DIY painting/alloy repair.

[ALLeyesONme]

Guys I want to paint some bits for my car is it easy or should it be left to the bodyshop.
Front splitters, rear diffuser and front kidney grills.
Has anyone done these and it is easy, and what will I require i.e: Paint does it need to be special as it is not going onto metal?
Can someone let me know what is needed sand paper, paint, laquer and will I get the paint from only BMW or anywhere else.

Also guys how hard will it be to fix a few kerb marks on the alloys wheels and what things are required to fix, where do you get the correct colour match.
Many thanks.

[Dirty Black]

One of the members did a write up on these this year including where to get paint etc. and prices. Do a search...

[Stock323iSaloon]

U’ll need varying grades of wet n dry sandpaper. U’ll need primer, top coat, lacquer and lots of patience;) alloy repair DIY has been written up before but the principal is the same.

[mystic sport]

I haved painted the grills on my M3 and 330i, also painted the diffuser on the 330i.

Just rubbed the grills down with first of all some fairly course sandpaper of all things as the chrome is a bugger to get a good key on. Used a lighter wet and dry to finish the prep sanding on the chrome.

Next I applied some halfords plastic primer. I could have used etch primer but I had a really good surface to paint on. Gave it around eight coats of primer and 30 mins in between coats. Left it for 24 hours before starting to apply colour.

If you do it properly you will use a really light wet and dry and just very lightly smooth the primer for the top coat but I didn't bother as I was intending to put a lot of paint on due to the tendancy to getting stonechipped.

I applied six coats, waiting 40-45 minutes between each coat and finished off with four coats of laquer and allowing at least 1 hour between coats and then a further 16 hours before handling them

They turned out perfect and everyone who has seen them comments on the finish.

Use the same info to do the diffuser.

I got my paint from BMW, a pack of spray paint consists of a can of colour and a can of laquer. You will need two packs to do a really good job on the grills and three for the diffuser. Costs around £10.50 per pack.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j303/330paul/pro-ring1-smaller.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j303/330paul/pro-ring2-smaller.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j303/330paul/m3/m3-smaller.jpg

I also repaired my own wheels on my old 325. I used halfords aluminium paint which is close but not perfect. Wurth do the proper paint match.

Here is the thread on BMWland where I wrote up the repair process and what I used (http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/viewtopic.php?t=8450)

[Silver]

1.
Respirator This device is not cheap but your lungs will thank you for it. The price of a respirator depends on whether the respirator covers your entire face or just your nose and mouth. It's reusable, but the filters need regular replacement. I recommend investing in a full-face model to protect your eyes from paint fumes. If you do not use a full-face model respirator, you should still have proper eye protection.

2.
Rubber gloves. You'll need gloves to protect your hands from the paint and solvent, and to protect the painting surface from the oils on your hands

3
Sandpaper Be sure to purchase the wet/dry variety. The grits you'll use are 400, 600, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000, and 80 grit aluminium oxide paper

4
Sanding block. These blocks can be made of either hard rubber or foam and have varying levels of flexibility.

5
Sandable primer Make sure what surface u working. Plastic (plastic Primer)
Metal(Metal Primer) Black Cube trim is Metal so metal Primer.

6
Paint either from Bodyshop or Local stores.
(i had access to compressor and paint from the Bodyshop. Not from spray can)

7
Rubbing compound This product is used to remove the fine sanding marks from the paint

8
Soap.
Use any mild dishwashing detergent to wash your trim

Painting consists of three simple steps: sanding, painting, and finishing. Your work area should have a good water supply and plenty of ventilation. You'll also want a clean, dust-free area to help minimize the amount of sanding you'll need to do during the finishing stage. All sanding referred to here is wet sanding.

Steps

1) Warm and dry conditions are ideal for spray painting, as aerosols don't always work best in the damp and colder temperatures hinder drying time. If it's not warm and dry outside, work in a well-ventilated garage. Wear overalls or old clothes - goggles and a mask will keep stray droplets of paint away from your eyes, nose and mouth

2) To prepare for spraying, use aluminium oxide abrasive paper (graded at 80grit) and rub the surface to be painted down to bare metal.

3) The area to be painted should now be clean and dry - any traces of dirt or wax can be removed using cellulose thinners.

4) Holding the spray can approximately 25cm away from the surface to be painted, apply a number of coats of primer at 15-minute intervals until the area is evenly covered. Go an inch over the original layer of paint to help it blend in. When spraying, use a smooth movement from side to side. It is best to apply several light layers of paint, as applying too much paint in one go can create sags and runs.

5) Allow at least 24 hours for the primer to dry thoroughly, then rub down with 120grit wet and dry paper until smooth. Clean the area with warm, soapy water, rinse, then dry fully.

6) To start painting, shake the can vigorously for two minutes to ensure the paint is thoroughly mixed. Apply a number of coats at 15-minute intervals, shaking the can between each one. (TIP: When using spray paint, place the can of paint in a bowl of warm water (not boiling) for a few minutes before painting. This warms up the paint, which thins it out and allows for the paint to atomize better. This makes thinner, smoother coats of paint easy.)

7) If you're using a metallic colour, allow the paintwork 24 hours to dry

8) Now apply two coats of lacquer, separated by a gap of 15-minutes. If the finish looks patchy, apply another coat or wait until the surface is completely dry before rubbing it down and starting the lacquering process again.

I did 1 on e46 fanatics paint my trim...

[ALLeyesONme]

Cheers guys for the great response will start this week and will post up pics soon.
thanks again.