Painting Exhaust Tips - Arch Nemesis Mod

[blue dragon]

Its just telling you its time for another project...
F90 maybe?

[classic_erik]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

Its just telling you its time for another project...
F90 maybe?

Haha yes sir. Only a matter of time!

[///d]

How deep are you sanding, and are you cleaning it after sanding? And what are you using for cleaning?

Most of the time when I see paint do that, it either wasn't sanded enough or cleaned well enough to remove oils and give the primer something to grab onto, or its the wrong combination of primer/paint/clear. Since these are all enamel based and its happening over time I suspect the issue is with prep. If it were the wrong types of paints/primers you would see bubbling happen immediately or while drying. I would pay a little extra attention to your prep. Best way I can explain sanding is make sure there is no shiny left over from previous coatings, and be sure to use a cleaner that doesn't leave behind any oils.

It could also just be the paint. I always use Rustoleum paints and I've never had issues. I have also never "baked" high temp paints and I have no bubbling or peeling on exhausts or engines.

When I did my tips I:

sanded:
cleaned with mineral spirits
sanded (forget the grit I used, but nothing too harsh that leaves lines)
ensure no "shiny" spots are left
cleaned with mineral spirits
let dry for an hour

primer:
3 light coats, 1 hr between each coat
let dry overnight

paint:
3 light coats and one final medium coat (not too heavy to cause runs), 1 hr between coats
let dry overnight

clear:
3 light coats, 1 medium coats (again, not too heavy to cause runs), 1 hr between coats
let dry over night

Test surfaces before each application with fingernail. If its hard to the touch, then you're good to go on. If its still soft or tacky to the touch, let it dry more.

Kept the garage around 65deg (was in the winter).

[classic_erik]

Originally Posted by ///d

How deep are you sanding, and are you cleaning it after sanding? And what are you using for cleaning?

Most of the time when I see paint do that, it either wasn't sanded enough or cleaned well enough to remove oils and give the primer something to grab onto, or its the wrong combination of primer/paint/clear. Since these are all enamel based and its happening over time I suspect the issue is with prep. If it were the wrong types of paints/primers you would see bubbling happen immediately or while drying. I would pay a little extra attention to your prep. Best way I can explain sanding is make sure there is no shiny left over from previous coatings, and be sure to use a cleaner that doesn't leave behind any oils.

It could also just be the paint. I always use Rustoleum paints and I've never had issues. I have also never "baked" high temp paints and I have no bubbling or peeling on exhausts or engines.

When I did my tips I:

sanded:
cleaned with mineral spirits
sanded (forget the grit I used, but nothing too harsh that leaves lines)
ensure no "shiny" spots are left
cleaned with mineral spirits
let dry for an hour

primer:
3 light coats, 1 hr between each coat
let dry overnight

paint:
3 light coats and one final medium coat (not too heavy to cause runs), 1 hr between coats
let dry overnight

clear:
3 light coats, 1 medium coats (again, not too heavy to cause runs), 1 hr between coats
let dry over night

Test surfaces before each application with fingernail. If its hard to the touch, then you're good to go on. If its still soft or tacky to the touch, let it dry more.

Kept the garage around 65deg (was in the winter).

Thanks for the feedback on proper prep for the enamel process. My latest horror show is actually with powdercoated tips, so it's remarkable I'm experiencing issues this go around.

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by classic_erik

Thanks for the feedback on proper prep for the enamel process. My latest horror show is actually with powdercoated tips, so it's remarkable I'm experiencing issues this go around.

I went with the low effort approach. Got these from eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-S...-127632-2357-0

I was worried they would not cover the tips. But so far looks fine. Had it for a month and seems easy to remove and replace if needed.

[///d]

Originally Posted by FCX5

I went with the low effort approach. Got these from eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-S...-127632-2357-0

I was worried they would not cover the tips. But so far looks fine. Had it for a month and seems easy to remove and replace if needed.

