Spray painting a spoiler

bombur

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Z3 1.9, Z4 E89 2.3
I'm going to be getting a smallish rear spoiler for the z4. It comes matt back I think and I want to give spray painting (rattle can) a go. So primer, paint and lacquer I'm guessing. I've noticed a few sets available online. Would I need to sand the spoiler first? Anyone got any tips (except for..take it to a painting shop)? Also any recommended sets?
 

bombur

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Bit cold for rattle can paint jobs this time of year. … I recommend doing it in the kitchen or lounge… but then sometimes I also wonder why I am divorced. As recommended by @Matt Barnes .. quality paint
View attachment 356087
Great thanks. It won't likely be here till March so will be milder...hopefully! Is that just a base coat? Would I need anything else?
 

Pond

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3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Halfords are your friends here. Their paint is (relatively) cheap and good. As said, not the best time of year, but it has it's advantages (no insects to stick to the wet paint). I would not recommend any aerosol painting indoors, even though I presume it was a tongue-in-cheek comment.

I have painted many aftermarket 'bits' to put on cars. Just sand the surface gently to give the paint something to adhere to. A cheap primer, then top coats. Once completely dry a couple of coats of lacquer to make it shiny. You don't need to rub down between coats IMO (all that does is potentially leave bits on the surface and just takes more time and paint).

I found the secret of 'rattle canning' anything is to not go mad. Multiple thin coats give the best finish. And make sure the spray nozzle is clean each time; any gunk around the nozzle can make it 'splatter' which will ruin the finish. The can needs to be fairly warm or the pressure of the propellent will die and you get splattering.
And an insect-free environment is a must! For some reason small flying things love the smell of new paint and can't wait to land on it, which will ruin the job, so you have to start over.

I painted the front splitter and rear diffuser on my F33 with Halfords gloss black rattle cans as they both came matt:
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Synclare

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Can you not buy the spoiler ready colour painted as was the case for Z3 ones from China?

If you are painting onto un primed plastic then you will need to start with a special plastic primer. That then needs a normal primer, followed by either colour basecoat and clear or a solid colour i.e not a basecoat if there is a formula for solid colour that is.

You really need to be using a flexible additive in the paints which rules out rattle cans. You can out of interest also get 2K rattle cans but bear in mind the added safety risks of isocyanates.
 

AntStark

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Great thanks. It won't likely be here till March so will be milder...hopefully! Is that just a base coat? Would I need anything else?
Yeah primer, base coat and then lacquer, rub down and clean between coats, cut and polish to finish. I doubt getting it done professionally is going to cost you much more tbh
 

bombur

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Can you not buy the spoiler ready colour painted as was the case for Z3 ones from China?
No this one is one which has been recommended is matt black. I have searched and the only one colour coded is not the style I wanted
 

bombur

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British Zeds
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Porthcawl, Wales
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Z3 1.9, Z4 E89 2.3
Yeah primer, base coat and then lacquer, rub down and clean between coats, cut and polish to finish. I doubt getting it done professionally is going to cost you much more tbh
I will have an ask around as if its £50 odd then will be worth it
 
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