rddragoness

Well I got my baby back form the shop today. It went in Tuesday morning, 7:30, not bad! It looks great as far as quality and workmanship. There is no orange peel, or anything noticable, but it seems like the bumper is darker than the rest of the car. It was overcast today, so the manager of the shop (Joe Hudsons Collision Center) for you in the Huntsville AL area, told me to check it out when the weather clears and If need be I can bring it back and they can blend it. My concern is that I dont know what MICA actually means when it comes to paint. I have to assume its some kind of pearl. I am afraid that they didnt put the pearl in the paint thats the reason behind it looking flat, and darker.

Can anyone tell me what MICA means, and what to look for, or direct me somewhere to find info.

I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Laura

Kurt Bob

Mica is Mazda's name for their metallic paints. The trouble with the RX-8 is that there are so many differently angled surfaces on the car. This begs the question of whether the paint is actually a different shade, or whether the angle of that panel is just reflecting the light in a different way from the adjacent panels. I hope this helps.

rddragoness

Thank you for the response. I understand angles, and light reflections. Unfortunately I've had the car in the sun, where it is hitting it from the same angle, and its wrong. The shimmer of the pearl is noticable, but i dont know if it wasnt cut and buffed, or they didnt put three coats of clear on it, like mazda does, or what. I've gotten in touch with my ins. agent and have a field agent going to contact me, and get this straightened out. Its just frustrating, when supposed professionals cant even read a paint code right.

olddragger

iTrader: (3)

Paint varies from batch to batch--given time they can get it right and it is fustrating, but it is the only way--sorry
olddragger

painter1

Professional here!!! What do you want to know?

rddragoness

Heck yea!

OK.. I understand that Mazda uses PPG paint to paint their cars. Mine is Copper Red Mica. The guy that painted my bumper after I was rear ended said something about a BSFG paint?He said it was a base coat clear coat, that was the same or better. My hubby had a paint and body shop for 8 years, so I know a little about the process. I have lots of questions, but most importantly, is there a difference in auto paints, and IYO which is best. I dont want to have the same shop redo this job, if they arent going to be able to match the color. I would think that using the paint codes on the car would prevent that from happening.

painter1

Every car in the world has a paint code...companies like ppg, dupont, seikens etc. these paint companies spend their money trying to re-produce the auto manufacturars color. I am guessing that your rear bumper was replaced and you are seeing a color mismatch where the bumper meets the quarter panel. If this is the case you will need to blend color into your quarters and clear the rest of the panel (this will create the illusion of match). It is impossible to match a color perfect! Cars are painted by machines and repaired by humans. Although some paint systems are better at matching colors than others. In my opinion PPG is the best! I would recomend finding a shop that uses PPG. Because not every car is painted at the same plant your color varies. I work for toyota and see the differences in color every day. Good painters can mix the paint with your paint code and then adjust the color by hand accordingly. Example : If your bumper looks a bit dark a good painter would add a little white to lighten it up. Angles and lines have nothing to do with color mismatch. The sun will help you see the truth. Park in direct sunlight (1:00pm)look at your bumper, then park in the shade and look at your bumper. There are alot of bad bodyshops out there steer clear of them, do some research in your area to find a good one. A good painter can blend and match your color perfect!

rddragoness

Thank you painter1, you have been most helpful......you are right in assuming that its the bumper to quarter panel mismatch that I am seeing. Its weird, though its looks fine from the bumper to the trunk lid.

praxis1301

one of my co-workers used to work in the auto repair/body/paint arena here in h'ville for awhile... she said go to Quality Body Shop and ask for Dwight and say Dala(pronounced Day-la) recommended them to you... the number is 533-6235... she says they're the best you're gonna find here in h'ville

rddragoness

Thanks hun,

I appreciate you going to the trouble for me. Tell Dala thanks for me too. I cant wait for this mess to be over, its been 2 weeks now.

BTW, Did you and OS hook up at Outback for steaks last night? I almost came, I got back about 4, but I was beat. No seroius damage in FL, just a few shingles. Nothing that will create a problem in the immediate future. The house needs a new roof anyway, so my family and I are going to go ahead and have it done.

Opticsmurf

No. At the last minute I had to meet up with my younger brother. I still think it would be a good idea and alot of fun to get together sometime. You wanna try again this comming Sunday?

-OS

rddragoness

I would love to if my car is ready! Two Copper Reds side by side would be cool. I take her back in tomorrow AM for 'blending' but I noticed that the bumper lines dont match up on the passenger side either! This has turned into a nightmare....lol I'll let you know.

rddragoness

OK, the car is at the shop. Funny. thing is this. The manager walks out, (the same one that presented her back too me to begin with) and says." oh that looks really bad".DUH...."Why did you give it back to me to begin with" I am thinking to myself. Then the field rep. walks up from my insurance company. He had seen me pull in and immediately noticed it, without even knowing It was me that he was there to help. SO they have her back again. They are either going to blend or repaint. I am supposed to have it back tomorrow, since they are putting her back in ahead of others that are already there, and also going to realign the bumper. Pray with me folks. I need all the help I can get!...

Praxis, I am giving them a second chance but I have that other shops number...just in case...If Its not right this time. It's going there.

praxis1301

well that's good news, hopefully they'll get it right and you won't have to take it anywhere else! which means hopefully we'll be able to take some pics of her sometime soon!

painter1

sounds like trouble.. Make sure you are 100% satisfied before you accept anything. Dont be afraid to be a jerk about it!

rddragoness

Praxis, Yes I want to get this done soon. The leaves will be gone!
I saw a darker blue 8 today while headed home in our area. Any idea on who that may belong too? I dont know which is which when it comes to the Phantom and the Winning blue's.


Painter,
I am hoping. I gave the shop a chance to correct their mistakes, and I had my Insurance rep. handy, so we will see. They are paying for this, so I know it will be right before they cut anyone a check, and thats what it truly all boils down too. The shop manager asked me very politely if I would give him a chance to correct the problem. He knew I could take it elsewhere and he'd lose the labor, and materials money, and I can imagine, that paint is NOT cheap. I was tactful this time. If there's a need, I will call hubby in Iraq, and have him deal with them.!!!!!!He won't be so tactful..., and She will go elsewhere.

praxis1301

dragoness,

here are a couple pics for the diff blue... phantom blue is the dark dark blue, while the winning blue is a bright blue... i don't think anyone else has the phantom blue in our area... i've only seen one other one, and it was on the lot in trussville still as of a month ago... anywho... i'm gonna post some of the photos we took on the mountain in the huntsville thread... good luck w/ the paint and keep us posted

Opticsmurf

There is also a new dark blue color available on the 07 models. I doubt you will find any in our area though. Jeff Sizes only had a black and a silver (i think). I was torn between the ordering the new stormy blue or the 06 copper red. Decided to go with the copper because t wa discontinuing.

-OS

rddragoness

I went with the Copper Red because she was just gorgeous, period. I never even looked at the other ones till after the paperwork was being done. I didnt know about the discontinuation of color until after I had bought her. It makes this mess with my bumper all that much harder to deal with getting it right though. It's hard for the body shop to understand. THIS Car, is unique......just for that reason.