Getting the paint back to good condition

[GlenM5]

I have a black sapphire metallic M5 and looking at repairing or doing the following work. Any comments on the sequence and what I am getting done.

Current status: There is a clear half bra fitted to the front of the car. It has seams that show. Probably 5 years old as it would have been installed when new by the first owner.
I have one of the sto-n-sho front plate holders now. The holes for the front license plate are still in the original bumper and other small chips in the bumper, unsure if they are just damage to the clear bra or more.
There are a couple of minor scratches on the body paint.
The paint is showing signs of swirl. It is not bad, but visible.
The rear bumper has got some fine cracks in it.

My plan is to rectify the above by going down the following path.

Remove the clear half bra.
Have the front and rear bumper repaired in a body shop. They will do some plastic welding to repair and then a full spray paint of each of them.
I have also purchased some RKP carbon fibre splitters from eBay. I will get them painted and installed by the body shop. I will have them installed using the tape so that they can be removed later on.
Have the body shop do touch up only on the couple of minor scratches on the body.
Take the car to a detailing ship for a paint correction to take out the swirl marks. Apparently about 2 days work.
Apply a clear coat over the whole car at the detailing shop.
Apply a clear wrap to the front bumper and fender surround. But not half way up the bonnet. Apply a clear wrap around the wheel arches.

The car only gets used a couple of times a week as I ride my bike to work as a general rule. I am pretty good with cleaning it once per week and waxing it every 6 to 8 weeks. I have found a source of the chemical guys cleaning stuff here.

I am not really after a perfect car for showing, but I would like to get the car back to good condition and then maintain that.

Any comments on the plan and the sequence of the work?

First time I have had a good enough car to worry about going down this path so any advice or comments appreciated.

Thanks

Glen

[mrtt]

what do you need comments on? seems like you have everything planned out.

i would add few rivets to splitters since I don't trust double sided tape to hold for high speed and steep curbs/driveways

[GlenM5]

I was checking to see if there were any steps I was maybe missing. Or to see if i should be looking at some alternatives.

Thanks

Glen

[M5theonlyone]

You've got it covered to a tee, just wondering if any of those chemical guy applications are available in GB.

[GlenM5]

Try here https://www.chemicalguysuk.co.uk

Cheers

[technician117]

I agree, nice plan! I think of all the things you plan to do, the one that requires the most thought is what you will do with the paint after correction. Personally I'd put a clear bra back on the front half of the car if you're going to drive it more. If not, then it might not be worth the money to put anything up there at all. For the rest of the car, you can use a paint sealant, ceramic coating or the old standby - quality wax. None of them are a perfect solution and none last forever. I would research a little bit what the differences are in paint "sealers/coatings" and then make your own decision.

For me, I drive a crap load of miles so I went with a clear bra on the front half and then nice quality wax on the rest because like you, I clean and detail my vehicles regularly (by hand at home, not carwashes)

[GlenM5]

thanks technician117. i will do some more thinking on the wrap versus coating versus wax.

The car goes to the paint shop tomorrow for the following work.

The drill holes for the number plate will be repaired.


Then the new splitters will be properly painted and fitted to the bumper. I have just placed the splitter in position for the photo.

In addition the small cracks in the rear bumper will be repaired. I couldn't get a photo to show the cracks, just showed a reflection.

I will show some after photos.

I have spoken to the detailer and he has suggested I will need to wait a period of time after the above work before doing a paint correction to allow this new paint to cure. So i will check with the body shop about how long this should take.

Thanks

[GlenM5]

Got the car back from the painters on Friday. I am happy with the result. The front and rear bumpers repaired. And the main thing is the front splitters painted and installed.

[schrickm5]

Originally Posted by GlenM5

I have a black sapphire metallic M5 and looking at repairing or doing the following work. Any comments on the sequence and what I am getting done.

Current status: There is a clear half bra fitted to the front of the car. It has seams that show. Probably 5 years old as it would have been installed when new by the first owner.
I have one of the sto-n-sho front plate holders now. The holes for the front license plate are still in the original bumper and other small chips in the bumper, unsure if they are just damage to the clear bra or more.
There are a couple of minor scratches on the body paint.
The paint is showing signs of swirl. It is not bad, but visible.
The rear bumper has got some fine cracks in it.

My plan is to rectify the above by going down the following path.

Are you allowed to use a "sticker" registration plate? We can use them in Scandinavia.....

Remove the clear half bra.
Have the front and rear bumper repaired in a body shop. They will do some plastic welding to repair and then a full spray paint of each of them.
I have also purchased some RKP carbon fibre splitters from eBay. I will get them painted and installed by the body shop. I will have them installed using the tape so that they can be removed later on.
Have the body shop do touch up only on the couple of minor scratches on the body.
Take the car to a detailing ship for a paint correction to take out the swirl marks. Apparently about 2 days work.
Apply a clear coat over the whole car at the detailing shop.
Apply a clear wrap to the front bumper and fender surround. But not half way up the bonnet. Apply a clear wrap around the wheel arches.

The car only gets used a couple of times a week as I ride my bike to work as a general rule. I am pretty good with cleaning it once per week and waxing it every 6 to 8 weeks. I have found a source of the chemical guys cleaning stuff here.

I am not really after a perfect car for showing, but I would like to get the car back to good condition and then maintain that.

Any comments on the plan and the sequence of the work?

First time I have had a good enough car to worry about going down this path so any advice or comments appreciated.

Thanks

Glen

Are you allowed to use a "sticker" registration plate? We can use them in Scandinavia.......

[GlenM5]

Originally Posted by schrickm5

Are you allowed to use a "sticker" registration plate? We can use them in Scandinavia.......

I have never seen this before so I don't believe you can. But it would be a great option. I would go for it for sure.

Thanks

Glen

[94jedi]

sounds like you have it all planned out; I like the touch of having the splitters painted to match the car.

[schrickm5]

Must say that does look good when colour coded to the car.....