...two questions:

1. Of course, it takes a specific paint to adhere to plastics. Should I expect a body shop to be able to locate the CR paint code in the type needed to paint plastic pieces, or should I lower my expectations to a "close match" ?

2. I have found one shop in my area willing to do this work but have not given me a price quote yet. What is a reasonable price expectation to paint my plastic dash pieces and the round oval inserts in both the ps and ds doors ?

Thanks in advance,
CR & PW

 

You can use any paint as long as the plastic is properly prepared with a primer the will adhere it. I painted some of my interior with indoor/outdoor piant and used an automotive primer first. The paint stayed on nicely.

 

^ Interesting. Thanks for the reply !

 

Krylon Fusion is specifically made to bond to plastics. You are stuck with their color choices, however. I don't see a body shop doing it for less than $150-200.
Are you going to pull the ovals off of the doorcards, or mask and shoot?

 

Cost me $450 for mine.

 

I wish Krylon hadn't "dumbed-down" their advertising. Then I wouldn't have to keep explaining this!

As stated above, any paint will stick to plastic interior bits that have been properly prepared. The Krylon Fusion is made for polypropylene, such as lawn furniture like they show in their ad. These waxy plastics are olefins. They don't take paint well. Another example is Tupperware. Krylon thinks we're too dumb to understand there are different types of plastics so they lump them all together.

 

I want them removed, painted, and reinstalled.

Sounds about right and in the ballpark of my expectations. Thanks !

 

Squirlz, thanks for the correction. Guess I'm part of the precipitate?
CR&PW, had another thought...if you go the body shop route, why get CR? Lots of people have that. Be bold, be daring, go nutz!!! Custom paint on the dash would look awesome! I've seen a few examples here (Minihune's woodgrain is flat out incredible!), but the sky is the limit. I'm thinking of a black base with blue micro-sequins in the mid-coat for mine. Looks like little sapphires glowing when the light hits it.
You're in the claims biz, right? Ask around and see which shops have painters who like to go crazy once in a while.

 

Yeah, I'm in the Auto Claims biz, that's how I found the shop in my area that is willing to take this project on.

Hmmmmmmmm... I will have to find out if their paint specialist is creative enough to do something like CR with b/w checkerboard.

This reminds me of when I was placing my order with my MA back about 16 months ago. He asked me what color dash I wanted and took me over to the board where all the colors were laid out. I said, "COOL... matching CR, of course !!". After he had his manager review my order, he came back and said, "oops, the body color options are only available for the S".

I almost cried. I loved the CR dash so much, I almost told my fiance she was going to have to give up her Checkmate package so I could afford an S.

 

I know it can be done. One of our local members MisterCooper had his hood scoop custom painted by someone in Alabama & it looks amazing in person. I am going to have his paint guy checkerboard my cabrio roll bars in the near future

 

Yeah... I've seen his MCS before and have always liked it, TT.

Hoping I can find someone willing to do this for me who can be creative enough to combine the CR with the checkered pattern for something very unique.

 

They do not come off. Only the armrest and speaker rings can be removed. Everything else is permenantly attached to the door panel. I know because I have an old door panel that I *broke* apart to get the tubes out so I could make a template for leather covers.

 

REALLY ? That's some odd engineering and designing, wouldn't ya say ?

Then I guess it would involve less work as far as removal and re-installation but more work in covering the rest of the car while they painted the ovals.

 

Will the entire door panel come off as one unit (minus, say the armrest)? That way the whole car wouldnt have to be covered, only the rest of the door panel. The rest of the pieces (dash-pillars, etc) come out dont they?

 

Try this: http://www.automotivetouchup.com/spray_paint.asp

I had very good success with their paints. If you're painting plastic, specify that you want the "flex" additive and they'll put it in. They match factory paint codes.

A caution about metallic paint. I wouldn't try to touch up with one of these cans on your MINI body if you have metallic paint. The "flakes" in metallic paint vary widely from paint manufacturer to another one.

That's why your body shop will always blend adjacent surfaces.

Anyway this site is good for interior plastics or other accessories you'd like to color match.

 

The oval can (and has) been removed, it just ain't easy. It is glued to the door card. I think I read of someone using a soldering iron to get it to release, and hot glue to re-install. My memory is faulty at times, so a search might get you better info. The paint results will be better with it off, but you have to balance that against the effort involved.

 

^ Good info, all ! Thanks.

I'll drop by the body shop one of these days and see what the paint guys say. They don't specialize in MINIs so I doubt they'll know what they're facing. The info from this thread will definitely help me explain the process to them.

Thanks !

Ps. If anyone else replies to help this weekend... I appreciate it but won't be able to respond to say so. Home computer got fried by lightning the other day and it's in the shop.

 

Do it your self. Pete, at MinSpeed sells the cans of factory matched colors. They look good too.

I know they are exterior but it still shows the color matching

 

ok.... I wont leave you hanging.... click HERE to see the paint pirce

 

Ooooh! Looks nice! Thanks for the tip, Fl_blue! I feel some interior paintin' comin' on!

 

Well right now I'm waiting for the air vents to dry. Just put on the 3rd coat. VERY NICE COLORING!

 

the first few cars I did we removed the ovals and y bars... this is WAY more work that it's worth... later I tried taping them... and the results were just as good... you really can't tell unless you look for it...

I do however painting the "proffesionally" as car paint is sooooo nice when it's finish right.. SOOOO NICE! LOL...

anywho... you have alot of good advice on this page and seem to be on the right track... GO FOR IT!

 

That looks beautiful. It matches perfectly. I had a bottle of touch up paint mixed for mine at a pro paint shop, the color is just a touch darker. I wish I had just inquired on this site, maybe it would have matched.

 

Did you have to thin the paint so it didn't clog up those little grill holes?

 

MINI Bee, the way to avoid that is to remove the mesh from the vent grille before painting. When you pull the vent out, you'll see how they fit together. If you are going to paint the mesh (don't have to, looks good left black, too) use very light misting coats and let flash dry before hitting it again. Repeat until you get the color effect you want. This keeps the paint from puddling and filling in the holes. (BTDT, used a needle to clean them out. )