Painting A New Panel

[mowflow 67]

As with most untouched 205s my headlight panel has turned to dust. I've got a replacement pattern panel (boy are they a crap fit). It's painted with black errr... paint. Do I prime onto this? Just paint onto this or rub it down and then prime and paint? I'll be using epoxy primer.

[Tom Fenton 1,536]

You need to key it then prime. Don't prime onto it as is, as the primer will not adhere well.

[welshpug 1,646]

Those panels fit fine, if you drill out all the spot welds and start afresh

 

Scotchbrite pads do a good job.

[mowflow 67]

Holy crap you get up early Tom.

 

Cheers guys. Will rough it up a bit with some pads.

 

Welshpug, I have indeed already split it into 3 sections. It appeared to be made for the mini 205.

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

Genuine ones are still available of these, which probably had been a better fit.

[309jazzpanda 41]

But a lot more money

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

Not a huge difference really.

 

 

Pattern ones about 30 odd quid.

 

Genuine ones are about 80 odd.

 

I know what I would buy.

[welshpug 1,646]

what a bizarre world you live in where 260% or the pattern part price is "not a huge difference"

Edited January 11, 2014 by welshpug

[farmer 328 1 Cars]

I think you are bizarre most days in general.

 

You get what you pay for.

[GLPoomobile 958]

If you throw irrelevant percentages out the window then paying an extra £50 for a genuine panel isn't the end of the world if it means getting it to fit first time with no pissing about. If you aren;t an expert with these things how long might it take mucking about with a pattern part to get a good fit? Few hours? How much value do you put on your own time?

[mowflow 67]

I needed the whole front panel and I was given a price of £200 +vat compared to £76 delivered for a pattern panel. Quite a difference. Especially when the list of other parts needed is growing by the day.

 

No doubt the OE one would have been a much better fit but I read enough threads on here where a pattern panel was used in this particular area so I knew it would be a bit out but easy enough to sort. Yeah, I've spent hours farthing about with the fit but the car is a hobby and every hour on it is one less sat in work or sat in front of the tv.

 

Yeah,I know, you get what you pay for. I'm not complaining about the fit.

Edited January 11, 2014 by mowflow

[309jazzpanda 41]

where did you get the pattern front panel? that's another area of rust I need to address

[deathbringer929 49 1 Cars]

where did you get the pattern front panel? that's another area of rust I need to address

i'd guess sel imperial - crashrepairparts.com

[welshpug 1,646]

any motorfactor, they will have a preferred body panel supplier, most do use Imperial as mentioned.

[309jazzpanda 41]

we use imperial but they wanted £90 plus the vodka and tonic for a full front panel

[welshpug 1,646]

that's not far off the right price, a mate got one from his local place recently for about £90 all in, you might need to ask them for a better price

[309jazzpanda 41]

Typical unipart lol

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Jazz, try searching for Hadrian panels.

 

The old ones are a nightmare where they meet the wings to get off.

 

( I split each of my new panels and only used what was needed.)

 

A headlight panel is only £13 odd iirc.

[309jazzpanda 41]

Boom I'll be getting onto them