Touch up Paint

embrax9 · 01-09-2021, 06:25 PM

Hey everyone,

Wondering where everyone goes to get their touch up paints? Would you go for OEM touch up paint or is there a third party that people use that sells the same paint color for a cheaper price? I need Carbon Black 416. Seeing OEM on eBay.

Parked on the street and got hit by someone parking into my front bumper overnight... already got my new M license plate bent...

BMWZ4 · 01-09-2021, 07:05 PM

I've always picked up my touch up kits here

https://touchupdirect.com/touch-up-p...hoCJOoQAvD_BwE

...but no doubt you'll get several suggestions of which is best...

AlmondJayRoM3 · 01-09-2021, 08:55 PM

Tried BMW touch up paint for my mineral white X3 and paint match was not even close. Could have been a bad batch but did not care for it. I ended up using a kit from https://colorndrive.com. Very close match but I’m not looking for 100% with metallics anyway. Bonus is that it comes with a solvent based leveler that’s very similar to Langka Blob Eliminator.

Also had success with https://www.paintscratch.com for my Sakhir Orange M3.

Alias1431 · 01-10-2021, 03:01 AM

Doesn't BMW sell touch-up paint?

claykin · 01-10-2021, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlmondJayRoM3

Tried BMW touch up paint for my mineral white X3 and paint match was not even close. Could have been a bad batch but did not care for it. I ended up using a kit from https://colorndrive.com. Very close match but I’m not looking for 100% with metallics anyway. Bonus is that it comes with a solvent based leveler that’s very similar to Langka Blob Eliminator.

Also had success with https://www.paintscratch.com for my Sakhir Orange M3.

Mineral white is a tri coat paint. Will be a tough color to touch up and get a good match. Happy you found something to get you close.

Have you ever tried Dr. Colorchip?

AstroDude11 · 01-10-2021, 01:04 PM

No complaints with the OEM paint from the parts department at my local dealership.

BMWZ4 · 01-10-2021, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias1431

Doesn't BMW sell touch-up paint?

Yes, but I've found over the years that, for whatever reason, their color matching is way off. I started getting my touch up paints elsewhere about ~5 years ago

JJ 911SC · 01-10-2021, 05:42 PM

Just got my kit from scratcheshappen.com Hopefully I'll never have tu use it.

scratcheshappen.com

AlmondJayRoM3 · 01-10-2021, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claykin

Mineral white is a tri coat paint. Will be a tough color to touch up and get a good match. Happy you found something to get you close.

Have you ever tried Dr. Colorchip?

Haven’t used it but I’ve heard good things of it.

rob175 · 01-11-2021, 08:53 AM

As a commercial artist my best advice is to only touch up the smallest of chips or stone nicks yourself. Any larger areas should be done by a pro, possibly using an airbrush. Having said that, and it's an area you want to tackle yourself my best advice would be to go to a hobby store and buy a VERY tiny brush. Don't bother using any of the brushes that come in kits since they are usually too big. A brush that has the smallest number of bristles, literally a tiny micro brush. Ideally you want the bristles to slide into the cut, chip, or groove. Remember less is more and smaller is better!

Some colors are always easier than others. Metallics are sometimes tough, solid white is the easiest.......but go slow and give it a shot.

embrax9 · 01-11-2021, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob175

As a commercial artist my best advice is to only touch up the smallest of chips or stone nicks yourself. Any larger areas should be done by a pro, possibly using an airbrush. Having said that, and it's an area you want to tackle yourself my best advice would be to go to a hobby store and buy a VERY tiny brush. Don't bother using any of the brushes that come in kits since they are usually too big. A brush that has the smallest number of bristles, literally a tiny micro brush. Ideally you want the bristles to slide into the cut, chip, or groove. Remember less is more and smaller is better!

Some colors are always easier than others. Metallics are sometimes tough, solid white is the easiest.......but go slow and give it a shot.

Luckily, small damage for the chips. Couple of areas kind of need to get buffed out. Which I am not comfortable on doing by myself. Also, a bit of damage done behind the license plate bracket.

I'll take your advice on using a small brush to fix up the chips i got. Thanks!

rob175 · 01-11-2021, 01:21 PM

yep.....and don't "overwork" the area with paint......one stroke or lite touch in the spot and leave it alone. Those who continue to work the area often make it look worse.

good luck

OtherBusiness · 01-12-2021, 03:22 AM

I use the end of a toothpick too - dip it in the paint and apply to the stone chip - build up several layers over time to fill it with paint.

daniel11030 · 01-12-2021, 10:33 AM

My hood got a few stone chips recently, I ordered OEM touch-up paint and is planning to give it a try. I don't have a garage and is roughly 32F outside. I am wondering if it is ok to use it. Is the temperature only affecting the drying time of the paint? I'm afraid they'll get rusted if I leave them until the temperature gets back to 72F. TIA

Alias1431 · 01-12-2021, 01:57 PM

Can you/should you buy a little bottle of clear coat to top any touch ups?

