Cement Taco Front Bumper/Paint

Hey everyone with 3rd gen taco in Cement. Read through several posts from a while back complaining of crappy/thin paint (mostly on white). Recently was looking close up at the front bumper and noticed I could see the texture of front bumper plastic through the paint. I thought this is just how they come but wanted to check with others. Seems insanely thin and potentially single stage (finish very different from other parts of bumper/grille). Already have a nick in it from a plastic broom handle falling on the bumper... trust me, it didn't fall fast or that hard.

Also noticed that the top part or the grille is undersprayed. That you can only see under led lights (which I have in my garage).

Intention is not to turn this into a crap on Toyota paint thread (at least not intitially) but instead find out from others if I have a valid service call to make with the dealer for crappy paint.

 

That's looks normal. I have super white and my coworker has cement grey. His looks just like your photos.

 

Thanks @EastCountyTaco.

Forgot to post the undersprayed grille (notice dark spots in the reflection).

 

Now THAT I would be going back to the dealer for. Good luck!

 

Don’t see too much of a difference on mine, is yours a Texas build or México?

 

Mexico built. Thanks for looking this over.

 

My MGM has the same look on the grill surround. I have also noticed it on other Tacoma’s. Not saying it’s right, but it does happen.

 

Mine was mfg in Texas, I wonder if it is mfg facility specific? Anyone else check?

 

My 2018 cement looks like that on the grille surround. The funny thing is I've had the truck for two years and never noticed it till two weeks ago when I was washing it.

Mines mfred in Mexico

 

My 2020 Cement looks the same. Can see the texture on the front bumper under the paint.

 

yea i can also see the texture on the front bumper. it is only like that on the front bumper, none of the other body panels are like that. i feel like it doesnt really have as much shine as the other body panels, almost like it looks a little flatter.

 

Cement is not single stage just FYI, and yes all Toyota paint is thin, and no that is perfectly normal, your bumper / front fascia is plastic, the quarter panels are metal, there will be some slight color variation as well as texture, the overspray in those areas or orange peel is normal. Its a Toyota and a truck, paint isn't going to be flawless. 12 tacomas, all different gens all very similar in paint.

 

Looks like mine (2020 cement, made in Texas).

 

I see that textured paint on the lower panels in several areas. I heard it was actually an additional coat to help protect areas that tend to get chipped up....I dunno, I say wheel more and worry less!!

 

That might be a reference to the texture coat on the bottom of the metal panels near the rockers? I know mine has that texture (and I definitely appreciate it). I do believe it looks different than the bumper, though.

 

Toyota paint has always been "thin" in my experience, sucks but just something to be prepared for / take note of. The texturing on the rockers will even chip as well, especially without flaps, my 15 SW was littered with them once I moved to 285s.

 

Ah could be, will have to look at the bumper now!!

 

I only noticed the bumper this weekend because I found my first rock chip/blemish among the sea of dead of bugs lol.

I also assumed the textured paint on the metal panels was for protection purposes, as it's noticeably "rougher" in texture than the rest of the panels and where you'd expect stuff like low level brush and whatnot? But that's all speculative.

I came from a Mustang (and before that, a 370Z), and this paint seems way, way better than both of those. Not that those were high bars or anything...

 

Yep its there for added protection, 2nd gens had it too, but its far from bullet proof. Looks like you have flaps which should help.

 

Yeah, I have flaps and it looks like factory-installed plastic / clear film beyond the rear wheels. I assume that's on all of them from the factory, but I have no idea.

The textured bits definitely help with my paint/scratch OCD, so that's a blessing in disguise.