- My model of MX-5 is: NA
- I’m based near: Edinburgh
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Paint colour
Hi everyone,
I’ve just had a call from my mechanic saying that the painter has completed the rear quarter panel (after welding repair) and it’s come out weird. I’d like everyone’s opinion.
The car is a BRG or Neo HU and wanted to know if the paint is 2k or base + clear coat. The difference in colour is dramatic as can be seen below:
I’m pretty sure my car hasn’t been fully resprayed because it looks a bit darker when polished and waxed but not to the same extent as this new panel. Can someone give me some info on this please. The car is a 97 Eunos import.
Not sure if any other BRG owners here have had a panel painted. Any advice would be great.
Paint code HU is single stage. No lacquer.
Well, you’ve got brand new correct (whether it be solid or two coat) colour on one panel and 28 year old faded paint on the rest of the car.
It certainly will and does look odd.
It should have been painted matching the original paint and blended with other panels.
I had to have a new bumper and the paint shop insisted on painting the bonnet and wings too.
The painter said mine is “base and clear coat which is odd”. I just wanted to know if that’s the case for all NAs
So that dark colour is how it’s supposed to be? I did ask if it was possible to polish and wax the adjacent panel to see if it would match better but didn’t get a response. I can’t justify a full respray at this point due to the cost.
IF it’s a single coat then a specialist can potentially blend the old paint back up. But that will depend on how thick the original paint is.
Mazda paint isn’t the thickest, but on an older car you “might” be lucky.
If it’s a clear coat on top of the colour you will struggle in my opinion.
I believe it is a clear coat on it because I’ve had laquer peel close to the fuel cap when I wasn’t careful last year. I wonder what the best course of action is then.
That’s a difficult one and perhaps only you can decide.
As I see it you have 3 choices.
I guess the car’s a keeper.
- Leave it as it is.
- Hand in pocket job for a top coat.
- Try sorting out the top coat very, very, very, very carefully yourself and take your time.
Take advice from a good body shop perhaps first.
Pick a panel that you think will be best to try.
I’ve had success with this over the years.
You can get it in various sizes.
Recently used on my 5 as some plonker reversed into my front bumper while in the garage.
Scuffed and scratched it, but good results in the end.
They did the work with the same compound.
Best used with a dual action polisher set at a low (ish) speed. I’ve got the Ginour one.
You don’t need much of the compound and “light” pressure is paramount.
Work it in then wipe off and keep going carefully.
Obviously, you might not get exactly what you want, but will certainly be an improvement.
Various YouTube videos to help you make your mind up.
Good luck and all the best. 
Thanks for the detailed response. I’ll have to think about this and decide what I am going to do. Hopefully I get a call in the next few days with a viable solution from the painter.
