Silver Paint Match - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

fazam · 07-24-2007, 12:15 PM

I bought an 07 Silver SE-V6 a few weeks ago. On my first day to work this lady rear ended me in slow traffic. Sadly, the bolts on the license plate of her car made big holes in the rear bumper (plastic part) so it had to replaced. Now I got the new bumper put on (after the paint job) but it seems a tad darker silver from the side (in bright day light) but looks perfectly fine looking from the back /hood. According to dealer it is mettalic paint and this is normal. I don't see such issues with the front bumper. The dealer also told me to hold off on buffing as the car is too new (400 miles/2 weeks). Is this color difference normal?
Thanks,
~fA

gdanaher · 07-24-2007, 01:42 PM

Paint is often hard to match and silver seems the most difficult. Many factors affect it including the paint manufacturer, the amount of paint or depth of paint actually applied, and clear coat. You are probably better off having it a little darker becasue in time it may fada a bit on the plastic subsurface. Take a look at some of the older Toyotas from about 97-2002--especially the sand/gold colored cars. Their bumpers are much lighter if original.

Don't buff the bumper or anything else until the paint is a couple months old. Let it fully cure.

njerald · 07-24-2007, 02:23 PM

There is a TSB procedure for the dealers to use in painting the bumpers properly.

I took pics of mine before it went into the shop and told them I wouldn't accept it unless it matched as well as the original.

The shop manager called me after it was painted and installed. He told me it would be one more day as it had to be painted again for a perfect match.

PA001-07 REFINISHING REPLACEMENT BUMPER COVERS

1/3/2007

2006 – 2007 model year Toyota and Scion vehicles.

In cases where a bumper cover is being replaced, a special preparation process is necessary to assure the refinish is customer acceptable. This bulletin provides the recommended refinishing procedure for new bumper covers.

fazam · 07-25-2007, 09:12 AM

I took it to the dealer yesterday evening but by that time of the day with less light the bumper color seemed fine. Its only in the bright sun light looking at the side (where it wraps around the body) at a certain angle that I can see a color difference. Accroding to the body shop guys I don't see much difference on the front bumper because the front bumper is much smaller (less plastic) on the sides than the rear. May be am being too sensitive, I just wish that old lady had been paying more attention and had not bumped into me.
Btw, the car drives really nice, with some minor click/clacks and the AC making some weired ticking noise every few minutes as if something is shrinking (getting cold)?

Thanks guys for your responses/suggestions.

~fA

gonzo08452 · 07-25-2007, 11:44 AM

thjis is the exact reason I why I told my dealer "any color but silver"

fazam · 07-26-2007, 03:58 PM

These forums are great!!!

I just saw a few old postings about other 07 camry's having similar color differences between plastic bumper (appearing a little darker at certain angles on the side) than the mettalic body. This is exactly what the dealer body shop guy tried to explain..

Finally, I can sleep now!!!

Thanks,
~fA