Okay, I have a Saphire blue (5A) S4 TII. I am getting a budget paint job (respray stock color) from a cousin of a friend for a super cheap $250 (thats including prep work, body filler where needed, materials, and labor). In 2 weeks. I have several questions.

1) He said he will not paint the rub strips as they take a different kind of paint, and mine are effed up from a mother trying to be kind by helping to wax the car. The pitted surface and now it is white, and waxy. Is it safe to sand these? If not, is there a cheap, rattle can like way to paint them matte black?

2) What type of duplicolor rattle can will stick best to wiper arms, after sanding, as well as the below-window trim?

3) I was thinking that if I ever got W-I-D-E rubber in the future, I'd roll my fenders, but since I'm getting new paint soon, would it be safer to roll them now on what is going to be painted over in case the paint, chips/ scratches? Any method to doing so with an aluminum bat wrapped in duct tape? (Do I stretch the entire fender to be wider, or use the bat to tuck in the creased edge of the inner fender?)

4) I want to cut out that criss cross area in front of the rediator. Any tips to help it go smoothly?

Thanks

 

If he won't do it, then strip all the s4 mouldings and find some s5 mouldings. S4 moulding is cheap and ugly anyway.

 

I have 2 weeks to find some for free. I'm still $70 short of getting to the $250........... Anyone want to donate (S5 trim)?

 

please tell the person doing the body and paint work that the car has been waxed often. this will affect the whole process.

 

It'll only effect the process if they don't do it properly.

Any car, without knowing its history, should be washed, and de-waxed before doing ANY body work whatsoever. Even if its never been waxed.

Also, the rub strips won't require any different type of paint. They'll require priming same as the rest of the body. They're non-TPO based so they don't even require adhesion promoter. Clean, sand, prime, prep, paint.

I would roll the lips now if you're seriously considering it. Although rolling *can* (ie. once every thirty times) be done with NO damage to the paint whatsoever, its so few and far between that IMHO it can't quantifiably be said that you can do it without damage. Do it now and its done, painted and sealed.

Any enamel based spray balm will do well adhering to the belt mouldings and wiper arms (once they've both been prepped), it won't however stand up the greatest to being exposed to UV and washed frequently.

 

That helps a lot! Thank you.

 

the strips down the side just need to be rubbed down in 800 sand paper (not the course, smooth)then cleaned and then painted. thats all there is to it.As for your wipers, sand them down also and then apply matt(flat) black slowly but evenly ,you will achieve a nice factory clean look.

 

The mouldings can be painted with May-Hyde bumper black spray paint. Its semi gloss and flexible