Rocker cover painting query

[robsy]

Ive got two 325i which i want to paint the rcoker covers in a nice matt black - one was previously painted by the previoous owner and the other is still original but grubby and a rough finish to it and -

my queries are:

Whats the best rthing to use on the already painted one to remove the old paint?

What should i use/do to the original one to prep it before painting?

Which paints would you recommend?

I know these Qs have probably been asked already but i coudnt find the threads whihc answer these specifics

Cheers

[GDBN]

You can remove the old paint with a wire brush attachment in your drill.
Will nedd all traces of oil/grease reoving fisrt .. wipe it down with petrol/spirits.

One of the best paints seems to be by Harley Davidson .. or any high temp paint.

G

[robsy]

Ahh - no problem then - i will give it a go.

Cheers GDBN

[fuzzy]

nitromors and a wire brush to remove the old paint and a high temp paint. some of the special finish spray paints are resistant to high temps. i used cherry red mettalic on mine bought from halfords and that is resistant to 250 degrees. enough for a rocker cover.

[maxfield]

Just stick plenty of thinners on it

[smithy318i]

nitromors for paint removal.

[robsy]

so what do you use the clean/polish the stripes and the BMW logo once its painted?

[GDBN]

You can use a Dremel like tool or just sandpaper with a sanding block.

G

[robsy]

ok cheers - i will give it a go and post up some pics when done....

[DJ_B4L]

my bros about to do this to his rocker cover but hes brought the tin of high temp paint would the finsh come out good or does he need to get the spray can stuff?

[B7]

No Spray it. You'll get a much better finish

I've done loads of these.

1. Use thinners and a wire brush to clean it all off. Petrol is oil based and could caused reaction.
2. Mask off breather outlet and top of oil filler aperture. This will allow the items to seal as designed.
3. With a sanding block and EMERY paper (not wet n dry) sand the stripes and BMW lettering back using various grades until a nice satin smooth finish is achieved. Only go in straight lines along the stripes. Do this now to save grief later!!
4. Spray the whole item with heat resistant paint. With black I try to find a satin finish but Halfords high temp black is good.
5. Once fully dry, Use sanding block and wet n dry with soapy water, again along the stripes in one direction, to cut through the black paint. Start with 400 grade and work up to 1200 grade. Job done.

Heres my current one:



Hope this helps.

[DJ_B4L]

nice thanks for info mate il take the tin back and get the spray can and some thinners

[DasBMWyaaaaa]

that looks great buddy.
Dan

[DJ_B4L]

B7 in your picture did you use the halfords heat resistant spray paint?

i used it on mine will post pics tomorrow i cleaned my whole engine today 3 times with gunk was a bit oily as it was out of the car and getting new gaskets so thought give it a clean

come out very clean and shiny removed the rocker cover and throthle body aswel to be sprayed in heat resistant black will look good as its a 2.7 engine

[B7]

B7 in your picture did you use the halfords heat resistant spray paint?

Yeah thats the one. It's fine for stuff like this.

When I finally swap the heads over, I'll be doing the inlet manifold as well with the lines and the roundel on the top "picked out". this really finishes the bay of a treat but the manifold needs to be off the car to do it.

[bmwe30mtech]

Should you lacquer the rocker cover after spraying it? Just done mine with the halfords VHT paint, and think i should add lacquer?

Cheers

[HairyScreech]

you wont actually need high temp paint, thats intended to brake calipers and discs as well as exhausts and aircooled cylinder block, the rocker cover and inlet never get that hot, think about it, after a run you can still touch the rocker cover with out burning yourself instantly.

[bmwe30mtech]

Inlet doesnt get very hot at all. All the M20's rockers I have touched i have burnt myself on!

Anybody know if laquering (sp) is necessary. Will the polished bits not oxidise otherwise?\

Also, mine doesnt look as black as the one above, more dark grey (used the halfords VHT stuff also). Any advice?

Cheers

[jacko]

I used VHT paint months ago and every time I use the car the paint goes tacky, even months later!

