Painted my bumperettes for $60

[RobZ]

I ended up going the DIY route for painting my bumperettes yesterday. Total cost was around $60 and was actually pretty simple. It may not be the top quality of Bumperplugs but who would know?

Materials:
Paintscratch.com rattle can
Paintscratch.com clear (Duplicolor)
Paintscratch.com Rubberized primer
Denatured alcohol
300,1000, & 1500 grit sandpaper
rubbing compound
3M glaze
six pack of Michelob Ultra


I basically used alcohol, sanded (300), alcohol again, then applied four light coats of primer. I lightly sanded with 1000 after the second or third coat dried a bit.

Next I sprayed the metallic coat (not really a perfect match with stock due to a bit more of the metallic look from Paintscratch). After a couple of coats I sanded with 1000 followed by a couple more light coats. I finished with a couple light coats of clear, sanded lightly with 1000, and a couple of heavier clear coats (should have actually cleared even more ). 24 hours later I sanded with 1500 followed by rubbing compound (3m) and then 3M glaze.

BEFORE



AFTER

[9eighty6]

Nice work Rob, quite impressive in my opinion ...

Like the use of the 6-pack too ...

[RobZ]

Originally Posted by 9eighty6

Nice work Rob, quite impressive in my opinion ...

Like the use of the 6-pack too ...

Thanks. Well, the final polishing required a couple of glasses of port to get me going.

[silver arrow]

looks good. I'm thinking of doing mine, along with the center console and the black trim between the upper and lower dash. I saw it in a GT2 and it looks great.

[RobZ]

Originally Posted by silver arrow

looks good. I'm thinking of doing mine, along with the center console and the black trim between the upper and lower dash. I saw it in a GT2 and it looks great.

I also started my interior. My first piece was the driver's side door compartment lid. It was already scraped up so I didn't really care if it was damaged. I learned that the soft touch paint needs to be sanded courser and then very very fine or it shows some of the sand marks. It came out decent but I'm probably going to redo it (with much more sanding prep) if the right side comes out better.

[Wingnut2u]

Originally Posted by silver arrow

looks good. I'm thinking of doing mine, along with the center console and the black trim between the upper and lower dash. I saw it in a GT2 and it looks great.

I did this and it looks fantastic especially since mine is guards red. Just be prepared, painting the strips between the upper and lower console is the easy part, pulling the old strips out of the dash is a ********************. I am just glad that the wife wasn't home to see my technique, especially since it is her car.

[Frodo]

Acknowledging that it's artifact due to the lighting (or lack thereof), it looks like you painted the whole car, including bumperettes, seal grey!

I like it!

[ddb]

Originally Posted by Wingnut2u

pulling the old strips out of the dash is a ********************.

Ain't that the truth!

The smaller strips on either side of the steering column weren't too bad for me. But the larger strip under the passenger airbag kicked my butt. I got so frustrated that I broke it.

Nice job RobZ!

[greesedc]

Just got my bumperettes back from the shop that has done all my Porsche painting for 25 years. They look great...as do Rob's.

My cost: Paint and Materials = $84.00
Labor 3 hrs. @ $46 = $138.00
Total = $222.00

Less Rob's cost: = $60.00

Difference: = $152.00

Michelob Ultra = $6.99 + -

Rob's Savings........................= approx. 21 six packs

I did it myself on my muffler and rear speakers last week. Coulda used a couple of six packs from those 21 above for those two projects on my '01 Boxster.

Don