
Originally Posted by
number001
Panels come with a very thin coat of paint (this is the primer or first coat) to protect it from immediate rust.
Dealers or repair shop will spray the layers of body color paint and lastly the clear coat.
You can easily tell if the shop simply applied body filler/putty or masilya, by using a soft refrigerator magnet. Place the magnet on the formerly damaged areas. The magnet must stick with a very strong bond otherwise its full of putty or body filler.
Check the inner side of the door panel. Feel the areas near the rubber gasket around the door. Is it smooth or does it feel like a fine sandpaper? Is it the same color/shade as the rest of the outer panel ? Is there a different color underneath the rubber gasket ?
Not all shops will replace it with factory freshly stamped panel (esp. if its an older and outdated model). Most of the time they will source the panel from other cars that have been parted out due to being total wreck, chop-chop, etc...
PS: Toyota Phil still stamps out Revo panels (hatch door, etc...).