andyvvc Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Can anyone confirm what the warranty is with a 370z in terms of the paint? I've looked at three 370s recently, and they had noticeably (to my eyes) poorer paint colour on the front and rear bumpers compared to the 'metal' parts of the car. None were due to accident damage. It looks like the paint finish in some colours looks slightly 'off' on the bumpers...? Pearl white, Solid red and Black rose are what i've looked at - all three looked slightly 'off' (white and red being more obvious) Have to confess neither Colin nor Will's cars look like this. Is it an issue across the board, or are some 370s worse than others for bumper colour matching? I'm guessing that it would be too late to expect Ni$$an to rectify badly coloured bumpers when buying a 2009/2010 Zed? Or am i wrong, is there a warranty for the paint finish? Would that extend to discolouration of bumpers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Good to see you are looking at 370s I have noticed poor colour matching on panels on a few 370s but those were all white. There was often a distinct cream vs white distinction. Not seen any problems with other colours but can't say I've been looking. Where they all older cars that you looked at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 As its a colour match issue (usually plastic parts varying from metal panels) the first owner accepted it like it is so unless paint is coming off due to being defective or metal not adequately treated then no warranty procedure can be enforced 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Andy I am so disappointed you have not looked at my car closer . Cos like every other pearl white 370 I have seen, the painted plastic bits are different shades to the metal parts, but then again it has been issue with the 350's. The strange thing is the "shade" can look darker than the adjacent metal painted section from one angle and then you look at it from another angle and it appears lighter. I took up the issue with the Nissan dealer and he advised mine was little different to every other 370 that had passed through their premises and even showed me other marques, including BMW, where you could see excactly the same situation - accepting of course some were more evident than others. When I had my sills repainted (by a Nissan approved paintshop and paid by me because of stone-chipping), they too are a different shade although the match externally was better than before. But open the doors and the more creamy looking colour compares more drastically with the rear wing. But I've got over the concerns and what I will say the paint is far easier to maintain than my previous Ebisu 350, the main irritation being the stone chipping as I am completely hopeless at touching those in with the 3 stage stuff and more often than not looks worse that when I started Just wish there were specialists out there (not the chips away outfits that are akin kwik fit in my book) that I could entrust to do a pro job as the last thing I want is to have the front end repainted.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIXXERUK Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I've found this is common throughout the industry, I've mentioned it here before, no manufacturer seems to be able to match paint on metal and plastic It's highlighted by some colours more than others, I read somewhere a while ago that it's to do with the primer/paint due to the plastic needing to stretch and contract due to temp changes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipar69 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Good to see you are looking at 370s I have noticed poor colour matching on panels on a few 370s but those were all white. There was often a distinct cream vs white distinction. Not seen any problems with other colours but can't say I've been looking. Where they all older cars that you looked at? I used to get very wound up by this on my first 370 and posted about it. My experiences have been: GT Ultimate (storm white) - Very poor rear bumper match; less so on the front but not great. Black Edition (Quartz) - excellent match on both bumpers Nismo (storm white) - slightly noticeable difference, but much better than first car I was once told it relates to the way paint 'sits' differently on plastic and metal, but that doesn't really explain why some white 370s have a much better/worse match than others. This appears to be a particular issue on the shade of white used on our 370s. If you look at other makes of car in white, this doesn't seem to be such an issue. The real challenge comes if you get a bumper scrape, as it will be much harder to create a perfect match on the repair, especially if the paint has to be blended into the surrounding panels. I am so conscious of this now that checking the match was one of the things I did before putting money down on the Nismo. Pictures don't help a great deal as you need to see the cars in the flesh, but here's a couple of rear bumper shots of my previous and crurrent cars. Edited February 1, 2014 by sipar69 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyvvc Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Andy I am so disappointed you have not looked at my car closer . Cos like every other pearl white 370 I have seen, the painted plastic bits are different shades to the metal parts, but then again it has been issue with the 350's. The strange thing is the "shade" can look darker than the adjacent metal painted section from one angle and then you look at it from another angle and it appears lighter. I took up the issue with the Nissan dealer and he advised mine was little different to every other 370 that had passed through their premises and even showed me other marques, including BMW, where you could see excactly the same situation - accepting of course some were more evident than others. When I had my sills repainted (by a Nissan approved paintshop and paid by me because of stone-chipping), they too are a different shade although the match externally was better than before. But open the doors and the more creamy looking colour compares more drastically with the rear wing. But I've got over the concerns and what I will say the paint is far easier to maintain than my previous Ebisu 350, the main irritation being the stone chipping as I am completely hopeless at touching those in with the 3 stage stuff and more often than not looks worse that when I started Just wish there were specialists out there (not the chips away outfits that are akin kwik fit in my book) that I could entrust to do a pro job as the last thing I want is to have the front end repainted.... To be fair you are normally hooning away from me on the drives so i only get to see the back of your 370 on the road (it does like good tho, and sounds lovely with the Stillen) I really didn't notice any dis-colouring on your bumpers, and i was up-close with your car when we were washing them in Wales last year. I can only assume any dis-colouration on your car is minimal Colin compared to others? (I'll be looking VERY closely in May!