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Painting small covers (windscreen washer and jack point cover)

TeddyRuxpin

MB Enthusiast
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Jan 10, 2019
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Location
Cardiff / London
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2x E350 CDI Sport W212s, Golf Mk4 V5.
Hi,

I have one W212 that needs a new headlight washer cover (obsidian black) and one W212 that needs a front driver's side sill/jack point cover (palladium silver). I can't seem to find the parts on eBay (used), which would be the ideal/least hassle scenario.

MB sell these parts with just primer on, ready to paint.

The black W212 arguably needs a bumper respray/fix up anyway (I'll give it a go with my DA first) - but I'm wondering the best way to get these painted and clear coated?

Do you just grab the paint with the paint code and a can of clear coat (where should I order these from if so?) and have a go yourself, slowly giving them a few coats? Anyone tried this and made a has of it?

Or do you take the little parts to a paint shop and give them a couple of quid to spray and clear coat for you? I don't know any shops that I trust in my area (for these points or for bumper resprays/repair work), other than going off google recommendations.

Cheers
 
It's a headlight washer cover not windscreen washer cover, but I can't change the title...
 
For parts as small as that I’d paint them yourself.

Buy the paint from a proper automotive paint shop who can also supply the 2K clear coat in a can. Read up about the precautions of using this first obviously.

One can of clear will be plenty for both items.

Nothing to lose, just take your time.

I take it you have used aerosol paint before? :)
 
One point to mention is that silver is a nightmare of a colour to match (although given the position on the car of the part you want to paint, it shouldn't be too obvious if it doesn't match well.)
 
For parts as small as that I’d paint them yourself.

Buy the paint from a proper automotive paint shop who can also supply the 2K clear coat in a can. Read up about the precautions of using this first obviously.

One can of clear will be plenty for both items.

Nothing to lose, just take your time.

I take it you have used aerosol paint before? :)
Thanks - no I haven't, otherwise I wouldn't be asking such naive questions :)
 
One point to mention is that silver is a nightmare of a colour to match (although given the position on the car of the part you want to paint, it shouldn't be too obvious if it doesn't match well.)
Right - I'm going to try to salvage the part I have with some glue etc, but it now only fits loosely in its place unfortunately
 
There's a company on eBay selling genuine (apparently) parts painted to OEM colours for £65. Pricey, but given that the part is probably £30-45 (I'll get an exact figure today) and then the price of the spray can and clear coat... might just end up bending over and paying the £65 and it'll likely work out the same.


Obviously if there was more to spray, that's a different thing altogether. If my bumper needs respraying obviously I'd get the primer version, so I need to figure that out, but thought the above service might be useful to some..
 
One point to mention is that silver is a nightmare of a colour to match (although given the position on the car of the part you want to paint, it shouldn't be too obvious if it doesn't match well.)
As Mike says silver is the worst colour believe it or not to blend but as its such a small part you should be fine. If you go to your local paint shop they will get a good match using a camera to scan the colour as paint fades over time and 9 times out of ten going of the paint code won't give you as good a match as most colours have more than one variant.
 
Thanks - I'm focussing on the obsidian black car's washer cover first as that's completely broken and off the car - the Palladium Silver (more of a grey) is less important right now. That's also my long term car so don't mind taking a bit more risks with that.

I'm going to polish the scuff on the bumper and see if I can get away with that - otherwise if the bumper requires smart repair/spraying then the repair person can do it!
 
As Mike says silver is the worst colour believe it or not to blend but as its such a small part you should be fine. If you go to your local paint shop they will get a good match using a camera to scan the colour as paint fades over time and 9 times out of ten going of the paint code won't give you as good a match as most colours have more than one variant.
Also depends if the current paint in a particular area is original or not :)
 
Read up about the precautions of using this first obviously.
This bit is really really important. Don’t just think “I’ll be quick”, “it’s only small”, “I’ll do it inside”, “I’ll be fine with this mask”. Personally I wouldn’t risk it.
 
Yeah, I'd likely buy from that service for £65, or get it sprayed with the bumper.
 
For anybody lying awake wondering what the progress was on this - it's £35 inc VAT for the part from MB parts and they'd need to order it in.

I got a 'seller offer' from the ebay link above for £59 (down from £65) for the painted (genuine) part, so I just did that.... hopefully it's a decent enough match and genuine MB part.

If the area ends up needing to be repsrayed anyway, we'll just have to take it on the chin and tape it up. I don't want the hole in the front of the car for too much longer.
 
For anybody lying awake wondering what the progress was on this - it's £35 inc VAT for the part from MB parts and they'd need to order it in.

I got a 'seller offer' from the ebay link above for £59 (down from £65) for the painted (genuine) part, so I just did that.... hopefully it's a decent enough match and genuine MB part.

If the area ends up needing to be repsrayed anyway, we'll just have to take it on the chin and tape it up. I don't want the hole in the front of the car for too much longer.

So basically an extra £24 to get it in the correct colour? Absolutely the way to go, it would cost you more than that in materials alone, you don't just have the paint to buy, there's primer, stopper, clear coat, various grades of rubbing down paper, masking tape and loads of other bits. When you then consider the time invested in even a relatively small job like this, I think that you've done exactly the right thing. OK, the colour match may not be perfect but after a few days usage it will barely be noticeable.
 
Good quality finish and OEM part, the OCD amongst us will say it needs a slight polish as all new paint does but most would never notice nor care. Will see how well it matches the paint later but can’t imagine it will stand out in any case.
 

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£59.50 I think! Will snap a quick pic of it fitted tomorrow.
 
What a nightmare fitting that is without taking the r bumper off. The spring is the issue. All done now, back and fingers soothed by a cup of coffee.

Will machine polish the area and see how it comes out
 

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