The Random E46/ZHP Question Thread

[BMWCurves]

So I finished up my brakes and rotors, but had been planning to paint my calipers. However, brake cleaner and a wire brush hasn't really been able to clean off all the baked in dirt and grime on the calipers, despite several attempts. How clean do the calipers have to be in order to paint them and have the paint last?

[BCS_ZHP]

Before painting calipers, I spent about 5 mins on each caliper - 1 min of spraying with Brake-Kleen and 3 mins with a wire brush followed by a min blowing them off with air. After that, the paint sticks fine. Apply multiple thin coats of paint, 5-6 coats spaced 20-30 mins apart should be fine. When it shines after drying, you're fine, it'll last for years.

[BMWCurves]

Before painting calipers, I spent about 5 mins on each caliper - 1 min of spraying with Brake-Kleen and 3 mins with a wire brush followed by a min blowing them off with air. After that, the paint sticks fine. Apply multiple thin coats of paint, 5-6 coats spaced 20-30 mins apart should be fine. When it shines after drying, you're fine, it'll last for years.

Great, thank you! I think I'll attempt to paint them tomorrow after I try and clean the calipers a little more.

[NickZHP]

Is it possible to remove the bumper mesh from an mtechII without removing the whole bumper.

[Vas]

Is it possible to remove the bumper mesh from an mtechII without removing the whole bumper.

No

[BMWCurves]

Is it possible to remove the bumper mesh from an mtechII without removing the whole bumper.

Some claim it is. See posts 13, 15, 22, and 25: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...le-rehab/page2

I plan to paint my lower grille today while my car is up on jack stands. I'm just going to tape off the bumper and put some newspaper behind the mesh grille before spray painting with some semi-gloss paint.

[wsmeyer]

It takes less time to remove the bumper than to mask it off

[BMWCurves]

It takes less time to remove the bumper than to mask it off

Really? Looking at ecrabb's coupe bumper removal DIY (link), it seems a lot more involved than just taping off the bumper, removing the plastic skid plate, and stuffing some newspaper behind the grille before painting.

[hcbeck2689]

I'm just going to buy a new lower grill for how cheap they are. I'll spray it with a gloss black before install to help preserve it


-Holden

[ELCID86]

Some claim it is. See posts 13, 15, 22, and 25: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...le-rehab/page2

I plan to paint my lower grille today while my car is up on jack stands. I'm just going to tape off the bumper and put some newspaper behind the mesh grille before spray painting with some semi-gloss paint.

Should work. Mine was recently painted and is already chipping.


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