Hi guys.

Lent my car to a friend the other day. Wouldn't normally lend the 380 to anyone, but he is a rare exception.

Well, he backed it into a tap and put a small scratch on the rear bumper :eek2:

He returned the car with tail between legs, three quotes in hand and looked horrified I might dis-own him! Felt so sorry for him - he knows I love my car, but sh*t happens so not that upset. Quotes were $550 to $700.

My question is about the repair (covered by insurance).

I've quoted a brand new bumper from Mitsubishi (just to see if it is much more expensive). Price is $460, but it doesn't come painted, so not really worth doing the swap myself.

1. When they repair, do they source the paint or the exact colour specification from Mitsubishi or match it as best they can? Given that every repairer said the whole bumper has to be repainted, I'm cringeing just thinking about the fact that the colour might not be quite right.

2. Any SA members had any dealings with Tom Howard Crash Repairs? Trying to find a reputable repairer.

Intersetingly, all quotes included new parts for the three badges on the bumper - I'm assuming they can't be re-used. Let's hope they stick them on in the exact right spot, perfectly straight!

Thanks

1. When they repair, do they source the paint or the exact colour specification from Mitsubishi or match it as best they can? Given that every repairer said the whole bumper has to be repainted, I'm cringeing just thinking about the fact that the colour might not be quite right.

When i had a gouge taken outta my bumper of my old commodore (by a friend who borrowed my car and reversed into something) the repair place matched the current paint colour, not the Mitsubishi brand new off the showroom floor colour. Due to the age and weathering, they will need to make sure they match the colour of your current car paint not the factory paint code.

Get a mobile paint van to come around and fix it. I used to have my own van so as long as you choose the right people you can get a perfect job done. No more then $250 either

Get a mobile paint van to come around and fix it. I used to have my own van so as long as you choose the right people you can get a perfect job done. No more then $250 either

Having seen the quality of work mobile touch up services can provide I'd recommend this too - in most cases the repaired area is unidentifiable and looks as new.

I always did an excellent job and left my customers very happy :) Its amazing what crash shops try and get away with!

The use spectrophotometer device to record the paint from your car, and then replicate that colour.
Suggestions are that Tom Howard CR has exposure in the car repair business here in Adelaide, but I have never had any personal dealings with them.

If its a common colour, you might be able to find a whole new bumper in the same colour at a wreckers somewhere? And have you considered de-badging it instead of buying new ones?

Since when did they put badges on the rear bumpers of 380's??

??
since always


who did you work for Mr SPL ?

??
since always


who did you work for Mr SPL ?

Yep, on the bumper just under the tail lights, left and/or right depending on year & model.

??
since always


who did you work for Mr SPL ?

Worked for a company called ESP. Part of a car dealership firm. Out on the road fixing paint all day! Loved it :P

Well, got the car back yesterday afternoon.

Looks great. A few other very slight marks on the bumper fixed as a result of repainting the whole thing. Colour match very impressive, metallic finish looks factory.

Apart from the car being left out in the rain for a while with the driver's window down, very happy with the result. They even got all the new badges straight.

My brother is now going to send his 3rd gen there - get the spoiler repainted as the clear coat has gone off.

I got the whole rear of my car repainted a few weeks ago as well.

It looks better than factory - reason being they used a litre of paint rather than the around 700ml the factory robot uses to paint the whole car. The new paint is thicker and more lustrous.

Hi Knotched, glad you are happy with it - I certainly am with mine. It's definitely a very metallic finish, which is what I was worried wouldn't be replicated

My paint certainly looks "thicker" than before. I don't know why it looks "thicker", just does. Perhaps because where the bumper panel suddenly changes direction, the lines are more subtle - probably the thinner factory coat means the lines are more pronounced???

The paint finish is probably one area where I feel Mitsubishi have been behind other manufacturers for years. It's very rare to see any early Magna's which haven't lost the clear coat or without the signature blotchy bonnet or roof.

I think they started getting it right with the 3rd gen, although still not as good as some other manufacturers. My brother's 3rd gen spoiler came as a promotional package, and so I suspect wasn't factory painted. The rest of the car is fine and it sits in the hot Adelaide sun all day.