Got the Versa back!

[BBISHOPPCM]

Well, she's back from the body shop, and they did a fantastic job. Replaced the entire front bumper assembly and related parts, radiator support, and some odds and ends. Perfect alignment of all seams, paint looks factory (they might have purchased the bumper pre-painted), and I am truly pleased. If anyone is looking for a decent body shop in southern NH (right on the mass border on route 13), check out FineLines Autobody, Brookline NH.

[Ever Victorious]

I can say from experience it is not likely that the bumper was pre-painted. I got to see my V with the unpainted parts mocked up, and the bumper was a flat black from Nissan.

[JPack]

I don't think I've ever heard of pre-painted bumpers. There are enough parts to stock as it is.

Typically, the manufacturer (e.g. Nissan) provides paint forumlation codes for each color for several paint companies (e.g. ICI, DuPont, PPG, etc.). And in turn, each paint company has a library describing the recipe for each color code. It's a pretty good match. Unless you've got a really good eye or a colorimeter, you're not going to notice any difference, if any.

[BenzTech Gone Versa]

Very few items come color coded now a days.Can every one just look at your front bumpers and see if you have "tape marks" around where the lower grill area is.my bumper had this since new!I also took a look at the inventory at the local nissan dealers,they all have this "tape mark" as if all them were repainted.

[BBISHOPPCM]

Thanks for clearing this up. If this is the case, they did a damn good job painting it, because I couldn't tell the difference.

In contrast, Peters Nissan in Nashua, NH has their own body shop, and they ROYALLY screwed up my Frontier's bumper. The paint was loaded with orange-peel texture, everything was aftermarket (bumper, light, fender flare), and there were parts missing (light bulbs and trim) when I picked it up. To make matters worse, the boneheads covered my dash and doorpanels with some cleaner that they never fully cleaned off (the truck was 6 mos old at the time). This crap ruined everything it touched, including the instrument cluster. I will NEVER take my vehicle there again. FineLines did a beautiful job and didn't ruin anything in the process, for that, I am grateful.

[DreamU]

Typically, the manufacturer (e.g. Nissan) provides paint forumlation codes for each color for several paint companies (e.g. ICI, DuPont, PPG, etc.). And in turn, each paint company has a library describing the recipe for each color code.

Last fall I had to sell my wife's Ford Focus so we had a guy come over to our house to detail it. The bumper's paint was scratched badly and he said he could fix that too! Right in his van he had all the basic paint colors, a handheld computer with paint codes for all vehicles and a weigh scale. (The scale is how he determined mix portions). Now my wife's car sold quickly, just as the detailer was completing my own car (an Acura), and the buyer drove off with it. So, I didn't get to see the paint job as it was done at the buyer's home. Still, I was impressed by this detailer's professionalism.