2008 Element plastic panels color match?

Discussion in 'Element' started by lolajoker, Jun 11, 2008.

  1. lolajoker

    lolajoker Guest

    Someone backed into the rear quarter panel of my Element. The body
    shop needed to replace the plastic rear quarter panel. Honda no
    longerships them pre painted so the body shop needed to paint to match
    the panel. The color does not totally match. It is darker than the
    rest of the car. The body shop claims that they or any one else won't
    be able to perfectly match the color because plastic takes paint
    differently. Could this be true? The factory painted panels match. Is
    factory paint different than the paint bodyshops get? The insurance
    company is going along with the bodyshop on this.
     
    lolajoker, Jun 11, 2008
    #1
  2. lolajoker

    Dano58 Guest

    Well, you have to account for some element of paint fading, especially
    with darker colors. You don't say how old your car is, or where you
    live (i.e., Arizona sun would cause more fade than, say, Wisconsin
    sun). Also, did they use panels from Honda, or an aftermarket
    supplier? That could make a difference too.

    Dan D
    '07 Ody EX
    Central NJ USA
     
    Dano58, Jun 11, 2008
    #2
  3. lolajoker

    lolajoker Guest

    It is a 2008 Galaxy Grey metallic. I purchased it in Oct. I live in
    Denver CO. It is always garaged, so I doubt there is any fading. I
    assume they got the panels from Honda. Honda no longer ships them pre-
    painted so the bodyshop had to color match the paint.
     
    lolajoker, Jun 11, 2008
    #3
  4. lolajoker

    jim beam Guest

    yes, but only if they want to cheap out on you. oem factory code paints
    are usually a great match, obviously. but they're more expensive. if
    they didn't use oem matched paint, that's where your problem lies.

    of course - it's cheaper!
     
    jim beam, Jun 11, 2008
    #4
  5. lolajoker

    Tegger Guest

    wrote in @y22g2000prd.googlegroups.com:


    I'll bet you used the insurance company's "recommended" bodyshop...
     
    Tegger, Jun 11, 2008
    #5
  6. lolajoker

    Dano58 Guest

    You should be able to tell on the estimate (if you have a copy) as to
    whether or not OEM Honda panels were used. Typically, they aren't,
    unless you specifically ask the shop to use them. They will go
    aftermarket as the default, and that COULD account for the color
    matching issue. The other thing is, a decent shop will 'fan' the paint
    onto the panel next to the new one, to blend it in so that change
    isn't so abrupt. You might ask them to do that.

    Dan D
    '07 Ody EX
    Central NJ USA
     
    Dano58, Jun 12, 2008
    #6
  7. Just curious, are the panels you are talking about the grey textured panels
    or the body color, i.e. same as hood and roof color panels?

    I thought the panels were just molded textured plastic on my wifes Element
    which is why I liked it for her, no scuffs and dings.

    If I have to paint those when damaged they will never look right since they
    are color molded in.

    If yours are the body colored panels, there is no reason the body shop can't
    get the color right.

    Bumper panels and many other body panels are plastic. My 3 year old Camry
    with a damaged plastic bumper was replaced, sprayed, and was matched
    perfectly.

    They may not have gotten it right, but that's not your fault. Call some
    other body shops familiar with Elements, and ask if they can match it and
    see what they say. If 3 of 3 say they can't, then there might be an issue.
    But if 2 of 3 say they can, I would suspect a poor quality match.
     
    Roadrunner NG, Jun 13, 2008
    #7
  8. lolajoker

    lolajoker Guest

    They are the color panels that are the same color as the car in the EX
    model. I thought they were color molded as well and they factory ones
    on the Element might be but they no longer supply them in different
    colors as of this year so they have to be color matched. I contacted
    several other body shops and they say as you do, that they is no
    reason it can't be a perfect color match. The body shop has agreed to
    try to match it again and repaint it.
     
    lolajoker, Jun 13, 2008
    #8
  9. Thanks,

    I see from the Honda website that the 08 Element EX quarter panels are "body
    color" not the molded plastic, gray & blue color the older ones like my
    wife's 05 had. I can understand why Honda doesn't supply these painted as
    they are like any other body panel that could be painted to match as they
    did at the factory. That said, there is absolutely no reason the body shop
    should not be able to match the panel to you vehicle. It's not like it's a
    10 year old vehicle (from a paint fade standpoint) and even then with the
    new color matching techniques they get amazingly close. The base primer
    color would need to be correct to get a good match so that might be part of
    their problem. Sounds like you're on the right track with them getting it
    done right.

    Best of luck, don't settle for a poor match, that's their job, and that's
    what you're paying insurance premiums for.


    They are the color panels that are the same color as the car in the EX
    model. I thought they were color molded as well and they factory ones
    on the Element might be but they no longer supply them in different
    colors as of this year so they have to be color matched. I contacted
    several other body shops and they say as you do, that they is no
    reason it can't be a perfect color match. The body shop has agreed to
    try to match it again and repaint it.
     
    Roadrunner NG, Jun 13, 2008
    #9
  10. lolajoker

    L Alpert Guest

    It is a 2008 Galaxy Grey metallic. I purchased it in Oct. I live in
    Denver CO. It is always garaged, so I doubt there is any fading. I
    assume they got the panels from Honda. Honda no longer ships them pre-
    painted so the bodyshop had to color match the paint.
     
    L Alpert, Jun 14, 2008
    #10
  11. lolajoker

    lolajoker Guest

    The color is much darker with not enough metallic in it. The shop has
    agreed to try to match it better. It should be done by tuesday.
     
    lolajoker, Jun 15, 2008
    #11
  12. lolajoker

    L Alpert Guest

    The color is much darker with not enough metallic in it. The shop has
    agreed to try to match it better. It should be done by tuesday.

    ---

    Sometimes one must become the proverbial squeaky wheel! Good for
    you.....

    Remember, any good body shop should also prep and overspray the
    adjoining areas to blend in any minor differences. This is what was
    done on my 04 Accord for replacing the fender and two door skins. The
    overspray area included the roof, rear quarter panel and hood (and
    what the insurance adjuster took into account in his estimate).
     
    L Alpert, Jun 15, 2008
    #12
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