Bedliner engine bay? Yay or nay

[craiggroves91]

I think black would only work on dark cars. It has obvious durability benefits, and inside the engine bay is the most common place to get frustrated and careless.

My choice would be neither. Get creative and use some other white coating that still looks good and is more durable than paint. What about white bed liner? Look into everything.

I'm pretty sure white bedliner is available. Not sure if they have spray on or not.

Good idea though.

[Vivek]

I think black would only work on dark cars. It has obvious durability benefits, and inside the engine bay is the most common place to get frustrated and careless.

My choice would be neither. Get creative and use some other white coating that still looks good and is more durable than paint. What about white bed liner? Look into everything.

[maniacmatt]

I don't like a black engine bay other than on black cars. I actually used a tintable roll on bedliner. I tinted it silver and did my engine bay with that. I am really happy with it, I think its a good compromise. More durable than paint and although not a perfect match to sterling silver it's better than black.

I will put up a build thread pretty soon with some pictures.

[lambo]

Just look at the engine you're putting in...

+1 for body colored.

[Nsquared97]

Apart from looks, also consider what effects different colors will have. That bedliner looks like it would be good at concealing dirt/oil/grease, which may be good for keeping it looking clean. But at the same time a lighter color will make it easier to spot any leaks or anything, and reflect light to make it a bit easier to see.

Regardless of which color you chose, that engine looks beautiful, good job!

[craiggroves91]

I didn't want to have to be all anal about it. If I paint it pretty with Alpine I'll rage everytime a piece of dirt is on it or I scratch it.

[VinniE30]

Keep it body color. Different colored engine bays than the body look like shit. White would look very nice and unique. I don't see very many nice white repainted engine bays.

That "bedliner" engine bay looks terrible. The texture of the paint looks very cheap and ugly. Body color matched would look way way better. He only did that because the first kind of paint he got turned out bad so he just made the whole engine bay have that texture. It would have looked great if it was the nice glossy body color.

[MattAvino]

I say go with the bedliner. Or maybe por-15. When you're wrenching under the bay it wont scratch or ding as easily, filth wont be as visible and you can use less gentle methods of cleaning in there. It will also look nice with the wrinkle black m20.

[Cabriolet]

match it to the outside. estoril blue late model or m3 would be my ideal car.

[jasonbk]

Honestly I don't like black engine bay on light coloured cars. Especially if it's an alpine white.

[Massimo]

IDK interested to see out come I have ponded a black engine bay on a white car and am not sure. But the durability factor is a serious consideration.

[craiggroves91]

Well I'm indecisive so I thought I'd ask r3v about what to do with my engine bay.
I am in the process of painting my engine bay

Option 1:
factory Apline white, which I think will look great. It will also be a little boring, more expensive and possibly less durable than option 2, but it is original and would look pretty tits done right.

Option 2: Spray on bedliner. I like it because of the durability, texture, cost, ease of application, spray on and forget about it, and unique factor.
Note: It's going to be really mildly textured bedliner

Also keep in mind, this won't be a show car and doesn't need to be original.
Here it is on Janderson's car. I wanted to use the exact same stuff, notice how it isn't a crazy rough texture







this will be on my Alpine car
Here is how it looks now:



This pretty girl will be filling it up: