Water Based Paint

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:47 pm

Looking for a respray and its driving me mad.
Got a brilliant red 318is which from original was never lacquered from new. All the local garages are telling me its now got to be water based paint then laquer. Will it look as good? Will it look better than original?
Any good paint shops in the Leicester/Nottingham area?
Please help, The rebuild starts this summer!

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:52 pm

find it hard to believe it was never lacquered, 2k paint is now illegal for some reason (something to do with the bloody enviroment), since you don't have a choice if you want a respray water based is the only way to go, unless you find a specially liscenced body shop who can still use 2k while its still manufactured and in stock!

Water based paints have been standard on new bmw for years now, theres no reason to think you won't get as good a finish as factory.

As for paint shops maxfield is in the area and iirc his dad had a respray so could probably recommend a decent one.

and absolutly no need to add bold tags to your title!!

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:54 pm

I have to agree, I don't think BMW would let it out the factory without lacquer.

The Paint Shack in Mansfield is a top top place!

If you want a number I can dig it out.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:00 pm

Water based paint will be the only paint available in the future, paint manfactures have to stop selling solvent based paints to bodyshops because its bad for the environment.

Water based paints have more depth when applied to a vehicles and does look very good dont worry.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:03 pm

Thanks for that, as you say its an enviroment thing, some garages say you can get the old paint but it may be an issue in the future if I need a touch up. Don't want to loose originality marks, but if the judges say anything I'll just ask for extra marks for environmental consideration!
Just need to decide now if to go for BMW dealer Ã‚£4K+ job or take a chance on good local garage Ã‚£2K, which could save or waste me money.
It is a worry!! wasn't this hard having kids.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:11 pm

Just checked out paint shack website, got the number so I'll get in touch with them. Thanks for that. Nice to get replies so quick. Been watching the forum for months but never posted anything. my problems are all disappearing, I'll be able to sleep again.
Thanks chaps,

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:18 pm

If you speak to someone called Nobby, tell him Dale Maxfield sent you

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:28 pm

maxfield wrote:I have to agree, I don't think BMW would let it out the factory without lacquer.

The Paint Shack in Mansfield is a top top place!

If you want a number I can dig it out.

They would have let it out as 2k paint is direct gloss and as such goes on shiny,hence when you polish a red e30 you get a red cloth,you are polishing the paint rather than clear coat.
Most bodyshops will still have 2k paint,my head office in mansfield does.
However garages that restore/paint old cars will still be able to buy it.
Its stupid that they are banning it since lacquer is solvent based and you put that over the water base........bloody government.

My mate is taking his mk1 golf to be painted tommorrow,in 2k paint on my recommendation,you can tell the difference so if you want a car to look authentic you need to use a period paint and colour.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:28 pm

the reason behind water based paint is the one element in it that allows it to be dried by the use of ultra violet lights and within half an hour the paint is then dry which is dam good and means you get your car back quicker

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:29 pm

blitz877 wrote:the reason behind water based paint is the one element in it that allows it to be dried by the use of ultra violet lights and within half an hour the paint is then dry which is dam good and means you get your car back quicker

It takes far longer with water base paint cheif,even in a hot booth.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:30 pm

brilliant red was a solid colour when new so was not laquered. it is still possible to buy solid colour two pack paint from people who have it in stock as despite what was said at the end of last year they have decided to let people sell what they have left.

water based paint has to be laquered for obvious reasons (would be cool at car wash time, red going in delorean style coming out,lol) and is now a really good product. im looking forward to the end of the month when we finally get our water base scheme in.

dont forget when making your decision about where to take it that it all comes down to the person applying the paint and not where he works. people move around and bmw painters dont come with an emblem on their butt cheeks

.

go on recomendations and dont think for a minute if you pay twice as much you will get a job back twice as good

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:32 pm

so you have no problem with water based mat? What about shueys comments on not looking correct?

Think the desicion on letting stores sell what they have left was based on the compensation that would have to be paid due to the large stocks!

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:36 pm

Ah I didn't realize it was a solid colour.

Paintshack does restore old cars. Seen some nice cars go through there.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:39 pm

havnt had any more problems than with normal two pack, i think shuey has a point in that if you paint bits of the car in water base you might notice a difference in it but since he wants a full repaint it might be a good idea to do it in water base as it will be all thats available for any future bits that may need doing.

i painted mine in solvent base without thinking about it much and am now wishing i had done it in water for that very reason. im going to get a few litres of solvent in whilst i can to save for the innevitable stone chips.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:46 pm

beardymat wrote: i painted mine in solvent base without thinking about it much and am now wishing i had done it in water for that very reason. im going to get a few litres of solvent in whilst i can to save for the innevitable stone chips.

I did the same,I have spare solvent paint for both cars!

If you did yours with solvent base/lacquer you should be fine doing smaller repairs/blow ins..........

What waterbase scheme are you getting btw? I have used 4 different ones recently,with notable differences!

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:12 pm

This is all really useful and thanks to you all for your comments. I reckon its going to have to be water based so as to eliminate problems in the future, I'll never sell it so I don't want to have problems with materials in the future. However I'm goin to be well P****D if it don't look as good as original. I'm not going to be able to sleep again, I just know it. Wherever it goes to be painted I'll want to see a base colour car they have done with water based. its a dilemmer that will affect us all at some point I'm sure. Apparently car manufacturers have been using water based for a few years now and I can't say cars don't look as good as they used to.

Post Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:21 pm

schuey wrote: What waterbase scheme are you getting btw? I have used 4 different ones recently,with notable differences!

not 100% sure to be honest, i left the rep to sort it with our painter as i dont paint so cant really make an informed decision, think its a sikkens one. which ones have you used and which do you rate best/worst

Post Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:26 am

I currently use Spies-hecker something to do with our merc approval and its quite good. I was using Standox and PPG at my last place,the Standox set up is ace,the colours are always spot on,the ppg left a bit to be desired though,blacks look green until they dry with that so you dont know how it will come out till you put it on!!!
I also used a Lechler scheme,which was my first set up-total rubbish,the colours,esp silvers/golds/blues were always miles off in any shade