Duplicating a scene, one is way darker than the other

[cash68]

Okay, I had 30 models in scene, great lighting, etc.  Anyway, client changed all the models, and live linking won't work (new file name, hitting update model results in all sorts of weird textures and massive scale discrepancies, whatever).

So I import all the new models, apply all the materials, put in identical HDRs and backplates, then set up the gamma, brightness, and every other variable I can find to be identical to the old one.  But look at this!  The original is the left, the new one is on the right.  Why is it so blown out?!  Pulling my hair out at this point.

[antho2b]

not sure that I gonna be really helpfull but don't you think that it's more coming from the material you put on the object then anything else?
it's apparently kind of emitive instead of being hard rough

[jhiker]

My thoughts too -  the models in the left and right are clearly different.
In the left one it looks like the model has two parts each with a different material while the one on the right looks like it's all the same (emissive?) material.