E86 Custom Body Work and Paint Project **Pics**

[1536Z4]

Nice work and highlighting spot welds that I hadn`t even noticed Glad we don`t have those rear reflectors over here . Loving the black roof

 

[DrivenImage]

Aaaaand this is where I'm at currently

Shop has been completely cleaned and dusted, and bow time to tape up the car to lay the finish!

1 coat white sealer
2 coats Alpine White
24 hr dry time
2 coats of SPI High Solids Clear

 

[DrivenImage]

Nice work and highlighting spot welds that I hadn`t even noticed Glad we don`t have those rear reflectors over here . Loving the black roof

Thanx! Yea well I figured why not!

 

[1536Z4]

Thanx! Yea well I figured why not!

It`s going to look great . Where about`s are you based ?

 

[Wondermike]

I've tried to organize the pictures so they show in order, but the uploads keep mixing them up

If you click on ‘place inline’ as you upload them, it will keep the order.

Lovely work

 

[beanie]

As much as I like a white coupe, it almost seems a shame to paint it white after all the effort you’ve gone to.

 

[DrivenImage]

As much as I like a white coupe, it almost seems a shame to paint it white after all the effort you’ve gone to.

I agree, can't really appreciate the body work on white like you would on darker color vehicles, and believe me I spent months debating colors.

My first choice would be my all time favorite color Lighning Silver Metallic off an Aston Martin, it has a gorgeous bluish tint to it with a very fine gold type of pearl and silver flakes

The problem, aside from being a very difficult and laborious color to spray, (car has to be sprayed all at once + many many layers) .... If I ever got a scratch or ding that needed resprayed on a door or fender for example, You have to respray the entire side of the car and u only get one shot to get all the layers right because the color is translucent, otherwise start over.


Didn't really care for any other color, but I do love how the coupe looks in Alpine white, but a brighter shade, and is also very easy to fix, if I ever have to repair I can do a panel without having to blend, so it came down to a matter of less headache for me

 

[DrivenImage]

Thanx! Yea well I figured why not!

It`s going to look great . Where about`s are you based ?

I live in Florida U.S

 

[DrivenImage]

Taping properly is tedious AF but time spent here is time saved removing overspray.

3M precision tape for the fine line work, crisp sharp edges

 

[1536Z4]

I live in Florida U.S

 

[curvature]

Looking good! Have you kept a record of how many hours you have spent on this?

 

[DrivenImage]

Looking good! Have you kept a record of how many hours you have spent on this?

Thanks, no, but from experience I'll have 200-250hrs after all the cutting and polishing is done, this is a hobby for me now and is therapeutic, so didn't track this project

Clear coat is on!

 

[1536Z4]

Clear coat is on!

Any update ?

 

[kis]

Clear coat is on!

Any update ?

... haha! :wink:

 

[Vanne]

looks great! love AW

 

[RatBagZ]

That's magic mate, looks mega

 

[Jahmez]

Absolutely Hats off to you... Stunning attention to detail. If only you lived in Scotland

 

[DrivenImage]

Updates!! I took some time off, Florida heat and humidy has been brutal, got some pic coming

 

[DrivenImage]

Love it or hate it, went with red accents on hinges, decided to polish out the bolts and clear coat

The hood struts and hatch struts, calipers and the support bars behind the kidney grills will be red as well

 

[DrivenImage]

More paint more paint, all parts cured for about 3-4 weeks outside in the florida heat so the clear coat can shrink and cure properly before sanding and polishing

Big mistake is to cut and polish too soon, it will eventually dull out the gloss