standard paint depth?

[lazybum]

I'm looking into buying a car out of state and won't be able to see the car in person. I got the dealer to use a paint meter on every metal panel on the car. It ranged from 4.5 mil to 7 mil.



The hood was 4.5 - 6

driver door 5.5

left quarter panel 5.5 - 6

passenger door 5

right quarter panel 5.5

top of trunk lid 6-7



Are those numbers normal?

 

[khjr]

I checked my Honda Pilot some time ago, but measured in microns vs. mils. In round numbers, 1 mil ~ 25 microns. The sides of my Pilot ranged from 100 to 113 microns, while the hood was 127-140 microns. So, I'd say my paint is a little more uniform than the car you're looking at, but is much thinner.



I expect that you're trying to determine whether or not the vehicle's been in an accident, but regret that I have not yet determined how thin or consistent a GOOD body shop painter can keep a paint layer during a repaint.



Also, I believe it possible that a some smaller dent/repair job could be hidden through choice of detector placement (i.e. measured by the dealer on the same panel, but away from the repair). I suppose that those wouldn't be frame damaging wrecks, but could prove to be annoying.