[BTM]

Spend the $25 or so to get the official BMW touch up paint...it has the paint in one stick and the clearcoat in another. From what I can read, the process seems to apply very thin amounts of the paint over and over until the depth is correct, and then the clear? Has anyone used this and offer any tips to get results? I realize it won't be perfect but I'm hoping for any improvement before I drop 1300 on a total front respray...

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

I only applied this to a very large chip that just so happened to miss my clear bra. (thats my luck).

It is very thin when applying...

I believe the theory is to layer it up, and then to wetsand at 2500 grit and polish to a gloss.

I didnt do the latter part but the touch up paint does look better then a chip.

[bob.g]

i have monaco blue and the paint really didnt match up well, it was much darker then the original paint. Anyway after sanding it, i used the paintbrush that came with the paint kit (some have recommended using a toothpick but that didnt work out well when i tried), and i applied 2 layers, then clear (i did the clear the following day). Like jpslick mentioned, best way is to wetsand and polish it after your done but i didnt do that either..it was tiny and not worth the trouble.

[BTM]

I will definitely sand - I have a largish chip on the drivers side door that's right in plain view. My car also needs a was pretty bad, should I was first or just clean the chip area, do my repair, and wash after? The soap I like to use has caranuba wax in it so I'm thinking that might not "take" the paint very well...

[blackout90]

i would wash the car with a shampoo that doesn't have any wax products. that way the paint will stick good. That's just what i would do, haven't needed to do it yet(thank god).

[lefty]

you are exactly right about the applying a lot of thin coats. i got my paint from http://www.touchuppaintonline.com, it came with clearcoat and the paint matched very well. When I spoke to the guy there, they told me the best way is to use a tooth pick to put on a little bit of paint then even it out with the brush. I think I did about 4 coats then it looked pretty good, then I put on the clearcoat.

[328i]

I don't like using touch up paint on metallic, I find that it rarely matches and usually makes the chip more obvious.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by 328i

I don't like using touch up paint on metallic, I find that it rarely matches and usually makes the chip more obvious.

With my graphite as long as you shake the canister for a good minute or so it seems the paint is a pretty decent match. I didn't finish yesterday as a few other plans popped up, so I will probably add another coat tonight and clear/sand it. My chips were in pretty obvious locations so any improvement is worth it IMO. If it really still bothers me, I'll get it professionally done and I'm only out $25 and a few hours or so

[MetsFan]

I didn't bother with the clear. I just layered on the touch up paint with a very fine paint brush.

Here's my results:

Start


After touch up:


Final after pro detail:

[328i]

Originally Posted by BTM

With my graphite as long as you shake the canister for a good minute or so it seems the paint is a pretty decent match. I didn't finish yesterday as a few other plans popped up, so I will probably add another coat tonight and clear/sand it. My chips were in pretty obvious locations so any improvement is worth it IMO. If it really still bothers me, I'll get it professionally done and I'm only out $25 and a few hours or so

Very true, not much to lose for a possible improvement. I'm sure it depends on the paint color as well, I find darker colors usually easier to blend in.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by MetsFan

I didn't bother with the clear. I just layered on the touch up paint with a very fine paint brush.

Here's my results:

Start


After touch up:


Final after pro detail:

Not bad do you remember the process?

[MetsFan]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

Not bad do you remember the process?

I read through this:

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/repair_faqs/paint.html

and this:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=958

I bought the official paint touch up from Circle BMW and a #000 paint brush ($2 or less at any art store).

First, I cleaned the scratch with 70% alcohol. Then I dipped the brush into the paint, making sure I only had a tiny bit of paint on the tip, and applied it into the scratch. I spread it around a bit to make sure it filled the chip. I waited 20 mins and repeated the paint process. I think I did this 3 or 4 times till it filled the scratch and chip. I didn't bother with the clear coat.

I wasn't as patient though, which is why the paint looks a bit rough in that second pic. Thankfully I got a detail from Ryan at Unique Car Care a week later and he leveled it off by polishing it.