Changing Pure roof color

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jayhawk

I was thinking about changing my top color.

Originally Posted by Yellow Jayhawk

I'm Sorry, I'm new to this hole smart thing. I have a Cabriolet.

Yea, I think painting might be out of the question.......

[foyfarlow]

yeah i just put my second smart a 09 pure in for paint work getting the solid top and spoiler and rear pillers matched the the tridion silver .. will post picks when done

[fannum]

Originally Posted by foyfarlow

yeah i just put my second smart a 09 pure in for paint work getting the solid top and spoiler and rear pillers matched the the tridion silver .. will post picks when done

What color are the panels?

Do you know what the painters are doing to prepare the top? If not, could you ask them? I think you've got two different plastics there ... the rear pillars and spoiler are one type and the roof is poly urethane. In addition, ask if they filled the roof texture (and if so with what) or sanded it smooth.

Thanks, Bob

[foyfarlow]

oh the panels are white .. im getting the pillars and top in the tridion silver.. this shop is high end and have a life time warranty on labor .. the mainly work on restorations on the fiberglass corvetes and other exotics.. he said he would try to keep it textured on the top but if hehas issues he will sand and fill smooth no extra charge.
the onwer is doing the work personally .. being its the first smart in the shop .. i know i hate being the first .. but there isnt a paint shop in the area that has worked on one yet .. besides the dealer ship and they have only done one .. when the silver recall happened in 08

[smark]

Bob, the service manager, of the dealership told me the roof is very paintable. I talk to him last Monday, about what you wanted. Just take it to a body shop and have it prep, and painted. No issues at all. Nothing to worry about. Why don't you use the roof off your wrecked car you bought???? Just switch roofs.

[fannum]

Originally Posted by foyfarlow

this shop is high end and ... the(y) mainly work on restorations on the fiberglass corvetes and other exotics.. he said he would try to keep it textured on the top but if he has issues he will sand and fill smooth no extra charge.

I'm sure looking forward to your results.

Vette's are easy by comparison, with essentially only two exterior materials, and with years of experience and high volumes over the years, GM works hard to choose materials that will accept the same paint. Those cars were the test beds for all the other lines like glass and plastic panels on muscle cars and lately trucks ... like all that ugly Pontiac cladding!

As I've alluded in this thread, the big problem is white over black covers poorly. Try to put on a light coat to let the fine pattern show through, and I'll guarantee the little squares will fill up and the high spots won't cover. Willing to betcha (a Mocha Grande' in KC next June?) that he winds up sanding or filling and a smooth top. But I hope he proves me wrong. Black over white is a piece of cake, but ...

I've worked with a lot of composites/plastics since the 50s, and they're always evolving. As I've said, there are four different materials in the smart exterior, and the test will be how good they look after the first year in the weather if all get repainted the same color.

Good luck and cheers, Bob

[fannum]

Originally Posted by smark

Bob, the service manager, of the dealership told me the roof is very paintable. I talk to him last Monday, about what you wanted. Just take it to a body shop and have it prep, and painted. No issues at all. Nothing to worry about.

Thanks Steve. I never expected it to be a big issue, just working for the best result, and wanting to build on past experience. Initially, someone at the dealer had insisted it was a cloth covered roof, which turned out to be false. From info in another forum, we learned it was molded polyurethane which has issues of coatings and mold release compounds that have to be cleaned or abraded.

Yeah, I'm ready to just go ahead and do it, but with a pile of projects, it's moved down in priority. I'm going to be eager to see foyfarlow's results.

Originally Posted by smark

Why don't you use the roof off your wrecked car you bought???? Just switch roofs.

Oh yeah, that would be too easy (but one expensive pain!) Actually, I want to put the damaged smart on the road after using it for development, and I do like the headliner hard roof versus the sunroof. Just my preference.

Again, thanks for the advice, Bob

[smark]

Bob. I would still check it out from a good body shop, like Eveland Bros Body Shop, here in town. I may ask them on the way home from work, what type of prep, and paint. Who suggest it was a cloth covered roof? One of the sale staff? You can tells it plastic, grained It sure wasn't the service manager, he's never meet you. Super nice guy. You need to talk with him.

[Turbo42]

its the same way you paint the lower panels 180 grit smooth all the texture prime it sand it with 400 then paint it

[foyfarlow]

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...atid=newimages

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...atid=newimages

hehe sorry for the garage pics it was pouring out =)