painted bumperettes?

[23109VC]

rather than spend almost $300 to get bumperettes from bumperplugs, I may opt for the do it yourself appraoch via paintscratch.com

for those of you also did this - did you sand down the bumperettes, or just clean/prime/paint?

[Stroked & Blown]

I spent a lot of time sanding & priming & re-sanding the bumperettes to get a super smooth finish prior to spraying color. It looks like the rest of the body panels.

Depending on your color, you may be able to get away without sanding. It will probably look similar to the texture on the rocker panels unsanded.

[23109VC]

mine is ocean blue metallic.

i'm guessing i'll order their spray can "kit" that comes with primer and othe rstuff needed to do the painting job.

[Burg Boxster]

make sure you check the box that says Flex or Add Flex (as if it were being applied to the bumper)

[23109VC]

they have a kit for painting metal or non-metal. it has a flex primer and another component that helps the paint tos tick to a nonmetal surface.

it's a comlete kit. price = $75.

that includes paint, primer, clear coat, and some other items.

i figure i will paint the bumperettes and maybe the center console or rollbar?

not sure on an ocean blue car - how it would look to paint the center console ocean blue..... or the roll bar. maybe i'll find some pics online and get an idea how it looks.

thanks for the tips guys. this soundsl ike an easy fun DIY project.

[djomlas]

here is how mine turned out. i used MICROFINISH LLC instead of paintscratch.com but im sure its the same thing.
color mach is 100%.
i took the bumperettes off when i ordered the paint, and spent some time with them hehe
sanded them down with 200 grit, then 320, then 400, then 600.
then put on primer, and after every coat i would sand as well....i put on about 4-5 layers, this stuff is so textured and pain in the a$$ so get smooth, so take your time with that (after i finished i can still see that i could have done better).
after the last coat of primer, i let it sit over-night and sanded the last coat of primer with 400 as indicated on can.
then the paint showed up (it was about 75 degrees out), and i started painting them.
put on about 6-7 coats (pretty much the whole can is gone)
then after the paint has cured i put on about 4 coats of clear.
after the clear has hardened good (48 hrs) the can says to put on some rubbing compound to get rid of any imperfections and to shine it up (it reallllly did that surprisingly) and the final result is as shown in the pic.
really nice and glossy, smooth.
hey, for 20 or so bucks it really changes the back of the car (for some reason mine were different, one was smooth kinda and the other one was like sandpaper, the original ones so they really stuck out like a boner in sweatpants)
btw, while all that was drying, i replaced the stock bulbs inside the license plate lights to LEDs, and wow really looks nice with glossy painted parts once on.
ooo, and i was taking pics of the bike and pulled out the car to take pics as well, that's why its there hehe









btw, the bulb holders weren't screwed in place, that's why the right one looks like its lighting up on the side more than in the middle.

[23109VC]

djlomas-

given the time/effort you put into this project (looks like it was a fair amount of effort!) - would you recommend this project as a DIY or you think it might be a better idea to just spend $250 and buy these from teh bumperplug guy?

I don't mind the effort - but I wonder if it's really really really a PITA - then spending the money might not be such a bad idea.

my car is a lot darker than yours. it's ocean blue...and while it's not black - it's dark enough that you only really notice the bumperettes in direct bright sunlight. in indirect light, you honestly don't notice them that much.

i'd like to see a picture of what it woudl look like - an ocean blue 986 with painted bumperettes... i'll have to surf around for one.

my car is de-logo'd on the rear - so there no emblems or badges on teh rear. the former owner took off the "boxster" letters. I've though about putting on "986" on the back.. part of me likes the clean debadged look...but at the same time, it sort of looks empty back there.

with black bumperettes - if i stuck on some black letters - along with my black license plate frame - it sort of gives the rear a "tied in" look - or so I think it would.

i might order the letters - see how it looks - and then if i decide it would look cleaner to paint the bumperettes - i can do that last.

the letters are only $30.

still not sure if i want to do the painting myself..or if i jsut want to pay to get them done....