Those look really good

I want dual rounds for each side, but no one makes anything specific to the F15 except Supersprint, and its $800 just for tips which I find a little ridiculous. I'm likely going to end up caving and getting them eventually. I have Amazon universal tips now but they don't fit the curvature of the rear bumper and it really bothers me. AC used to have great looking tips, but they changed the design and what they offer now is hideous IMO.

[Ascotgrun]

Originally Posted by FCX5

I went with the low effort approach. Got these from eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-S...-127632-2357-0

I was worried they would not cover the tips. But so far looks fine. Had it for a month and seems easy to remove and replace if needed.

Thanks for the pics and feedback. I was sceptical too so went with paint. If that fails I am going with those.

[Ashme]

They make 900 degree stuff for grills. I've used that on cars I've tracked and I haven't had a problem. Try that. 550 degrees is kind of low.

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by Ascotgrun

Thanks for the pics and feedback. I was sceptical too so went with paint. If that fails I am going with those.

I have my car now parked at an angle where the rear is raised from the front. The only way to see the chrome is if I bend down and look to the side. Ideally the tips should have been an inch longer. You can see a bit of the chrome only on the right side and only if I am about eye level to the exhaust and looking at an angle. From normal height you only see the the covers.

Here are some pictures that I zoomed in.

[Ascotgrun]

I wouldn't have a problem with that. Often see cars where the factory decorative trim doesn't fully cover the tailpipe.

[Akkord29]

I wonder how the double sided tape will hold up on those covers.

[jmack123]

Originally Posted by Akkord29

I wonder how the double sided tape will hold up on those covers.

Should be fine. The heat is def a consideration, but the double sides tape is pretty reliable (at least from 3M). Had a front lip on with just screws and 3M tape and didn't budge. And then consider that there is almost no wind pressure or gravitational pressure etc. pulling at the covers.

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by jmack123

Should be fine. The heat is def a consideration, but the double sides tape is pretty reliable (at least from 3M). Had a front lip on with just screws and 3M tape and didn't budge. And then consider that there is almost no wind pressure or gravitational pressure etc. pulling at the covers.

I agree. I ended up using betalink to install the front diffuser (because of wind resistance) and the 3M tape just seems to be working fine for the exhaust tip. It's been there for a month and we took it on a 5 hour trip to the beach. Parked outside and we even had a heavy storm. So been through thick and thin. I think the heat in the exhaust might be helping with the adhesion.

I was skeptical at first as well, but at $50 it wasn't a big risk. There are of course expensive carbon fiber tips as well that go all the way back, but may not be worth the price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-X5-...-127632-2357-0

[jmack123]

Originally Posted by FCX5

I agree. I ended up using betalink to install the front diffuser (because of wind resistance) and the 3M tape just seems to be working fine for the exhaust tip. It's been there for a month and we took it on a 5 hour trip to the beach. Parked outside and we even had a heavy storm. So been through thick and thin. I think the heat in the exhaust might be helping with the adhesion.

I was skeptical at first as well, but at $50 it wasn't a big risk. There are of course expensive carbon fiber tips as well that go all the way back, but may not be worth the price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-X5-...-127632-2357-0

Yea I had seen those months ago and never pulled the trigger because I hadn't seen good pics of them on in the real world. If I don't go MPE and painted tips, I will def do these.

[spyderdoc]

I painted the tips on my diesel (M-sport) almost 3 years ago. I had the rear bumper off to put on Stealth Hitch, so perfect time to undertake this task. I sanded it to roughen up the smooth chrome finish. No primer. I painted it with a few layers of the VHT "roll bar and chassis" paint as was mentioned in one of the above posts. It is still perfect to this day. No chipping, fading, or cracking.

[jmack123]

Originally Posted by spyderdoc

I painted the tips on my diesel (M-sport) almost 3 years ago. I had the rear bumper off to put on Stealth Hitch, so perfect time to undertake this task. I sanded it to roughen up the smooth chrome finish. No primer. I painted it with a few layers of the VHT "roll bar and chassis" paint as was mentioned in one of the above posts. It is still perfect to this day. No chipping, fading, or cracking.

