A mal-functioning "Touch-less" carwash did some damage to the paint on my '02 Camaro. The damage ranges from some minor scuffs in the hood clearcoat, to some deep gouges in the fender, roof, and door. The back glass is cracked where the spray arm finally fell off the spray rack. The spoiler is cracked.... Made a mess. Insurance estimate is $2800.

I have heard horror storries about trying to match Silver paint. Do any of the professional painters have any comments about matching Silver?? I think I have a reputable bodyshop lined up to do the repair. He says "No Problem!" I would like to hear what you guys think. Thanks....Jb

Don't worry if you go to a good shop silver can be matched it's all in having nice blends, make shore to look at the repaired panels on a angle in the sun light that it not blotchy. That would be a bad repair. Talk to your Ins or the car washes because now your car is worth less with a car fax report. you may be able to get more money because of the loss. good luck and ask to talk to the painter and tell him that your not going to be happy with a blotchy blend and you wish the car to be paint one time for this repair. If he still feels no problem you have the right shop

I do it nearly every day, don't worry.

a competent shop should be able to do it no problem.

What's the alternative? If it won't match, you won't get it fixed? :)

I don't do body/paint for a living (anymore) but being in the hobby, I can give some input.

Silvers and paints in general have come a long way from the old days you hear and may have seen severe matching difficulties.

Try to find a shop that uses a spectrophotometer scanner, like the BASF SmartScan, to match the paint that is on the car now. If the shop just uses the factory codes to get the paint, that doesn't account for weathering that has taken place. Any good, experienced shop will know what you're talking about if you ask if they use a scanner to color match, and they should know how to best use that scanner.

As an example, I had this done on my 68 when I needed to match the unknown bright blue metallic the previous owner had applied. The scanner told the paint shop what to make and it matched perfectly. Same thing when the hood on my 01 Silverado got dinged; its a medium gray metallic, and it matches 100%.

Thanks for the assurance guys.

I spoke to painters at 3 area shops. They all agreed that most Silvers aren't as hard to match as they were in the past. And, even without spectrum analysis, the GM paints are pretty easy to match. The challenge these days is to match some of the Champagne, or Platinum Golds. The guy at the shop I am using rattled off something about Dupont's something, something, Genesus system. I don't remember exactly what it was.

My knowledge of new paint products and techniques is limited at best. I guess the days of spraying Lacquer and buffing the daylights out of it are gone!!

Thanks, Jb

A mal-functioning "Touch-less" carwash did some damage to the paint on my '02 Camaro. The damage ranges from some minor scuffs in the hood clearcoat, to some deep gouges in the fender, roof, and door. The back glass is cracked where the spray arm finally fell off the spray rack. The spoiler is cracked.... Made a mess. Insurance estimate is $2800.

I have heard horror storries about trying to match Silver paint. Do any of the professional painters have any comments about matching Silver?? I think I have a reputable bodyshop lined up to do the repair. He says "No Problem!" I would like to hear what you guys think. Thanks....Jb

a true body shop pro can match anything. I would suggest making sure you go somewhere reputable - good luck