Factory Paint

16509 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by mahtx2, Mar 28, 2015

mahtx2

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2015

My QX60 is one year old with 12,000 miles on it. I was at a tire company this weekend getting my tires rotated, and while I was there they had an accident and put two deep scratches on my vehicle. The smallest one is on the side of the hood and is about the size of your smallest fingertip. The larger one is on the fender and is about 3/4" long by 1/4" at the widest point. Both are small but are showing bare metal. The tire company has agreed to pay for the repairs. I took it to my Infiniti dealership, and they said I should have both scratches repaired properly by repainting versus doing a touch-up which would leave it noticeable. I am very torn about having the hood and fender both repainted, but my dealership assured me their quality is outstanding, and they offer a lifetime warranty on their work so long as I own the car. I am so picky with my vehicle that I hand wash rather than putting it through a car wash. It is black and looks so beautiful when it's clean, and I plan on keeping this vehicle for a long time. I'd like someone's expert opinion on painting over the factory paint for two minor scratches, so that I can consider my options.

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mattreading22

· #2 · Feb 17, 2015

I would look around you and find a reputable body shop that works on Infinitis. A lot of dealers will outsource something like this, and since the tire company is paying for it anyways, make sure it gets done right. I personally have a black Q60 and am the same way about keeping my car in pristine condition. I was hit and run early on and the passenger side of the bumper had some deep scratches in it. I had the shop my dealer uses repaint the entire bumper, and you cannot even tell it was scratched. Just make sure it is someone that does good work because a black vehicle will show more than any other color. Hope this helps!

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mahtx2

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 17, 2015

Thank you Matt. I trust Sewell Infiniti will do a good job, he said they are the preferred body shop for Infiniti in the Houston area. He explained their entire process, how they bake the paint on, remove any parts that are not painted such as the headlight, etc., and explained how they warranty their work for the life of my ownership. I got rear ended in my G35 shortly before I traded it on my QX60. Sewell did a fabulous job on the repair work, so the place is not the issue, it's just painting over factory paint. Thanks again for your advice.

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mattreading22

· #4 · Feb 17, 2015

Yes, you should be fine. We have dealt with them in the past and they have very good ratings. You are in good hands.

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nismosr

· #5 · Feb 17, 2015

was wondering how much this type of job cost ? I have a few small scratches on my front bumper and wanted to have them fixed and thinking if taking it to my dealer .

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Rooster

· #6 · Feb 17, 2015

nismosr said:
was wondering how much this type of job cost ? I have a few small scratches on my front bumper and wanted to have them fixed and thinking if taking it to my dealer .

Don't repaint your bumper for a few minor scratches. Have a local professional airbrush detailer touch it up for you, it will cost you less than $200. That's what most dealerships do for their used cars that have minor scratches. BTW, they can also pop out minor door dings without repainting for around $100 also.

If you're not familiar with these "tricks of the trade", watch the videos below for an example.

Air brush touch up video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhtAuQzKCa8

Paintless dent removal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GamM_Zc6tBw

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mahtx2

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 17, 2015

They were wanting $900 to repaint hood and fender, $600 for just the fender which had the worst scratch, and said they would do the touch up for free, but I would still be able to see it. However price is not the object since the tire company is paying for it. Rooster, thanks for tip about Air brushing. I may have to look into that. I'm still so hesitant to paint over the factory paint for two scratches, even though they are deep. I'll check it out. I'm getting very different opinions about what to do. Plus I don't want to be without my vehicle for 5 days.

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AndrewC

· #8 · Feb 17, 2015

that sounds about right.
to really hide it and to look like nothing happened, it would obviously require more money and work.

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Rooster

· #9 · Feb 18, 2015

mahtx2 said:
They were wanting $900 to repaint hood and fender, $600 for just the fender which had the worst scratch, and said they would do the touch up for free, but I would still be able to see it. However price is not the object since the tire company is paying for it. Rooster, thanks for tip about Air brushing. I may have to look into that. I'm still so hesitant to paint over the factory paint for two scratches, even though they are deep. I'll check it out. I'm getting very different opinions about what to do. Plus I don't want to be without my vehicle for 5 days.

If it's on someone else’s dime, have a reputable body shop do it. You'll be fine with Sewell, especially if they give you a lifetime warranty. Just make sure they paint in a clean room (which I'm sure they do) and that they take the time to mask everything well...you don't want any signs of overspray or rubbing compound residue in the door/hood jams. If they repaint your bumper, make sure the paint they use is compliant with the rubber (i.e., it can flex without cracking) and that the guarantee it.

FYI -- I leased a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner when I lived in Ohio. I'd had it for about 2 months, and took it to a car wash (one of those where you get out of your vehicle and watch it go through) to have the road salt cleaned off. It was cold, so they had garage doors on each end that they would open and close as the cars passed through. Long story short, they miss judged my brand new car as it was exiting and shut the garage door on the roof and ripped off my luggage rack – got to watch the whole thing. It dented the roof and rear hatch. They paid to have it repainted at the local dealership. My dad brought that vehicle after the lease and he still has it (it won’t die -- it's a great 4 wheel drive winter car). You still can't tell it was repainted, and it has held up as well as the factory paint for 15 years.

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mahtx2

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 19, 2015

Rooster said:
If it's on someone else’s dime, have a reputable body shop do it. You'll be fine with Sewell, especially if they give you a lifetime warranty. Just make sure they paint in a clean room (which I'm sure they do) and that they take the time to mask everything well...you don't want any signs of overspray or rubbing compound residue in the door/hood jams. If they repaint your bumper, make sure the paint they use is compliant with the rubber (i.e., it can flex without cracking) and that the guarantee it.

FYI -- I leased a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner when I lived in Ohio. I'd had it for about 2 months, and took it to a car wash (one of those where you get out of your vehicle and watch it go through) to have the road salt cleaned off. It was cold, so they had garage doors on each end that they would open and close as the cars passed through. Long story short, they miss judged my brand new car as it was exiting and shut the garage door on the roof and ripped off my luggage rack – got to watch the whole thing. It dented the roof and rear hatch. They paid to have it repainted at the local dealership. My dad brought that vehicle after the lease and he still has it (it won’t die -- it's a great 4 wheel drive winter car). You still can't tell it was repainted, and it has held up as well as the factory paint for 15 years.

Thank you Rooster. That gives me the encouragement I need. Now I just have to convince the tire store to pay the $900 quote & rent car for two scratches. But that should not be my problem.

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mahtx2

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 28, 2015

Quick followup: Just got my QX60 back from the dealership. They did a really good job getting the deep scratch smoothed out on the top of the fender. However, they told me there were some spots that the quality control supervisor found before releasing the vehicle. It was sent back to the buffer. I'm assuming it was swirl marks in the paint because I was told they had to use black magic on it. And also that the marks would eventually disappear when the paint cures. If I'm not satisfied, they said I could bring it back, the job comes with a lifetime warranty. This is my fourth black vehicle, and I guess this is common with black paint. Maybe I should rethink getting another black one in the future. And the tire company did pay for the repair and my rent car. I picked it up late yesterday evening, and saw some of what they were talking about, but have not had it out in the full sun to get a good assessment.

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