[3002 tii]

My 135i is Le Mans Blue and I have a stubborn paint chip on the lowest part of the driver's side door. It is deep, down to bare metal and about 1/8" in diameter. For the past 3 weeks, I've tried to repair it using a combination of Langka & factory touch-up pen and I've gone as long as week to let the paint cure. But once I apply the "Blob Eliminator" the paint comes off very easily, and humidity has not been a factor. I suspect the chip is so deep, it really requires a layer of primer which is why the touch-up paint won't adhere.

I'm going to remove the factory touch up paint and try this once more. Question is, given how deep the chip is, should I be applying bondo, primer or perhaps both? There's no dent; it's just paint removed and bare metal exposed. If I do go the bondo route, I was going to buy this. My initial thoughts on process:

1. Remove the touch-up paint, use sanding pen to clean out chip
2. Tape off surrounding area.
3. Apply small amount of bondo
4. Wetsand with 80 grit
5. Finish off with 2000 or 3000 grit
6. Apply 1 coat primer
7. Apply 1-2 coats of touch-up paint
8. Apply 1 coat clear coat
9. Polish

Am I over thinking this? Can I just skip the bondo and go straight to primer if there's no body damage?

[Detailed Image]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

My 135i is Le Mans Blue and I have a stubborn paint chip on the lowest part of the driver's side door. It is deep, down to bare metal and about 1/8" in diameter. For the past 3 weeks, I've tried to repair it using a combination of Langka & factory touch-up pen and I've gone as long as week to let the paint cure. But once I apply the "Blob Eliminator" the paint comes off very easily, and humidity has not been a factor. I suspect the chip is so deep, it really requires a layer of primer which is why the touch-up paint won't adhere.

I'm going to remove the factory touch up paint and try this once more. Question is, given how deep the chip is, should I be applying bondo, primer or perhaps both? There's no dent; it's just paint removed and bare metal exposed. If I do go the bondo route, I was going to buy this. My initial thoughts on process:

1. Remove the touch-up paint, use sanding pen to clean out chip
2. Tape off surrounding area.
3. Apply small amount of bondo
4. Wetsand with 80 grit
5. Finish off with 2000 or 3000 grit
6. Apply 1 coat primer
7. Apply 1-2 coats of touch-up paint
8. Apply 1 coat clear coat
9. Polish

Am I over thinking this? Can I just skip the bondo and go straight to primer if there's no body damage?

I think you should be fine with just primer (maybe a couple of coats to ensure coverage) and then continue with your plan. I've only done this once before with pretty good results, but it can be done pretty well if you're patient. You should probably sand after the clear coat a bit to even it out (maybe even a bit after the color coat to scuff the clear around the chip and blend the new clear) and then polish. Let us know how it goes.

Ivan @ DI

[Rival]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

My 135i is Le Mans Blue and I have a stubborn paint chip on the lowest part of the driver's side door. It is deep, down to bare metal and about 1/8" in diameter. For the past 3 weeks, I've tried to repair it using a combination of Langka & factory touch-up pen and I've gone as long as week to let the paint cure. But once I apply the "Blob Eliminator" the paint comes off very easily, and humidity has not been a factor. I suspect the chip is so deep, it really requires a layer of primer which is why the touch-up paint won't adhere.

I'm going to remove the factory touch up paint and try this once more. Question is, given how deep the chip is, should I be applying bondo, primer or perhaps both? There's no dent; it's just paint removed and bare metal exposed. If I do go the bondo route, I was going to buy this. My initial thoughts on process:

1. Remove the touch-up paint, use sanding pen to clean out chip
2. Tape off surrounding area.
3. Apply small amount of bondo
4. Wetsand with 80 grit
5. Finish off with 2000 or 3000 grit
6. Apply 1 coat primer
7. Apply 1-2 coats of touch-up paint
8. Apply 1 coat clear coat
9. Polish

Am I over thinking this? Can I just skip the bondo and go straight to primer if there's no body damage?

no bondo

your just opening a whole new can of worms than. you layer primer, let dry for 3hr, more, let dry, more....sand off excess. etc, etc



this process should take a whole weekend, you have to let things dry/harden before you sand excess off so it appears flush.