Is Original Car Paint Really That Important?
2 Answers
Original car factory paint is important. The differences between original factory paint and repainted paint are as follows: 1. The most obvious difference: Original factory paint is a high-temperature paint, baked at temperatures of at least 130 degrees Celsius, resulting in stronger adhesion of the coating; whereas the repair paint used for repainting is typically baked at around 80 degrees Celsius, with much poorer coating adhesion. 2. Original factory paint: Original factory paint consists of a primer, mid-coat, color coat, and clear coat. If the original primer is scratched off, it is completely impossible to repair this layer of original primer during repainting. This is because this primer layer is applied in the car factory's spray shop by immersing the entire car body in a paint pool and attaching it through cathodic electrodeposition, a process that cannot be replicated once the car leaves the factory. The primer applied during repainting is usually a phosphating-treated coating, which is incomparable to the original factory primer, and the adhesion process is vastly different.
As an enthusiast who frequently researches the used car market, I genuinely believe that original factory paint is particularly important. After observing the market extensively, it's clear that used cars of the same age with original paint can fetch 5-10% higher prices. Original factory paint is applied in multiple layers in a dust-free environment, with baking temperatures reaching 200°C—a process that cannot be replicated at home. Even if the color matches, repainted areas tend to fade or peel within three to five years, and buyers often suspect major accidents when they see repainted cars. I've seen many used car dealers using paint thickness gauges to measure various parts of a car's body during inspections—this is to check paint thickness uniformity, as only consistent readings indicate 'pure pedigree' original paint. For minor scratches, a local touch-up is sufficient; there's no need for a full respray. Original factory paint is a key factor in preserving a car's value.
