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Second paint shop told me that they always have to go "one level darker" for painting the front bumper since its made from plastic and not aluminum like the rest of the car.
Does that make any sense to you since to me it looks like the bumper is darker than it should be.
While we're on the subject of color, I could use your help. When I bought the car a couple of months ago, I was really annoyed by the front bumper color. It didn't match the rest of the car, especially the hood.
I've repainted the bumper twice (two different body shops) since then, but I'm still not happy with the result.
Looking at the color code, my car should be in liquid silver. Both times the color for bumper was mixed on spot because apparently the hood is not in its original color.
This is how it looks most of the time:
But sometimes it would look good:
Also, I've noticed from looking at many XK pictures online that there's often a color mismatch between the bumper and the hood, even in some official Jaguar release photos. Not sure why?
How would you resolve this issue? Is the whole car respray my only option to make it right?
If these were not qualified JAG shops it's more than likely they wouldn't give out the paint specs for mixing the correct colour.
My old restoration shop would in certain situations paint a vehicle with a new paint gun which was then included as part of the paint job. The paint that was mixed was 2x the amount needed to paint the vehicle. After painting the remaining paint was sealed in containers along with a tech sheet which had the temperature, the barometric pressure, the humidity and the pressure setting at the spray gun inlet of the day it was painted. The primer color, the number of color coats, the number of clear coats applied was also part of the info sheet.
All of this was to aid the owner, should repairs be needed to best duplicate the finished color.
Metallics are different than solid colors. If one sprays a metallic the ‘flakes’ will laydown, stand on edge or a combination depending on air pressure, temp, reducers used and much more. How they lay will change the perceived coloring (lightness/darkness).
A customer called me some years later and told me I had supplied the wrong paint, because his ‘painter’ used the paint supplied, followed the settings closely and it didn’t match.
Bottom line, I did not supply the wrong paint, the painter thought he would paint a single panel and it would ‘match’ in all lighting situations…without blending it into other adjacent panels.
Wrong!
You can get close with experience or a lot of luck (maybe both) but without blending there will always be a mismatch which is subtle or obvious under certain lighting situations.
Fwiw if you look up the jag repair manuals it gives refinish times for certain body panels and then there is the notation that certain blending times should be allowed for, etc.
I'm partial to Indigo Blue with Caramel color interior and Blue top... Looks very different in day / sun vs night. Best color combo and agree with the classic wood interiors ... not a huge fan of carbon/ aluminum in these cars. My other cars I don't mind it, but for the vert I like the wood and dark colors.
Last edited by myexcursion; Aug 15, 2024 at 06:40 AM.
Hi Karen. Nice to see you here on this site. and I would agree with Stuart S - the metallic grey is gorgeous and would have been the other color I would have bought had I not found my perfect one in black.
Good luck with the search. I know you've followed mine on OR.
Cheers.
Last edited by David993S; Aug 15, 2024 at 08:39 AM.
Second paint shop told me that they always have to go "one level darker" for painting the front bumper since its made from plastic and not aluminum like the rest of the car.
Does that make any sense to you since to me it looks like the bumper is darker than it should be.
Second paint shop told me that they always have to go "one level darker" for painting the front bumper since its made from plastic and not aluminum like the rest of the car.
Does that make any sense to you since to me it looks like the bumper is darker than it should be.
Originally Posted by David993S
No.
What exactly is "One Level Darker" anyway? Paint is nearly infinite. One-microgram of a similar color tint and it'd be 'one level' different. Any competent shop could color-match to near perfection, not just go 'one level' because that's what they do.
Sorry for confusion. Mine is Stratus Gray Metalic, paint code LNL. it’s a darker shade of gray than lunar. Still has all the color color flakes that sparkle in the sun.
Hi Karen. Nice to see you here on this site. and I would agree with Stuart S - the metallic grey is gorgeous and would have been the other color I would have bought had I not found my perfect one in black.
Good luck with the search. I know you've followed mine on OR.
Cheers.
Hi David! Yes, I am still looking ~ maybe searching for a unicorn I bet we won't see any of these beauties' on the track Unlike you, my chauffer took an extended vacation many moons ago.....guess I'll have to find myself another one
Sorry for confusion. Mine is Stratus Gray Metalic, paint code LNL. its a darker shade of gray than lunar. Still has all the color color flakes that sparkle in the sun.
Interesting. The last year for Stratus grey was production year 2012.
Hi David! Yes, I am still looking ~ maybe searching for a unicorn I bet we won't see any of these beauties' on the track Unlike you, my chauffer took an extended vacation many moons ago.....guess I'll have to find myself another one
Yours is out there..........keep looking and be patient. At one point I thought I might take mine to a DE just for grins and giggles, but I didn't (and won't) as they're not great track cars in stock trim. They are amazing GT cars - I'm liking mine more and more every time I drive it.
Cheers.
Its got to be Italian Racing Red
Just sparkles in the sun, not that we get much of it in the UK
LOVE Italian Racing Red ~ what years is it available? My sister lives in Orpington and her MIL lives in Tewkesbury ~ I love Bath and the Cotswolds .....beautiful country. I would really like to visit Ludlow Castle.
Last edited by 911Königin; Aug 18, 2024 at 04:07 PM.
Yours is out there..........keep looking and be patient. At one point I thought I might take mine to a DE just for grins and giggles, but I didn't (and won't) as they're not great track cars in stock trim. They are amazing GT cars - I'm liking mine more and more every time I drive it.
Cheers.
David, I hope you are right ~ patience is not one of my virtues, especially when I know what the alternatives are.
Have been super sleuthing in the Sticky section and found the colors for the 2007 line. Does anyone know where to find what colors were made in what years?
Does anyone have an Emerald Fire one? Would love to see it in person if possible.
especially the one with the pup 
getting closer, but no cigar
Just a FEW 
Looks very different in day / sun vs night. Best color combo and agree with the classic wood interiors ... not a huge fan of carbon/ aluminum in these cars. My other cars I don't mind it, but for the vert I like the wood and dark colors.
I bet we won't see any of these beauties' on the track 
Unlike you, my chauffer took an extended vacation many moons ago.....guess I'll have to find myself another one 
