Stripping and prepping my iS airdam: got a boo-boo

[Jand3rson]

Well, I was going around a corner leaving a parking lot today, and I scraped the front airdam along a curb (misjudged the space I had). It didn't break the airdam or anything, but it gouged it lightly and scraped off a shitload of paint.



The paint on the airdam was getting really bad anyway, cracked all over the place and pitted to hell, so I had planned to have it repainted anyway. I want to strip it and do all the prep work myself, so it won't cost so much when I take it in for paint.

I've never done it before, so can you guys give me some info on the products/supplies I'll need to get it done? And also, about how much would I be looking at to have it repainted, if I do all the prep work myself? Or would I be better off just taking it to a shop and having them do it all?

[Rob]

if you have the space, stripping and prepping will be very easy, especially if you pull it off the car first (I assume you would?). Any old automotive paint stripper should do the job, just make sure to use gloves and glasses (paint stripper in the eye sucks) and a ton of newspaper/ground covering underneath to ease cleanup. Once all the paint is off, you could go ahead and do a couple coats of primer, sanding between each coat to get a decent finish. Then just take it to a shop for the finish stuff. Although on such a small piece, it might be worth getting a quote for the whole job, it may be cheaper than you think and save you the effort.

[Jand3rson]

I talked to a friend of mine, he actually tells me that it will probably only come to around $100-150 for the strip, repair and paint, since it's such a small piece, and it's ABS and not fiberglass or something. Should turn out to be alright in the end, I wanted to have it repainted anyway. It had me in a bad mood all day, though.

I think after I get it painted, I'm going to have that 3M clear film applied to it. I've seen it on a bunch of sports cars at car shows locally, all the guys that have it swear by it. Since I live in a volcanic area, they sand the roads with cinder rock in the winter for traction, and it makes for fuckloads of rock chips.

[rs4pro3]

when I did mine I was told to use a stripper that is same on plastic, I just stopped by some auto parts stores and they had stripper designed for plastic pieces, you just spray it on, let it sit a few minutes and then just scrap the paint right off.

[Jand3rson]

I went today to a body shop I've gone to several times before, and the guy told me no more than $200, probably less.

[Dave]

I went today to a body shop I've gone to several times before, and the guy told me no more than $200, probably less.

I'd hope less.

I got a quote of $200 with materials to repaint a fender and front valance.

[Jand3rson]

I'd hope less.

I got a quote of $200 with materials to repaint a fender and front valance.

Yeah, he told me $200 as a conservative estimate, so it wouldn't end up being a whole bunch more than if he told me $150 or something. The price was also with the little bit of repair that needs to be done on the part I gouged out a little.

Besides, I've gone there several times before, and have been friends with the owner's son for a while. It wasn't him I talked to, so I'm willing to bet that when he knows it's me, he'll probably hook it up on the cost. Not that I expect him to, he just always has in the past.

[bimmer8604]

Defanitly do the Clear-Bra. We use it on ALL of the cars at work, and it really saves the paint. The only issues I have with it is that it makes getting tire marks(race cars) off a PITA. But I doubt you'll have problems of small chucks of rubber hitting your valence. I've seen it go dull/yellow only once. And that was on a white car. You shouldn't beable to notice it at all on a black car...

Kyle

[Jand3rson]

Kyle, about how much do you think it would cost to have just the airdam covered with the Clear-Bra?

I've seen cars that have it applied about a foot up onto the hood and fenders, also. Any idea how much for an application like that, along with the airdam?

[Sean]

I had a friend that put it on his e46 touring easily - hood and front of fenders. It's not supposed to be that difficult to apply.

I was planning on putting a clear bra like that on my air damn when I was done having it repainted (since I'm getting rid of the texture and everything)