Rear bumper scraped: insights from the body shop about matching paint

cfm56d7b · 02-08-2018, 06:49 PM

I was returning from a late meeting and while approaching my parked vehicle a very noticeable scrape could be seen on the rear bumper. No note on the windshield of course.

My vehicle is now at a BMW certified body shop in Orange County (happy to share the name via PM).

The bumper will be replaced and repainted, including any mounting brackets if damaged. The OEM color is Glacier Silver.

I thought it would be valuable to share insights about how this particular shop matches paint:

- OEM paint used at the factory is not available to repair shops
- Paint color code is entered in the system which produces the desired color from several chemical liquids. BMW certified shop cannot use any chemical liquids. Only certain brands / types can be used and prescribed by BMW
- Even with the right paint color code, the desired shade may not be achieved. Bumpers are made of plastic which must be painted with different application techniques. Reputable shop will often create several paint samples by adjusting the final mixture of chemicals before painting the bumper.

John in VA · 02-08-2018, 07:20 PM

On this side of the country things happen the same way. Unfortunately the dealers here are not the best choice compared to independent body shops. Silver is difficult to match, both in color & metallic flake. I hope your outcome is favorable!

cfm56d7b · 02-08-2018, 07:39 PM

@[John in VA, thanks for the kind words. This particular shop is very good. I am also hoping for the right outcome. Incidentally, I lived in DC and still have a set of winter wheels / tires in my garage: BMW 401 Style wheels with Pirelli Sottozero Series II tires. Don't miss the weather ...

zambarossa · 02-08-2018, 07:59 PM

Had the bumper on my previous silver F30 repaired/painted twice, damaged once due to someone backing into it (no one ever leaves a note) and once by the dealer when at their shop. Both times the paint matches and you cannot tell the difference at all. Had it done by someone who drops by the dealer and does the work without even taking the bumper off.
So hopefully yours will look as good as new.

ANONYMOUS 4 · 02-08-2018, 08:19 PM

No note on the windshield is a low dog act!

Hope you get a favourable outcome.

7iM3less · 02-08-2018, 08:51 PM

Yeah I think matching and level of service you get varies by body shop. I've had my mineral grey front bumper painted 4 times over the last year. It's become a seasonal routine for me now but anyway my shop has me approve the colour match before proceeding with full scope of work.

It's one thing to match a code when the cars new but after a few years the paint ages and discolours. It's all about matching it to the current state of the paint.

Blubaron79 · 02-08-2018, 09:37 PM

Hit a deer in my old 335 with glacier silver paint. Had to repaint bumper. You would never know it was a new bumper.

RoundelM3 · 02-09-2018, 07:35 AM

I had the front bumper painted on my F30 after 4 years of rock chips and such took their toll. I had it done at the BMW dealership here (they have their own body shop). They matched the color using sprayout sheets against the bumper itself in the sunlight, rather than matching it to the body. The result was a perfect match. Any competent body shop should be able to do this.

jd_perspective · 02-09-2018, 01:17 PM

Yeah my front bumper has been replaced once and then repainted after that. Rear bumper repainted once as well... Glacier Silver, both at BMW Collision centers but only one i think was a certified center. Definitely cant tell.

IndotagSwizz · 02-09-2018, 01:54 PM

what's the point to going to a bmw certified collision center if they cant even get the same paint from the factory?? lol

cfm56d7b · 02-09-2018, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndotagSwizz

what's the point to going to a bmw certified collision center if they cant even get the same paint from the factory?? lol

I wanted to learn the answer to the same question. The reason is robotic machines at the factory. They are configured to use special paint and neither the robotic machines, nor the paint can be made available to repair shops.

cfm56d7b · 02-10-2018, 08:39 PM

I will be installing BlackVue DR750S-2CH dash cam and Cellink NEO battery after the repairs are completed. It's time to do it.

IK6SPEED · 02-10-2018, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndotagSwizz

what's the point to going to a bmw certified collision center if they cant even get the same paint from the factory?? lol

As has been stated here from multiple sources, it can be done.

Wires · 02-11-2018, 08:15 PM

A good body shop will never use the paint code to paint your vehicle due to changes in paint lots, aging, etc.

They typically have a book of 100 shades of your paint color. They will use that to match to your "current" paint color. Once done, you'll never even know that it has been painted.

Great example is those touch up pens from the dealer. Who has bought those with the factory color code for your car, and ever had it match 100%?

