Painting Defender Flares

[sam_d]

The wheel arch flares on my Defender are looking a bit shabby and worse for wear. Replacing them seems to be a bit unnecessary (and difficult not to mention pricey) so I've decided to paint them in-situ.

The existing colour is body matched silver/grey but I'm thinking of going to a matt or satin black just for something different and because I've seen a few lighter coloured Defenders with black flares and I think it looks better.

Can anyone recommend what paints are the most suitable to be painting a flexible plastic such as the flares? I've found Krylon Fusion mentioned in a few places. Has anyone used this paint? Anyone ha any successes or failures painting flares?

Thanks all!
Sam

[redrovertdi]

I painted mine with aerosol plastic primer from supercrap and then with two pack solid black[doesnt need to be clear coated]

[Chops]

And how'd that work, ok?
What perpetration did you do for it, anything special or just a scuff over?

[redrovertdi]

cleaned first as the flares were faded matt black/natural, then sprayed with plastic primer, worked well for over 5 years but has the usual scratches but flare is still flexible and so is the paint[hasnt cracked or flaked]

[Chops]

G'day Sam,
How'd you end up going with this?

Talking to a guy at work who drives race cars, he suggested to me to have the flares Vinyl Wrapped.

[wrinklearthur]

G'day Sam,
How'd you end up going with this?

Talking to a guy at work who drives race cars, he suggested to me to have the flares Vinyl Wrapped.

Isn't there a process that vinyl can be fitted to, say, a bonnet instead of painting and how do the costs stack up?

.

[sam_d]

G'day Sam,
How'd you end up going with this?

Talking to a guy at work who drives race cars, he suggested to me to have the flares Vinyl Wrapped.

Annoyingly, this is still on my "to do" list.

My Defender is parked in the car park under the building I live in so I can't readily just let rip with the spray can - I need to wait until I can get a decent spot outside.

I am still waiting for get the perfect combination of:

1) Having Time - a day when I am free to do this.
3) Nice weather - not too cold/hot/sunny/rainy/windy.
3) Suitable location - at the end of the on street parking.
4) Remembering to look out for the above!

However, now I know there might be a non-paint option I'd like to know more...

[isuzurover]

Annoyingly, this is still on my "to do" list.

My Defender is parked in the car park under the building I live in so I can't readily just let rip with the spray can - I need to wait until I can get a decent spot outside.

I am still waiting for get the perfect combination of:

1) Having Time - a day when I am free to do this.
3) Nice weather - not too cold/hot/sunny/rainy/windy.
3) Suitable location - at the end of the on street parking.
4) Remembering to look out for the above!

However, now I know there might be a non-paint option I'd like to know more...

3M Designer Wraps (http://www.designerwraps.com.au/)

Sit down when you get a quote though... I think a small car is around $5k fitted. A whole defender would probably be $8-10k given the size and complexity.

DIY is about 40% of those prices apparently

Might work out cheap enough for flares only...

[sam_d]

3M Designer Wraps (http://www.designerwraps.com.au/)

Sit down when you get a quote though... I think a small car is around $5k fitted. A whole defender would probably be $8-10k given the size and complexity.

DIY is about 40% of those prices apparently

Screw that then! I only want my wheel arch flares doing and I've already spent $30 on the paint to do it. :)

[Chops]

G'day Sam, I'm in the middle of getting a quote from "Wrap my Ride" here in Melb.
On one of the website's I visited, they suggest a mirror is about $90 I think. My mate who gets this stuff done for his car reckons it should only be about $50 a corner, them doing it,,, we'll see what comes of it.
Having said that, I've only gone to one place so far for a quote, so there's a few more here I believe. When I get some more info, I'll let you know.

My other option will be for "said mate" to do them in 2-pack for me when he does the wheels. (He doesn't know this yet ;))

[modman]

Removed from car, Cleaned with morning fresh, hot water and a brush.
Painted with vht vinyl ( car interior ) paint
Put back on with button tek screws
Good 5 years later

Did the same with deefer flares on a series but used flat black paint from bunnings @ $3.95 a can
Still looked good 2 years later then truck went to Nauru
Dc

[sam_d]

Remembering all of my required conditions to get on a do my wheel arch flares (and thanks to this thread being re-awakened to remind me) I realised just now that I am working from home today so can maybe get downstairs to make a start.

1) I have the time today!
3) Looks like perfect weather!
3) Plenty of available parking on the street!
4) I've remembered I need to do this!

Sweet! Well, that's what I thought until I remembered that the reason I am working from home today is that I took my car to my local Land Rover specialist for a post-trip inspection this morning!

Looks like I need to add an extra item to my list.

5) Make sure I have my car!

[Chops]

Hehe,, gotta hate forgetting the most important item ;)

When I leave work this arvo, I'm off to a place just around the corner to find out what the go is.
Looking at the Net last night, I've discovered that the vinyl may be the cheapest/best option. The operation doesn't look hard at all,, the vinyl, hair dryer, some (what I think is [?]) alcohol cleaner and a squeegee :D

The vinyl seems to range from about $25-30 through to about $150 depending on size.
The job doesn't really look that hard to do, but we'll see :cool:

[wrinklearthur]

Lookee what I found.

3m vinyl wrapping / car wrapping / - YouTube

And a Land Rover

Arsenal's Sagna gets Range Rover Wrapped PINK! Sweet Wrap - YouTube
.

[Chops]

Right-i-oh,,
As you can see, sort of, in Arthurs flick, the jobs not really that hard. Thanks for posting that dude.

So, this arvo I have gone to a company in Melbourne called Car-X which is based in Clayton.
Just a small firm which looks very busy, but they have quoted me $30 a corner if they do it on the car without removing the flares. He seemed a bit worried about breaking the clips that hold them on. This of course would increase the price.
He didn't seem very confident when I was talking to him. It was just one of those things you kind of get a "feel/vibe" with, as if it were his first quote for his boss maybe. :eek: So maybe it might be different at other places,, but I cant be stuffed running around wasting fuel/time, even if I was to save a couple of bucks a corner.

So, when I've sourced new replacement clips, I'll take the flares off myself, drop them into them so they can do them properly whilst off the car. I just believe from the vids etc I've seen, if off the car, the job will be finished off better.
Then in a couple, or a few weeks, a mate and myself will paint the rims in 2-pack flat black.
:D

[tuesdayfox]

Hi there,

I am on my way to do something similar.
can you share where did you get those platic fasteners?
and how much?

THanks
Martin

[Chops]

G'day Martin, I've been as slack as all umm, you get the picture.

Have thought about just buying another set now (??) As for the clips,, eBay is your friend. They're like $20 for 100 or something from memory. Cheap as, or I guess you could go directly to the dealer for some.