title says it all. Is it pretty much a given that if you have a WDP TL you're going to have mismatched bumpers at some time? or is really only if you add the A-spec?? I can't really decide between the Silver, WDP, or CBP...

 

the a-spec paint matches the paint on my wdp perfectly its the stock bumpers (front/rear) that have a yellow tint to it. The a-spec kit just make it the yellowish bumpers more obvious

 

A search will reveal all the answers you want. The WDP is bad and the Silver is not much better. I had our front bumper painted after a fellow scratched just the right side of the bumper and although it took the shop some time, it now matches the body perfectly. Just sorry I didn't pay the extra money and have the rear done.
As above post, the A Spec package is terrrible on the WDP as it matches the body, not the bumpers. Some say the bumper color is different because they are not the same base material as the body, but the A Spec is not the same base either. Just dumb, poor quality from a company that should know better and care more.

 

Its honestly not bad on my 06 WDP, I really only notice it in certain light and iv never had anyone mention it

 

i have a wdp and i work at a body shop..im the painter and when i got it the bumpers did look different...so i decided to repaint the whole car w/ the aspec lip kit and hopefully everything comes out great...plastic and metal are different so the paint doesnt sit the same

 

i think your only option is to fabricate some metal bumpers

 

You're painting the whole car? Keep us updated.

 

OP, from my experience, the paint mismatch is definitely noticeable. This is especially true after it's been pointed out.

 

i dont see the point in painting the whole car? you said it yourself paint sits differently on metal and plastic... unless you did a slightly different shade for both

 

I have WDP... never paid attention to the color mismatch until I had to bring it to the body shop because I was rear-ended... now I am very aware of the color mismatch on the WDP... but let me tell you this, if I had to buy a 3rd generation TL again... I would buy the WDP again... it just has that classy car appeal to me...

 

My SSM's rear bumper is slightly darker than the whole car =(
People who see the car don't notice it, though (or at least point it out).

Front bumper looks fine, though.

 

notice it everytime on all WDP's- granted to me it sticks out like a sore thumb- i bet the general public doesnt even see it

 

It depends how detail oriented you are i think. Some people like myself and the general AZ community can spot it easy. But to the general population, most people don't even notice it.

It is definitely more noticeable in certain lighting/shading at certain angles. You just have to live with it or get something else.

 

I have a ssm tl.

I notice it, but, it is my own car so i unfortunately notice every flaw over time. Its just the kind of person I am, I go looking for issues.

Plus I work at a car wash so I see cars all day long for 7 hours and was trained to look for flaws on the car to point them out before washing to remove liability. Its a curse to be honest.

 

It's noticeable for me but WDP is what I wanted.

 

When I got my WDP, the previous owner had the rear bumper repainted because of the scuffs and scratches from parallel parking. there was an obvious color mismatch. now after upgrading my rear bumper to the type s, to go along with my new quad tip exhaust, i got it painted from the dealer. now the color is a much better match, but from some angles, it still looks like a mismatch.
but then again, WDP is what i wanted, and i still wudnt go with any other color for my TL, given the choice.

 

Am I missing something? If you are aware of the mismatch issue, just make sure it's not mismatched when you buy it...

 

My front is not mismatched at all, due to the fact i think it has been repainted and was blended well. The back is noticeable, but i may have it repainted and blended sometime in the future. Doesnt really bother me though at the moment.

 

Take a good look at the typical WDP mismatch issue. It is not a matter of different substrate materials. The substrate cannot change the color of the base coat, if painted properly. Yes, different substrates can have a very slight effect on certain types of color in certain lighting. However, the WDP issue is a clear manufacturing error. I use to be a high end painter with a ton of Honda refinishing experience. Honda sets their acceptability level pretty low when it comes to paint issues. Small minor defects can be acceptable, but different color bumpers is just plain wrong on a car that cost that much imo.

I've heard Honda blame it on flex additive also, but it's not "good" flex additive if it drastically effects the color. There is flex, and other painting methods that do not have bad results.

 

That's two of us. The substtrate is not the reason for the mismatched shade.
I'm very particular and when I had my WDP front bumper repainted, it was quite costly as the shop took many tests with the pearl before spraying. Actually it is a perfect match, no matter what light and direction it's viewed.

I spoke with 2 other shops and told them if it didn't match the body, it's on their dime. Those two refused the job. Just goes to show what type of shop they were or are.

 

It's not as bad as people make it seem. I only slightly notice it when I see pictures of the car, not when I'm looking at it in person.

 

you guys also have to consider the fact that if they car have been out for years like for example, a 2004 wdp tl and we are in 2010 already, thats like 6 years. with that said, when you paint a bumper, hood, fender or a door it will be hard to match it since its brand new fresh paint going to it, while the rest of the body its been there for years and might be darker or dirty.

 

The bumpers are a mismatch from day one, not from age.

 

The 'mismatch' is largely exaggerated and only appears as such under certain lighting conditions

 

Maybe in your eyes, but to most, the bumpers are a mismatch as soon as you look at the car regardless of the lighting conditions. If it weren't too bad, there wouldn't be compaints about the bumpers since day one and also complaints about the difference when an A Spec kit is installed.

 

Actually I think it varies. My dad has a wdp and so do I and it looks like my bumper matches the car better, his looks a little more yellow. Either way, its not terrible. WDP owns!

 

Sorry, but we all ought to come to an agreeable conclusion that they don't match the body period, regardless of the variation in shade. I've said this many times before, there is no excuse for the mismatch.

I'm done. Guess you're all glad to read this.

 

I used to own a captiva blue pearl EG hatchback where I had the front end panels repainted with a mismatched paint, so I have been through this

 

You're suggesting that every single WDP TL came from the factory with mismatched paint. I refuse to believe that this is true. I do, however, believe that SOME WDP TLs came with a mismatch

 

Why would you refuse to believe this? Do you think it's just a batch, but any '04 through '08 will have owners complaing of the mismatch. If the bumpers are the same color as the body, they have been repainted. Here's some reading to make you a believer:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/paint-mismatch-bumpers-wdp-684376/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/question-those-who-have-had-tried-have-their-wdp-bumpers-repainted-629380/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/question-about-paint-construction-08-pearl-tl-s-771911/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/wdp-paint-doesnt-match-bumper-body-752661/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/white-tl-yellower-bumper-mirrors-727550/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/wdp-aspec-kit-color-mismatch-773510/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/aspec-kit-color-not-matching-pics-780714/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/oem-spec-kit-color-matching-736755/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/what-color-hardest-paint-matching-775072/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/wdp-owners-here-733143/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/my-bumper-different-color-732772/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/wdp-ssm-owners-707026/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/front-bumper-color-696133/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/paint-problem-688888/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/wdp-new-tl-w-discoloration-back-bumper-643277/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/wdp-paint-mismatch-635866/

I would have posted more, but I'm tired and going to bed.

 

I heard from my local body guy (when I had an SSM) that mismatches were due to the flex additives necessary for bumper covers. In other words, it's not due to painting on different materials, it's due to painting on materials that flex as opposed to those that don't. Maybe BS, but just throwing it out there...

 

Just to respond, all manufactuerer's use a flex addative so that the paint on the bumpers will give and not crack upon a minor impact, soooooo, if that were the case, all cars would have a mismatch on the bumpers, but that's not the case. Just very poor engineering on the part of Honda/Acura, and very dissapointing that they wouldn't have corrected the problem with the later year production runs.

Not to knock that shop, but everyone gives reason for any product they cannot do perfectly. Stated before, my WDP bumper is identical to the body, but it takes many tests and trials to duplicate the applications perfectly. It's very time consuming and most shops want in and out in a hurry, but this isn't the case with Honda/Acura, just dumb.

 

It's not bad at all, and only will be distinguishable to other anal TL owners. WDP is, despite that over emphasized flaw, one of the best colors in looking ridiculously better than the others (in my opinion)

White holds well, Paint doesnt look as aged. It's a clear winner.

 

Looks like another owner of a WDP TL with mismatched bumpers and is denial.

 

my 07 WDP has a slight mismatch... it had been in no accidents (that anyone knows of) and is certified from acura... but i noticed the paint mismatch when i got the car, in certain lightings and was concerned it may have been in an accident... but this makes me feel a little better that it's not just me....

 

Not bad enough to stop me from buying a WDP Type-S

 

My rear bumper is a little mismatched. it has to be the perfect angle and light setting to see it tho. i still think WDP is sexy as hell

 

Agreed. If it were a flex additive then shouldn't we see paint mismatch in other places such as door handles?

My 08 TL-S WDP also has the famous mismatch, but I have noticed it on every other WDP TL of any year that I have seen up close, so I have accepted it.