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Difference between painted front end and Plast-dip?

Discussion in '8G Lancer - Customization' started by trigger, Jun 15, 2009.

  1. trigger

    trigger Member

    I want to know what the difference would be for me to have my front end done at a body shop with the bumper vs doing it the cheap and easy way with plasti-dip/plasti-kote. I know alot of people on here swear by that way. I already have the road race carbon fiber grille. So I got a hookup at a local body shop where they will just spray the grill and sand down the bumper some and repaint it all in flat black vs doing it myself with plasti-kote and risk messing something up and or not being able to wax it or it coming off later and having to redo it anyways. What do you guys think? Any feedback or opinions are welcome!
     
    trigger, Jun 15, 2009
    #1
  2. 2k8 ES

    2k8 ES Well-Known Member

    I've only got my grille and eyelids done but they've both managed to handle the rainy weather. I'm a little concerned about the winter with all the snow and salt but if it does get messed up I can just repaint for $6. I personally would go with plasti-dip because it's cheaper and cheaper to fix if it does get messed up.
     
    2k8 ES, Jun 15, 2009
    #2
  3. trigger

    trigger Member

    Ok my next question would be then how easy is it for the plasti-kote version to get messed up? Has anyone honestly had any problems with it yet ie heat, rain, dirt etc? And once you have had a problem or it starts coming off...how easy is it to get the remainder of it off and redo it? Anyone with experience on this let me know or answer my pervious questions also. I am either going to do it myself the way you all do it or drop it off this following weekend to have the bodyshop complete it. Let me know what you guys think! Thanks
     
    trigger, Jun 15, 2009
    #3
  4. 2k8 ES

    2k8 ES Well-Known Member

    Yeah the only problem I've had is dirt tends to stick to it a little more than normal paint. But that's what you get for going with matte instead of gloss I guess lol.
     
    2k8 ES, Jun 15, 2009
    #4
  5. HEAT1491

    HEAT1491 New Member

    Hey fellas. I actually just did my full front end with plasti-dip yesterday. It took me about 5 hours total. Here are the pics I took from start to finish (sorry about the quality, I used my phone to take them).
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    HEAT1491, Jun 20, 2009
    #5
  6. BringDownTheSky

    BringDownTheSky Well-Known Member

    looks good. i actually did the very bottom of my friends bumper, like directly under the bottom grille, right before the bumper sticks out on both sides with plasti dip and it looks siiick.
    also, since you have a DE with the black mirrors and handles I suggest doing the side markers and the reflectors and 3rd tailight on the trunk black too. one coat is perfect.
     
    BringDownTheSky, Jun 20, 2009
    #6
  7. HEAT1491

    HEAT1491 New Member

    Thanks man. I was considering doing the bottom of the bumper, but I thought it might look a little out of place without the GTS airdams there. But yeah I'll definitely take a look at painting that other stuff too.
     
    HEAT1491, Jun 20, 2009
    #7
  8. 2k8 ES

    2k8 ES Well-Known Member

    I actually don't like it that much with the bottom center blacked out. I know I'm doing my bumper some day. Good idea with the sidemarkers though. I wanna do something with mine but I don't know what :/ My car is white so I was thinking maybe white LED? But that would look kinda weird.. I think I need to wait to choose rims. If I go with black rims maybe I'll do side markers black.
     
    2k8 ES, Jun 20, 2009
    #8
  9. BringDownTheSky

    BringDownTheSky Well-Known Member

    I actually like it better. Im not a fan of GTSs, they look too big.
    and the good thing about plasti dip is you can take it off if you dont like it!
     
    BringDownTheSky, Jun 20, 2009
    #9
  10. 2k8 ES

    2k8 ES Well-Known Member

    Yeah when I got my ES I wanted the fangs but after looking at them for a while I'm pretty happy with what I got lol. Maybe buying the HL2 lip a long time down the road.
     
    2k8 ES, Jun 21, 2009
    #10