[cliffybabe]

dont paint it polish it

[cliffybabe]

Anybody know if laquering (sp) is necessary. Will the polished bits not oxidise otherwise?\

Paul i aint a great one for laquering polished parts as laquare has a tendency to pop, There is some products that are designed to seal and maintain polishe ditems such as Belgom ALU here's a good link http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/metal-cleaning.html

[gazm3]

I want to do this job on all my E30's.
I might try all three at once!.

Is this straight forward to remove and re-install.
Is it new gaskets everytime you remove the rocker cover?.

All advice welcome.

[beardymat]

i did mine whilst repainting my car and used two pack paint which will easily withstand the temps that the rocker gets up to, after all have you tried using a heat gun to remove paint from your cars body?

did just as B7 suggests and rubbed the stripes and logo down first and in one direction to give a nice effect when finished. laquered mine too just for the record.

[beardymat]

I want to do this job on all my E30's.
I might try all three at once!.

Is this straight forward to remove and re-install.
Is it new gaskets everytime you remove the rocker cover?.

All advice welcome.

easy peasy to remove the m20 ones, not too sure about the s14 though
best to use a new gasket really although i have re-used ones that were recently fitted after adjusting tappets following a head rebuild.

got some spare m20 ones if you want to do one and fit it later, save rushing to get it finished. also saw in another post you want a good dash, got one of those too.

[HenryM3]

I done mine on the S50 with the same paint the car was sprayed with, ie two pack. used wet and dry to get the shiny bits shiny, lacquered it. That was about 5years ago, still looks good, no peeling or problems.

[DanThe]

have you tried using a heat gun to remove paint from your cars body?

I like to use a gas torch and wire brush for that Mat, especially in the hard to get at areas or for getting rid of stonechip/sealer

[jaffro]

thats my efforts

[isTURBO]

No Spray it. You'll get a much better finish

I've done loads of these.

1. Use thinners and a wire brush to clean it all off. Petrol is oil based and could caused reaction.
2. Mask off breather outlet and top of oil filler aperture. This will allow the items to seal as designed.
3. With a sanding block and EMERY paper (not wet n dry) sand the stripes and BMW lettering back using various grades until a nice satin smooth finish is achieved. Only go in straight lines along the stripes. Do this now to save grief later!!
4. Spray the whole item with heat resistant paint. With black I try to find a satin finish but Halfords high temp black is good.
5. Once fully dry, Use sanding block and wet n dry with soapy water, again along the stripes in one direction, to cut through the black paint. Start with 400 grade and work up to 1200 grade. Job done.

Heres my current one:



Hope this helps.

WOW Mate

Thats awsome. Just like a factory finish.

Im definitely going to do my cover when im over with the turbo conversion.

Cliffybabe the polished look, looks great too

[B7]

No Spray it. You'll get a much better finish

I've done loads of these.

1. Use thinners and a wire brush to clean it all off. Petrol is oil based and could caused reaction.
2. Mask off breather outlet and top of oil filler aperture. This will allow the items to seal as designed.
3. With a sanding block and EMERY paper (not wet n dry) sand the stripes and BMW lettering back using various grades until a nice satin smooth finish is achieved. Only go in straight lines along the stripes. Do this now to save grief later!!
4. Spray the whole item with heat resistant paint. With black I try to find a satin finish but Halfords high temp black is good.
5. Once fully dry, Use sanding block and wet n dry with soapy water, again along the stripes in one direction, to cut through the black paint. Start with 400 grade and work up to 1200 grade. Job done.

Heres my current one:



Hope this helps.

WOW Mate

Thats awsome. Just like a factory finish.

:

Thanks. However, I've now stepped away from black with this:

[HairyScreech]

having just finished mine i can say that it does help to get the raised sections flat first, ill post the pics up when iv got some time. iv got another one here i might do if anyone wants one.

[cliffybabe]

trev r u gonna paint the little bits aswell like the throtle cable plate and the bridge betweent he inlet and rocker or r u gonna go with a different colour for them bits??

[B7]

Hi Neil. I did them as original. See below. Chose BMW Titanium to "keep it real" and it is a pretty good match to original. All topped of with a set of 8 e32 chrome domed nuts for the cam cover itself (I bet you follow that one if you ain't already!) and it looks okay.

[micheal]

Think i read in another thread Neil already has chromed nuts for just about every nut under the bonnet