Painting a factory-primed front valance

[coldweatherblue]

Yesterday I picked up a new factory primed late-model front valance from BMW to replace my slightly dented one that had been repainted (poorly) by the previous owner.

My plan is to leave it smooth, clean, prep, dry surface, etc, use an adhesion promoting primer, then 3 coats of base and 3 coats of clear. I have some scratch wizard AWII paint code 218 that I've used in the past with good results and was going to use their clear on top.

Anyone with experience painting the "new" BMW valences? My main question is if it may need a few additional coats of primer/sanding prior to SEM/top-coating for the purpose of durability, although I'm also concerned that my rattle-can primer may not be as adherent as what comes from the factory.

Any thoughts on the quality of the "Factory primer" that comes on these things? Does it need more primer coats or just clean it and start spraying?

Car is a daily driver that will see casual meets but remain daily driven, so the main goal is durability.

[slum dog]

Factory primer and paints is truly High Quality stuff.
If your valance came factory primed I would just do everything you mentioned above, But before paint a light sand with 600/800 water based sandpaper would not hurt, really helps to promote adhesiveness
The only time we reprimer new panels is when we use certain colours of paints. Some most colours always come out better over white or grey primer some come out great on darker primers. That said I have no experience with rattle can paints, all our paints we use is of high quality comes a lil thicker than the cheaper stuff. I usually thin it according to my spray gun and air compressure setup.

[15Michaeljoseph]

I'm one of those guys who believes in almost always using primer, just to cover my butt... But then again, I use color matched spray cans since I don't have a booth or real paint equipment. It just always makes me feel better on a nice metal (or plastic) part to have a nice coat of epoxy primer to seal everything up before paint. Just my $.02

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[coldweatherblue]

Thanks for replies all.

15Michaeljoseph, the valance came primed from the factory. It's this part:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...e/41331961227/

My main question is whether it needs additional primer, or if the (likely) lower quality primer from a rattle can would decrease overall adhesion as the factory primer is likely higher quality.

Either way is probably fine and I'm probably over-thinking it.. lol.

[15Michaeljoseph]

You're definitely over-thinking it... I'd say you'd be fine with that factory primer. The stuff I was referring to spraying over would be Eastwood's 2k epoxy primer in a rattle can... Arguably the best rattle can primer out there. But do what makes sense to you, just sand it and send it!

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[slum dog]

I think you answered your own question.!!!!!!!
What primer you want to use got a link so I can view them products
Also that valance looks like it been etched primered if correct then I will wet sand lightly and shoot it like Michael says.
The thing about cheap rattle can products they don't stick on well, if you have a pin hole for some moist to creep in, i am sure the paint will flake off, Even if you get a stone chip after paint it will flake off. I had to redo a few front bumper that were rattle can sprayed.
I guess it all boils down to using trusted quality products and sticking to the same BRAND!!!!!!!!!!!

[15Michaeljoseph]

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-s-2k-aerospraytm-epoxy-primer-gray-black.html

This is what I've used on my car

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[slum dog]

Eastwood stuff is pretty good quality 2k is what we use also