[jimvw57]

As you know, my 2008 Passion had a mishap with a large Deer on the way home last fall. I am getting everything in order for the tear down and rebuild of the front end as t pretty much took out every panel plus the header across the front. Headlights are mostly destroyed, etc.

I have always liked the Brabus style headlights, with the dark background and wanted to put them on my black 2009, but never got around to it. I am thinking I might do it on this car since it is apart, but not sure with the red body if it would be a distraction.

Leave them chrome?

Paint them Black?

I should mention that the replacement panels I have are white and there again,
Paint them red?

carbon fiber wrap??

or just leave them white??

No wrong answers here just looking for ideas.

 

[stevenjb]

How many panels to paint?

Do yourself or body shop?

If body shop, might be cheaper to wrap.

Go with what you like, darkened headlights. The Brabus ones are expensive, might be cheaper to paint the standard headlights.

 

[jimvw57]

I was thinking of doing the headlights now before it got warm enough outside to work on it, and I could paint the panels myself, as I have done quite a few whole cars in the past, I also did the roof on my Pure with carbon fiber wrap that turned out good. so I will most likely do the work myself.

Just wondering about the metallic red fenders and the Brabus type lights..

Wouldn't be the first time I made up a paint booth in the basement and vented out a window to spray body parts during winter.

 

[jimvw57]

OK......

 

[jzchen]

Leave white. They look good, at least from the pictures. (I'd just slap everything on as it is.). Because I'm terrible at painting, and possible future deer trouble.

 

[jimvw57]

I don't know if I could do that, white front end, black Trideon, Red body... I could see Black maybe, but ind of leaning towards trying to match the red. Noticed the grille is silver so that may have to be Black too.

i have done my share of backyard painting and it usually turns out quite well. This will be the first time I have messed with a clearcoat.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

I'd say do your own 2012 conversion. Paint the front end red, then paint the side skirts and the rear bumper too!!

What are you doing with the SM3 wheels? And wait, are you replacing both headlights?

 

[mildensmart]

You could just get new door, quarter, trunk lid, and bumper panels in white and make the total color conversion. Sell the red stuff. Save TONS of time (yes I have painted cars at home too...).

 

[jimvw57]

I'd say do your own 2012 conversion. Paint the front end red, then paint the side skirts and the rear bumper too!!

What are you doing with the SM3 wheels? And wait, are you replacing both headlights?

I pulled the wheels off because I thought it might go into a body shop. Right headlight is mostly gone, left headlight is mostly hanging from the wires as the mounts are gone. but the grille is good (I think) and the lower center grille might be OK, the 2 side ones are missing, both fenders are bent up bad, hood is in 2 pieces, most of the damage is above the bumper, which looks OK.

Plan is to put the SM3 wheels back on. they have brand new tires on them

White wouldn't be my first choice of colors for a car...

 

[jzchen]

I don't know if I could do that, white front end, black Trideon, Red body... I could see Black maybe, but ind of leaning towards trying to match the red. Noticed the grille is silver so that may have to be Black too.

i have done my share of backyard painting and it usually turns out quite well. This will be the first time I have messed with a clearcoat.

It's funny, but back in the early 90s Benzes came in two tone. The in thing back then/AMG did it, was to go all one color. Nowadays, car companies tend to make everything one color, and the in thing tends to be multi-color/contrasting:

 

[Miss Mercedes]

I pulled the wheels off because I thought it might go into a body shop. Right headlight is mostly gone, left headlight is mostly hanging from the wires as the mounts are gone. but the grille is good (I think) and the lower center grille might be OK, the 2 side ones are missing, both fenders are bent up bad, hood is in 2 pieces, most of the damage is above the bumper, which looks OK.

Plan is to put the SM3 wheels back on. they have brand new tires on them

White wouldn't be my first choice of colors for a car...

Those SM3s are so cool. I'd so swap out the Darwins for some if I still had the chance. Still need to sort out my engine first though.

The light project should be easy though, perhaps you could practice with whatever's left of the left headlamp?

 

[jimvw57]

I was thinking about experimenting on the one, but if I do it, I would only want to do it once.

What about the VVT replacement I read someone did? maybe that would work on your motor?

(sorry, I am keeping the rims!!)

 

[Johannesl]

I know white is not your favorite color, but it suites the smart nicely. I would attempt the painting, but it will be very difficult to exact match the existing red. Maybe do some red plastidip? Like a matte red? Could be a cool contrast and would protect from small rock chips and easy to rip off if you don't like it. Or continue it on the tridion if you DO like it.


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[jimvw57]

Keeping in mind that this is a daily driver, and not a show vehicle, having the color even close wouldn't offend me. and besides, when you are inside driving, you can't see the outside color anyhow..

 

[Johannesl]

No worries. I'm usually more function over visual too.


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[jimvw57]

Got a reply from our buddy Kane about replacing the front frame, and apparently it does not require removing the condenser or radiator! Which is good news! I did get out and take a bit more of a look at the damage and I believe there may be a few salvageable parts and also according to Kane, the new front plastic will bolt right on with no problems (except for the variations in the style)

The drivers side headlight assembly has one broken mounting tab but is otherwise in pretty good shape so maybe I will be cutting into the fender to release the other mount and see about painting the background black like the Brabus. I will try the method of using Easy Off oven cleaner to remove the chrome as it sounds like an easy way to remove the chrome plastic. Maybe pictures or a video??? hard to tell.

It is supposed to be warm this week and I do have another car to work on so we shall see how much I get done.

 

[jimvw57]

Guess what I found in the back of my smart!! I thought I threw it out.. Now I can do a little practicing with painting the background black. And a big chunk of the lens is already removed!!




played around with it a bit and I found rubbing alcohol will take the chrome off right down to the bare plastic without scratching anything.

 

[stevenjb]

No need to paint now - just wipe and you are done

 

[jimvw57]

After most of the day yesterday, and all day today, I finished up working on my century, the one that I bought to temporarily replace the smart, and then ran over a deer with it... Well, it is fixed and back on the road. After a little recuperating, I will start on the smart. Sounds like for now, it may be a white front end until it gets warm enough outside for painting. I guess I can live with that for now.

My youngest son helped me out when I ran out of steam. He learned a lot and II believe he will appreciate driving a pretty nice 2004 Buick Century. He will have room in the back seat for the child seat too.He is still finding all the goodies that this car does, like the fancy stereo that I don't even know what all it does, and the remote start, off delay lights, etc. Way too fancy for him.... have to get a picture later.

 

[stevenjb]

I am glad my smart has heated seats, and the auto on headlights and rain sensing wipers are nice too.