Need some opinions. I have an Invidia N1 which I haven't installed on my car yet. I figure this is the best time to paint the tips if I decided to. Thinking the blue finish is a bit ricey and might look out of place on a PW/B r53. I read that plastidip holds up pretty well if you just do the tips of an exhaust, plus I can peel it off if don't like it. I'm thinking it will look kinda like the alta stealth option they have and blend in nicely with the black plastic bumper moulding, look more understated etc. Not my car but pic for reference:



What do you guys think? If I decide to plastidip the tips I'll post pics and let everyone know how it holds up.

 

I don't see how the frosted TI tips look rice, but to each their own. I was trying to see people that post pictures of plastidip tips... not much shows up. Does it withstand heat well?

 

From what I've read people have plastidipped their tips and its held up fine for months; both winter and summer. As far as withstanding heat goes, tips should be fine but I wouldn't do anything further upstream

 

I have the Invidia system and love the look of the tips. FWIW, I didn't have the alignment quite right when I installed it and the tips ended up melting the the bumper trim so I'd be cautious about using Plastidip.

 

Thanks for the heads up! I'll make sure to be extra careful with the alignment when I get a chance to put it on. How was the install by the way, did everything bolt up nicely? Sound wise, how do you like it?

And for anyone interested I did a bit more research on plastidip. Apparently it can withstand heat up to 312F, but how that compares to an exhaust tip I'm not sure of

 

Not a big fan of the "Blue flamed" titanium tips.

Invidia is a really nice product though, one of the best sounding systems

Paint them black use Krylon black for BBQ's or engine block paint in black,
either one should work fine.

 

Good to know that everyone likes their invidia

I was originally thinking of using a high heat paint but the reason I was attracted to plastidip was because it just peels off like a sticker. That way, if I don't like it or simply feel like changing things up a bit, it will come right off

 

I painted my Alta tips and they have held up fairly well http://home.comcast.net/~rwkeating/a...aexhaust3.html Where the paint has come off the black from the exhaust masks it nicely. When I was planning to do this I measured the tips at about 300 degrees, so 312 will be cutting it close. On the other hand, since your exhaust is double sided it may run slightly cooler than the single sided Alta.

 

Thanks for the info. So the plastidip should hold up pretty well then. Nice write up btw, turned out nice!

I'm stuck between actually putting the exhaust on my car, seeing if I like it, then painting it (which will be a bit harder with it on the car) or painting it now while its off the car (which is easier), but at the same time not knowing what the Ti would look like...

Decisions decisions.....

 

For anyone who is interested, I ended going for it. Pretty happy with the results. Plastidip was stupid easy to work with.

 

Looks good. Please post back to this thread in the (hopefully distant) future to let us know how it holds up.

 

Looks like you did a pretty good job. I'm curious how it will hold up to good cleaning after some exhaust smoke builds up

 

I'm gonna throw up some pics when I get it on and I'll let everyone know how it holds up!

 

got it thrown on today. the tips stick out more than I wanted but there was nothing I could do short of shortening some of the piping. overall, I'm definitely glad I painted them black. its a lot more subtle than the blue would've been

 

I like the blued metal look myself... But hey, it's your mini !

 

sound and better view of the system for anyone who cares

 

For those who asked.....its been on for about a month now with no issues. I just wipe the tips with a damp cloth when they get dirty and they look like new

 

I have the m2 catback and they came with the blued tips I wasnt a fan and I was planing on cutting them off and welding new chrome ones on but they started to grow on me and it looks good now. I am glad I didnt do it

Btw how is your body trim so black I armorall min e after every wash and they dont look that good

 

I use Mothers back to black every so often. A little trick I use in a pinch though is to use tire shine, any will work I suppose, although I prefer the No Touch spray on foaming tire shine because its easy to apply. Tire shine makes the trim look stupid black, but like I said I only use it in a pinch or if I know I will be washing the car soon, as it collects a lot of dust.

 

I have back to black I will try it I was thinking about plastidipping the trim or see what it would cost to have painted. Im sure we all have the water drips that look horrible after washing it and a rain. I am tired of putting armorall on everytime for it to look ok.