Bumper paint

[MercStraight6]

I was thinking of partially sanding down and re-spraying my bumpers this summer; they do have a few scrapes and scratches.

I think they are a slightly different colour to the metal body though, the car is Azurite Blue (366) but I'm not sure what colour the bumpers are, they seem a slightly darker shade of blue.

Does anyone know the colour code for the bumper paint?

 

[White230CE]

Hi Merc,

Sorry, don't know the colour code, but I wanted to do the same to my front bumper and side mouldings, so just gave my chassis number to the Merc dealer and he got me the right colour. Is there a reason why that would not work for you?

I would be interested to know how you would go about re-painting. I'm thinking of touching up areas, instead of painting the whole piece(s). Would I need plastic primer? Also, my colour came with lacquer. Is it ok to lacquer only where I've touched up, or should I re-lacquer the whole piece?

Thanks

 

[simon_wall69]

As White said, ask Merc, they will do it from the vin; I have bought paint from them before and it was no more expensive than that at Halfrauds and the colour match was spot on, despite it being a 20 year old car.

Touching up is much harder than people often make out, you need huge amounts of rubbing in and the slightest colour difference shows up very obviously.

I have only ever lacquered the bit touched up but I have never been able to do a very good job of it. In fact, the first couple of times I tried doing it, I made it look much worse than it was; the only good job I did was on the old 280se with flat paint.

 

[television]

As White said, ask Merc, they will do it from the vin; I have bought paint from them before and it was no more expensive than that at Halfrauds and the colour match was spot on, despite it being a 20 year old car.

Touching up is much harder than people often make out, you need huge amounts of rubbing in and the slightest colour difference shows up very obviously.

I have only ever lacquered the bit touched up but I have never been able to do a very good job of it. In fact, the first couple of times I tried doing it, I made it look much worse than it was; the only good job I did was on the old 280se with flat paint.

Yes the light does not reflect in flat paint so that always looks good

It is not possible to spray a bumper with an aerosol can, they are inconsistent in the spray patten and the fan is too small, they are also 80% thinners so they do not cover well. The clear top coats are too dark from aerosols

There are many small workshops that will spray the bumper if you take it off and fill and flat it for around £60

 

[White230CE]

Thanks Malcolm and Simon,

Having patched and sprayed the larder's front wings for the cannibal, and patched and sprayed the larder's roof (aerial point rusting), I guess I'm looking for new aerosol challenges! Subconsciously, I may be a frustrated grafitti vandal!

Having bought the paint on impulse, I guess I am at the point of no return (literally!) and have to use it, if only to learn its limitations - especially as I haven't tried using lacquer yet. I'll start with the lower lip of the front bumper where it doesn't show and report back. If it all goes pear-shaped, the guy who botched welding my sills (see other post) can at least paint, so I will let him loose on the removed items.

So, within the limitations of partial-painting, should I use primer at all?

 

[television]

Thanks Malcolm and Simon,

Having patched and sprayed the larder's front wings for the cannibal, and patched and sprayed the larder's roof (aerial point rusting), I guess I'm looking for new aerosol challenges! Subconsciously, I may be a frustrated grafitti vandal!

Having bought the paint on impulse, I guess I am at the point of no return (literally!) and have to use it, if only to learn its limitations - especially as I haven't tried using lacquer yet. I'll start with the lower lip of the front bumper where it doesn't show and report back. If it all goes pear-shaped, the guy who botched welding my sills (see other post) can at least paint, so I will let him loose on the removed items.

So, within the limitations of partial-painting, should I use primer at all?

On plastic not really, the industrial plastic primers are to prevent dusting

 

[MercStraight6]

I had a look at the bumpers today and I actually think they are the same colour as the body.

I was planning on rubbing down the scratched area with some rough sand paper, then using some fine grade sand paper to smooth it out, then clean and spray new paint on, obviously masking off nearby areas.

I guess primer isn't really important with plastic bumpers, since there is no rust issue.

 

[television]

Do not use any paper over a 600wet or you will never lose the sand marks without a primer filler

 

[discoking]

I got my r129 SL back from the approved MB bodyshop yesterday and they painted the front bumper for me,cost £300 but worth it,it looks brandnew now.

I say that because even tho I'm in the trade the independants I use for my stock just can't get it perfect,very hard to get these old merc mouldings and bumpers the right shade even with paint bought from MB.

 

[White230CE]

Hi all,

Just tried spraying one sill moulding. So far so good. Quite a smooth finish achieved. However, should I sand it with wet 1200, and/or do any other prep to it, before I spray the lacquer on?

And how long should I wait before I apply lacquer?

Many thanks

 

[cmax200]

I had a guy spray minor scratches etc on my bumpers (last car), he came in a van and in it he had a computer, all setup from what he obtained the correct paint from the Vin No and car info and the correct shade for my car, he then mixed sufficient paint for the work and prepared and sprayed the whole of the bumpers. A really efficient and effective setup. he also carried out work on my partners Ford Focus where she had hit a bollard. Obviously he will not normally do damage work, just scrapes and digs. I was very impressed with the outcome and it only cost me in the region of £80.00. Brought the car back to life.

 

[brianbrian]

I have had my 129sl bumper priced as it has slight scrapes on the corners, have seen the blokes work was quite impressed goes in garage in a weeks time £80.00.

 

[White230CE]

Hi all,

Just tried spraying one sill moulding. So far so good. Quite a smooth finish achieved. However, should I sand it with wet 1200, and/or do any other prep to it, before I spray the lacquer on?

And how long should I wait before I apply lacquer?

Many thanks

Anyone who knows the answer please? What I've read elsewhere is that metallic base coats (which this is) should not be sanded, and the clear coat should be applied within 24 hours. That's what I'm going to go with at the moment, but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[teddycatkin]

All W124 cars have a slight colour shade difference to the plastic sides and bumpers -both paint codes can be ID,ed from Chass number.