I had one bodyshop say the same to me. Then i went to a local BMW tuner shop/autobody here in NJ and they said "no problem" and did a fabulous job. These guys do custom metal fabricating and wide-body bmw's all day, so i knew this would be no problem for them. (thier cars have been fetured in EuroTuner mag, and in this months Performance BMW mag) Cost a lil more, only because he had to sand down the arches to a "smooth" surface to match the rest of the body. In a sense, the arches lose thier "textured" feel and now are able to adhere to the paint, or vice versa rather.

 

 

$600 is pretty cheap, the job requires alot of labor. You have to sand down all the moldings, and make sure you do not sand too much or it will cause the molding to become too thin. then they have to use a filler primer to help get rid of any texture thats left over. Then sand that as well. Paint, clear coat, and reinstall everything.

Ive heard people get quoted alot higher from alot of other places so i was happy with the price.

Now i just got to find someone in Las Vegas who can paint my gas cap in body color.

 

^ I paid alot more than that, but that then again i got my aerokit installed at the same time.

Off-topic: Must be nice to be living in Vegas! I just got back from there last week and boy did i Love it !

Im gonna post some more pics soon...

 

 

 

I plan on just taking the moldings in and having them painted, and doing all the removal and install of the moldings myself. Im also having Aero side skirts and a new front bumper painted.

 

Just to note, the arches don't have to be sanded. I recently had mine done without them sanded and they turned out perfect. No texture of the arches are shown.

I had six pieces done at the cost of $225.

 

i dont see why would have to sand....before primer anyways. But then again, i do audio installations not body work so, there is a good chance that im wrong.

 

Uncl3, I'd be interested to see if those keep up. Not that I don't think they will, but seems as if everyone else says you NEED to sand. Maybe you don't. I guess you'll prove it! Good luck!

 

Depends on what you mean by sanding. They DO need tol be sanded, but not before priming. Typically this textured stuff gets an adhearence promoting primer coat that is then sanded smooth. Then, if needed another coat of primer and sanding until it is smooth like glass. The you can paint, wet sand, clear and buff. It's like a 5-6 step process. That;s why it is so labor intensive and expensive.

Luckily I have a JB car, and I don't think it is absolutely needed on that body color. If I have any other color it would laready be done!