So I recently got an ACS lip put on my car, and the shop I used screwed up the paint job. I was charged $300 and after posting on this forum it seems everyone says this was way too expensive. Everyone that I've tried talking to in town is either too busy or they are charging too much and I'm just sick and tired of all this crap. So, I want to try and just paint this myself...

Seeing as I've never done a paint job like this, I'm just looking for advice on how to go about doing this. I've read up on some other forums and most people have the following stuff that is needed for a new bumper:

Adhesion promoter
Primer
Base coat
Clear coat

Since the shop already had to prep the bumper, do I need to resand and everything? Or can I just apply the new paint right away?

Last, would a rattle can be an ok method to get decent results?

And would it even be worth it to do it myself?

 

If your bumper is already painted and it's just not matching, then to re-spray you do not need adhesion promotor and primer. AP is used only to create the tie coat from bumper untreated material to primer or to paint. More than likely the material is polypropleyne and this material has to be flamed or treated before painting. If you have never painted before, I would not recommend your first project to be your bumper. By the time you purchase everything you need you will spend nearly 300. A lot of shops have extra materials left over so they can absorb these material costs. 300 I don't think is too bad, but damn, you want it to match. Its best to take the car to the shop with the bumper so they can make sure they can see and get what they need. I seem to remember that you only took the bumper and provided the shop with the paint code, thats a bit risky since if it s not correct they simple blame you. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else. IDK, loo on craigslist and maybe you can find someone that does it on the side. Ah, and a paint gun is going to set you back at least 350 and thats just a gun that might get you by.

 

yeah the bumper is polypropylene. Have you seen any finishes by spray paint cans? I found a website that sells them for like 25 bucks a can.

But yeah that was me haha. I learned my lesson with this now. I'm just glad it wasn't a bigger project.

Someone mentioned something about renting out paint guns? Have you heard of this?

 

I haven't personally heard of anyone renting paint guns. I imagine if you found this, the quality of the paint guns would be very poor. I personally wouldn't loan my paint guns out anyone because of he cost of these things and the car that I put into keeping the very clean. It only takes one time where its not cleaned out well to cause a rebuild. I am sure if you look around you will find someone that can help you in TX. You would really be better off because you don't want to use anything on your exterior surface that starts with the words spray can! Like mentioned before, by the time you purchase everything you need, you are going to spend a lot more that paying someone to do it for you. But you have to take your car there. At this point they could probably paint it on the car and not have to glen as it should be copse enough.

 

hate to be bearer of bad news.. the lip will never match.
new bumpers on a brand new car straight from the factory dont and will not match. something about the differences between metal and plastic just wont allow it.
you can get close, but anyone who thinks they can match paint and panel paint should get their head checked out lol.
best way to do it, is to use the same paint on te bumper to the lip and match the paint as close as possible.
a lot of places cant be bothered to tint the paint to what your looking for, especially for the few ounces youll need. wish you were on the east coat, id help you out.

 

hahaha yeah i figured spray can would suck, but it just looked too enticing with how cheap it was. guess its back to going around town and haggling my way for a better price :/

 

man I wish there was someone near me. I'm pretty much out in the middle of nowhere, so it sucks haha