Paint matching?

[widster]

Probably an obvious one to many but if i want some Mica blue paint for my car then do i need to go to an automotive paint specialist and get it matched or should i buy it off the shelf from say Halfords? It is only for touching up purposes. I'm not very good at bodywork!

Cheers
Widster

[mr2mk1chick]

the paint code is on the chassis number in the frunk

halfords have a reputation for really struggling with getting mica blue quite right
if its only a few small areas then you may be okay. it depends on how fussy you are.
also other paint places will be able to do the same, or paint match.

when i had tango sprayed at the front before a full respray, the paint guy got a perfect match

[widster]

Thanks for that. Can't find anyone else in Leicester who do car paint so will try Halfords.

[acexxx]

I got Halfords to mix me up some mica blue 8e3 a few months ago. I just went in and asked for a can. Cost me £10 and it does the job. Not quite a perfect match but close.

Andy

[widster]

I got Halfords to mix me up some mica blue 8e3 a few months ago. I just went in and asked for a can. Cost me £10 and it does the job. Not quite a perfect match but close.

Andy

Thanks for the reply. I might nip there at lunchtime. Does anyone know the Mica blue paint code off the top of their head as my car is 20 miles away at the moment so can't have a look. Would be really helpful!

[mr2mk1chick]

paint code is 8E3

edit: according to the search i just did

[widster]

paint code is 8E3

edit: according to the search i just did

That's great. Thanks a lot.

[crazylegs]

try brown brothers. they will match any paint, take your fuel flap with you. i had to match pete kytes mica blue, what a pig !! the problem was the amount of metalic flake, or lack of it, after several off the shelf potions they did a custom mix in the end. top service and a reasonable price.
halfrauds was a mile away from being even close.

[mr2mk1chick]

halfrauds was a mile away from being even close.

I've heard so many people that have had problems with halfords and mica blue paint.
Esp Karens MR2 challenge car - they ended up going for another colour completely after they got fed up with so many 'diffrent' versions from halfords.

(my SC was a few different mica blues tbh, before it became burnt colour!)

It may be okay for a very small fix in an non-conspicuous area, and also depends on how fussy you are with paint being perfect. If the reat of the car is good, then best to take to a bodyshop IMO

[widster]

halfrauds was a mile away from being even close.

I've heard so many people that have had problems with halfords and mica blue paint.
Esp Karens MR2 challenge car - they ended up going for another colour completely after they got fed up with so many 'diffrent' versions from halfords.

(my SC was a few different mica blues tbh, before it became burnt colour!)

It may be okay for a very small fix in an non-conspicuous area, and also depends on how fussy you are with paint being perfect. If the reat of the car is good, then best to take to a bodyshop IMO

Thanks for the reply. It's only for touching up around the inside of the wheelarch and along the bottom edge of the rear valence. If i could find somewhere else in Leicester other than Halfords to buy a tin of paint from then i would but half an hour of searching on the internet turned up nothing! I suppose i could always go to Toyota.....

[Tony jinxy froude]

Leonard Brooks paints in either Harlow or Harold wood in Essex do the best match Mica blue on the plannet & they do mail order, good prices too, http://www.leonardbrooks.demon.co.uk/ , Jinxy

[widster]

Leonard Brooks paints in either Harlow or Harold wood in Essex do the best match Mica blue on the plannet & they do mail order, good prices too, http://www.leonardbrooks.demon.co.uk/ , Jinxy

I've just bought 500ml of 'Mica Blue' from Halfords in Leicester. I'll see what it looks like and if it's no good will use your link. Cheers.