Paint defect??

t-"RACY" · Jan 12, 2007

Hi all,

I have a paint issue with my Luna Grey FR TDi170, which at the time of taking delivery, all though noticed, I did not make a fuss as I just wanted to get in it and drive.

Anyhow as the past 3 months of ownership have passed every time I look at my FR I find myself going back and looking at this paint defect.

This paint defect being... The front and rear bumpers being a different shade of colour to the body. My hubby who has worked in the automotive industry for 20 years tells me that before I even take it to the dealer for appraisal he knows what the dealer is going to say, that is "the fact that the bumpers are made of plastic"

My hubby said he will sort it out with the dealer

My hubby believes that the problem lies with the suppliers of the bumpers who are responsible for the painting. This is where the problem lies, due to the bumper painting being out sourced from the factory the paint supply although most probably from the same manufacturer will inevitably be of a different batch/shade etc etc.

So something else to add to my growing list of problems.

Anyone else noticed the same paint problem with there Leon Mk 2 ???

Tracy

yell_oh · Jan 12, 2007

Common problem across makes

My wife's Honda also has mismatched bumpers, and if you look at Ford Focus forums there's the same complaint there.

It tends to affect metallics/pearlescents since the colour ends up different, even with the same paint mix, depending on the atmospheric conditions at the time it's painted. The bumpers are often done in a different place to the bodywork, hence the problem.

It also is caused to a lesser degree by the fact that the primer on the plastic is different to the metal (it's an "etch" primer, to bond to the plastic) and also because the plastic and metal have different electrostatic properties that change the "lay" of the metal flakes in the paint.

It's just the way it is unfortunately. A body shop could repaint the bumpers and "blend" into the surrounding panels to make it less obvious, but probably not what you want on a new car!

t-"RACY" · Jan 13, 2007

yell_oh said:
My wife's Honda also has mismatched bumpers, and if you look at Ford Focus forums there's the same complaint there.

It tends to affect metallics/pearlescents since the colour ends up different, even with the same paint mix, depending on the atmospheric conditions at the time it's painted. The bumpers are often done in a different place to the bodywork, hence the problem.

It also is caused to a lesser degree by the fact that the primer on the plastic is different to the metal (it's an "etch" primer, to bond to the plastic) and also because the plastic and metal have different electrostatic properties that change the "lay" of the metal flakes in the paint.

It's just the way it is unfortunately. A body shop could repaint the bumpers and "blend" into the surrounding panels to make it less obvious, but probably not what you want on a new car!

Hi Yell_oh,

Thanks for the info.

My hubby has read your comments and agrees with you 100% with what you say but he argues that he does not have mismatched bumpers on his BMW X5 or 325Ci Sport convertible (Metallic Black and Silver) so why should we have a problem on our Leon FR. Additionally, I dont appear to have seen many VW Golfs or Skoda's with mismatched painted bumpers, part of the same group so why should Seat's Quality control be any different??

One of my previous family cars was a Ford C-Max so I am very well aware of the problems Ford are having with their painted bumpers. my previous car before the Leon was a Scenic, which too suffered paint mis matched bumpers.

Anyhow my Leon goes into the dealers on Tuesday, not the dealer of choice but the only other Seat dealer is 20 mile away! I will await their response before making any decisions.

Tracy

paulw2427 · Jan 14, 2007

Hi!
I have an FR in luna Grey and I have a problem with my bumper!. Its not really a different shade its that on the drivers side the bumper on the corner looks very patchy especially in direct sunlight. The other sides fine but im like you I keep looking at it. I took it into my dealers and they agreed it was poor.

I'm gonna have that side blown in at the bodyshop. My dad works in a bodyshop and he thinks it will be fine.

I didnt want to have it painted but its bugging me so Im gonna have it done.

Good look!!

MUFFIN · Jan 14, 2007

My wife drives a Micra 160SR and has the exact same problem mentioned here.. It bugged me at first but now I've learned to live with it. Emotion Red - shows up like mad but what the hell!

t-"RACY" · Jan 19, 2007

t-"RACY" said:
Hi all,

I have a paint issue with my Luna Grey FR TDi170, which at the time of taking delivery, all though noticed, I did not make a fuss as I just wanted to get in it and drive.

Anyhow as the past 3 months of ownership have passed every time I look at my FR I find myself going back and looking at this paint defect.

This paint defect being... The front and rear bumpers being a different shade of colour to the body. My hubby who has worked in the automotive industry for 20 years tells me that before I even take it to the dealer for appraisal he knows what the dealer is going to say, that is "the fact that the bumpers are made of plastic"

My hubby said he will sort it out with the dealer

My hubby believes that the problem lies with the suppliers of the bumpers who are responsible for the painting. This is where the problem lies, due to the bumper painting being out sourced from the factory the paint supply although most probably from the same manufacturer will inevitably be of a different batch/shade etc etc.

So something else to add to my growing list of problems.

Anyone else noticed the same paint problem with there Leon Mk 2 ???

Tracy

Well, I took my FR to my local Seat dealer on Tuesday regarding the issues I have had with my FR. Read into it what you want but the issues I had have now been passed to Seat Customer Care for their response.

In relation to the paint issue on the bumpers the Seat dealer said it was due to the "texture" of the plastic, my hubby's response was :wtf:

!!

What do you think? Would you accept your Luna Grey bumpers like this?

Tracy

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Paint defect??

t-"RACY"

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yell_oh

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t-"RACY"

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paulw2427

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MUFFIN

ready 2 return ;o)

t-"RACY"

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