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Thread: Removing Gray from Sideskirts

  1. #1
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    Removing Gray from Sideskirts

    I got a write-up request on how to remove the stock gray from an e36 non-m sideskirt. Well, its probably been beat to death by now, but I decided I might as well keep beating it.

    DISCLAIMER: Lacquer Thinner is designed to remove paint, so try not to get it on your clearcoat but if you do, use a wet rag and wipe it off IMMEDIATELY. Oh yeah, and im not liable if you screw up your car blah blah blah. Ive heard rumors that some e36s dont have factory paint underneath the gray, so try a tiny section first. USE MY METHOD AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

    There is only one thing that I bought (if you think something else will work better, by all means be my guest, but this worked for me and im assuming it will work for everyone.)

    -1 can High Strength Lacquer thinner (available at any local hardware store)
    -Dirty Rags (like 3 or four of em-preferrably rough rags because they seemed to be more abraisive).
    -Lots of Time (about 3-4 hours)
    -Lots of Elbow Grease.

    Step 1: It is much easier to start with a clean car, plus its always going to look better when its done. So wash your bimmer.

    Step 2: Get some rags and open the lacquer thinner. Once open place the rag over the bottle and tip it over to get some thinner on the rag, dont use TOO much, but dont use none either, youll know what I mean. More makes it easier, but just dont bathe your sideskirts in it.

    Step 3: Rub the lacquer thinner damped rag roughly (as if you were waxing your car, but apply MUCH more pressure) on the sideskirts, making sure that you try a small area first to ensure your factory matched paint underneath.

    Step 4: Youll start seeing paint appear underneath, so just keep going till all the gray is gone, on both sideskirts. The front bumper and rear bumper dont have paint underneath so dont bother. This is what it will look like as the gray starts to disappear
    <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c117/tuffruxury/DSCF0704.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

    Step 5: Wash and Wax over the newly body matched paint, Stand Back and enjoy your work because your bimmer looks much better than it did before.
    Some Finished Pics:

    <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c117/tuffruxury/DSCF0703.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
    <img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c117/tuffruxury/DSCF0710.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
    Oh yeah, and you can paint the circles where the jack points are too, but i said, maybe another day.
    Last edited by Tuff Guy; 12-23-2005 at 02:47 AM.

  2. #2
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    i just painted over the grey side skirts/rocker panels because i had to buy paint for the bumpers anyway....saved my arm alot of work haha

    looks good.

  3. #3
    Mitch's Avatar
    Mitch is offline for science, you monster Secret Santa Deadbeat
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    Quote Originally Posted by peaches
    i just painted over the grey side skirts/rocker panels because i had to buy paint for the bumpers anyway....saved my arm alot of work haha

    looks good.
    I had this done too. Unfortunately it won't last.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mitch
    I had this done too. Unfortunately it won't last.
    +1

    yeah its best to remove the gray coating then spray it. plus you ll look like a body builder after your done .
    E36--> >> >>> >>

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by jiggynites
    +1

    yeah its best to remove the gray coating then spray it. plus you ll look like a body builder after your done .
    werd.

  6. #6
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    Thanks tuffruxory. Glad we had that convo and you told me about this and then did the write up. Looking forward to the pics to see how it comes out. I wish the side skirts were removable so I could take them off and work on them in my warm basement cuz its freezing out. Oh well. Thanks again and make sure some pics get up.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by jiggynites
    plus you ll look like a body builder after your done .


    HAHA

    id rather just pay the kid next door $5 to do it

    crack open a beer and watch him

    "harder!"
    "missed a spot!"

  8. #8
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    ...well, good write up.
    -painted mine and havent had a problem since.
    RLTW

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by peaches
    HAHA

    id rather just pay the kid next door $5 to do it

    crack open a beer and watch him

    "harder!"
    "missed a spot!"

    good idea. im kind of a far way from the mexican border tho

  10. #10
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    Wow that looks so much better. Too bad that wont work on the bumpers. How much have people paid for their bumpers to be colored matched?

  11. #11
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    ^I dont know how much it costs for the bumpers to be matched but once i get my rieger lip ill let you know should be between 2-300 bucks

  12. #12
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    www.paintscratch.com

    factory color matched paint

    around $30 a can....5 cans and i did the front bumper, rear bumper, and both rocker panels.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by peaches
    www.paintscratch.com

    factory color matched paint

    around $30 a can....5 cans and i did the front bumper, rear bumper, and both rocker panels.
    did you just spray the greay side skirts on the front/rear bumpers or did you sand/prime em first???

    can you just spray them?

  14. #14
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    I am also wondering about the paintscratch.com...do you have any pictures of your finished work + how do you find out your factory color code? I have schwarz II...

  15. #15
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    Looks great!!! But you miss a spot.You forgot in the wheel well.

  16. #16
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    does anyone know if 92's had the factory paint underneath?
    Single Post in a Thread Full of Doubles.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by //m328is
    Looks great!!! But you miss a spot.You forgot in the wheel well.


    Seriously though, our cars look so much better without that ugly grey. I don't know what BMW was thinking lol. Fortunately my car came without that stuff, but I recently got a replacement left fender, and there's a very light grey coating on it.
    H&R sports|Koni SA's|DSII's/ 8.5's|K&N drop in|Axxis Ultimate Pads|Xbrace|Da'lan hitch
    Camber Correction DIY Now parting 325is. Need e36 parts? PM me Or email me

  18. #18
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    i think we should ban members with grey bumbers\fenders.

    they bring the quality of the forum down.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by //m328is
    Looks great!!! But you miss a spot.You forgot in the wheel well.
    Actually, I would reccomend AGAINST doing the inside of the wheel well skirt. I did mine and it started rusting since there was little protection anymore and all the crap from the wheels were shooting onto it.

    Dan
    Dan

  20. #20
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    put some clear nail polish on the spot that had grey on it.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nomad316
    i think we should ban members with grey bumbers\fenders.

    they bring the quality of the forum down.
    haha so true, but cruel to so many. i think it separates your car from being novelty.
    do i got stacks of lucci? absolutely. - Big L

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