Has anyone had the bumpers etc painted?

[Tigger]

Hey has anyone had the black plastic bumpers and wheel archs etc painted to colour code to the rest of their Tig?

Has it been successful, or has it peeled or chipped?

[team_v]

I looked into having this done.

As it is the dimpled plastics they have to be sanded back to smooth before painting so it ends up using a lot of man hours and i have been advised it isn't worth the coin.

[Tigger]

So they couldnt spray the dimpled effect properly?
Would it peel?

What if they used a flexible primer?

[team_v]

So they couldnt spray the dimpled effect properly?
Would it peel?

What if they used a flexible primer?

I believe because of the dimples the paint won't be the same thickness and it will cause problems so it has to be sanded smooth.
Also, the plastic bumpers are a different material to the rest of the car so the paint may look a different shade as a few of the Jetta's up here did theirs and you could see a slight difference.

Might be best to ask a panel shop though.

[Tigger]

I believe because of the dimples the paint won't be the same thickness and it will cause problems so it has to be sanded smooth.
Also, the plastic bumpers are a different material to the rest of the car so the paint may look a different shade as a few of the Jetta's up here did theirs and you could see a slight difference.

Might be best to ask a panel shop though.

Yep, will do.
Thanks for the feedback team_v!

[MGV]

I guess when it's a black car to begin with, it's kinda close already!

[Tigger]

Yep...thats why I chose black...but I was just thinking it would look nice painted....
oh well...

[DkN]

Sanding should be your main problem, as long as it's primed properly there shouldn't be a colour difference. I had a colour coded plastic lip on my Golf and there is no difference in colour. If you find a decent body shop though you could get it done for a reasonable price. Too bad you aren't in Brisbane, I had an entire one piece aftermarket fiberglass rear bumper for my Golf that came straight from the factory unsanded and not ready to paint, the body shop I went to sanded it, filled shallow crevices that spanned across the whole thing (it was literally straight out of the factory, no prep work done), and then primed and painted it all for $220.

[team_v]

Sanding should be your main problem, as long as it's primed properly there shouldn't be a colour difference. I had a colour coded plastic lip on my Golf and there is no difference in colour. If you find a decent body shop though you could get it done for a reasonable price. Too bad you aren't in Brisbane, I had an entire one piece aftermarket fiberglass rear bumper for my Golf that came straight from the factory unsanded and not ready to paint, the body shop I went to sanded it, filled shallow crevices that spanned across the whole thing (it was literally straight out of the factory, no prep work done), and then primed and painted it all for $220.

Just for my refference, which body shop was that?

[aussietig]

FWIW, you definitely can get away without sanding on Black or darker colours.

Have seen the results (in the flesh) on Mk5 GTIs, and a very common mod.

Do a search on the GolfMkv forum (Australia), if you want to see some pics for yourself.

[DkN]

Just for my refference, which body shop was that?

Hume's Bodyworks at Albion

[HaywireTig]

I have also looked at color coding my Tig in Melbourne. If anyone in Melbourne knows any good paint body shop who could do this without costing an arm and a leg, wld be great.