2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

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.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

On Jun 11, 6:09 am, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
> 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.

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

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

On Jun 11, 12:09 pm, Dano58 <dan.dibi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 11, 6:09 am, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> 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

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.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

lolajoker@webtv.net wrote:
> 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?

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.


> The insurance
> company is going along with the bodyshop on this.

of course - it's cheaper!

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

lolajoker@webtv.net wrote in news:5f1d1628-c42e-4a71-81a3-12211be38411
@y22g2000prd.googlegroups.com:

> The insurance
> company is going along with the bodyshop on this.



I'll bet you used the insurance company's "recommended" bodyshop...



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

On Jun 11, 3:51 pm, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
> On Jun 11, 12:09 pm, Dano58 <dan.dibi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 6:09 am, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > > 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.
>
> > 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
>
> 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.

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

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

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.







<lolajoker@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:5f1d1628-c42e-4a71-81a3-12211be38411@y22g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
> 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.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

On Jun 12, 7:57 pm, "Roadrunner NG" <R...@highlandcraft.com> wrote:
> 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.
>

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.


> <lolajo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
>
> news:5f1d1628-c42e-4a71-81a3-12211be38411@y22g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
>
> > 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.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

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.


<lolajoker@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:ad67dcef-3a99-469f-ad1b-9b01cd5cd8a1@k30g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 12, 7:57 pm, "Roadrunner NG" <R...@highlandcraft.com> wrote:
> 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.
>

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.


> <lolajo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
>
> news:5f1d1628-c42e-4a71-81a3-12211be38411@y22g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
>
> > 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.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

<lolajoker@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:514a1ad4-cca1-4fc7-a2cf-39ab9e8b6a46@p25g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 11, 12:09 pm, Dano58 <dan.dibi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 11, 6:09 am, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> 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

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.

-------

How far off is "a shade"? They should be able to properly match the
paint within at least ±1 value of a pantone color chart.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

On Jun 14, 5:47 am, "L Alpert" <alpe...@xxgmail.com> wrote:
> <lolajo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
>
> news:514a1ad4-cca1-4fc7-a2cf-39ab9e8b6a46@p25g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> On Jun 11, 12:09 pm, Dano58 <dan.dibi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 6:09 am, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > > 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.
>
> > 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
>
> 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.
>
> -------
>
> How far off is "a shade"? They should be able to properly match the
> paint within at least ±1 value of a pantone color chart.

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.

Re: 2008 Element plastic panels color match?
 

<lolajoker@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:3e53d82b-27cf-4b39-9a4d-4913991b8d97@w8g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 14, 5:47 am, "L Alpert" <alpe...@xxgmail.com> wrote:
> <lolajo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
>
> news:514a1ad4-cca1-4fc7-a2cf-39ab9e8b6a46@p25g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> On Jun 11, 12:09 pm, Dano58 <dan.dibi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 11, 6:09 am, lolajo...@webtv.net wrote:
>
> > > 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.
>
> > 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
>
> 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.
>
> -------
>
> How far off is "a shade"? They should be able to properly match the
> paint within at least ±1 value of a pantone color chart.

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).