Paint/scratch buffing - looking for experienced vendor

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

I'm looking for a GOOD shop or person to help buff out a few clearcoat scratches in my 540i. I've tried doing similar work myself on other cars and frankly it looks like it takes a good amount of skill and proper compound/tool selection to do it right. I'm just no good at it -- I can take a 9/10 finish to 10/10 using clay, cleansers, and wax, but I've never been able to get an 8/10 finish to 10/10.

Anyone have good experieces with any vendors who could take on some clearcoat scratch repair? I'm not even sure who would do such work, probably a paint shop or a touchup specialist.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Actually I may have just answered my own question. I remember others having good experiences with Colors on Parade - just called them and sounds like they really know what they are doing.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 10:51 am

Mike, I had the front bumper cover on the Mustang repainted by them a few years ago. They did a great job and the paint held up well until Chris Brown kicked up some road debris on the way to Danville one year. The bumper caught it.

I plan on taking the Miata there for a respray sometime.

Good guys to deal with.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 11:45 am

I have a card at work for a guy that does touch up work. He has a mobile unit and comes to you. he does a lot of dealership work on new cars that get scratched in transit. I watched him work and he did an excellent job matching metallic silver on a BMW, a very hard touchup, and even having watched him do it I couldn't find the spot after. I plan to use him to do the Soli.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:00 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Actually I may have just answered my own question. I remember others having good experiences with Colors on Parade - just called them and sounds like they really know what they are doing.

Lloyd is awesome and super easy to work with. Thumbs up for Colors on Parade/Auto paint in a day....

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:06 pm

One thing to keep in mind about COP is I don't think they have their store on Capital Blvd anymore. If I remember right they moved to Zebulon or Sl!ngsh!t China somewhere.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:39 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

One thing to keep in mind about COP is I don't think they have their store on Capital Blvd anymore. If I remember right they moved to Zebulon or Sl!ngsh!t China somewhere.

Awwww, you might actually have to drive out past the beltline....

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 12:46 pm

Not a problem for me, it's actually a little closer. But for Mike, it will be a bit of a haul.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2007 2:04 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

Not a problem for me, it's actually a little closer. But for Mike, it will be a bit of a haul.

I for one will say that I would feel a lot more comfortable leaving a nice car at his new location vs the old one.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

I just got back from there, and I can't speak highly enough of Lloyd and the work he does. He's a true car nut and appears to know everything there is about paint. Had a great time talking with him for 2 hours while he worked some magic on a number of door dings, overspray, and some pretty nasty clearcoat scratches which I didn't think could possibly turn out as well as they did. Plus I got almost 2 hours of nonstop advice about paint care. Paid $200 and I would have given him more if he asked for it. I'll be back.

It was also cool to see his Shelby Charger, old Vette, and the Hemi Cuda replica he's building for some rich dude in England. And his son drives a blue WRX (w/ STi badge) who has been wanting to come out autocrossing.

Two thumbs up, way up.

PS - new location is a 40x60 building behind his house north of Knightdale - address is 5529 Watkins Rd, Wendell, NC 27591-8249, US. Just 4 miles off of I-540.

PPS - Simon, he says hi.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2007 10:58 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

I just got back from there, and I can't speak highly enough of Lloyd and the work he does. He's a true car nut and appears to know everything there is about paint. Had a great time talking with him for 2 hours while he worked some magic on a number of door dings, overspray, and some pretty nasty clearcoat scratches which I didn't think could possibly turn out as well as they did. Plus I got almost 2 hours of nonstop advice about paint care. Paid $200 and I would have given him more if he asked for it. I'll be back.

It was also cool to see his Shelby Charger, old Vette, and the Hemi Cuda replica he's building for some rich dude in England. And his son drives a blue WRX (w/ STi badge) who has been wanting to come out autocrossing.

Two thumbs up, way up.

PS - new location is a 40x60 building behind his house north of Knightdale - address is 5529 Watkins Rd, Wendell, NC 27591-8249, US. Just 4 miles off of I-540.

PPS - Simon, he says hi.

Contact number?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

There used to be a half-dozen 8" scratches here visible from 20' away:

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

So it's been a couple of months Mike. Is that paint work holding up well? You still happy with it?

I need to get the rear bumper sprayed. I also want 2 colors but that shouldn't be a big deal.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Graham Jagger wrote:

So it's been a couple of months Mike. Is that paint work holding up well? You still happy with it?

I need to get the rear bumper sprayed. I also want 2 colors but that shouldn't be a big deal.

Very happy. Didn't do much paint work except the scratch repair which still looks great.

FYI on bumpers, he needs the car to paint a bumper since it needs to be solidly mounted to do the buffing work. Can't do it on a bench. Both bumpers on my 540 are a little messed up and I have considered getting new M5 bumpers. I'd have Lloyd do the paint work.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

MikeWhitney wrote:

Very happy. Didn't do much paint work except the scratch repair which still looks great.

FYI on bumpers, he needs the car to paint a bumper since it needs to be solidly mounted to do the buffing work. Can't do it on a bench. Both bumpers on my 540 are a little messed up and I have considered getting new M5 bumpers. I'd have Lloyd do the paint work.

Good deal. I'll give him a call. I've already replaced the bumper cover. But it is the wrong color silver. I also want the bottom of it painted black. I can leave the car with him. Just have to pull the trailer hitch off since it will be in the way.

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