and the trim is at a +2. Certain colors show that variance more dramatically.
 
LEDetailing said:
Awesome Subaru in the quintessential WRX color. Don't mess with the factory paint. Keep it clean, polished, and coated with 845.

Oh, and drive it like you stole it. Or more realistically drive it like 90% of us, dodging puddles, dirt roads, and strategically picking our parking spots.

Congrats on one modern classic!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I actually wasn't a fan of this color (the new wrb) until I saw it in person close up for the first time.

I truthfully dodge puddles even when it's dirty, and don't get me started on the strategic parking.

I'm with ya on the modern classic. I was torn between this and the new golf Rs, but truth be told, I'm not sure how much longer car manufacturers will continue making cars like the STI that are raw and visceral. The level of feedback this car provides is difficult to put into words. Guess I'll put the paint thing behind me and focus on driving.
 
It seems your not the only one with this promblem,just look on the Internet .
 
David Fermani said:
Unless it's a huge variance, the manufacturer won't cover the mismatch under warranty due to it being a normal occurrence. In fact, every mass produced vehicle has mismatched trim regardless of color.

This happens because the trim (bumpers/moldings/mirrors/handles/etc) isn't painted with the same paint as the bodies. That, and not at the same plant as the bodies either.

The paint manufacturer establishes a paint code and a set of variances that the vehicle manufacturer and suppliers have to follow. This variance could have an allowable -2 or +2 variance based on the "0" that the paint manufacturer establishes. This means that every painted part has to fall within this range to be an acceptable color match. What really throws things off is when the body is at a -2 and the trim is at a +2. Certain colors show that variance more dramatically.
Click to expand...

This is great info, thank you. Prior to starting this thread I was under the impression that everything was painted at the same time. I really didn't expect such variance to exist from the factory paint, but like you and others have said, if the panels aren't even painted in the same location, it's pretty much unavoidable. I didn't even think about the established tolerance for variations in coor, but it makes sense.
 
Dan,

Yep... it's the fact that they are painted elsewhere, and of course also that you have to add flex additive to it so it doesn't crack on the bumpers. They *can* be made to match, but it'd just take someone with a lot of experience, and willing to do several "spray outs" to check the color. Unfortunately... unless YOU are footing the bill for all that, it just isn't going to happen.

You REALLY should look into putting PPF on it. (As Bob mentioned... XPel is one brand.)

In the long run, having PPF will give you FAAAAAAAAAAR more use and protection than even if you put 10 coats of basecoat and 20 coats of clear on it. (Which btw you can't... but still.... ) ;)

I still have the PPF on the front bumper, headlights, and front of the fenders on my G35 from 2005, and they say it's not meant to last but 3~5 years TOPS. :) Long since removed the 'half hood' and wish I didn't! (It was ruined though, so it had to come off.)
 
LOL that doesn't match at all man. You can take it back and try to get it fixed. Lots of pros and cons there.

Could also be the flex agents used in bumper paint to allow more flexibility in the plastic parts and muting the flakes
 
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