Do you get much winter weather though? In the Northeast and other areas with harsh winters, I think the longevity is tested a bit more.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by FCX5

I went with the low effort approach. Got these from eBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-S...-127632-2357-0

I was worried they would not cover the tips. But so far looks fine. Had it for a month and seems easy to remove and replace if needed.

Wow, those look good! I've contemplated painting my chrome tips but everything I see and read here, the results look iffy.

I'm OEM all the way, I hate cheap eBay crap with a passion, but I gotta admit I'm a bit intrigued by these tips

[///d]

Originally Posted by spyderdoc

I painted the tips on my diesel (M-sport) almost 3 years ago. I had the rear bumper off to put on Stealth Hitch, so perfect time to undertake this task. I sanded it to roughen up the smooth chrome finish. No primer. I painted it with a few layers of the VHT "roll bar and chassis" paint as was mentioned in one of the above posts. It is still perfect to this day. No chipping, fading, or cracking.

Originally Posted by jmack123

Do you get much winter weather though? In the Northeast and other areas with harsh winters, I think the longevity is tested a bit more.

I would suspect not using primer or clear (I'm assuming no clear since it wasn't mentioned) would not survive winter weather very long.

I live in MN. We see some of the harshest salt covered roads there are and my tips and kidneys have survived fine. And mine have also survived blizzard trips through the mountains as well.

I also painted my E90 kidneys the same way I mentioned above and those lasted the 4 years before I sold the car. They did get some chips as I used typical shelf bought clear though which I don't recommend for anything that may see abuse as it doesn't harden like automotive clear does. For those items I usually got to an autobody and paint store and get an aerosol can made of automotive clear with hardening mixture. It has a thing on the bottom that you pop and it releases a hardener into the can, and you have 24 hours to use it. Once it dries you can sand a polish just like automotive paints, or you can leave it raw. I've used this on a few different things and they have worked out great. I didn't use this on the tips though, but so far so good.

One thing I have noticed is gloss paints are harder to work with and I've had more gloss paints bubble and react funny vs semi gloss and matte. I'm not one for shiny things so now I usually use a semi gloss paint and a matte clear. Not sure if that has contributed to my success or not.

[Appalachian]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Wow, those look good! I've contemplated painting my chrome tips but everything I see and read here, the results look iffy.

I'm OEM all the way, I hate cheap eBay crap with a passion, but I gotta admit I'm a bit intrigued by these tips

I painted but had some peeling after a while, so I put these on over the paint about six months ago. They've worked great so far. I went through an automatic car wash with them for the first time earlier this week and they are still firmly attached.

[spyderdoc]

Originally Posted by jmack123

Do you get much winter weather though? In the Northeast and other areas with harsh winters, I think the longevity is tested a bit more.

So far, the paint has survived our harsh SF bay area winters

I make several ski trips to Tahoe each year, so that's about the extent of cold weather for the tips. No peeling or bubbling at all. Can't speak for durability in real winter climate tho...

Good luck!

[///d]

Originally Posted by jcmd

I painted but had some peeling after a while, so I put these on over the paint about six months ago. They've worked great so far. I went through an automatic car wash with them for the first time earlier this week and they are still firmly attached.

I lose my damn rear wiper blade from the dryer every time I go through a car wash.

[tventz]

Originally Posted by FCX5

I agree. I ended up using betalink to install the front diffuser (because of wind resistance) and the 3M tape just seems to be working fine for the exhaust tip. It's been there for a month and we took it on a 5 hour trip to the beach. Parked outside and we even had a heavy storm. So been through thick and thin. I think the heat in the exhaust might be helping with the adhesion.

I was skeptical at first as well, but at $50 it wasn't a big risk. There are of course expensive carbon fiber tips as well that go all the way back, but may not be worth the price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-X5-...-127632-2357-0

FCX5, how are those tips holding for you? I got similar to yours from Amazon (may be the same factory in China ). I have not installed them yet. I am wondering if that adhesive tape is sufficient? Also how long are yours? Mine are 49mm +/- 1mm and seem ok.

The ones I got were super cheap but, a bit wavy on the top and the bottom (that may be the reason for discount). I tried “dry” fit one and it fits like a glove.

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