Expert: Gary - 1/29/2009

Question
I have a 08 Honda truck, color blue metalic, that was hit right front.  Right fender, bumper, grill, plastic bezel around the grill, etc. replaced and painted. The paint on the bumper & other plastic parts don't seem to match with the fenders or hood.  I am quite certain when new it all matched. Rear plastic bumper matches. Insurance company said they rarely match perfect. I refused to pick it up once because I saw it did not match and they said they would redo it.  This time it seemed OK there but after bringing it home it looks different. I was told that plastics paint different than metals and rarely do they match perfectly. Whats your take on this ??

Answer
Hi George,

They are telling you the truth when they say "plastics paint different than metals and rarely do they match perfectly." I have seen it time and time again when paint from the same can will match the car great but when the plastic bumper gets painted it looks off. However, You are the customer and the shop should try their best to please you. Even if that means painting all the plastic parts again. But be forewarned paint on plastic also ages differently than on metal. So in a couple of weeks the color may look a bit different than it does now.