"Professional" basement trunk respray!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

DISCLAIMER: I'm not a pro. I've never done any painting at this level in my lifetime and I'm doing this because I'd like to learn. If it turns out terrible, oh well, I'll CF wrap it and call it a day. The quotes from body shops to do it were crazy, so for about $100 I'm doing this in my basement. Don't hate on me plz.

A few months ago, I decided to de-badge my S4, with no idea of what was to come next. The previous owner had super-glued the badges on! Once they were off, the paint was chipped, bubbling, cracking, melting, anything you can think of, on the badge surface. I don't have pics of what it looked like but it was bad, and I saw this as an opportunity for a learning experience.

First off, a glamour shot.. of course.



I started off by sanding the hell out of the de-badged spots. I had to get down to bare metal on small spots to get it completely smooth. It stayed like this for a few months until I could get the time to respray it.



Fast forward to now. Being a HS student, I've got break for two weeks. The stars aligned and I was able to get everything I needed to start.

The plan: Sand the whole trunk with 800 (HIGH quality 3M wet/dry), fill the small dent above where the Audi rings were, primer the spots, 400 then 600 wet sand the spots, and re-sand rest of the trunk with 800 to remove primer over-spray, final prep/mask, apply base coat to spots, and finally the clear and final buff!

Project photos:


These are before





These are all from tonight. Got this all done in one afternoon.
















This is what is done as of now. I'll be updating with more photos and progress of this as the week goes on. Hope to have it done by Christmas.

If you've got some advice or helpful tips, it's very welcome! Thanks for looking

[Bordom]

*In Borat voice* "Is nice. I liike"

Pretend this wrench is a paint brush Lol

Seriously though, nice job

[audi-hammer]

look forward to the results, love how you jumped right in

[MarlinFoundNemo]

*In Borat voice* "Is nice. I liike"

Pretend this wrench is a paint brush Lol

Seriously though, nice job

Thanks! I'll be the bob ross of resprays by the end of this, putting happy little trees everywhere haha

look forward to the results, love how you jumped right in

Me too, I have no idea what to expect! Darker colors are more difficult to work with so I have to be sure the prep is perfect. Jumping right in is the best way to learn

[AudiTechS4]

Now is the time to remove the lower body line like the euro trunks

[vavJETTAw36]

Good job! What will you be spraying with? What size compressor etc


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[christianb5s4]

Now is the time to remove the lower body line like the euro trunks

I never noticed that difference between the US and Euro trunks besides the obvious wider license plate area, nice.

[AudiTechS4]

well the early euro trunks didnt have the body line.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Now is the time to remove the lower body line like the euro trunks

Oh thats a great idea! Should I?
Edit: Screw it why not :D

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Good job! What will you be spraying with? What size compressor etc


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I'll update you later once I check. I got the gun from Harbor Freight so its nothing fancy but should do the trick

[goalieman24]

Definitely spend as much time as you can on all of the prep work. Poor prep can't be fixed by even the most professional painter.

And is that where you're painting as well? If so, be very thankful for your mom and/or dad. Couldn't imagine what would've happened if I had ever tried to paint something inside and in a carpeted room.

[DieselElectric]

Yep, if you keep up with the patience it will turn out great. If you screw up a layer, correct it before laying another, ect. Can't wait to see the end result, looks like you're on the right track!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Definitely spend as much time as you can on all of the prep work. Poor prep can't be fixed by even the most professional painter.

And is that where you're painting as well? If so, be very thankful for your mom and/or dad. Couldn't imagine what would've happened if I had ever tried to paint something inside and in a carpeted room.

I plan to spend a good few more hours today prepping and yes thats where I'll be painting as well. It's the unfinished basement and the carpet wont be staying haha

Yep, if you keep up with the patience it will turn out great. If you screw up a layer, correct it before laying another, ect. Can't wait to see the end result, looks like you're on the right track!

I've painted small stuff before like my trim and y-pipe and there isnt a truer statement in painting, that its all in the prep work. Thanks!

[vavJETTAw36]

I plan to spend a good few more hours today prepping and yes thats where I'll be painting as well. It's the unfinished basement and the carpet wont be staying haha



I've painted small stuff before like my trim and y-pipe and there isnt a truer statement in painting, that its all in the prep work. Thanks!

I think he's referring to the fact that the fumes will get into the house. If I am assuming wrong, well, I guess that's a question to you.

