Patch and Re-spray Job Audi A4

[GetAudiHere]

So a couple of years ago I ran into a road sign during a snow storm and it unfortunately left a gouge in my bumper. In november I got around to patching the gouge and I just now finished due to many, many mix ups/more like screw ups on Audi`s end to get the right color paint. Thought I would post some pics of the process. I also have one question, the paint is a little textured and dull and I need to make it smooth to match the rest of the bumper. Now Im wondering what has to be done. I was thinking maybe like using a 3000 grit sand paper and then using some polish to shine it up. What do you guys recommend? I have a PC with some menzerna IP and some other things I ordered last summer.



Well here are the pics.



Before

http://www.mnaudi.com/gallery2/d/9467-2/DSCF1898.jpg?g2_GALLERYSID=10ae2ff31b3611a0786be85 e8853133c

http://www.mnaudi.com/gallery2/d/9415-2/DSCF1897.jpg?g2_GALLERYSID=10ae2ff31b3611a0786be85 e8853133c



Sanded

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF2967.jpg

Backing Mesh

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF2974.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF2975.jpg

Filler Flexible SEM-Weld

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF2978.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF2996.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3003-1.jpg

Primer

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3026.jpg

Paint Take 1

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3043.jpg

Not even close...

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3038.jpg

Take 2 (I didnt even want to paint the whole area because I knew it was going to be the wrong color again...)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3040.jpg

Keep in mind that this is special order paint and takes 2 weeks to get there. I had to do this THREE TIMES! :hairpullYes I was pissed to say the least. Carousel Audi :wall. So we raised hell and finally got it sorted out.

Paint Take 3

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3053.jpg

Close as its going to get.

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3057-1.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x232/pbfanatic390/Bumper/DSCF3059-1.jpg



Well there it is. I was pretty proud of myself this being my first experience with any bodywork what-so-ever. Again if you guys have any questions, comments and advice on how to get it to match better with polishing and such please reply.



Thanks guys!!

[chromecarz00]

Very well done...

did you polish out any scrathches?

[David Fermani]

I wonder how long it will last.....

[MorBid]

Well I`ll be dipped. I never knew Audi sold Touch-Up paint in rattle cans.

Very good work for the first time out. You seemed to have followed the required steps, including using a silicone/wax remover I hope for the prep.



As for the paint matching, wetsanding w/1500 grit or finer then polishing may help but basically whatever color you sprayed on is the color it`s going to be.



I`ve done repair and re-paints on my A4 Ultrasport but using a professional equipment (minus a booth) but had my paint mixed up at a Autobody Paint Supplier. No color matching problems whatsoever but then again the car wasn`t even 3 years old so there wasn`t any fade in the paint on the panels.



Again, very good work.



moRbiD

[Flashtime]

Looks good from here! But it wont last. Still, it`s a good attempt.

[GetAudiHere]

Yeah i realize the color will be the same but I just want it to match the texture of the other paint being smooth not textured. The rattle cans are a pretty good deal, $25 for both color and clear.



Why wont it last? I used flexible filler because its a abs plastic bumper. How long do you guys think it will last?

[Barry Theal]

wow all that money and time hmmmm i think i would of just had it repaired professionally thats a simple fix patch, putty, sand a little paint and some clear!

[GetAudiHere]

I was actually quoted a few times and they said they wouldnt be able to just patch it. They would have to replace the whole bumper, plus paint upwards of $1000. And even if they didnt have to replace the bumper it would have been at least $300 for paint and I didnt spend more that $100.

[MorBid]

The reason they are saying it won`t last is because cars today and for the last 2 or 3 decades are painted with a two part (2K) system called Base Coat/Clear Coat. It`s much more durable.



Most paint that comes in a rattle can is either Lacquer or Enamel (the first one is what cars used to be painted with before the BC/CC system) and they aren`t known for their durability on cars.



Another part is paint applied via aerosol isn`t as durable as material applied with just compressed air. So Lacquer Paint applied professionally will out last Lacquer paint applied from a rattle can



You can go to a local autobody supply and have them match a color and put the paint into a rattle can (most of the time) but it won`t have the different additives we mix in to the paint when shooting with a gun. Urethane Clear Coat has to be always mixed so is never put into a rattle can.