02-08-2018, 06:49 PM	#1
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5886 Rep 10,256 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	Rear bumper scraped: insights from the body shop about matching paint I was returning from a late meeting and while approaching my parked vehicle a very noticeable scrape could be seen on the rear bumper. No note on the windshield of course. My vehicle is now at a BMW certified body shop in Orange County (happy to share the name via PM). The bumper will be replaced and repainted, including any mounting brackets if damaged. The OEM color is Glacier Silver. I thought it would be valuable to share insights about how this particular shop matches paint: - OEM paint used at the factory is not available to repair shops - Paint color code is entered in the system which produces the desired color from several chemical liquids. BMW certified shop cannot use any chemical liquids. Only certain brands / types can be used and prescribed by BMW - Even with the right paint color code, the desired shade may not be achieved. Bumpers are made of plastic which must be painted with different application techniques. Reputable shop will often create several paint samples by adjusting the final mixture of chemicals before painting the bumper. Attached Images Last edited by cfm56d7b; 02-08-2018 at 07:36 PM..
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02-08-2018, 07:20 PM	#2
John in VA Colonel 985 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: 2015 228i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Leesburg, VA iTrader: (6)	On this side of the country things happen the same way. Unfortunately the dealers here are not the best choice compared to independent body shops. Silver is difficult to match, both in color & metallic flake. I hope your outcome is favorable! __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
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02-08-2018, 07:39 PM	#3
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5886 Rep 10,256 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	@[John in VA, thanks for the kind words. This particular shop is very good. I am also hoping for the right outcome. Incidentally, I lived in DC and still have a set of winter wheels / tires in my garage: BMW 401 Style wheels with Pirelli Sottozero Series II tires. Don't miss the weather ...
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02-08-2018, 07:59 PM	#4
zambarossa Vault Dweller 704 Rep 577 Posts Drives: 2021 M3 6MT (Dravit/KO/ZPP) Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Ottawa, ON iTrader: (1)	Had the bumper on my previous silver F30 repaired/painted twice, damaged once due to someone backing into it (no one ever leaves a note) and once by the dealer when at their shop. Both times the paint matches and you cannot tell the difference at all. Had it done by someone who drops by the dealer and does the work without even taking the bumper off. So hopefully yours will look as good as new.
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02-08-2018, 08:19 PM	#5
ANONYMOUS 4 Enlisted Member 24 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2017 430i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	No note on the windshield is a low dog act! Hope you get a favourable outcome.
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02-08-2018, 08:51 PM	#6
7iM3less Brigadier General 2594 Rep 3,030 Posts Drives: F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Canada iTrader: (3)	Yeah I think matching and level of service you get varies by body shop. I've had my mineral grey front bumper painted 4 times over the last year. It's become a seasonal routine for me now but anyway my shop has me approve the colour match before proceeding with full scope of work. It's one thing to match a code when the cars new but after a few years the paint ages and discolours. It's all about matching it to the current state of the paint. __________________ 2016 BMW F80 ZCP Instagram : 7IM3LESS https://instagram.com/7im3less?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
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02-08-2018, 09:37 PM	#7
Blubaron79 Brigadier General 1432 Rep 4,724 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i xDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Hit a deer in my old 335 with glacier silver paint. Had to repaint bumper. You would never know it was a new bumper. __________________ Current: 2021 M340i xDrive Previous: '18 340i xDrive; '15 335 xDrive; '14 435i xDrive; '09 335 E92 xDrive
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02-09-2018, 07:35 AM	#8
RoundelM3 Major General 1835 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	I had the front bumper painted on my F30 after 4 years of rock chips and such took their toll. I had it done at the BMW dealership here (they have their own body shop). They matched the color using sprayout sheets against the bumper itself in the sunlight, rather than matching it to the body. The result was a perfect match. Any competent body shop should be able to do this. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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02-09-2018, 01:17 PM	#9
jd_perspective Captain 344 Rep 906 Posts Drives: 2016 X3 35i M-Sport Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	Yeah my front bumper has been replaced once and then repainted after that. Rear bumper repainted once as well... Glacier Silver, both at BMW Collision centers but only one i think was a certified center. Definitely cant tell. __________________ 2016 X3 35i M-Sport 2019 440i Coupe M-Sport - Retired 2018 330i Sedan M-Sport - Retired 2015 428i Gran Coupe M-Sport - Retired
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02-09-2018, 01:54 PM	#10
IndotagSwizz Major 525 Rep 1,232 Posts Drives: F30 320i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	what's the point to going to a bmw certified collision center if they cant even get the same paint from the factory?? lol __________________
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02-10-2018, 08:39 PM	#12
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5886 Rep 10,256 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	I will be installing BlackVue DR750S-2CH dash cam and Cellink NEO battery after the repairs are completed. It's time to do it.
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02-11-2018, 08:15 PM	#14
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	A good body shop will never use the paint code to paint your vehicle due to changes in paint lots, aging, etc. They typically have a book of 100 shades of your paint color. They will use that to match to your "current" paint color. Once done, you'll never even know that it has been painted. Great example is those touch up pens from the dealer. Who has bought those with the factory color code for your car, and ever had it match 100%?
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