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Thread: Matching Cosmos Black & Bent Bumper Carrier

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
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    1996 328is

    Question Matching Cosmos Black & Bent Bumper Carrier

    So I got in an accident during the winter and now have to replace a fender, nose, front fascia, and (potentially) the bumper carrier.

    Does anyone have experience / suggestions trying to match 20 year old cosmos black? Should I bother? I'll be painting the new panels myself.

    As for the bumper carrier, it's slightly bent down. Am I correct in my assumption that if this is not replaced, the new fascia will sag?

    Thanks.

    S.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
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    Orlando, FL
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    Turbo 97 E36 M3, 99 M3
    Do you have any experience painting? If not, the blending is the challenge, even for black. If the bumper carrier is bent, then yes, the new bumper won't sit flush and/or will create a noticeable gap.
    1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
    CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)

    1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
    Auto/Convertible and staying stock!

  3. #3
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    I've painted a car before and some other things, but I've only done complete paint jobs; never matching. Blending isn't a challenge as there is nothing to blend, it will be on new panels. However, themix is what I'm concerned about. As it needs to match 20 year old paint.

    As for the bumper carrier, I thought so but had hoped it wouldn't be the case. Those are rather pricey but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Schuster View Post
    Blending isn't a challenge as there is nothing to blend, it will be on new panels. However, themix is what I'm concerned about. As it needs to match 20 year old paint.
    And you are dismissing THE CHALLENGE. Yes, you will be painting new panels, but you will need to blend the new fender into the door and the hood. That is the only way to get the paint to "match" because you will never match 20 year old paint with new paint. You can get close, and may be good enough, but you still will see the difference. Doesn't cosmos have metallic flakes too? That will also be another reason because the flakes won't lay right next to the door/hood if you don't blend it
    1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
    CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)

    1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
    Auto/Convertible and staying stock!

  5. #5
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    96 M3 97 M3 98 M3 99 M3
    It’s not just black, it has flake in it too which adds to the difficulty.

    You do not have to blend if the color match is 95% or better. Blending is for paints that do not match to the original.

  6. #6
    RRSperry's Avatar
    RRSperry is offline Senior Moment Member BMW E36 M3 Expert
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    Not true at all...

    the OP has zero chance of getting this right.its going to stick out like a sore thumb.

    It takes a lot of experience to figure out air pressure, speed coverage.. to get the metallics to flop correctly..

    If he’s going to do this, just paint the entire car.
    No matter where you go, there you are...

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