I am looking to buy some spray cans of paint (code SU classic red) for my MX5 and so far have failed. I bought a can of paint from Halfords that was supposedly code SU, but upon application, realised at once that the colour of the paint in the can is noticably darker. They tried to give me a load of flannel about the paint on my car having faded, but I have a genuine Mazda touch up pen from MX5 Parts that is a perfect match.
Does anyone know where I can get what I need in a spray can? Or will I have to buy the paint and buy a spray system (compressor etc)?
Many years ago, our local motor factors used to be able to supply matched paint in aerosol cans, mixed on their premises to the correct colour chip formula. They weren’t cheap but they had a very good nozzle that produced a fan-shaped spray like a proper paint spray gun. I think that the paint was a type of “enamel” back then so it may no longer be available.
For very small repairs I have had a great deal of success using thinned touch-up paint in a modeller’s airbrush driven by an “aerosol can” propellant. You can pick up a dual-action airbrush kit for about £20 on ebay. More expensive than aerosols but cheaper than a full compressor and airbrush system.
For something approaching a full panel repair I would probably entrust the job to an independent local bodyshop.
Although Halfords carry SU red as part of their standard line-up, they can also custom fill cans. There do appear to be genuinely 3 different shades of SU red. Best advice is to take in a bit of the car as a sample. When they mix the paint, they will match it to the supplied part. Easiest bit to remove is the petrol filler lid; couple of 8mm bolts
The modeller’s airbursh will be ideal for a narrow section like the wheel arch lips, overspray will be minimal. Not sure about the mirror housings though, I would prefer a slightly larger spray pattern for something of this size.
Color matching on plastic can be difficult, for some reason the paint can take on a slightly different shade on plastic compared to the same paint on metal.
There are still a lot of paint retailers that will match the colour to your car and then make up a can for you. Last time that I did this, they came out to the car and matched the colour to a sample card, PERFECT!
I too have a tale of woe re Halfords. I bought a colour matched can from the store, I had to wait 45 mins while the can was filled etc. After I had done all the prep work (Ford KA 1997), I started to paint…The colour was right but it was a few shades darker. I returnet to Halfords, complete with car and paint only to be told that my colour had faded with age! I have since been told that Halfords only match from a couple of shades, not from the actual colour of the car.
