Hi everyone,

My car is barely three months old, so you can imagine my reaction when I discovered paint chips on the bonnet. I counted one decent sized one and 5-6 faint ones. I should have put a clear bra on when I bought it. I didn't think I'd get so many in such a short time frame. My last car only had three and I had it for 16 years!

Anyway, has anyone found any DIY products that work well on touching up the chips? What can I expect to pay if I take it to a body shop? I really don't want to mess too much with the factory paint. From what I've been told, factory paint is ten times better than what you get aftermarket. Any insight or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Lucila

 

I would get the OEM Mini touch up paint for your paint code to get the best color match.

Then use something like www.langka.com to smoothen it up. I've had great results with the above combo.

 

Using touch up paint is the easiest way. Done properly it can be almost flawless. First be sure the area is clean. Also, be sure the paint is well shaken before applying. With a toothpick (not the brush that might have come with the paint) put some paint 'in' the chip. Do not get any touch up on the good paint around the chip. Let the paint dry. After it dries apply paint 'inside' the chip again and you're done.

 

Dr colorchip Although no touch up is perfect it distracts the eye especially if you have a dark color car

https://www.drcolorchip.com/

 

Install the clear bra after you have the chips touched up. A good detailer can make them almost invisible.

 

Chips are a badge of honor. Drive your MINI!

 

+1 for Dr. ColorChip. It's probably the easiest and most effective way to touch-up minor automotive paint chips. We offer them and sell a lot of their kits HERE. Just need your paint code during check out and it'll be shipped right to you.

 

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice! I'll look into it this weekend!

 

Haha! Yes, kind of like scars I guess!

 

I think I'm a magnet for rocks! What the heck?!? On my way to work this morning I was struck by a huge rock in the windshield.


The irony in this is that I switched lanes so I wouldn't be directly behind other cars. Well one of those cars kicked a rock up into my lane. I saw it coming and had no way to avoid it. I guess it's good that it hit the windshield and not the paint. That size of rock would have certainly put a dent in my sheet metal.

So now what? It's the size of a dime. Should I just get it filled?

 

I would try filling it before a getting new windshield. I trust the factory install more than the potential for leaks and trim damage from a replacement.

BTW, I don't see the chip, all I see is a street lamp...

 

Thanks for the advice! I'm going to look into filling it.

Does anyone here know of a good window repair shop in the San Jose Ca area?

 

Google safelite

 

Yes, Safelite should be able to fill it for you so that it doesn't spread into a crack. I have about 3 filled on mine right now and they haven't spread for years. Still going on strong.

 

Thanks again for the help! I took the car into safelight today. They fixed it and now it's hardly noticeable.


I ordered the touch up paint from the dealer today. It should be available tomorrow for pick up.

 

+1 the touch up paint works pretty good , you will get a paint brush and one clear coat brush. Shake it out and use a steady hand. balance you hand on the hood to control.

 

Double check post #3.

 

^^^What he said. I would also recommend you clean the chip out with acetone first. That little brush that comes with the kit is good for that.

 

My MINI has a scratch, a couple inches long, that shows up white on a silver surface. I'm guessing the white is the primer color? Tried anti-scratch/swirl product but it did nothing. Is there a better product to use? Saw a Turtle Wax kit for scratches that costs about $15 and I'm wondering if that, or something else on the market, actually works?

 

If it's scratched through the color coat, the only thing that will fix it is touch-up paint or have the area repainted.

 

Dr. ColorChip Touch-Up Paint Kits is what I recommend. I've used this product many a time with great results. The nice thing is that they guarantee exact OEM paint match. Can check it out HERE.

 

What's the difference between the two kits you offer? And, how do I find the color code for Thunder Grey? Thanks.

 

You'll want the top one at that link, part #: DRC-ROADRASH.

B58 according to this thread HERE, but put the last 7 digits of your vin into this decoder and it will give you the color code for your Thunder Grey. http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

 

Dr Color Chip, I have a Peper White... Fixed chips and you cannot see them after the repair. Have used the factory touch up paint, hard to get rid of the blog that is left behind.

 

2 Minis over past 10+ years and both have had clear plastic over bonnet and most of front areas that get the abuse (like side mirrors) to avoid these problems. With the latest versions of plastic you can't easily even see it and the car looks great.