Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 05:30 pm, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
After getting a quote recently to fix some dings (from Japan) which included both quarter panels and front and rear bumpers, the panel beater rang in a bit of a tizz to say they were presently doing a pearl car and having a plick of a time matching the existing paint (I drove past today and saw the car, it's a Toyota Vista Etoile, which is actually two-tone pearl white and gold) and told me to either have the car painted plain white or do a colour change.
We like the '97 colour Rose Quartz Met(I assume this is the colour also known as "dark metallic purple") but I don't like the idea of having to cover a whole heap of panels with good existing paint, like the boot, doors and bonnet, and really like the Pearl White too.
So far the quote's around $2300, I suspect the colour change would add another $1000-1500 to that, and possibly not turn out all that well (the doors would have to be stripped, for a start.
I looked at the car myself again today, and thought that the worry about paint matching might be overstated and that the "crease" line halfway up the side might be a convenient line to blend to, possibly with a pinstripe to accentuate the line (the '95 has a pinstripe there).
Anyone have experience of colour changes, or repainting/repairing a Pearl White car?
I was hoping to have the work done here as the painter does good work, it's cheap compared to mainland, and my next posting may not have a painter in the town at all! On the other hand we have a risk of damaging the car getting it off the island (we already have minor ship damage from the delivery trip).
Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 05:56 pm, by: Scott Thompson(Scotty)
only prob about changing colours is when you go to sell it ,alot of people ask and wonder what is hiding under the new paint ,doesnt matter what you tell them they will always wonder,if the paint is good it wont need to be stripped they will just scotch brite it(take the gloss off)and colour it.or stick to your guns and tell him to match it right,blend if he has to .just my opinion
Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 06:38 pm, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Mike, my thoughts ARE.
Find out how much longer you're going to be on NI....1 year or shorter, don't worry about it, coz as you've said, you'll prolly get MORE dinks getting it off the island when you leave.
IF however you're staying put for.....say 5 years, get the local dude to do his best,......and IF his best sucks BIG-TIME, get the whole beasty resprayed in Pearl.
Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 07:11 pm, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
We're here for another 15-18 months only, Don. I'm not all that worried about getting dings leaving the island- it was my intention to cover/pad the corners and wheel arch tops (the vulnerable points) anyway. I am worried about the cost doubling when we leave the island, plus a lot more inconvenience, off-island.
I don't really like colour changes which have no valid basis, especially when I like the colour being covered! White is a crap colour but Pearl is gorgeous, in the right light, and has the bonus of being a "cool" colour (and owning past and present, dark cars, I know the penalty in summer!).
Friday, October 21, 2005 - 10:13 am, by: Jeff Wilkins(Calin)
Ive not done a lot of repair work with 3 layer pearl but from what I have done it is an absolute mongrel to blend PERFECTLY. The blend always seems to refract light a little differently giving you a patch of slightly more shiney or dull pearl. Something that I just cant abide.
If I had damage to say a fender or door, personally Id respray the entire side of the car. The angle difference between the flat panels (roof, boot, bonnet) and the side is generally enough to obscure any slight difference in pearl effect and from any other angle you have just the one lovely coat of even pearl glinting beautifully.
Friday, October 21, 2005 - 10:26 am, by: Scott Thompson(Scotty)
agree with jeff,sometimes it is just quicker to scotchbrite the whole side of the car and paint it ,rather then phuk around matching colours edge to edge.
Friday, October 21, 2005 - 05:43 pm, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
Thanks again for the input, guys, it looks like I'll get him to respray totally, if needed, in DWP. He had already quoted for all panels other than roof, bootlid and bonnet, so to add those panels won't add all that much to the overall price but a lot to the end result.
I wasn't sure if he'd included the doors but he had, because of some minute dings and to match with quarter panels.
Friday, October 21, 2005 - 08:54 pm, by: Ian Johnston(Ted)
Getting a good beater/painter these days is very hard. The one we have at work is 51years old and could make sh1t look good on a car. He is one of a few that can still lead fill panels. He has done several repair/sprays on our bosses Benzes, and matched in real good.
Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 10:28 am, by: Mike Triggs(Mikeandimah)
Actually if proper precautions are taken lead is safe (I think panel beaters use an alloy anyway, more like solder).
I've known shooters who've cast bullets for years, with no ill effects, and they usually had antimony in the mix which is worse than lead. Revolver shooters actually cop an additional load of lead when they shoot (because there's a spray of lead out the side with revolvers along with some powerder residue and noise, the reason why a "silencer" on a revolver is hogwash.
The main danger from lead is with some salts, and when it's in a fine powder, like it is when it comes from the exhausts of leaded-fuel cars.
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