Interior/Exterior Any DIY's for black-out door handles, light rings, gas caps?
#151
#152
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Did my headlight rings, side grills, and gas cap over the weekend. At first install I was very unimpressed but as they have dried completely I am very impressed with the outcome. I am going to take them off tonight and respray them as well as doing the the door handles and then I'll post some pictures.
#153
Tip for the handles:
Instead of using masking tape to tape off around the door handle, use 3x5 note cards or envelopes. Slide the cards or the envelopes in between the rubber moldings for the door handles and the body panel. I then taped newspaper around the area to avoid overspray onto the door/window/etc. After I sprayed the handle, before the paint dried I pulled the cards. This left a seamless transition between the door handle and the body panel without the need to use little pieces of tape to form a curvature around the door handle.
Instead of using masking tape to tape off around the door handle, use 3x5 note cards or envelopes. Slide the cards or the envelopes in between the rubber moldings for the door handles and the body panel. I then taped newspaper around the area to avoid overspray onto the door/window/etc. After I sprayed the handle, before the paint dried I pulled the cards. This left a seamless transition between the door handle and the body panel without the need to use little pieces of tape to form a curvature around the door handle.
#155
I pulled the cards immediately....but once the handle has had a chance to dry, I re-card the handle and shoot it again to build up multiple coats. I think multiple coats as mentioned before is the key to durability with this type of paint. I think I am on 3 or so coats. Using the cards in order to "mask" off from the door panel is very easy to do. The black rubber "seal" or "grommet" of the door handle is very pliable and has just enough clearance for a 3x5 card. I ran out of 3x5 cards and started using envelopes. Whatever you use needs to be thick enough not to bleed through but thin enough to fit. The best part of using the card is you can even use them for the inside masking of the door handle where it was very hard to precisely tape off. I simply curved the card to fit in the recessed area where your fingers go "the cup" and slid in between the rubber molding and and painted surface. Like I said, I cannot imagine a way to create a more perfect line from the painted door to the rubber molding of the door handle. I tried taping off first. Little pieces put together in an overlapping method to form a curvature. It was pretty good looking, but I am a pefectionist. The cards allow a perfect curve and there is really no way to screw it up.
#162
I spent an hour driving up and down the road looking for my scoop, but to no avail.
I'll see if I can get some more pics tomorrow. I'll use my sisters nikon instead of my phone. I need to do 1 more thick coat. I was running out of paint and the can started sputtering and spraying big drops so one side is smooth as glass while the other looks more suede-like, similar to your pics
also, I began with 4 cans w/o spraying the sunroof, and I barely got 3 coats so I ran to the store and got 2 more which got used up. I decided it wasn't worth one more trip for that 7th can that night
-Nick
I'll see if I can get some more pics tomorrow. I'll use my sisters nikon instead of my phone. I need to do 1 more thick coat. I was running out of paint and the can started sputtering and spraying big drops so one side is smooth as glass while the other looks more suede-like, similar to your pics
also, I began with 4 cans w/o spraying the sunroof, and I barely got 3 coats so I ran to the store and got 2 more which got used up. I decided it wasn't worth one more trip for that 7th can that night
-Nick
Last edited by MINI_chili; 10-06-2008 at 09:26 PM. Reason: addition
#163
#167
fixed that problem with some JB Weld filled everything nice 'n good, it just gunna be near impossible to remove it w/o breaking something.
some of the flare's clips were broken (I assume from a pothole while turning (my tires are wider and taller than stock)) but the flare did come off at the same time as the scoop
I re-did the headlight rings and grilles w/ plasti-dip and they're holding up great
(I'm waiting to do the handles b/c I want to put an LED in the handle, so I figured I'd wait until I take them off)
I had actually thought about it, but figured it would be worth it to just buy the $12 replacement
#168
#170
thanks!
I sprayed about 7-8 inches away and moved quickly, and covered the whole side reallllllly think near the end, I think that was the key to making it smooth. It was so thick that I used just over 2 cans for the final layer (or atleast I would have, had I not been running out) and I didn't even spray the sunroof!
another thing I did different was I didn't remove the drip rails (I just didn't think it was worth it), I taped over the outside and sprayed over the inside (I can post a pic to show what I mean if this isn't clear), then as soon as I finished spraying each layer I ran my knife along the center, so pulling the tape off wouldn't pull off the roof. and for the front, I just kinda pulled the the rubber front piece forward and sprayed under it. 1 more thing I did was I used adhesive on the bottom of my wing mount and once I got it all lined up and made sure the wing fit correctly, I took it off, but left the mounts and sprayed the mounts in with the roof
I sprayed about 7-8 inches away and moved quickly, and covered the whole side reallllllly think near the end, I think that was the key to making it smooth. It was so thick that I used just over 2 cans for the final layer (or atleast I would have, had I not been running out) and I didn't even spray the sunroof!
another thing I did different was I didn't remove the drip rails (I just didn't think it was worth it), I taped over the outside and sprayed over the inside (I can post a pic to show what I mean if this isn't clear), then as soon as I finished spraying each layer I ran my knife along the center, so pulling the tape off wouldn't pull off the roof. and for the front, I just kinda pulled the the rubber front piece forward and sprayed under it. 1 more thing I did was I used adhesive on the bottom of my wing mount and once I got it all lined up and made sure the wing fit correctly, I took it off, but left the mounts and sprayed the mounts in with the roof
#171
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I did find that you have to throw out all you knew about spray painting out the window. I redid my headlight rings to make them thicker and get the edges better. What looked the best is when I sprayed close and laid it on thick. You may want to experiment before going at the real thing. I did find an Ace Hardware here that had all the plasti-dip colors but I don't want to get carried away. I also found a company who sells factory MINI/BMW paint in a spray can so I am trying to decide if the rings and such would look better EB.
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I did find that you have to throw out all you knew about spray painting out the window. I redid my headlight rings to make them thicker and get the edges better. What looked the best is when I sprayed close and laid it on thick. You may want to experiment before going at the real thing. I did find an Ace Hardware here that had all the plasti-dip colors but I don't want to get carried away. I also found a company who sells factory MINI/BMW paint in a spray can so I am trying to decide if the rings and such would look better EB.