Painted bumpers-told not to do it!!

[nwilliams]

I went around to 3 high end bodywork places that specialize in fine cars. All three places do dealer work and one did a lot of Ferrari and Maserati work.

They all gave me the same feedback! They said that the type of plastic used for the bumpers (not the same as the quarter panels or aero kit) wouldn't hold the paint very well. The finish wouldn't be perfectly smooth like the rest of the body and wouldn't resist against chips and general wear and tear over a long period of time.

One even mentioned his fear of peeling or bubbling because of a self releasing agent in the plastic to prevent the trim from becoming dull after a while.

There's a lot of threads about painted bumpers but not a single discussion about how well the bumpers take paint and resistance to wear and tear.

I guess you guys are all about looks.....the actual homework of assessing whether this is a wise mod is irrelevant! Or..... I don't know how to use the search function! Then again....all the threads on lowered suspensions and spacers also make no mention of possible stress or damage to the car....warranty issues.....and ride quality.....so I guess it really is only about looks! F the rest..

[powers1]

Maybe they didnt want the work!
Good scrub on the bumpers to remove any grease and protection,degreaser,air dry blow it,then apply a specific ABS clear primer and you will have your bumpers ready to accept paint.No peeling or discoloration

[jasonrhcastle]

I got an idea. Why don't you check your attitude. You put this post on here, complaining about how other have not put information for you about whether your decision to paint your bumper is wise. Seriously? Back away from the Espresso machine, take a deep breath, and realize that it isn't OUR responsibility to do your homework, and stop complaining about it here.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I know 2 people who have had this done, and it looks amazing. Both of their vehicles are 2 years old, and to my knowledge, neither has had an issue. Their cars are approximately 2 years old. I was told by 2 high end shops that this was doable on my 08 4.8, but never did it. The key is making sure the surface is prepped right.

Now, please feel free to go back to complaining....

[nwilliams]

Originally Posted by jasonrhcastle

I got an idea. Why don't you check your attitude. You put this post on here, complaining about how other have not put information for you about whether your decision to paint your bumper is wise. Seriously? Back away from the Espresso machine, take a deep breath, and realize that it isn't OUR responsibility to do your homework, and stop complaining about it here.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I know 2 people who have had this done, and it looks amazing. Both of their vehicles are 2 years old, and to my knowledge, neither has had an issue. Their cars are approximately 2 years old. I was told by 2 high end shops that this was doable on my 08 4.8, but never did it. The key is making sure the surface is prepped right.

Now, please feel free to go back to complaining....

Let me start by saying that in reading back my post I admit that it came across the wrong wayy.....I was sort of going for edgy humor and came off hostile instead....and for that I apologize.

Your post on the other hand is just hostile....but I'll just say I deserved it

On the other hand it's no one's responsibility to do my homework for me but it is the point of forums like this to accumulate a good amount of information to help and educate X5 owners. I'm a veteran member of the E60 forums where I've bought, sold and posted since 2006 and the amount of things I learned, the money ive saved, and the mistakes i prevented with my E60's was valuable to me.

Not to justify coming off rude (that was my mistake) but just to add a little something to what you've said......

And if you read all 36 other posts I have here since taking delivery of my x5 a couple of months ago....you'll see I'm not the complaining type...so.....no....I won't go back to complaining.

[KmanOz]

Originally Posted by jasonrhcastle

.... Back away from the Espresso machine, take a deep breath ...

Bwahahahaha and may I add, half the dosage !!!

I love what Iv done to my car .. Leave yours stock and be done with it.

Cheers

[nwilliams]

Originally Posted by KmanOz

Bwahahahaha and may I add, half the dosage !!!

I love what Iv done to my car .. Leave yours stock and be done with it.

Cheers

Since I apologized for coming off the wrong way on my post youre just asking me to reply with more bullshit. But I won't. Cause this will go nowhere.

And yeah...I I'll keep drinking espresso homie....peace.

[Viperfreak2]

Were the three 'high end' paint shops: Butch and Billys Git-R-Done, Parking-lot-paint-jobs Inc., and Maaco?

[nwilliams]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

Were the three 'high end' paint shops: Butch and Billys Git-R-Done, Parking-lot-paint-jobs Inc., and Maaco?

The first place does all the work for the Ferrari and Maserati dealer.....the second services a major corporate BMW dealer and the third is a multi million dollar facility that's known as one of the better bodywork places in the city that does a lot of insurance work.....

I'm not making the statement that it's bad to paint the bumpers but merely repeating what they told me. I have no background in auto paintwork.

I was hoping they were wrong since I really wanted to do this but can't help but find it strange that unrelated shops would say the same thing.

Oh...yeah...and I came off hostile on my post...hence your post...again...I apologize.

[Viperfreak2]

Originally Posted by nwilliams

The first place does all the work for the Ferrari and Maserati dealer.....the second services a major corporate BMW dealer and the third is a multi million dollar facility that's known as one of the better bodywork places in the city that does a lot of insurance work.....

I'm not making the statement that it's bad to paint the bumpers but merely repeating what they told me. I have no background in auto paintwork.

Something just sounds fishy. I can see a Maaco guy saying, yeah no problem we can do it for $xxx.xx But when a representative of a competent body shop turns away business...

Repeat what was said to you to the managers / owners of the shops you talked to, then hand them a printed copy of the clear, concise statement sinned posted above and see which one he/she agrees with.

The only thing I would do differently is to DA the surface smooth first, then use a chemical wipe to etch/clean the plastic surface.

[sinned]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

Something just sounds fishy. I can see a Maaco guy saying, yeah no problem we can do it for $xxx.xx But when a representative of a competent body shop turns away business...

Repeat what was said to you to the managers / owners of the shops you talked to, then hand them a printed copy of the clear, concise statement sinned posted above and see which one he/she agrees with.

The only thing I would do differently is to DA the surface smooth first, then use a chemical wipe to etch/clean the plastic surface.

You are correct, I am missing a step. A good chemical wipe down after DA sanding is a very important step!