When to apply touch up paint

[Bostonblux5]

Hey guys just wondering when in that long Zaino process (or any wash/wax) you should apply touch up paint. Also what do you use to apply the paint? to thin scratches & those small circular chips? THANKS

[Curious Joel]

I'm not sure about other people's experiences, but I put touch up paint on some dings on my 330xi and it looks horrible. The color doesn't match and the clear coat is cracking.. And this is the factory-matched BMW touch up paint I picked up from the dealer.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Curious Joel

I'm not sure about other people's experiences, but I put touch up paint on some dings on my 330xi and it looks horrible. The color doesn't match and the clear coat is cracking.. And this is the factory-matched BMW touch up paint I picked up from the dealer.

I had a similar experience!The colours are the same,its the application method that is different.Paint that is sprayed on is diluted 50% with thinner and therefore will be lighter than "touch up " paint!
Try diluting the touch up paint with a bit of thinner and you will see that the colour will be similar!

[blackbeauty]

really?!?! now i'm scared to do it.

[ncx]

I would apply touch up paint after you dawn and dry the car, and before you wax.

Check out Autovisuals http://www.autovisuals.com/paintcode.asp as an option to the OEM stuff. In my case (Blk Saph) it was an exact match.

[Waynestowels]

I would Zaino the car first, being carefull not to apply to the areas you want to touch up (you never want to wax/seal as car, then paint it!!)

Wipe down areas to be touched up with alcohol or a prep-sol type product,
if it is to the metal, prime it first,
Then use a T-U paint.

Allow it to dry completely-
You will now have an ugly "blob", LOL!!

The remedy to this is Mothers Chip Kit (check our web site)
It levels the blob without affecting any surrounding paint.

The nice thing is, it is fool proof and a bottle will last years, at least with my 4 cars

Hope this helps...

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Bostonblux5

Hey guys just wondering when in that long Zaino process (or any wash/wax) you should apply touch up paint. Also what do you use to apply the paint? to thin scratches & those small circular chips? THANKS

This is what we do here and it works fine:
1.Clean the area you want to touch up and degrease(eg.with alcohol)
2.Let it dry.Apply touch up paint to the area(dont worry if the paint goes outside the area!You will be able to get it off later when it dries!) and wait
about 10 mins.
3.Apply more paint within the 10 mins period until you are happy that the paint has filled the area you are working.
4.Heat up the area slightly with hair dryer or heat gun (min.setting).This is just to bake the paint a little so that you can drive the car for a few days.
5.After 2-3 days ,apply a "T"cut polisher over the area by hand in swirling motions.You will now be polishing out any excess paint outside the area and will be levelling out the rest of the touch up paint on the affected area.
6.When you happy with process,Zaino it to protect it.

I know that its better said than done,but I got 3 hood chips on my ,then 2-week old, M3, and I did exactly what I explained above and although I know the chips are there,I have to look hard to notice them!Good luck.