So basically ive got the same car as Tuffys, Except for mine hasnt been colorcoded, Just wondering what the go with this process is? Costs, and how long it takes.

Thanks guys, As always im sure the great members on here will yet again throw me some keen adive!

1. Sand bits
2. Spray them!

Quite a few people on here have done it themselves (tuffy included I believe?), I'd start with the side strips (and I have started with them... just haven't gotten around to doing the bumpers!), as they aren't as important, and you can go without them for a while if need be.

I actually picked up pre-coded ones from the wreckers for about $10, they weren't the colour I wanted and the paint was nicked in places, but it greatly reduced the prep time, as they alreay had a reasonably smooth surface. This is probably the most major pain about doing colour-coding, is sanding the surface smooth. You could just leave it "bumpy", but it kinda defeats the purpose.

Not sure if you will need a plastic primer or not; I haven't used one yet on any of my sprayed surfaces (eg. console), but that said, they don't have to stand up to the possible flexing etc that bumpers do.

For the side strips, I used one can of black Export paint (the $2 cans) as a base colour, then used one small can of Power Plus(?) pre-mixed paint (stratos grey, which is a metallic charcoal, hence the use of black under it). The black meant I didn't need to spray the metallic as thickly to cover the previous colour.
Then pretty sure I gave it a sand, probably with about 1500 wet-n-dry, just 'cause that was all I had. May have then resprayed and re-sanded, can't remember.
Then hit it with a can of Export clear, used maybe half a can of that. Sand, repeat, then work through grades of sandpaper to try to get a really smooth finish. All depends on how anal you want to be about it.
Then hit it with a hand-polish, ripped off my old side strips, cleaned, and whacked on the new ones (double-sided tape required).

Bumpers are a bit of a pain, 'cause you've got so much area to sand, you need to unbolt them etc., and you can't have 'em off the car for a long period of time to work at your leisure. And getting a spare one to work on simply isn't cost effective.
Hence why I still haven't done mine...

1. Sand bits
2. Spray them!

Quite a few people on here have done it themselves (tuffy included I believe?), I'd start with the side strips (and I have started with them... just haven't gotten around to doing the bumpers!), as they aren't as important, and you can go without them for a while if need be.

I actually picked up pre-coded ones from the wreckers for about $10, they weren't the colour I wanted and the paint was nicked in places, but it greatly reduced the prep time, as they alreay had a reasonably smooth surface. This is probably the most major pain about doing colour-coding, is sanding the surface smooth. You could just leave it "bumpy", but it kinda defeats the purpose.

Not sure if you will need a plastic primer or not; I haven't used one yet on any of my sprayed surfaces (eg. console), but that said, they don't have to stand up to the possible flexing etc that bumpers do.

For the side strips, I used one can of black Export paint (the $2 cans) as a base colour, then used one small can of Power Plus(?) pre-mixed paint (stratos grey, which is a metallic charcoal, hence the use of black under it). The black meant I didn't need to spray the metallic as thickly to cover the previous colour.
Then pretty sure I gave it a sand, probably with about 1500 wet-n-dry, just 'cause that was all I had. May have then resprayed and re-sanded, can't remember.
Then hit it with a can of Export clear, used maybe half a can of that. Sand, repeat, then work through grades of sandpaper to try to get a really smooth finish. All depends on how anal you want to be about it.
Then hit it with a hand-polish, ripped off my old side strips, cleaned, and whacked on the new ones (double-sided tape required).

Bumpers are a bit of a pain, 'cause you've got so much area to sand, you need to unbolt them etc., and you can't have 'em off the car for a long period of time to work at your leisure. And getting a spare one to work on simply isn't cost effective.
Hence why I still haven't done mine...

hey rogue im doing mine in a few weeks, just gonna pick up a set from the wreckers and spray then put on car, how did you get your strips off? just pull them off? also is double sided tape all that effective at putting them back on lol, wouldnt it start to lose stick after getting wet and such?

There's plastic clip things that pop into place, but the auto double-sided tape adds to it, goes around the upper edge and down the ends. You'll see it when you pull the old ones off, which basically involves gently inserting a padded screwdriver / spatula / wide flat utensil, and gently prising out. Get your utensil of choice in there from underneath, slide it sideways until you feel it hit a clip, and prise. Slide again, and repeat. Try not to damage the paint!

ahh ok sounds easy as:)

Just did mine yesterday with matte black, looks great and took about 45 minutes to do, although that was the quick and dirty way, left the bumpers on the car and covered the rest in newspaper. lol

Basically sand them back and spray them over, if you want give it a layer of clear coat once the paint's dried and it's pretty much all set. Paint all up cost me $22 although I went for the Septone spray, more expensive but more durable. Have yet to apply a layer of clear coat, not sure how much that will set me back.

clear coat is about 10 bucks a can, got some left over after doing my grille.

Just done my front bumper, cost me 96 bucks inc clear bumper primer. If you have marone magnas (colour code AC) It takes a few cans, the colour comes seperate to the pearl. So its

1. Clean
2. Primer
3. Bottom Coat
4. Pearl
5. Pearl
6. Clear
7. Clear

and it looks like this:

In your DP the car is colour coded and now after youve painted the bumper it isnt?:nuts:
Did you spray it grey?

haha
no
my DP is photo chop paint:D NOW its real

haha
no
my DP is photo chop paint:D NOW its real

Doesnt look to shabby!!

I did about 3 layers of primer though to make sure it was 100% smooth, I done it the same color (Car is chianti red too) And for under $100 its a real good DIY job.

Although for an extra $180 i could get it done pro.....
Ah well next time

So basically ive got the same car as Tuffys, Except for mine hasnt been colorcoded, Just wondering what the go with this process is? Costs, and how long it takes.

Thanks guys, As always im sure the great members on here will yet again throw me some keen adive!

ive done mine, cost me bout 130 for front and back (using spray packs) but i used more paint than i should have needed... but as someone else said... sanding is crucial!!! Make sure your bumpers are smooth as before you prime them! I made the mistake of only half sanding them and thinking that layers of primer and sanded would smoothen it out! which to touch it felt like it had! But unfortunately when i started putting the pearl down... it wasnt as smooth as id thought, and even after 3 coats of pearl, they didnt have the "even reflection" of the other body panels... for sure, after a few coats of top coat, they were as shiny!! But the reflection was more distorted because of the rougher bumper surface!! my problem with this is, because of the reduced reflection, the bumpers look darker and duller even with the equal shine... and i put this all down to the "noobie learning curb" lol

so ive got same color, same shine but different reflection! still looks ok... but i think i could have done a better job in hindsight! even if you get the bumpers totally smooth, its possible the reflection wont be equal to the factory paint job especially if your using spray packs, but id put money down it'll be alot clearer than mine :cool: good luck mate!