Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post - Color matching fascia

Tigger · 05-25-2013, 04:42 PM

I've already spoken with my body shop guy and he already agreed to repaint to get a better color match and try to fix the gaping area under the driver headlight.

He ordered the paint for the KAD color code as labeled inside the driver door. At first when it was painted I could tell it was a shade or so off. And honestly, that is to be expected and I was able to live with it so I paid and drove off. Two days later when it finally hit 88 degrees I came back to my car and the group I was with all commented on how much darker the fascia looked. I noticed it too. It wasn't just a shade and a half anymore. It wasn't even the same color.

So last night I met up with another Z owner (Onelownismo) to go to the drag strip. We met up around 5-ish and it was still sunny out. He has the PG from '09. When I saw his car up close I was like, hmmm!! THAT color is familiar! I stood in front of my car to look at my fascia while looking at the rest of his car at the same time. Could have just swapped it out with his for a perfect color match. My paint is a very cool color. Like, not even neutral. No warmth or reds or yellows at all. PG is VERY yellow in contrast.

So my question is how am I to get a proper paint match if the color code he ordered for KAD (GUN METAL) actually matches the K51 (Platinum Graphite color)? Not like it would be smart to order K51 and assume it'll work! And I certainly can't afford another repaint after the next one due to chipping and cracking. He (body guy) did say that when he entered the paint color mix formula he put it in for "the most popular color". When we first took the spray-out to the car to get a match, it looked fine and we ran with it. So how does a color like this flop? And two, how is it now matching PG exactly? I actually uploaded a pic or two on my album from when the car was just done. You can tell it is warmer right there but now I'm wondering if t was always this bad but it was so bright out that day I couldn't tell.

Anyone have any ideas? Any experienced body people here that might have some info on this? Any help is appreciated as it needs to get re-done soon or I'm going back to stock or buying a completely different color 370.

05-25-2013, 04:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tigger A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NM Posts: 8,063 Drives: Awedeeeeee Rep Power: 602	Color matching fascia - KAD looks like K51 I've already spoken with my body shop guy and he already agreed to repaint to get a better color match and try to fix the gaping area under the driver headlight. He ordered the paint for the KAD color code as labeled inside the driver door. At first when it was painted I could tell it was a shade or so off. And honestly, that is to be expected and I was able to live with it so I paid and drove off. Two days later when it finally hit 88 degrees I came back to my car and the group I was with all commented on how much darker the fascia looked. I noticed it too. It wasn't just a shade and a half anymore. It wasn't even the same color. So last night I met up with another Z owner (Onelownismo) to go to the drag strip. We met up around 5-ish and it was still sunny out. He has the PG from '09. When I saw his car up close I was like, hmmm!! THAT color is familiar! I stood in front of my car to look at my fascia while looking at the rest of his car at the same time. Could have just swapped it out with his for a perfect color match. My paint is a very cool color. Like, not even neutral. No warmth or reds or yellows at all. PG is VERY yellow in contrast. So my question is how am I to get a proper paint match if the color code he ordered for KAD (GUN METAL) actually matches the K51 (Platinum Graphite color)? Not like it would be smart to order K51 and assume it'll work! And I certainly can't afford another repaint after the next one due to chipping and cracking. He (body guy) did say that when he entered the paint color mix formula he put it in for "the most popular color". When we first took the spray-out to the car to get a match, it looked fine and we ran with it. So how does a color like this flop? And two, how is it now matching PG exactly? I actually uploaded a pic or two on my album from when the car was just done. You can tell it is warmer right there but now I'm wondering if t was always this bad but it was so bright out that day I couldn't tell. Anyone have any ideas? Any experienced body people here that might have some info on this? Any help is appreciated as it needs to get re-done soon or I'm going back to stock or buying a completely different color 370. Last edited by Tigger; 05-25-2013 at 04:45 PM.