1st Gen R53 Cooper S First (large amount of) Paint Chips

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by Boxman, Oct 20, 2012.

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  1. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

    Oct 1, 2012
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    So I was driving down the highway today back from work, and of course an big ol' truck comes up and cuts me off. This doesn't USUALLY bother me, but today just flipping pushed me.

    The VERY SECOND he cut me off, his tires kicked up gravel and lucky me, my Cooper caught every stone resulting in a chipped windshield and this:
    [​IMG]


    For the love of all that is Cooper, what is the best action to take?
     
  2. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Dr. Colorchip. That is why I get a clearbra on my MINI's.
     
  3. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    I'm going to go ahead and assume Dr. Colorchip is the best I can get, considering it's $40 :lol:
     
  4. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I use OEM touch up paint. Clean the chip with alcohol and touch up the dips with a fine brush from a craft store. I get mine in the art section at Micheals. The brush that comes with the OEM paint is too big unless you are painting a fence.

    Shake paint well for a min.
    Blot a piece of a paper plate with OEM paint.
    Touch up the chip with a fine brush using the paint from the paper plate.
    Do not try and fill the whole chip at one time or it will get blobby.
    Make two or three touch ups over a few days allowing the paint to dry in between. This will avoid the paint touch up blob as you are allowing each layer to shrink as it dries and you are filling in the chip.
     
  5. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Wow, THANK YOU. I would have PROBABLY messed the paint up if you didn't mention this. Thank you again. Both of you :cornut:
     
  6. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I have done this for a few friends with great results.

    One guy had a scratch down the passengers side door from a shopping cart.

    He filled it in over a week and I wet sanded it down with 2500 and 3000 and buffed it out and you could not even see where the 3 long scratches were. Oh it was on an Astro Black vert too which has metallic black paint.
     
  7. Pure87

    Pure87 New Member

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    This. Depending on the number of chips you have, Dr. Colorchip has your paint fixed in no time. Each kit comes with oem paint too.
     
  8. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I've used paint pens with little success. They cover the spot, but leave a bump. I guess I do not have the patience it takes to fix paint chips correctly. I'm keeping the rust at bay & for me that is good enough. I sort of think of of all the chips & stuff as patina on a fine antique. Maybe one day I'll have to have the bonnet & bumper resprayed.
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I have seen people use Dr. Color chip with poor results. I look at that product this way, the car looks good from across the lot like girl in a bar. Then you walk over and take a second look up close and are let down. Ugh what happened to the pretty girl from across the bar? Where did she go?!:idea::lol:

    I touch chips up a little at a time when I get them and only sand them twice a year before the Dragon and in the fall. I think my 7 year old original paint still looks great with all the touch ups and wet sanding a few spots.
     
  10. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    #10 Boxman, Oct 21, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2012
    Honestly, I'm afraid I might mess up something because these chips are awkward in color. They're kind of like little chips and then have a black, grittier look around them. Not entirely sure what they are tbh...

    Either my keyboard is REALLY messed up or I'm just not paying attention to a single thing I type...
     
  11. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :cornut: Shoot out his front tires!:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  12. HiFi Guy

    HiFi Guy New Member

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    I bought a Dr Colorchip kit for my last car. It was a huge waste of money.

    Dave O is giving excellent advice. :cornut:
     
  13. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    So, just purchase OEM touch-up paint from a Dealership then? lol
     
  14. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Even though I'm not great at touch up painting I find the paint pens easier to use & less messy.
     
  15. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    I'm so confused :< So what does everyone recommend I do? That.. and I could technically cover the chips with a stripe lol
     
  16. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Okay, is it seriously something with diesel trucks? Because one cut me off again today all whilst slamming his brakes, forcing me to swerve into the next lane, and I ended up hitting one of these:

    [​IMG]


    Seriously starting to think the Cooper Gods are out to get me.
    Thankfully the black scuffs buffed out with some nice Turtle shell polish though, so all that was lost was a mere $7
     
  17. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Wow glad you are OK. Look at your roof & make sure there isn't a target painted on it.:wink: I find that many large vehicles just seem to tailgate & cut me off. Be very vigilant & expect someone to do something stupid. You will not be disappointed.

    Glad the new MINI tatt buffed out.
     
  18. sethat46

    sethat46 Well-Known Member

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    Honestly! Yes! For one, my dad's a truck driver and he says that it is really an issue with small cars cutting them off and so they retaliate. Most people don't understand that semi's don't stop very well and when you're in traffic and you cut them off it really makes them mad. Not that you did anything of the sort, but there are people that give us a bad name and so they think all small car drivers are like that. Minis are also really hard to see because most have a black top and are short, it just looks like a piece of the road. I actually have more issues with mini-vans and mid-size cars. Also, people in trucks and stuff find it really funny to mess around with us; I'm not sure why, but it has happened to me on a number of occasions until I blow past them and give them the one finger salute and maybe a j*rk off sign (mostly reserved for mustang drivers but it works).

    Just a word of advice try to steer clear of any big truck; pass quickly and make yourself seen, and do not float around someones blind spot. For those nincompoops who don't know; a blind spot is usually on the rear corners of a car; you stay there and something bad is bound to happen. I usually ride the line till they get the point and get away from me. Ok, I'm off the soap box.

    I like OEM but Dr. Colorchip is good too. It's all about how you address it, you really have to take your time and do it right if you don't want to spend the big bucks.
     
  19. Boxman

    Boxman New Member

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    Thank you, I'm fine and the car is fine too (thankfully. I was seriously angry and at the same time I thought I might have popped the tire)

    That's thoroughly angering to be perfectly honest with you. I can see passing someone but in an enclosed area, through a city, with a 20mph speed limit and pedestrian crossing all while trying to fit in a 10ft clearance? It's just aggravating to deal with people like that who just don't care. I'll admit I've cut people off a few times in a hurry but not once have I intentionally slammed my brakes on anyone. This man either was being EXTREMELY cautious because his brakes were horrid or he was doing it in the hopes I'd rear-end him. Jokes on him though, because the handling on my Cooper S is excellent.

    Frankly, I try to pass people quickly and make sure I have 30-feet or so of clearance in the next lane so I don't p*ss anyone off. I just can't stand trucks sometimes... I never had this issue driving a Neon/Camaro lol


    I'm going to end up covering part of it with an offset styled stripe but repairing the rest with OEM touch up paint & the proper tools with Dave.0's advice on doing very little every few days.
    Seems like a safe bet, hopefully all turns out well :fingerscrossed:

    Also, side note: Took my car to an upholstery shop and they said they were too scared to do custom headliners since they've never even so much as seen a MINI in their shop
     
  20. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Before adding the stripe fill in the chip. The strip will settle into the hole there and look bad. Plus you want protection from rust forming.
     

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