I have a body shop repair coming up soon and I have made initial contact with an "authorized" Lexus Body Shop (the only one in my state - Massachusetts). The rear bumper will be repainted. My 2019 NX is Atomic Silver. I have read on this forum that Atomic Silver is a 4 or 5 layer process. When I contacted the Body Shop, I spoke with the head man. (a very nice man, and he runs a large Lexus Auto body shop with about 40 employees). He took my VIN and looked up my car. I then enquired about the multi-layer paint. He stated that it is a single layer with clearcoat. I asked him if he was absolutely sure, and he said yes. This leaves me confused. Is it possible the posts that I have read about this color being multi-layer are incorrect? Has something changed? It seems unlikely that the head-man at a large Lexus-approved Auto Body Shop could be so wrong?
I would appreciate anyone's input, as this repair is coming up soon. If he is wrong if someone could link me to anything from Lexus that states this color id multi-layer (that I could send to him) I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank and regards,
Leon

 

I can only share that I have heard the same thing from reading comments from others on this forum and the 6th generation ES forum - but I have no personal experience with an Atomic Silver repair. There was a 6th Gen ES caught in a bad hailstorm and the repainted car looked nothing like the original car. They ended up trading it in because it looked so bad. My 6th generation ES was Atomic Silver and my current 7th Gen ES is as well, so I have followed these discussions with some concern. Anyway, I have also heard this is one of the more difficult colors to repair as the paint is normally applied in multiple stages. My gut feeling is that if it is being done by a shop that is familiar with the Lexus paint, then I would give them the benefit of the doubt and you can always reject it if it doesn't look right after the work is performed. The Atomic Silver is an awesome look on the NX

 

According to the Lexus dealer parts department websites, new bumper covers are sold un-primed. I mentioned 4 steps, which are:
Adhesion promoter; Primer; Base coat; Clear coat.
If the body expert feels he can work with the existing part, then the first two layers can be omitted, and he is not incorrect in my opinion..

 

So, from your description, the actual "color" is only 1 layer. Wondering then, why the previously mentioned difficulties with color matching?

 

This link will answer your question more comprehensively than I can:
https://www.autobody-review.com/blog...atch-the-paint

Hopefully, the "Lexus-certified" shop mentioned blending during your visit. If he is planning to just repaint the bumper, I would go somewhere else; the transition will be obvious between the bumper and adjacent panels..
I worked part time at a new car dealer while in college. Though not a large dealership, not a week passed without at least one new vehicle requiring minor body work before it could be sold. Shipping incidents, test drive mishaps, and kids moving vehicles around in the lot all damage brand new cars a lot more often than most would imagine. Every dealer that does not have their own body repair facility depends on a nearby shop (not one located an hour away) to take care of these minor repairs in a way that is virtually undetectable. I would ask who they use and take my vehicle there.