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyvvc Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Good to see you are looking at 370s I have noticed poor colour matching on panels on a few 370s but those were all white. There was often a distinct cream vs white distinction. Not seen any problems with other colours but can't say I've been looking. Where they all older cars that you looked at? 2009/2010 models at the moment Will. Low mileage cars tho, but perhaps it is an age/exposure to sunlight/weathering thing that exacerbates the colour match issue on some cars? (In addition to the plastic/metal paint-from-factory issue) Edited February 1, 2014 by andyvvc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipar69 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Andy I am so disappointed you have not looked at my car closer . Cos like every other pearl white 370 I have seen, the painted plastic bits are different shades to the metal parts, but then again it has been issue with the 350's. The strange thing is the "shade" can look darker than the adjacent metal painted section from one angle and then you look at it from another angle and it appears lighter. I took up the issue with the Nissan dealer and he advised mine was little different to every other 370 that had passed through their premises and even showed me other marques, including BMW, where you could see excactly the same situation - accepting of course some were more evident than others. When I had my sills repainted (by a Nissan approved paintshop and paid by me because of stone-chipping), they too are a different shade although the match externally was better than before. But open the doors and the more creamy looking colour compares more drastically with the rear wing. But I've got over the concerns and what I will say the paint is far easier to maintain than my previous Ebisu 350, the main irritation being the stone chipping as I am completely hopeless at touching those in with the 3 stage stuff and more often than not looks worse that when I started Just wish there were specialists out there (not the chips away outfits that are akin kwik fit in my book) that I could entrust to do a pro job as the last thing I want is to have the front end repainted.... To be fair you are normally hooning away from me on the drives so i only get to see the back of your 370 on the road (it does like good tho, and sounds lovely with the Stillen) I really didn't notice any dis-colouring on your bumpers, and i was up-close with your car when we were washing them in Wales last year. I can only assume any dis-colouration on your car is minimal Colin compared to others? (I'll be looking VERY closely in May!) From pictures I've seen I think Colin's car is one of those with a pretty good match. I posted a link to a Nismo for sale on Autotrader a while back which had one of the worst rear bumper matches I've seen. I'll see if I can find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Good to see you are looking at 370s I have noticed poor colour matching on panels on a few 370s but those were all white. There was often a distinct cream vs white distinction. Not seen any problems with other colours but can't say I've been looking. Where they all older cars that you looked at? 2009/2010 models at the moment Will. Low mileage cars tho, but perhaps it is an age/exposure to sunlight/weathering thing that exacerbates the colour match issue on some cars? (In addition to the plastic/metal paint-from-factory issue) The issue starts with the painting by Nissan (and other manufacturers are the same - my wife's Mazda is even worse) and I can honestly say it does not seem to have changed over the 4+ years I have had GUNS. The painters who I have spoken to and who have done excellent work on members cars on here do say it is a regular issue - no doubt if you were prepared to pay for super car quality it could be addressed but I think you would find Andy that you would soon not worry about it as you see your chosen car is much the same as others, avoiding of course the poorer examples, like Sipar mentions ^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I can't see any difference at all on mine - as has been said - think, its more the white's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipar69 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I can't see any difference at all on mine - as has been said - think, its more the white's Definitely much less noticeable on the darker shades. As Colin says, just need to avoid the very bad examples when going for white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 So, white is on the agenda then http://www.350z-uk.c...60#entry1209104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanski Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Plastic bumpers /parts as mentioned shrink, stretch and flex due to the nature of the material compared to metal which does not flex as much. The primers and of course topcoat needs to compensate for this flex or it would just flake off after a short time. Plasti-paint primer and top coats specifically designed for such parts, but as with all things I wonder if the cars are sprayed in 1 go. I would expect the main body is sprayed in 1 piece and the bumpers and other expernal parts added further down the production line, I guess paints designed to stick to plastic do not need to be as thick as the metal due to their more duarble nature to movement, so the paint will be thinner and probably have less top coat , otherwise it will flake off. Also Plastic parts will be manufactured in a particular colour out of the mould? The primer colour might be a shade out from the metal body and as we know primer colour can alter a shade of top coat under odd lighting conditions. Example: A metal door can have 2 grey primer coats , 1 basecoat colour, 1 or 2 clear top coats. 1 bumper (black moulded) from the factory, 1 thin grey plastiprimer, 1 basecoat, then 1 clear top coat? Already you have black under colour to start, 1 grey primer only 1 top coat etc so the light reflection shade is different? When you respray old bangers (like I do ) note down the number of coats you do for primer and top coat or you will get shade differences? of course in 2014 why Nissan cant get that right is beyond me! Even Audi /VW do so much better! Cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJRFulton Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 (edited) They changed the storm white colour didn't they? I know my GT Edtion is Storm/Pearl White, where as a friends Juke, which is about a year older, is Storm White, but no pearl. My colour match is fine btw. Edited February 16, 2014 by AJRFulton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanski Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I prefer the Zed pearly storm white to the Duke version ( next door has one in that colour) just looks dull! Any white van driver would be proud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanski Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 My other half drives a 2004 VW Beetle ragtop in a cream colour. It was treated from new with that scratch guard type stuff( she had it just 3 years or so) 3 owners and highish mileage. Paint is like brand new not even swirls on it. I was pleasantly surprised how well made it is. We dont use any fancy foam or stuff like that just wash/wax and a hand sponge. Nissan take note! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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