Dr. Color Chip - Impressions

[jmatta]

We experimented with Dr ColorChip on my friend's black car. I think the real key to the stuff is to put multiple layers and don't rub the solution for at least a half hour, thereby allowing the paint to harden. This method does not rub off the paint you've just applied, but requires a little more effort to remove the excess. Be careful not to slop the paint when applying in the first place.

[23109VC]

I never let it sit 30 min. I only let it sit 10-15 max. the longer it sat the harder it was to get off. maybe I should have waited longer...and my results would have been better.

okay..just went out and did another few chips...let it sit 30 min. can't say it turned out any better.

i'm not unhappy with the result...it looks better. if I took a pic from 10' away, and uploaded it, you would think tkeh car looks flawless. come on over in person, get up close and you'd see all the chips.

like I said, it's not a miracle cure for rock chips..but for $50 this is as good as it gets.

I got some good cheap quotes to repaint the front end... for like $500...but i'd be afraid that for that money the end result would be horrible and I'd regret getting a "deal"...

what *should* a good repaint of the front end run? bumper covers, front hood, fenders...done RIGHT? $1000-1500 or is $500 not unreasonable.

i was thinking more like a grand or more.

[j.fro]

I was able to get the bumper cover painted for $550. I cut 2hrs labor from the bill by removing/installing the cover myself (I just took them the cover).

[Tomikaze]

Do a little research and find the best auto body in your area. A place that deals with restorations or classic cars. Give them a bottle of the factory touch up and ask them what they can do for you. I know some good body guys and I have seen some amazing results. A few layers of touch up with a very fine detail brush/applicator. Some very LIGHT wet sanding and a good buff. Those repaired chips that look good from 10 feet away will look as good from 1 foot away. Scratches take to this process even better than chips. I have seen a car that got keyed down the side have the scratch virtually disappear. I'm talking 98% gone. Gotta find the right body shop to do this. A couple chips they might charge $25 to $100. More chips and scratches could cost a few hundred but it's cheaper than repainting and you retain the factory paint.

[d18mike]

There is a thread on this 2 months ago -- similar feedback/impressions. Seems the best results come with darker cars. Even Dr. Color Chip himself notes on his website that the results on silver cars (which many of us have here) are usually less impressive. And that is indeed the case with my car. Using it on my wife's blue Mercedes, however, we found the results to be excellent, following much of the advice noted below.

[Cloudsurfer]

If you want to spray the nose of the car (bumper, hood, and fenders) $1500-$2000 is much more in line with what a good shop will charge. What you want to find, if you want good work, is not a production body shop, but a shop that does restoration and custom work. These guys are usually small shops who actually care about the quality of work that they put out. If you want cheap, well, there is always Maaco

[schnellman]

Last year I was pretty unhappy with the results I got (Guards Red). This year I have changed a few things and the results are considerably better.
1) I use a Q-tip as an applicator.
2) I don't use rubber gloves to smear the paint, I do that with the Q-tip.
3) Let it dry two hours.
4) Don't get in a hurry with the solvent. Rub softly and like the directions say, let the chemical do the work.

It all comes down to patience -- something I have very little of. That, and a little practice and your results with improve greatly.