I agree this is getting down right silly. I'm only trying to relay the amount of difficulty I'm facing when trying to get a job done. Maybe I should have them
paint the whole X5 Titanium (currently black), maybe that would be a big enough job.

end of rant, Thanks, Rich

That would be a big fat lie and we don't do that here on the forum;):D
But seriously they shouldn't care where it goes.its like they don't wanna make money..pshh

I bought myself a HVLP spray gun (you rock Harbor Freight) and will spray it myself. I've lightly wet sanded the plate and will apply adhesion promoter and primer, wet sanding between coats. I'll spray it with 354 titan silver paint + clear coat.

Will definitely come out nice as long as you do nice prep work and take your time. Most shops see the skid plate as a ''small project'' and really don't want nothing to do with it which is why they make a big deal out of it. There in it for the big bucks most of the times. That's why DIY is the way to go on the skid plate. Would love to get one on my X but am planning to go with the 4.6is set up on my 3.0. Good luck.

Rich, Somerset is 2 towns away from me, 10 mins at most. I haven't picked up yet from my shop, and didn't ask what the final cost would be, but I expect it will be reasonable. I didn't press for time since I know its a small job, and usually that's reflected in my final cost. They have done body work on my wife's car twice in the past year (she got rear ended in May and in November last year my father in law backed into her fender by accident) so they know me pretty well.

I can let you know how much my shop costs me, and perhaps you could mail it direct to them if they'd like to do another (I'll ask when I pick up).

As I mentioned previously the shop is also going to put high strength 3M mounting tape on the top edge to reinforce the installed position so that I won't have any "sagging" issue when its mounted.

Will update, hoping tomorrow they will be done.


Agree with Mike as well, I believe a lot of the shops turning you away just don't like to do small jobs for cash (although I don't know why in this day and age people are refusing work), I can understand if you were telling someone you only want to pay $100 and they refuse the work because it would cost more than that, etc.

But basically I don't see why a thorough cleaning with prep-solv, scuffing with a 3M scuff pad, adhesion promotor, primer, base coat, and clear coat, which is fairly simple to do is so complex up in your area.

Thanks for the feedback

If the shop wants to do another I can deal directly with them, being a middleman is sometimes painful.

the 1st shop I went to has done multiple jobs on all of my cars over the years
(teenagers and cars being beat to death in commuter rail parking lots).

They said they would do it because of our existing relationship but were did
not believe the surface would hold up. Because of their hesitation I'd rather not have them do the job.

Thanks, Rich

Understood. If a shop hesitates I probably wouldn't hire them either. Will ask the owner when I pick up, get you a price, and if the info is good I'll send you their info if they want to do another one.

Received my skid-plate. Looks like I would need to do some extra prepping before painting and install to make it perfect. Anyone installed your's yet?

http://junger12.home.comcast.net/~junger12/300/3.jpg

Still waiting for my body shop to call. I'm glad to see Rick is drilling the slotted mounting holes on the bottom now

If you meant Rick who made the skid-plate then no. If Rick (me) then yes. :)