Silver paintwork defect ??? - daryld
Twice this week I have seen brand new 03 reg cars in the colour silver. And twice I have seen what seems to be a manufacturing defect with the paintwork on these vehicles.

The cars I saw this 'defect' in were a Mazda MX5 and an Audi TT. The problem was that of very visible alternate light and dark vertical banding (like zebra stripes, but about 4 inches wide). This affected the whole side of the car.

The banding was only visible when viewing the car from the rear with a viweing angle of around 30 degrees to the paintwork. If you viewed the car from the side the banding was not seen.

I have viewed other silver cars in the same way and not seen the same problem.

Thoughts?
Silver paintwork defect ??? - smokie
Did you get a second opinion, if not could be a trick of your eyes, or the light.
Silver paintwork defect ??? - Homme van Blanc
I believe this is what happens when the paint is put on upside down.
Silver paintwork defect ??? - smokie
Worrying - I don't know whether to laugh at Homme's answer or not. I did anyway.
Silver paintwork defect ??? - Altea Ego
I believe this is what happens when the paint is put
on upside down.

Or inside out?

Many pearlescent silvers take on the colour of the reflected light around them. My "cosmic grey (silver)" turns several different shades from lightish eggshell blue to a lightish fern green depending on whats around it.

I suspect its a reflection effect.
Silver paintwork defect ??? - Ian (Cape Town)
were you wearing prescription lenses/sunglasses? They exaggerate the change-in-hue in some circumstances
Silver paintwork defect ??? - Marcos{P}
My new M.B. is painted in cubanite which is kind of between silver and gold and in a certain light with a certain reflection it looks like it has got a zebra effect too.
The first time I saw it it scared the life out of me.
Silver paintwork defect ??? - Vansboy
Bet the Mx5 was Cerion silver, Nevada model.It looks like a mish mash of shades from ALL angles!
Hate to try & match a repair & then there's the obvious colour variation on the plastic parts....

VB
Silver paintwork defect ??? - frostbite
You can often get the banding effect from an inkjet printer - don't know if there's any similarity in production methods?