Colour coding the plastic trim on your car, such as mirrors and boot grab handles, is an excellent way to achieve a subtly enhanced and more streamlined look without significant expense. With careful preparation and a bit of your time, you can achieve professional-looking results even using aerosol cans.
Remember the golden rule: PATIENCE IS KEY! Rushing through any stage of this process can compromise the final outcome, undoing your hard work.
And always remember to carefully read the instructions on all paint product cans you use. These instructions contain crucial information about application, drying times, and safety precautions.
It’s also wise to avoid removing essential parts like mirrors if you need to use your car daily while undertaking this project. Proper colour coding, allowing for primer and paint layers to build up correctly, typically requires a few days.
Let’s get started, assuming you have identified the trim pieces you want to colour code and located your car’s paint code (usually found in your car’s handbook or on a sticker within the car itself).
Let’s gather the necessary materials!
What You Will Need:
- Wet and Dry Sandpaper: A selection of fine grits, ideally ranging from 800 to 1200, is perfect for achieving a smooth finish.
- Alcohol-Based Solvent Cleaner: Essential for removing silicone-based products and general grime that accumulates on trim over time. A dedicated surface cleaner from an auto parts store works well.
- Plastic Primer or Plastic Filler Primer: Plastic primer is crucial for paint adhesion on plastic surfaces. Filler primer is especially beneficial for textured plastic trim, like boot plinths or older car mirrors, as it helps to smooth out the texture. The primer’s colour is not a primary concern.
- Top Coat Car Paint: Obtain paint matched to your car’s specific paint code. This can be mixed at automotive paint suppliers or purchased pre-mixed in aerosol cans.
- Mask: Protect your respiratory system from paint fumes and particles.
- Dust Sheet or Drop Cloth: Protect your work area from overspray.
- Masking Tape: High-quality masking tape designed for automotive painting is essential for crisp lines and protecting areas you don’t want to paint.
- Sanding Pads (Optional but Recommended): Flexible sanding pads conform to curves and contours, making sanding shaped trim pieces much easier.
Let’s see an example starting point – a car boot plinth before colour coding:
STEP 1: Preparation of the Trim and Work Area
Begin by preparing your workspace and the trim pieces. Ensure you have adequate ventilation and a clean, dust-free environment. Mask off any areas adjacent to the trim that you don’t want to paint.
Thoroughly clean the trim pieces using the solvent cleaner to remove any waxes, silicone polishes, or dirt. Allow the solvent to evaporate completely.
Using wet and dry sandpaper, start sanding the trim to remove the existing texture and create a key for the primer to adhere to. Begin with a coarser grit (around 800) and gradually move to finer grits (1000-1200) as you smooth the surface. For textured plastics, focus on reducing the texture; the filler primer will handle filling in minor imperfections.
Clean the trim again to remove sanding dust and ensure it is completely dry before proceeding.
STEP 2: Applying the Primer
Consider how you will mount the trim pieces for spraying. Elevating them slightly or attaching them to a temporary stand can make spraying easier and ensure even coverage.
Apply a moderate coat of plastic primer to the trim. Don’t aim for full coverage immediately; focus on an even layer. Refer to the primer can for drying times and apply a second coat once the first is sufficiently dry. Ensure you cover all areas, including any crevices or detailed sections.
Allow the primer to dry fully – ideally for around 24 hours, depending on the product instructions and ambient temperature. A warm, dry environment will aid drying.
Trim piece in the initial stages of priming, showing even primer coverage.
STEP 3: Sanding the Primer for a Smooth Surface
Once the primer is completely dry, use fine-grit sandpaper (1200 or finer) to gently sand the primed surface. The goal here is to smooth out any imperfections in the primer and create an ultra-smooth base for the top coat. You may notice some areas where the primer has filled in the texture of the plastic, which is desirable. Be careful not to sand through the primer coat.
After sanding, rinse the trim piece with water and allow it to dry thoroughly. Ensure no sanding dust remains before moving to the next step.
STEP 4: Applying the Top Coat (Colour Coat)
Top coat paint behaves differently from primer and requires more attention during application. Take your time and apply thin, even coats.
Be particularly cautious as you near the end of an aerosol can, as the spray can sometimes become uneven or splatter.
Apply an initial medium coat of top coat, ensuring good coverage. Allow it to dry according to the paint can instructions before applying a second coat. After the second coat has dried for approximately 24 hours, lightly sand any minor imperfections with very fine sandpaper (1500-2000 grit – optional, but for the best finish). Observe the coverage and identify any areas needing more paint. Apply a couple more light coats to achieve uniform colour. Sanding between these final coats is usually unnecessary but a very light sand before the final coat can improve smoothness. Clean the trim piece thoroughly after any sanding and before the final coat.
Trim piece fully primed and sanded, ready to receive the colour top coat.
STEP 5: Final Finish and Reassembly
Apply a final, even coat of top coat paint. Allow the painted trim pieces to dry completely for a couple of days in a dust-free environment to allow the paint to fully harden and cure before refitting them to your car.
Trim piece with top coat applied, nearing completion of the colour coding process.
Once fully cured, carefully refit the colour-coded trim pieces to your car. Step back and admire your work!
The Transformation:
The Finished Result:
By following these steps and prioritizing patience and preparation, you can achieve excellent DIY Car Colour Coding results, enhancing your vehicle’s appearance with a personal touch.