BMWZ4 · 01-12-2021, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias1431

Can you/should you buy a little bottle of clear coat to top any touch ups?

That's what I do as well, apply a little clear coat afterward. The OEM paint comes with a bottle of CC as did my order from touch-up direct

rob175 · 01-12-2021, 05:05 PM

I would not recommend doing any touch up paint work in temps less than 55F degrees.

01-09-2021, 06:25 PM	#1
embrax9 Enlisted Member 10 Rep 32 Posts Drives: Kia Stinger / '21 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Touch up Paint Hey everyone, Wondering where everyone goes to get their touch up paints? Would you go for OEM touch up paint or is there a third party that people use that sells the same paint color for a cheaper price? I need Carbon Black 416. Seeing OEM on eBay. Parked on the street and got hit by someone parking into my front bumper overnight... already got my new M license plate bent...
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01-09-2021, 07:05 PM	#2
BMWZ4 Major General 1914 Rep 5,115 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	I've always picked up my touch up kits here https://touchupdirect.com/touch-up-p...hoCJOoQAvD_BwE ...but no doubt you'll get several suggestions of which is best... __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
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01-09-2021, 08:55 PM	#3
AlmondJayRoM3 Captain 476 Rep 629 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	Tried BMW touch up paint for my mineral white X3 and paint match was not even close. Could have been a bad batch but did not care for it. I ended up using a kit from https://colorndrive.com. Very close match but I’m not looking for 100% with metallics anyway. Bonus is that it comes with a solvent based leveler that’s very similar to Langka Blob Eliminator. Also had success with https://www.paintscratch.com for my Sakhir Orange M3.
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01-10-2021, 03:01 AM	#4
Alias1431 Lieutenant Colonel 800 Rep 1,961 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: May 2019 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	Doesn't BMW sell touch-up paint?
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01-10-2021, 01:04 PM	#6
AstroDude11 New Member 17 Rep 10 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	No complaints with the OEM paint from the parts department at my local dealership.
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01-10-2021, 05:42 PM	#8
JJ 911SC Crusty Old Navy Chief 22965 Rep 1,696 Posts Drives: 2022 X3 M40i, 1983 911SC Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 X3 M40I [10.00] 1983 Porsche 911SC ... [8.33]	Just got my kit from scratcheshappen.com Hopefully I'll never have tu use it. scratcheshappen.com Attached Images
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01-11-2021, 08:53 AM	#10
rob175 Major 694 Rep 1,121 Posts Drives: BMW X3 xiDrive30 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	As a commercial artist my best advice is to only touch up the smallest of chips or stone nicks yourself. Any larger areas should be done by a pro, possibly using an airbrush. Having said that, and it's an area you want to tackle yourself my best advice would be to go to a hobby store and buy a VERY tiny brush. Don't bother using any of the brushes that come in kits since they are usually too big. A brush that has the smallest number of bristles, literally a tiny micro brush. Ideally you want the bristles to slide into the cut, chip, or groove. Remember less is more and smaller is better! Some colors are always easier than others. Metallics are sometimes tough, solid white is the easiest.......but go slow and give it a shot.
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01-11-2021, 01:21 PM	#12
rob175 Major 694 Rep 1,121 Posts Drives: BMW X3 xiDrive30 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	yep.....and don't "overwork" the area with paint......one stroke or lite touch in the spot and leave it alone. Those who continue to work the area often make it look worse. good luck
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01-12-2021, 03:22 AM	#13
OtherBusiness Private 38 Rep 55 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	I use the end of a toothpick too - dip it in the paint and apply to the stone chip - build up several layers over time to fill it with paint.
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01-12-2021, 10:33 AM	#14
daniel11030 Enlisted Member 16 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	My hood got a few stone chips recently, I ordered OEM touch-up paint and is planning to give it a try. I don't have a garage and is roughly 32F outside. I am wondering if it is ok to use it. Is the temperature only affecting the drying time of the paint? I'm afraid they'll get rusted if I leave them until the temperature gets back to 72F. TIA
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01-12-2021, 01:57 PM	#15
Alias1431 Lieutenant Colonel 800 Rep 1,961 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: May 2019 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	Can you/should you buy a little bottle of clear coat to top any touch ups?
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01-12-2021, 05:05 PM	#17
rob175 Major 694 Rep 1,121 Posts Drives: BMW X3 xiDrive30 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	I would not recommend doing any touch up paint work in temps less than 55F degrees.
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