Hey nothing wrong with HF products. 90% of my tools are HF. Since you're spraying a small piece, a medium sized mobile compressor should be absolutely fine. Let me know how it goes with that particular gun. I've never painted in the car application and interested in your post

Good luck!


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[MarlinFoundNemo]

I think he's referring to the fact that the fumes will get into the house. If I am assuming wrong, well, I guess that's a question to you.

Hey nothing wrong with HF products. 90% of my tools are HF. Since you're spraying a small piece, a medium sized mobile compressor should be absolutely fine. Let me know how it goes with that particular gun. I've never painted in the car application and interested in your post

Good luck!


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Oh right I see what you're saying. We will be setting up a little paint booth down there with a fan sucking the air our and windows open so it shouldn't be much of an issue. And we do have a medium sized compressor which we used for reroofing over summer, don't know the exact size but it'll be plenty. Thanks!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

More pics to come later this afternoon!

[cb s4]

I personally Wouldn't use a harbor freight gun. It is good for a truck frame but i dont think for the trunk.I wouldnt use one but thats me I would buy a decent gun. Also make sure u drain out water from the compressor before u spray. Also take your time on the prep work. And if you don't mind me asking were are you getting the paint

[Bordom]

well the early euro trunks didnt have the body line.

Which body line are you referring to? The very thin valley's on the top+bottom of the trunk enclosing the licence plate area?

If you're referring to that, the facelift euro trunks didn't have that body line.

This is the facelift rear with a euro S4 rear bumper

[MTV2002]

im in the exact same boat as you with my avant, only my guy super glued the badges on, crooked mind you after paying 7K for a new pant job. so now i have perfect paint and that one blemish on my hatch that i cannot stand to look at :-)

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Which body line are you referring to? The very thin valley's on the top+bottom of the trunk enclosing the licence plate area?

If you're referring to that, the facelift euro trunks didn't have that body line.

This is the facelift rear with a euro S4 rear bumper

This is what I did, except only the bottom valley. I have it all filled and just need to sand it down then prime. I don't wanna bother with the other one because it'll be a PIA to blend then.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

I personally Wouldn't use a harbor freight gun. It is good for a truck frame but i dont think for the trunk.I wouldnt use one but thats me I would buy a decent gun. Also make sure u drain out water from the compressor before u spray. Also take your time on the prep work. And if you don't mind me asking were are you getting the paint

We spent a little more on a good gun from there. It would be nice to spend a few hundred on a gun but I'm on a budget here haha. Also with the time I'm taking in prep, even if the gun does an average job, the prep should help out. Compressor is drained and I've spent about 8-9 hours on prep already (: Not sure where the paint is from as I got it from my uncle who's been in the paint business for 30 years but I'll ask him later this week when I see him.

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im in the exact same boat as you with my avant, only my guy super glued the badges on, crooked mind you after paying 7K for a new pant job. so now i have perfect paint and that one blemish on my hatch that i cannot stand to look at :-)

That would drive me nuts. If its a fresh spray why not have the whole hatch resprayed by the same guys?

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Update time! Did some more prepping throughout the day, and decided, thanks to AudiTech, to fill the lower body line. So I've done that, and lots of sanding, and finally just got the final coat of primer on the spots. Waiting for it to dry, then sand them with 600, and the rest of the trunk with 800 and its ready for paint!

Photosssss













Primer in last photo is darker because it was still wet and needs to be sanded. Planning to paint tomorrow!

[james 408]

prepare for disappointment. good luck to you sir!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

prepare for disappointment. good luck to you sir!

Shhh we wont speak of that word ;) Thanks!

[richardm0025]

Shouldn't you spray the trunk on the car so you can blend?


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[tchuck]

prepare for disappointment. good luck to you sir!

This. The first coat of color is when you find out how well you've prepped.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Shouldn't you spray the trunk on the car so you can blend?


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I could, but it's winter, the car barely fit in the garage to not sit out in the rain, so theres no room for a paint booth in there and I cant get the car in the basement haha

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This. The first coat of color is when you find out how well you've prepped.

Considering I've spent over at least 10 hours prepping by now, it should turn out well :)

[AudiTechS4]

Looks nice so far good job.yes you filled the line I was talking about.

