[NED]

Apologies if I'm repeating old threads here but can anyone recommend any products/techniques to cover up tiny stone chips on the bonnet? I've picked up a couple in the last month. They are only very tiny but still very annoying!!

Cheers in advance....

[timmy]

Go to you local dealer as they should be able to provide a Mini approved touch up pen specific to the colour of your car. I did this with mine and the result was great - you simply dab on a touch of paint and then finish with a protective coat. Hope that helps

[KenL]

Was it easy to use? I've a few very small chips but wonder if it would be better to leave them rather than make a hash of fixing them. I'm pretty sure they are not deep enough to rust.

[Wul]

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL
Was it easy to use? I've a few very small chips but wonder if it would be better to leave them rather than make a hash of fixing them. I'm pretty sure they are not deep enough to rust.

Ken - i got the touch up kit from the dealer £3ish if i remember it includes colour and lacre in it.

My black seems to have a white or grey primer underneath as the stones chips looked like white dots all over the bonnet!

it was easy to use although a steady hand and patience is required - the brush is about 2-3mm wide so for the smaller chips use a cocktail stick to dab a tiny amount of paint on the chip - allow to dry and repeat - i didn't use the lacre as my (limited) experience with touch up means the lacre will never look as glossy as the rest of the car nor the touch up with a good waxing - however i'm sure someone will prove me wrong!

[timmy]

Mine was not very deep either but it doesn't really matter in terms of the application of the paint. Personally I would do it to protect against rust and also because it looks better, however it does obviously remain noticeable as a little dot of paint if you look close enough.

[Tom F.]

I've used a product called Langka for years. Its really great, a bit expensive, but makes the repair invisible. You fill in the chip, let it dry a bit, and then use this product to smooth out the blob. Use it on the color coat, then use it on the clear coat sealer.



It does take a bit of practice to use, and most people find that its better to wait a little longer after touching up the paint than the instructions, but the good thing is you can't mess up with this stuff. If you have a problem, apply a little more and it will remove the entire chip repair, and you can start over.

Langka Website

It sounds like the are selling snake oil, but it works.

[KenL]

Interesting

Do you use this stuff in conjunction with the touch up kit sold by the manufacturer ?

I wonder if you can get it in the UK ?

[NED]

Thanks guys - much appreciated!

[Tom F.]

Yes, you use it with the touch up kit.
You put down the color coat, build it up a bit until is above the surface of the chip, then Langka it.

Then you put down the clear coat, same thing.

I don't know if they have a distributor in the UK, but they clearly are set up to do international shipping.

[Wul]

Ken - it's available for £15 from here: http://www.frost.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Painting_18.html

The US website adds $8.95 for international shipping taking the cost to $28.90 which is £18.09 so the uk place is not too bad.

i'm tepted too as i have a 3" scratch in my rear bumper from taking my kit bag out the boot

[KenL]

Thanks for that Wul. I might order it just in case I need to use it. I've got a wee scratch on my front bumper so probably try it out there first.

[Tom F.]

First, I've found that the paint on the bumpers is much softer than the paint on the actual body, and I have been very sucessful in taking out mild scratches with a very gentle "cleaner-wax". Try that first.

If not, when you use the touch-up paint on a scratch, use a wooden toothpick to slowly fill up the scratch, not the typical applicator that comes with a touch-up kit.

Patience, of which I have little, is the key in these matters.

[Wul]

Cheers TomF

Need to wait till the temp/ weather gets a bit warmer here before doing the repair.

Had a go at the scratch with meguairs clear coat body scrub - it took some of it out - but still left the main scratch which is pretty deep so i think touch up and langka may be the way forward.

OOI have you tried langka on an old touch up blob - say 2-3 months old - does it still work?

[Wul]

Just got this reply from langka themselves:

"We ship to the UK 3-4 times a week and the arrival time is suprising fast...4-7 days once we ship (usually the next day). Regarding old touch up paint... can't guarantee it, but yes, we have done this many, many times...just be sure to use a very soft cloth and you will use more LANGKA... you have to be pretty aggressive (applied pressure) initially, and it takes more time of rubbing....
Hope this helps."