Factory Paint Process?

[Mastrcruse]

Hey guys,
I recently had my mtech I spoiler painted but a chemical is now coming through. The guy just told me to bring it back and he would redo it for free.

So when the car is completely clean and shined up there isn't really any color difference.

When it is dirty the color is darker on the spoiler.

He put a clearcoat over the spoiler and I am guessing that this could have some effect on the color of red when dirty and a very SLIGHT color difference when all cleaned up.

I know our cars, zinno (reds), didn't come with clearcoats. So What is the process that the factory went through? Single stage no clear? Was it a special paint? I hope you all know what I am trying to ask. I thought I might as well have him do it like the factory and maybe have alittle of the color difference taken care of.

Thanks
DJ

As you can see in the pic, when my car is really dirty, the spoiler is darker. This goes away by probably 90% when totally clean.

[1991 318is]

Red doesn't fade until you take the car out of the paint booth. It's notorious. It will even fade under clear coat. They are a nightmare to match the color on also as they fade less on vertical surfaces. You don't really notice this until you open a door or expose part of the car that's covered from sunlight.

[Mastrcruse]

Would it match better without the clearcoat?

[VAPORBLADE]

It will probably fade a hell of a lot quicker without clear. I am getting the whole car cleared when it is painted.

[Mastrcruse]

Well the factory zinno w/out clear hasn't faded a lot...just the mirrors. Will this be a different case though?

[Dibo718]

Does an e30's paint get baked on at the factory? I know e46's that is the case and is why body shops have trouble matching panels.

[trent]

A good single stage will not fade any more or less than a two stage paint. In fact, some good single stages are MUCH more durable than two stages. I usually advise people that if their car is a single stage, to match, repaint or blend with a single stage. I am no professional, but this is what I have seen to work the best.


That said, red is one of the hardest colors to work with due to slight oxidation problems. Even the littlest bit of sun can change the color and shade in all different lights.

[trent]

Oh yea, I must also that, that different paints are made with different pigments (even if the same color, they do have different chemical makeups between brands). Therefore, at different angles and depths they will not always match, even if they match at one angle/direction.

[Mastrcruse]

I think this paint they are using might have differnt pigments. Like you said it does look spot on is some angles but in others it is off. Thanks for the help. Also the chemical, still don't know what, came through big time the painter said. He said that it probably is about 2 or 3 shades to dark because of the reaction

[Mastrcruse]

Well, I finally got it back today. And it looks even better than the first time. The red it baked on. The painter took me aside and said the salesman, front office guy, said to just paint it normally but it showed that the zinno will match/look the best baked on, which was on a print out (he showed me).

Well I guess the salesman wasn't there and he did an extra good job on this thing and did it right. He said next time I need something just to stop by and ask for him.

The chemical from not baking it, still have no clue what it was that reacted, reacted with the non baked on paint and made it much darker.

So if anyone that lives in or around Columbus, go to Buckeye Auto and Glass and ask for Rob.

[trent]

Generally, what happens is solvent pop. Did it look like little tiny bubbles came through?

[whelton70]

was the zinno red the burnt orange red ? If so I think those were clear coated from the factory but the bright red were not clear coated from the factory. At least the best I can remember anyways. Well the bright red is horrid about fading to pink anyways

[Mastrcruse]

Generally, what happens is solvent pop. Did it look like little tiny bubbles came through?

Yea, tiny bubbles that would be black at first and then would pop and come through the clear.

[whelton70]

sounds like they are either using really cheap ass paint or didnt mix it with the hardeners like it needed. 90% of a paint job is the prep work of the car and mixing the paints and spraying the paint is the easy part.

[Mastrcruse]

Yea, well he did pull me aside and tell me just come straight to him. I said I would recommend him to anyone that asked. He's a great painter but the boss is the boss

And zinno/brillantrot are the brighter reds
henna is the orangish red

I know for sure zinno doesn't have a clear coat and does oxidize if you dont' keep up with it. Mine is zinno and its probably a 9.5 outta 10 for an original paint.