Plasti-dipping a car..

[matthias73]

Hey chaps. Not quite sure what response I'm going to get here but flame suit on regardless..

I have an e39 520i. It's quite nice, especially the interior which cleaned up real nice. The car itself only cost me 650 quid, and it's going in for a service and a few preventative maintenance bits later this week. I expect around 200 quid.

Given that I'm now spending money on it, I'd quite like the exterior to look good again. The paintwork is quite faded and scratched and generally isn't where I'd like it. As I'm planning on keeping this car for a year and then considering my options, (I'll have a lot more cash for a start) I've been thinking of temporary ways of making this car look nice.

My research seemed to suggest that plasti dipping is a good option. Seems to be reasonably cheap and can be removed without much hassle if you want to go back. I quite fancy a matt colour as it is, or something ridiculous. Don't care, as long as it spices the car up a bit.

Does anyone have any experience of the stuff, either having someone else do it for them or trying it themselves? All the advice on the internet seems to apply to America-The UK based online shops look like a child invented them during IT class and don't actually exist.

[divetheworld]

I bought some after looking at it like you did. Youtube vids make it look good. Now I'm no retard when it comes to stuff like this but what a pigs ear it looked. I think you've got to have a lot of practice to get it right, it'll cost you a bit in tins that you end up peeling off before you get it right. Chances are, the remainder ends up on the back of the shelf and ignored.

Get a machine polish by someone who knows what they are doing, much better results I reckon.

[carinaman]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Matt UK]

Personally, I'd just hoover, wash, wax, polish and keep the oily bits heathly.

[matthias73]

1500 quid for that Scooby? They saw him coming :|

Leaning much towards a machine polish now. I'm happy to buy a proper spray gun and the paint myself, I'm quite good at that sort of stuff, but I can well imagine that trying to spray a car outside in England is just going to end in tears!

[carinaman]

Do any of these places that rent out garages and 4 post lifts rent out spray booths?

[matthias73]

You see, according to the dipyourcar guy, you can achieve this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGdjWLan6hc

I suspect it will end up looking more like a council estate project which is why I'm holding fire right now.

[B17NNS]

Buy yourself a Meguiars G220, some polishes and pads.

A few hours on Detailing World and a bit of practice and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.

[LukeDM]

It will not come off easily once its been on there for a few weeks! I would use some decent quality vinyl wrap and DIY, you pick from hundreds of colours in matt, gloss, metallic etc..

[tbc]

It just doesn't do it for me

i'd much rather get a good polishing kit.

Don't be a Dip-stick (see what i did)