[Volasko]

In a few months I would like to replace my slightly damaged 2006 E90 330i front bumper with a M3 Rep. My car is Black Sapphire in color and I am under the impression that it is an "upgraded" metallic paint color. Would it be difficult to have a cheap private shop paint match it? By more difficult I mean more $$?

Anyone have this same issue and have some helpful advice?

[M340i Pride]

i am not an expert in this but it is not too difficult to find a matching paint. I am just not sure how expensive it will be for a whole bumper...

[N55]

When someone backed up into my front bumper, I replaced it with a performance bumper and I recall it costing about $250 to paint Jet Black so I would say a little more for metallic. It was also done in a heat bake booth also. Oh and it was a certified BMW body shop.

[hipnotic]

it is hard to match metallic paint perfectly

[E90jonno]

Getting my hood and drivers door matched in the same colour for £220 not bad but its a friends body shop

[John 070]

Originally Posted by josh06lau

it is hard to match metallic paint perfectly

I think that sometimes people expect body work to equal the factory, and imho that's just not the case. Not only do body shops cut corners (it's not their car and they're in business to make $$$), but they simply are not the factory. How often have we seen brand new cars, like a 5 with the new body style, and then in the sunlight when the car is clean, you see the texture of two doors doesn't match the rest of the car, yet the paint is exactly the same color?

[Taipei-TT]

The corner of by trunk cover was scratched by a closing door. My car is Black Sapphire Metallic. The paintwork is absolutely invisible. Unbelievably perfect. However, my car was manufactured in June, and this happened at the end of August, so extremely new paint without any fading yet.
In addition, Taiwan body shops are absolutely godlike at dealing with the bumps and scrapes that inevitably happen when you need to park 5cm away from other cars.

So it can be done!

[bkrM3]

Originally Posted by John 070

I think that sometimes people expect body work to equal the factory, and imho that's just not the case. Not only do body shops cut corners (it's not their car and they're in business to make $$$), but they simply are not the factory. How often have we seen brand new cars, like a 5 with the new body style, and then in the sunlight when the car is clean, you see the texture of two doors doesn't match the rest of the car, yet the paint is exactly the same color?

You've never been to a good body shop. My family owns one and frequently makes "the factory" look stupid. You should see the orange peel on a lot of "factory" paint. Guh-ross. Good body work is invisible, period.

Also, I actually own a BSM car and have added parts (aero lip, m3 trunk spoiler, etc) and have had some minor things fixed. My father tells me there are 3 minor variants of BSM (although I can't put my finger on the source for that), and he was able to find the dead-nuts match for mine. Seriously exactly identical.

The take-away: find a good body shop, pay them what they ask. BSM won't be any more expensive (except maybe incrementally more expensive to mix the paint...but even that I dont know for sure) than any other color.

Good luck

[Volasko]

Originally Posted by josh06lau

it is hard to match metallic paint perfectly

This is what I was worried about. I would think there are more steps involved than just finding the right paint and spraying it on. I think there is a light coat of a sparkling paint that would be hard to match to factory.

I just really think the stock E90 front bumper is the weak point looks wise of the whole car so I really want to make this work.

Aside: I have a CPO warranty for another 1.5 years so do you think I should wait just to avoid any issues trying to claim items? I could see them bitching about lack of air flow to various engine items because it is not stock.

[bkrM3]

Originally Posted by Volasko

This is what I was worried about. I would think there are more steps involved than just finding the right paint and spraying it on. I think there is a light coat of a sparkling paint that would be hard to match to factory.

I just really think the stock E90 front bumper is the weak point looks wise of the whole car so I really want to make this work.

Aside: I have a CPO warranty for another 1.5 years so do you think I should wait just to avoid any issues trying to claim items? I could see them bitching about lack of air flow to various engine items because it is not stock.

Did you skip over the two posts saying we've had our BSM matched exactly?

No one is going to say your m3 rep bumper has interfered with anything other than...the bumper itself. If they do, you need a new dealer.

