Bumper Respray Problems

[Z4 Coupe]

I am really annoyed about a bumper re-spray I’ve just had. I had a couple of areas that I wasn’t happy with so I thought I’d treat myself and get it perfect as the rest of the car (apart from the 108’s ) is in pretty good nick.

To cut a long story short the guy didn’t take any of the black plastic bits off and when he masked them I’ll be honest didn’t do a very good job! So when he sprayed them he got paint over the first 1 to 3mm of the black. The pictures will show you.

I won’t go into the ins and outs of it all but I’m after some help trying to fix the mess. I’ll post some photos to show you what I mean. I’ll start with the worst but the whole job is pretty poor. I really don’t know what to do for the best but I want to get the worst fixed and then take stock.

So what I need to do is remove the number plate surround and the lower plastic grill and try and get the paint off. He said he didn’t remove the number plate surround as it was riveted on with special rivets? He didn’t even try to remove the lower bumper.

So the first step is to remove these two black plastic parts. What is the number plate surround held on with? Is this a BMW job? Then try and remove the paint.

I’m absolutely gutted Any advice will be gratefully received.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

I can upload any other photos that might help.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

These are the rivets.

 

[Bing]

That's a shocking job - you should be getting your money back unless he's willing to rectify the overspray.

If I remember correctly the number plate surround is not riveted on, it is simply screwed on to the bumper - seen a thread recently about sorting the holes out with smaller plates. Easy job

I think the lower grill is easy to get off too as it is just clipped in, but I have never taken it off - others have though, so I don't think you need BMW.

That is proper amateur though, I'd be raging and not letting him get away with it if at all possible.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Thanks for the reply.

I think I'll try drilling the rivets out and replacing them with screws. One job at a time I think as I'm still fuming and don't want to make things worse. :x

 

[markeg]

Dont drill them out - you need security bits for those screws - see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-38716-33-Piece-Security-Bit/dp/B0001K9U46 - the piece is a three-pronged (called a tri-wing) security bit. Ebay also has them

 

[M@r]{]

I drilled mine out, but I didn't intend to put the surround back on.

As for the bumper that is shocking. I was looking to get mine done soon (to fill in the holes left by the surround and sort out some stone chips)

Name and shame - who did it?

 

[Bing]

Oops - sorry, you posted those whilst I was typing

I wouldn't have thought they'd be hard to get out, and irrespective, if he had problems he should have called you and discussed it before going ahead and screwing it up :x

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Dont drill them out - you need security bits for those screws - see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-38716-33-Piece-Security-Bit/dp/B0001K9U46 - the piece is a three-pronged (called a tri-wing) security bit. Ebay also has them

I do have a full security bit set and I tried one of the tri-wing security bits but it just kept on spinning. It does look to be more like a rivet.

I tried to drill one out but it kept on spinning with the drill too. Any tips for that? I'm using a hand drill so would an electric drill be better?

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Oops - sorry, you posted those whilst I was typing

I wouldn't have thought they'd be hard to get out, and irrespective, if he had problems he should have called you and discussed it before going ahead and screwing it up :x

I know I'd much rather they were handed to me and he said you'll need to pop those back on.

 

[Oakandacorns]

I am pretty sure they are rivets. I saw how my numberplate holder was attached to my bumper and they were rivets.

As mentioned by others, I would get the guy to sort out, or pay back. Unless this was done as a favour or something, it's pretty bad to leave it in this sort of way.

Anyway sorry no idea about lower grill.

 

[aquazi]

They def drill out. I drilled all 5 out from my M front bumper. Get an electric drill with a sharp metal bit - just bigger then the center hole.. and start it slow... eventually the head will drill off.

The front grill does clip in, but would be pretty difficult without taking the bumper off first.

Also when you remove the grill now you risk cracking/ chipping the paint against it.. as its now raised against the plastic work.

If they are going to correct it would prob be best just to get them to plastic paint the black bits.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

I will try an electric drill next then!

What is best to put it back on?

I think I'll do the number plate surround first as that is most obvious then move down.

 

[Oakandacorns]

Have you got a photo of how the bumper looks around the numberplate holder?

I think my paint guy used screws to get the numberplate holder back on.

 

[daz05]

Leave it off just stick your plate back on.

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Number plate surround off and cleaned. Electric drill took them straight out.

Before

After

As you can see 99% better but you can still slightly see a tiny bit. I wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't looking.

 

[Bing]

What did you use - white spirits ?

 

[Z4 Coupe]

Now what do I do with this!



I was thinking clean the area first and then try and polish the ridge flat??

I'm really miffed about this now

 

[Z4 Coupe]

What did you use - white spirits ?

Good old fashioned Girlfriends nail polish remover (don't tell her )

 

[Bing]

What did you use - white spirits ?

Good old fashioned Girlfriends nail polish remover (don't tell her )

On the bumper shots, take it back, tell him easily the plate came off, and ask him to finish the job. You paid for a full bumper respray right ? Well, he missed a bit :|