MaxC2S

I am looking at a 2014 Carrera S that has inconsistent paint thickness at a local Audi dealership.

The hood, door an front fenders have a reading of 7.5 to 8 mils. Both rear fenders have a reading of 17.5 mills. I immediately thought that it was painted but it has a clear Car Fax and I cant see an indication of paint work.

In additoin, when I used the same paint meter on a brand new Audi, the thickness on the hood, doors and front fenders are half the thickness of the rear quarters.

Does anyone know if the thickness on the Porsche rear fenders will show a higher reading?

Turbodan

It should be consistent throughout. definitely not that big of a difference between panels. Sounds like that car has been painted. Does the finish on the paint match (orange peel etc), look at it from all angels. I bet it has been painted. What make it the guage?

arch7

Sorry I don't have the numbers, but did you read the inside of the door jambs? That should give a good indication of how it left the factory. Take a close look inside of door jambs and body edges surrounding the engine deck lid for overspray. If it all looks nice and tidy like it would from the factory, then there's less chance of it being repainted. Under wheel arches too. A good look at a low steep angle along the whole side of the car on both sides would help to show any variations in the metal or paint work. Lastly check the panel gaps on both sides of the car and see if the match well. If there's been a panel replacement the gaps may not match.
Good Luck!!

MaxC2S

I dont recall the guage manufacturer. I could not visibly tell the difference in the paint but want to look at it again. I do know that high end shops car recreate the factory look quite well. I agree with you it seems odd. I think I will try another paint meter.

petee1997

I don't know if this makes any difference but what you describe on both cars is that the paint reading is different from front to back. Both cars are aluminum front including doors and "rear fenders are steel". Could this influence your paint reading?

MaxC2S

I wondered the same thing about the aluminun versus steel panels. This could be part of it. I need to research this further to confirm it before committing to by the vehicle. Thanks!

LexVan

From last month:

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/9154...eadings-2.html

Bigalfromfl

Those reading are way off. They should not be that far off. I will almost go all in and say that the rear has been painted. NO factory Porsche that I have worked on, and there have been many, have had readings that high. I wish they did!!!!

As far as the steel vs aluminum readings, the gauge will only know whether it is metal or not. It should not adversely affect the readings.

Archimedes

I bought a new leftover Cayman S that had wickedly thin paint in spots. Car had not been painted but my detailer found signs of a bad paint correction attempt to remove hard water spots that he surmised resulted in some of the thin readings. He also measured my 991 and there were no issues at all.

PatrickC23

Check out another 911, preferably in the same color and compare the readings.

spiderv6

Carfax is notoriously unreliable. I would put little faith in what it says (or doesn't say)...

fast1

The Carfax database only contains what is reported. Lots of accidents are not reported to Carfax. So all that a clean Carfax report means is that no accidents have been reported, and not that the car has not been in an accident.

I have never seen a dealership appraiser who relied on a Carfax report. One of the first things an appraiser does is to get out his paint meter. If there are any anomalies, then the price that is offered for the car will reflect the reading, regardless of what the Carfax report may indicate.

I've read many posts where the poster pays for his car's damage rather than getting his Insurance company involved to ensure a clean Carfax report. Although this strategy may be useful in a private sale, it's unlikely to work when the car is appraised by a dealer's appraiser.

sirwilliamaye

edit: just did a reading on a 2016 911 7.0 mils on hood, 6.0 on fenders, 7.0 on doors, and 5.0 on rear quarters.