[MusclezMarinara]

Have the new bumper painted you shouldnt notice a difference if its done professionally.

Of course they should blend other items into it but if not no worries shouldnt be an issue.

[GRLPWR]

2 days after purchasing my BSM, I got hit and it left a pretty good abrasion on the right side of the bumper and got the quarter panel just enough that it had to be painted too. The shop I go to (who knows how anal I am about my cars) matched it just right - and they had to repaint the whole bumper and 1/4 panel all the way up and over the doors to the front panel. At first, I complained about the orange peel effect and he went back and buffed it out. Then, I realized the factory paint had the orange peel effect anyway!

So, yes, BSM can be matched to near perfect (or better). Just gotta find a good shop. It would be great to have a tube of touch-up paint; guess I should've asked.

[Volasko]

Originally Posted by bkr335

Did you skip over the two posts saying we've had our BSM matched exactly?

Heh you sneaked in your comment right after I started writting up my last comment!

Anyways your comment was exactly what I was looking for: A person with the exact same paint color who had 1st time experience respraying an after market part. THANK YOU!

What's the going rate for a respectable front bumper paintjob?

[bkrM3]

Originally Posted by Volasko

What's the going rate for a respectable front bumper paintjob?

No problem!

Hahaha on that question I have no idea. Since it's our shop, I get charged $Free.99

[bkrM3]

Originally Posted by GRLPWR

2 days after purchasing my BSM, I got hit and it left a pretty good abrasion on the right side of the bumper and got the quarter panel just enough that it had to be painted too. The shop I go to (who knows how anal I am about my cars) matched it just right - and they had to repaint the whole bumper and 1/4 panel all the way up and over the doors to the front panel. At first, I complained about the orange peel effect and he went back and buffed it out. Then, I realized the factory paint had the orange peel effect anyway!

So, yes, BSM can be matched to near perfect (or better). Just gotta find a good shop. It would be great to have a tube of touch-up paint; guess I should've asked.

Btw...mine got backed into while parked 2 months after I got it.

THEN..two months later...my BOSS (no joke) ran into it while parked. I was standing right beside it.

BSM = bad luck?

knock on wood btw...it's been incident-free since then

[StatenEye]

Easy match for any body shop. 300 for the bumper. The guy in my sig paints all my parts.

[arctic330i]

I had my shop paint mine arctic metallic. A weird color but they got it spot on

[TheStigsTwin]

I had the Carbon Black paint on my E46 M3 and had to have a quarter panel fixed when my wife backed into it. (arrrrggg). the local shop was able to match the paints perfectly. As long as they are meticulous and capable, it should not be an issue. It's not the exact same paint but it was a pretty complex color.

[M340i Pride]

Originally Posted by Taipei-TT

The corner of by trunk cover was scratched by a closing door. My car is Black Sapphire Metallic. The paintwork is absolutely invisible. Unbelievably perfect. However, my car was manufactured in June, and this happened at the end of August, so extremely new paint without any fading yet.
In addition, Taiwan body shops are absolutely godlike at dealing with the bumps and scrapes that inevitably happen when you need to park 5cm away from other cars.

So it can be done!

I believe ya! its different in america though... local bodyshops do not provide (usually) such effort in their services... like someone said, they are more into making $$$

[SV Concepts III]

It's not difficult but have the shop match it to the fender or even given them your gas cap to match. Your car's paint will fade over time so it is best to have it matched to the vehicle.

[Volasko]

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

It's not difficult but have the shop match it to the fender or even given them your gas cap to match. Your car's paint will fade over time so it is best to have it matched to the vehicle.

Are you recomending the try and match from the current actual paint or from the paint codes from the gas caps.

[1bad335]

Originally Posted by Volasko

Are you recomending the try and match from the current actual paint or from the paint codes from the gas caps.

I think he's telling you to match it off the gas door. Color codes are fine when the car is new but once the car is exposed to sun the paint does lose some pigment. Best to have a reputable body shop with a good color matching set up paint any parts or acc. damage you may have.