[R.Cade]

I could, but it's winter, the car barely fit in the garage to not sit out in the rain, so theres no room for a paint booth in there and I cant get the car in the basement haha

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Considering I've spent over at least 10 hours prepping by now, it should turn out well :)

It's 90% prep, and the last 10% is technique. The Harbor Freight gun is perfectly capable of putting down a good finish if you use it to it's strength.

I've painted both bumpers on my Audi's with it. The base coat is easy, you can do thin layers if its not metallic. The clear coat you should put on as thick as possible before you get runs. Using the HF purple gun, I did the B6 at about 25psi with 4 turns out on the spray volume. I laid down the clear until it was thick enough to self level, but not enough to run. It's a fine line.

The gaps you see is because I used a $70 Rock Auto USP front bumper on the B6.

[tchuck]

...

Considering I've spent over at least 10 hours prepping by now, it should turn out well :)

Hopefully. It looks good so far.

[S4 John]

Good luck! DIY ftw!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

It's 90% prep, and the last 10% is technique. The Harbor Freight gun is perfectly capable of putting down a good finish if you use it to it's strength.

I've painted both bumpers on my Audi's with it. The base coat is easy, you can do thin layers if its not metallic. The clear coat you should put on as thick as possible before you get runs. Using the HF purple gun, I did the B6 at about 25psi with 4 turns out on the spray volume. I laid down the clear until it was thick enough to self level, but not enough to run. It's a fine line.

The gaps you see is because I used a $70 Rock Auto USP front bumper on the B6.

The paint is metallic, because its Santorin, and since I'm blending into the rest of the trunk, it'll be about 3 lighter coats. The first is just 1:1 reduced, then 1:1 clear/reducer added to the last batch, and then add more reducer/clear in the final coat to add to the blending "fade" effect. First coat is only over primed spots, next goes a bit further, and the last a little past that, overlapping the last coats with each coat. I've watched some vids on it and it seems to work very well. And thanks I'll set the gun to that and see how it looks :)

Hopefully. It looks good so far.

Thanks!

Good luck! DIY ftw!

I've yet to send this car to any shop for work, so I'm trying to keep with the trend ;) Thanks!

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Looks nice so far good job.yes you filled the line I was talking about.

I'm glad you suggested it, looks good!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Updates woohoo! Painted the basecoats, and ended up painting more than originally planned so it could fade well into the rear quarter panels, but it's going very well so far! Photos for your viewing pleasure :)

The paint "booth"




The gun.. yes I know the water trap and regulator were backwards haha


Basecoating










Close up of the paint! Laid very well, but since this IS in a basement, floating fibers did land around on the paint. Waiting for it to flash, then we will LIGHTLY tack rag it.



Once tacking is done, clear coat time!

Also, for those who are curious, the base is made my Prospray!

[DieselElectric]

I have limited experience in auto body paint, but would a little wet sanding pre-final coat effect adhesion?

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Only reason I ask is because any imperfections will definitely show their ugly rears through the clear, and you can't correct it then.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

I have limited experience in auto body paint, but would a little wet sanding pre-final coat effect adhesion?

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Only reason I ask is because any imperfections will definitely show their ugly rears through the clear, and you can't correct it then.

You do not under any circumstances want to sand metallic paint because itll drag the flakes around and you'll have to rebase. I'll have to deal with the little fibers and just do a good job buffing the clear and such.

[StephenCox]

nice! Glad to have stumbled across this on Audizine after seeing your teaser on Instagram haha.

can't wait to see the final product

[MarlinFoundNemo]

nice! Glad to have stumbled across this on Audizine after seeing your teaser on Instagram haha.

can't wait to see the final product

Actually just got done with the clear! Photos incoming :D

[Bordom]

Actually just got done with the clear! Photos incoming :D

DON'T KEEP US WAITING MAN! SEND THE PICTURES!

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Getting closer to the final product boys! Tonight we put down our 3 coats of clear, but unfortunately on the second coat we had a few runs (Shown in pics) but nothing that cant be fixed! Also, since this was done in a basement, theres the inevitable crap that floated around and landed on the trunk but again, something that can also be fixed! Plan to get it buffed and blemishes fixed Xmas day when down at the uncles! Enough storytime.. time for pictures!











And now the runs..




And finally a close up :) quite a good color match!


More work to be done throughout the week but it's nearing completion! I'm quite pleased with how well its gone so far :)

[Bordom]

Looks like someone made a mistake and got a bad case of the "runs" lol

Looks good. Wet sand will clear most of that crap off and fix the runs