My 325iC Body/Paint Project

[bimmerboy12]

Update, August 3rd: finished out 80 grit with DA, 150 grit with DA, and 220 by hand. Next is primer, 320 with foam block, primer, 600 with foam block.

I guess you could say Miller Lite has sponsored the project.... gotta have a little fun right? Had to throw in my favorite specialty beer for the grill...

[oekundar]

Koo stuff...I've bought some Napa paint before and it seemed decent, in fact I think I have everything I would need minus a base black.

[bimmerboy12]

Im using multi-stage, 4 layers of color and 3-4 of clear. Both my previous jobs were single stage. I'll get it from NAPA, theres a full paint shop in the one in town.
Heres the spyder. Paint was pretty good for wingin it at 17.

[oekundar]

Thanks for the advice on the sandpaper, I will take any input I can get. Like I said, the cabby trunk lid is gone and I already have a coupe lid in primer.
I am assuming when you say "block it out" you mean use a soft sponge block. Would you do the 400 wet?

What kind of paint are you using?

Single stage/multi-stage?

Not sure what paint on those trim clips is gonna do. Might make it hard for the trim to reclip in.

I would love to do this someday. Have you used that compressor setup on the previous cars? I'd be worried about trapping water and to do that you need a long run before the filter. Will that Craftsman put out the CFM you need?

Having tried this before on another car, my Homedepot compressor was able to handle it...it was running the whole time, but I have an inline filter that I used, humidity is what killed that paint job...

I painted two other cars, first was a 74 fiat spyder and it was when I was like 17 and it was kinda OK. I used a 5 hp 20 gal and no filters. The second was my 85 318i and used the same compressor no filters, had fisheyes on the hood and drained the tank of water resprayed and it was ok. Now I have 6.5 hp 30 gal with 20 ft before the filter and 50 ft after. The filter is a $40 bronze cyclone type filter. I have to empty it of a couple cups of water everyday. I think I'll be ok. I don't have a downdraft paint booth with top notch shit, so it won't be a show paint job. It will be good enough for a $6K car though. Using a Binks model 62 bottom load.

Pictures of the spyder?...I saw your 318 and that looked decent.

[bimmerboy12]

Not sure what paint on those trim clips is gonna do. Might make it hard for the trim to reclip in.

I would love to do this someday. Have you used that compressor setup on the previous cars? I'd be worried about trapping water and to do that you need a long run before the filter. Will that Craftsman put out the CFM you need?

I painted two other cars, first was a 74 fiat spyder and it was when I was like 17 and it was kinda OK. I used a 5 hp 20 gal and no filters. The second was my 85 318i and used the same compressor no filters, had fisheyes on the hood and drained the tank of water resprayed and it was ok. Now I have 6.5 hp 30 gal with 20 ft before the filter and 50 ft after. The filter is a $40 bronze cyclone type filter. I have to empty it of a couple cups of water everyday. I think I'll be ok. I don't have a downdraft paint booth with top notch shit, so it won't be a show paint job. It will be good enough for a $6K car though. Using a Binks model 62 bottom load.

[bmwpower]

Not sure what paint on those trim clips is gonna do. Might make it hard for the trim to reclip in.

I would love to do this someday. Have you used that compressor setup on the previous cars? I'd be worried about trapping water and to do that you need a long run before the filter. Will that Craftsman put out the CFM you need?

[bimmerboy12]

Thanks for the advice on the sandpaper, I will take any input I can get. Like I said, the cabby trunk lid is gone and I already have a coupe lid in primer.
I am assuming when you say "block it out" you mean use a soft sponge block. Would you do the 400 wet?

[e30this]

Different person?

AHHAHA WTF!! What was I thinking.. God it must have been super late last night..

[dannyg]

Would it make sense to use plastic behind the sheets? I may try to tackle this again soon...the first time, I failed miserably....LOL...better yet...I'll just pay someone...



Schwartz FTW! :)

Different person?

[e30this]

Just before that he said he ways spraying it black. So right back at ya.

[dannyg]

I see what your saying, plastic behind for the smell... I don't think it will be an issue though. I've painted a couple cars and the biggest concern is the dust that settles on everything.

I'm painting original color: zinnoberrot. LOTS more work to change the color- door jams, engine bay, etc. and then when you look behind the trunk liner, carpet, dash you see a different color which isn't too attractive to me...

You should do 80, 120, 220 then primer, block it out with 320, then sealer primer, then block it out with 400, then sealer primer then paint. Your gonna kick yourself in the ass when them scratches come though the paint.
Since your changing color you should pull apart everything that you can. Like pull that trunk light off, push the fuel filler neck out of the way, Pull the front window and seals out. 90% of a paint job is prep. :)

[e30this]

You should do 80, 120, 220 then primer, block it out with 320, then sealer primer, wet sand it with 400, then sealer primer then paint. Your gonna kick yourself in the ass when them scratches come though the paint.
Since your changing color you should pull apart everything that you can. Like pull that trunk light off, push the fuel filler neck out of the way, Pull the front window and seals out. 90% of a paint job is prep. :)

[Stevie30]

Good write-up. I can't wait to see the finished product.

[oekundar]

Looking good...I'm looking forward to see what the paint looks like...way to document!

[bimmerboy12]

UPDATE: Have the whole car done in 80 grit, 150 grit under power tomorrow, then 320 wet, then primer, then 600 wet, then ready to paint.



Pretty much all masked off now. I did it so i can still open my doors too.







Don't worry, that cabby trunk lid is gone. have a coupe lid already in primer...in background.