For many years I've been trying to find out the paint code for the cream paint used in the engine bay of a 3L (silver stone) BA.

Someone has suggested it's simply 3L without the clear coat, but it's definitely not: I've seen 3L without clear coat numerous times, as I've sprayed it on the car myself, and it is not this colour. Also I can clearly see the difference in daylight, and it's pretty clear here, if you compare the bonnet underside to the 3L outer edge. It's a cream, slightly grey metallic. It's definitely metallic, it has flecks in it, as the camera flash has nicely picked up here.

[url=http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/sfjwebcomms/media/Car/20170328_160148.jpg.html][img]http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag349/sfjwebcomms/Car/20170328_160148.jpg[/img][/url]

Here it is in better daylight without the flash - it looks more cream in this light, not grey:

[url=http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/sfjwebcomms/media/Car/20170328_160127.jpg.html][img]http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag349/sfjwebcomms/Car/20170328_160127.jpg[/img][/url]

Does anyone have any idea what colour this is? It must be a standard Mazda colour, surely.

S

Yup, took me ages to find the correct code, it's R2 - 'Engine Bay Metallic' with D2 - 'Engine Bay Clear Coat'

Honestly, no idea, often wondered myself, and as you say, it's not 3L without a topcoat. Mine looks more beige than grey tbh. Wondered if it's jut a primer from a dip bath whilst the 3L (or other colour) is sprayed on.

Actually, look at this video (turn the sound down unless you like really cheesy music!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvXjDSwkX0Y

from 50secs to 1min it shows the BA being dipped and sprayed, might explain it a bit

Jon

[quote="Dark_Jon"]Yup, took me ages to find the correct code, it's R2 - 'Engine Bay Metallic' with D2 - 'Engine Bay Clear Coat' [/quote]

Oh you absolute star!!!

As I need to order some imminently and didn't know what I was going to use if I couldn't find it.

Yes, the music is very cheesy & electronic - but probably appropriate for a '90s car

S

[quote="SerenaJ"]As I need to order some imminently and didn't know what I was going to use if I couldn't find it.[/quote]

Am I to assume you're sarcasm metre didn't go off with my R2-D2 paint codes? Ironically I think R2 may be an actual Mazda colour weirdly, some gold colour it seems.

Found this on another forum:

[i]"Some paint companies cater better for under bonnet colours than others, we use 4 paint systems but only one caters for these finishes and it can't go into rattle cans. The paint is made the same as 2k or base coat finishes ie pigment plus binder however the [b]binder for the under bonnet colours is actually a primer[/b] hence the semi Matt finish."[/i]

You can read more here:

http://www.mazdamenders.net/forum/viewt ... 3&start=15

The last post is a shot of the can he got for the engine bay, greyish on a silver Mx5. No idea if it's of any help.

I think you may just have to match it best you can, or use the body colour as that may look the least odd. Either that or take it somewhere where they can scan the actual paint and match it more accurately. Maybe a proper spray shop or even a Mazda dealer would know.

I had figured it, but assumed you must be using the F[u]a[/u]rce...

Dark_Jon indeed! Surely a Sith!

[b]Patrick[/b]

[quote="Dark_Jon"][quote="SerenaJ"]As I need to order some imminently and didn't know what I was going to use if I couldn't find it.[/quote]

Am I to assume you're sarcasm metre didn't go off with my R2-D2 paint codes? Ironically I think R2 may be an actual Mazda colour weirdly, some gold colour it seems.[/quote]

Sorry Jon, missed the gag completely - I'm up to my eyes today.

Oh well!

S

Now I feel like a bad man, but it does look like it's obtainable as it seems to be a mix of pigment and primer, so hopefully a local paint store that makes stuff from scratch can help out. Maybe a Mazda dealer can at least give you a paint code for the paint?

This is actually a pre/post thing, Meanie, which is a pre ford 11R car has 11R under the bonnet and in the engine bay without the exterior clear coat, but, Minnie which is a post ford 11R car has some dull green shade that definatly ISN'T 11R, I suspect that on post ford cars the cheapskates couldn't be bothered to use good paint on the parts that you can't usually see and just left it with base coat primer for cost saving reasons