Originally Posted By: Tegger
Originally Posted By: salv
Dealership body shops operate the same as independents. They do not use OEM paint, and will buy aftermarket stuff to cut costs.
Automakers don't make their own paints, but buy them from Sherwin Williams, Sikkens, BASF, and other suppliers. Factory auto paints have been water-borne for, I think, at least 20-years. I'm not sure there's a chemical difference between OE and top-quality aftermarket.
You can buy top-quality aftermarket that lasts as long as OE and you can buy cheap aftermarket that chalks and peels in a few years. The answer: deal with a top-quality bodyshop. The ones new-car dealers use are often the best ones out there, since they are sometimes working on warranty repairs and recalls. The best shops will NOT be the cheapest.
I honestly wish I had thought to stock up on paint for my Caddy. It was painted with the old high-solvent (urethane?) paint...and it's just not available anymore. If anything serious happens, I will probablky end up having to take the entire thing to bare metal and redo everything! Thanks, EPA!
Originally Posted By: salv
Dealership body shops operate the same as independents. They do not use OEM paint, and will buy aftermarket stuff to cut costs.
Automakers don't make their own paints, but buy them from Sherwin Williams, Sikkens, BASF, and other suppliers. Factory auto paints have been water-borne for, I think, at least 20-years. I'm not sure there's a chemical difference between OE and top-quality aftermarket.
You can buy top-quality aftermarket that lasts as long as OE and you can buy cheap aftermarket that chalks and peels in a few years. The answer: deal with a top-quality bodyshop. The ones new-car dealers use are often the best ones out there, since they are sometimes working on warranty repairs and recalls. The best shops will NOT be the cheapest.
I honestly wish I had thought to stock up on paint for my Caddy. It was painted with the old high-solvent (urethane?) paint...and it's just not available anymore. If anything serious happens, I will probablky end up having to take the entire thing to bare metal and redo everything! Thanks, EPA!