That`s on the paint side. I`ve never been a fan of those patches as a backing cause if the adhesive fails or starts to give water gets in there and causes the repair to fail. That`s on the Body Work Side



Anyway, I stand by my previous comment on how well you did the work. For the amount of money you spent and not having done anything like it before you did really well.



To do it yourself properly you would have to invest over $1,000 easily in tools and other equipment.



I had the Body Shop at the Audi Dealership re-finish my Front Bumper after driving the Car for one year so I could put a Clear Bra on. That cost me $300.00 + and there wasn`t any damage. Just rock chips.



I`m guessing the "texture" your talking about is just Orange Peel in the Clear. Read up on the Wetsanding I talked about before and give that a go. It`s called "Cut and Buff" and a standard procedure for any paint job since almost every paint job will have some OP.



moRbiD

[GetAudiHere]

Wow thanks MorBid for all the info. I will for sure check that out! Thanks for the compliments as well everyone.

[Frito Bandito]

It looks nice, especially considering the amount of money spent.



What`s with the spam in your sig?

[GetAudiHere]

Thanks guys. Alright so I went out and bought some 2000 grit sandpaper. Do you think the PC will be able to take care of the 2000 grit scratches? What do you think I will need? I have HiTemp Xtreme Cut, Menzerna IP, and Menzerna FPII. For pads I have 6.5" yellow, white, and black pads. As well as 4" green. But if I need 4" yellow or orange I can order that also. Thanks guys.

[memnuts]

Was there any flex additive in the factory touch up spray cans? If there wasn`t the repair most likely won`t last long. first time someone bumps the car in the parking lot the paint will at a min. spider web or crack and flake off.

[MorBid]

Thanks guys. Alright so I went out and bought some 2000 grit sandpaper. Do you think the PC will be able to take care of the 2000 grit scratches? What do you think I will need? I have HiTemp Xtreme Cut, Menzerna IP, and Menzerna FPII. For pads I have 6.5" yellow, white, and black pads. As well as 4" green. But if I need 4" yellow or orange I can order that also. Thanks guys.



Read through this (http://www.autobodystore.com/rsw.shtml) to get an idea of where your going. Not saying you need to do it this way but the principle is the same.



You`ll need something to make a sanding block out of, you can find rubber squeegee`s at any autobody supply shop (maybe even where you got the sandpaper from). They only cost a dollar or so and we usually use them to "squeegee" off the water and sludge when wet sanding.



Let the paper soak overnight or at least a few hours before using it. Add one of two drops of dish washing soap to a gallon of water. The soap will give you some lubricant when wetsanding.



Pretty much any polish (light cut) will remove 1500 grit or finer sand scratches so you don`t need anything special like a medium or heavy cut polish. I`m sure a PC will do fine.



There are a couple of important things you want to keep in mind when wetsanding. The first is to keep the surface and paper wet at all times. You want it flooded.



Another is to keep the paper and surface free from the build-up of sludge. If you feel the paper grabbing while your working you know it`s cause of one of those two things. So keep dipping the paper into the bucket of water.



Lastly you need to know when to stop. Check your work often by squeegeeing the material off the area of the panel your working on.



We call it "Orange Peel" cause the texture of the surface looks just like the skin of an orange.



So when your sanding you want to achieve a uniform dull color. We sometimes refer to this as "flat"



Note: it`s entirely possible and many people have done it, that one can sand right through the clear down to the paint. So be careful.

[Accumulator]

GetAudiHere- Take MorBid seriously when he says "know when to stop". I`d spray/squeegee/inspect after every few strokes, better to err on the side of caution.



The HT EC *might* work OK on the 2K scratches if you use a 4" orange/yellow pad, but M105 would probably work a lot better.



I`d absolutely use Megiuar`s/Nikken or Mirka 2K paper as other brands sometimes leave random deep "tracer" scratches that you *won`t* get out with a PC.



Scratches in the surroundling factory paint will be a *LOT* harder to get out than scratches in your touchup paint.





The repair might hold up quite well as long as it`s not subjected to any impacts. I had the license plate mounting holes on my WRX filled and they stayed OK for as long as I had the car.