To Blend Or Not To Blend?

[Iron Mike]

Ok so I recently bought the Z-tune front bar for my GTR, along with the nismo side skirts and rear pods. I dropped it all off at the body shop who said that no blending would be required for the skirts and pods, but that the front gaurds would most likely need to be for the front bar (knowing how pedantic I am). MY problem with this is that my paint is in PERFECT condition, and i don't want to tarnish the original factory paint in any way (ie. having it rubbed down then recleared). How close of a match do you think I can get bayside blue without blending? What are the pros and cons? If i decide to put my original V-Spec II front bar back on then it won't match because the gaurds will have been blended...What are your opinions. Should I ask them to just paint and fit and not worry about blending?

[89CAL]

Cant they do a paint match on your current paint? I've had it done on mine where they have a machine that they put against your paint and it matches it

I thought you only needed to blend colours if they were on the same panel. Your getting all new seperate panels painted so I wouldnt have thought it would be a problem if they matched the paint properly

[JDMGTR17]

Being that bay side blue is a three layer colour its quite tricky to do edge to edge matches. I'd recommend that you let the panel shop do it there way. Unless you bought the car brand new, you can't be %100 is all original factory paint either. When it comes to paint, what 'mum doesn't know won't hurt her'. I'm sure I saw you at the show on sunday, she looked bloody neat mate. Any way, if it was mine, I'd let them blend where necessary. Let us know how ya go, n put some pics up

[Ronin 09]

When you say "tarnish the original..." the fact that you are unbolting the whole front end panels etc and replacing them could be considered as "tarnishing" it.

I love the Z-Tune front end, so in no way does this mean I am criticising you, but the fact that you are modifying the car (yes it's reversible but anyone who knows cars will see the non-factory bolt work on the front guards) with differernt body work will mean it's "tarnished".

In fact, if it's not matched (e.g. blended) it would be more obviously "tarnished" because the front panels don't match the doors etc.

If you really want to put the original front bar back on, get that resprayed at the same time as the new kit.

[R31Nismoid]

MY problem with this is that my paint is in PERFECT condition,

it is in 10yo+ condition you mean.

Match will always be close, but it'll never be perfect unless you blend as you'll never get it 100% right.