Navy Blue too difficult to match?

[Bluemill]

About 5 years ago, I had the nose of my 2000 coupe painted, after having a crack at the end of the turn signal/parking lights repaired. The crack was about an inch long, and not that noticeable. I had the work done any way because I had confidence in my body man, who had made several accidents on other cars completely go away. Also, at that time the car had only 25,000 miles on it.

Body Shop #1 tried to match it twice. The first time it was close, but there was a milky haze at the top of the bumper cover. I had paid $750 for the work and thought that it should be done again. The second time it came out too dark, discernible in any light, but easiest to see with overhead lights, as in my garage. Body shop #1 is thought to be the best in the area, and I had many mistakes repaired before. I was buffaloed as to why they couldn't match it, and just chalked it up to a fall off in their quality control.

This past winter I hit the same area again, trying to get out of my garage, hitting a huge bank of ice and snow at the entrance. I hadn't driven the car in 5 weeks, and I needed to give it a run.

This past week I brought it in to Body Shop 2, to fix the returned crack, and to re-shoot the bumper cover for a better match.

The price was much better, and I really liked the owner, who had a lot of high end work in his shop. Upon picking up the car today I was really disappointed again with the color match, which was virtually the same as the tone of the work as done by Body Shop #1, second attempt.

The car is 11 years old, perhaps the rest of the hood is faded? Or, maybe there is more than one formula for Navy Blue? Whatever the reason, I am 0 for 3 on this work- with first class shops, and I'm starting to think there is some trick to matching the color.

Does any body out there have any experience with matching this color?

Thanks,

Bluemill

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,

Color matching is an art. Computers or not, its the painter that plays the most imprortant part in this.

Do you know the process that they were using ???? Was it waterbourne or oil based paints ???? Does it only not match the hood, but match the fenders ????

In the experience that I have seen, Glasurit 90 line waterbourne finishes are really top notch and I have even seen them blend Magnetic red metallic without issue.

Allthebest, c4c5

[Bluemill]

Thanks Paul for your response. I have figured out that there are two formulas for Navy Blue in 2000, WA352E and WA353E.

My body man showed me section of spare urethane bumper they had painted with "another formula" that they thought looked too light.

Now I'm trying to figure what the lighter formula or darker is.

I have found a guy in Florida with a NBM 2000 coupe who just had a top done and it came out perfect he said. If any thing is going to fade in the last 11 years, it would be a Florida car!

Thanks much,

Bluemill

[BruceF]

There is only one code for NBM. 352E. And you should see that on the RPO list in the glove box of your car after the BC/CC
http://www.corvettepaintcodes.com/

Every paint manufacturer creates their own forumulation they feel matches the factory DuPont paint. And they can be very different. Ultimately it is up to the painter to get it to match right. And the primer also has a dramatic effect on the paint.

[Bluemill]

It looks like that 352E is on my sticker. It also looks like that only 352 was used on Corvette, while 353 was a navy blue used on other GM cars that year. I guess I have been very unlucky with my body shops as far as color match.

I'd still like to know which of 352 or 353 is the darker color.

Both body shops painted a nose that is discernibly darker. I find it an odd coincidence.

I also know if I had some of the same vat of paint from 2000, it would probably look like hell on my car today because the chemicals had settled out, oxidized etc.

It's just really disappointing that after 5 years to attempt to get this corrected and get the same result.

Best,

Bluemill

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by Bluemill

It looks like that 352E is on my sticker. It also looks like that only 352 was used on Corvette, while 353 was a navy blue used on other GM cars that year. I guess I have been very unlucky with my body shops as far as color match.

I'd still like to know which of 352 or 353 is the darker color.

Both body shops painted a nose that is discernibly darker. I find it an odd coincidence.

I also know if I had some of the same vat of paint from 2000, it would probably look like hell on my car today because the chemicals had settled out, oxidized etc.

It's just really disappointing that after 5 years to attempt to get this corrected and get the same result.

Best,

Bluemill

What are the body shops explanation for the color differences?

[Bluemill]

Wow was that eye opening! First the WA353E, NBM is much darker on the chip than what is supposed to be on the car, WA352E. The 353 card had two other alternative colors, alt A and alt B. Even under the 352E chip there was a base color, and two other noticably different colors, Alt A and Alt B, both lighter than the base.

I'm going back tomorrow in good light to match it to the car.

Best,

Bluemill

[the rookie]

As a body tech all i can say is painting is an art. As you were told before. The codes are just there to give the painted a general idea where to start on the color match. All of our painters are required and get paid to do spray out cards to insure paints match. Also the quality of the clear coat someone uses can make it turn a different shade. Most cars these days are basecoat/clearcoat more people are starting to use waterborne paints, but its still rare. (atleast in Houston). Whenever we get in a car like a corvette we try to paint the next panel to it also and dust in some color to help the bend be less noticeable. For example we just painted my friends white 00 front bumper, and we blended the white into the front of the fenders and about 8-12ins up the hood and the headlamp bezels to insure there would be no problem with color match, because even with the white you can tell. Remember our cars are SMC and plastic bumpers the color like to change sometimes when painting different kind of surfaces. That is why our painters are always required to make sure they do a test card to make sure the color is right.

someone hit the back of my car and ran last week. Im not looking forward to taking it all apart and playing the same game as you are. My 98 is metallic silver hopefully it will come out good.

[Bluemill]

Rookie thanks for the response. I got a good dose today of what you were talking about. We had about 6 Standox chips out in the sun, and they were talking about reds in the paint, and how it looked different at various angles etc. I couldn't really see what they were seeing, but I do know that my bumper cover is much darker than the rest of the car!

He's going to shoot it again after really trying to get the best match ahead of time, I guess with cards. He will charge me only paint cost or $200 more, which I think is fabulous.

It really looks almost 2 tone to me now. I waited 50 years to get a Vette, so it's got to be a better match than what I've got now!

Best,

Bluemill