Expert: Dan Gardener - 7/16/2010

Question
2005 toyota color "Pearl"  my understanding is the Pearl is a 3-step process. My estimators say, regarding the repair that you probably wont even notice, but it will be different from the orginal paint on the other portions of the car.  It will not be perfectly matched.  Could this be true in some cases?

The reason I ask is, the opposing parties insurance company states that it most definitly can be repaired and painted like new and definitly will not be different than the unrepaired areas.

Thank you.

Answer
Hello Eliz
A three stage pearl color can,should and does match original finishes. There is, however, a specific procedure . Depending on where exactly the spot repair is, the paint has to be blended into the adjacent panels. If your people are using the mirrors, door handles or bumpers as justification for the 'off match', they are dead wrong. If and when the parts I just mentioned are off color a bit ,it is because they are 'out sourced',  and ,in fact painted in another part of the country.

Do not settle for anything less than a perfect match.

Let me know how it goes.

Dan