Hi all. I am going to be replacing my bumper because its scuffed up. I took my car in to a very reputable dealership here in Toronto, and was told that in order to perfectly match colours, they would need to do a front end respray to guarantee match. (Colour: Seal Grey Metallic).

The car has always been garaged, so the exterior colour is in very good condition, but it is an '01 ... so Im guessing that there may have been some change over the last 11 years.

Out of experience, what do I need to consider when making such a decision? Would like to hear from anyone who considered this in the past. My hood does have 5-10 stone chips and I was originally thinking of getting them touched up when my car was having the bumper work done.

Feedback appreciated.

 

A shop told me that to match it perfectly they would have to paint the fenders as well to blend the work in... It kind of turned me off from doing a re-spray as I didn't want anything else on the car to be painted except the front bumper...

I'm a bit mixed up as well.

 

Metallic colors are difficult to get a dead-on match with since different paint brands, temperatures, spray guns, etc. will affect how the paint lays. On top of that, you're adding flex agents to the paint so you can paint the urethane bumper, which will alter the color slightly.

With all that said, a GOOD shop should be able to get a damn close match without needing to blend half the car.

 

It would seem to me that if they can't match the bumper to the hood and fenders how are they going to match the resprayed hood and fenders to the doors and cowl. If there is a slight miss-match I would rather have it at the bumper and not have a major re-spray than have it at the doors, etc.

 

My 40th (GT Silver) has had the front bumper, hood and 1 fender re-painted and in certain lights I can see a slight shade mismatch with the original fender. I only spotted it after I owned the car for a few weeks. In real bright sunlight and on dull days you cant see it. But it plays on my mind now, nobody else has commented on it, it is not blatantly obvious.
If you need the bumper done, then have the front end blown in to match, I cannot see a fender to door mismatch but can see a fender to hood or fender to bumper shade difference.
I want to get my front end done to get it off my mind.
What are you being quoted for the paint job?

 

I need to have my rear bumper replaced because it was damaged in a parking lot. The body shop (a Porsche dealer recommended shop) told me that they can never perfectly match the paint on a bumper cover to the metal surfaces. The are planning to paint the bumper cover only with no blending of the fenders.

 

I agree with this. I'd say keep shopping.

 

PFAR,

Check out my recent Make-Over thread, Michelangelo's matched my paint perfectly, I cannot tell the difference between the front fenders which are painted and the doors which were not.

 

I was quoted $700 - $800 plus taxes from probably the best body shop here in Ottawa for a front bumper re-spray and blend of the two fenders.

I'm not sure if I'm going to go with it... as I didn't want the fenders touched at all. My front bumper is not that bad anyways, I am just being a little picky.

 

And wait, I just re-read this thread. Your bumper is scuffed so you're going to replace it?

You do realize that there are TONS of very good urethane repair products out there now like FUSOR that can be used without concern about it bubbling, cracking or delaminating over time?

 

www.luxuryautobody.ca Talk to Rich he is teh Owner/Operator, mention my name. Top Quality Work does not take Short Cuts

 

Get referrals from board members....I'll be getting my bumper only painted again(once a year) soon due to rock chips. If I stare at it for 15-20 sec's, I'll notice a slight difference. I really don't care and no one else can tell. No need to have the other areas blended in. I get mine done 400-500 including paint/labor.

 

a good painter/shop can match anything almost perfectly - these are artist/painters who deal exclusively in high end collector or exotic cars - these painters exsist just have to find them.

these guys can match any color and also blend fom the middle of a panel only painting something as small as a 1" area - i've seen it done w/my own eyes on concour collector cars for shows.

dink farmer in ukiah california is one of these artists - i also have a local seattle painter who is incredible but only i can use him if its not on a consistant basis - he won't take on other business because of his personal projects.

 

I work for a Cadillac dealership in Phoenix and we sell lots of Porsche's here, right now we have 5 911's. In order for the cars to be showroom perfect I'd bet 50% of them get the front bumper sprayed for chips, a scuff or to eliminate a front plate.
We have a good painter on site and we remove the bumper and reinstall it, color always matches all the time. We have a Seal Gray '02 911 Turbo here that had the bumper re-done, I'm really fussy and can't tell it was done.
My advice, find the right guy and bring him the bumper. The paint he's going to match it to is on your bumper now, if he cant do that, he should not touch anything on your 911.

 

I had my front bumper done just before selling the car. Arena red metallic and only the bumper was painted. You would have to know that it was repainted to be able to tell the difference and even then I am not sure that I could. Find a good painter and they will get it 99% close.