Dr. Colorchip repair - Pearl White
 

Well about a month ago I got caught in a hail storm and afterwards a torrential rain storm. While moving the Z away from the area I was in to get to cover in case another session of hail happend I suspect is when a rock was thrown into the front end of the car. The Z survived the hail without any visible damage which was a relief but the next day while investigating the damage I did notice a big rock chip on the driver side front bumper right in front of the wheel well. I decided to order the Dr. Colorchip kit instead of the crappy paint bottle the dealer will sale you for the same price. Well today after washing the car I had enough time after to try my hand at using this stuff for the first time. My impression is that it does a great job compared to the dealer stuff. Only issue with it being Pearl White is that its a Tri-coat or 3-stage color. Base coat, mid coat (pearl), and then clear-coated. The Dr. Colorchip kit comes with what is essentially just the base coat which they call off-white to blend in with the pearl coat finish. I think I will need to apply another coat to get it close to perfect as its going to get being touched up. All in all I am happy and recommend anyone else trying to repair a chip or scratch to use this.

The kit
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...07819250_n.jpg

The chip
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...00004943_n.jpg

Close up
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...16503294_o.jpg

Step 1: Apply paint and smear evenly over chip with glove
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...57109295_o.jpg

Step 2: Apply SealAct to a rag and wipe across surface with minimal pressure allowing the chemical to work to remove the excess paint.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...83900492_o.jpg

No more chip!
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/DSC03094.jpg

Shot of clean Z for good measure
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/DSC03095.jpg

Great write up, I think many of us will find this useful and good to know its been tested. :tup:

Getting ready to do a bunch of chips myself. I was just wondering on top of the bottle of paint there is a color code in magic marker, does it match your code. I'm asking this because I have a pearl finish also and feel that there should be more pearl in you results.

Yes it matches my code: QAB - White Pearl Tricoat. I am not sure so don't quote me on this but the black pearl you have may very well have pearl in the touch up paint itself. Can you tell if it does in the bottle?

The reason there is absolutley "ZERO" pearl in my results is the fact that the White Pearl paint is a Tricoat. Base coat (white), mid-coat (pearl), and then clear-coated. This is why the Pearl White is so hard to match. Dr. Colorchip states they supply just the base coat which is off-white to be able to blend in with the pearl coat finish for best results. You have to really be looking or washing the car to know there is a chip on the bumper.

Been meaning to do this as well. I hear its awesome :tup:

:iagree: So have I... Just wasnt sure if it really worked i might get myself one and repair my rock chips i have.

I think the touch up looks great but if your z doesn't have a clear bra it needs one.
Would save you a lot of headache when it comes to chips on your bumper.

I'm wondering if the combination of Dr. Color chip + OEM touch up paint will produce greater results (not that your results are bad). I've read the touch up paint is mostly all pearl? So essentially, base coat (dr colorchip) + Oem (pearl) would be very close match.

Thanks, I don't like the clear bra on the car though. I will touch up as needed which isnt often as I dont ride on the *** end of the vehicle in front of me. But stuff happens like in this case a bad storm. If it were to get road rashed so bad I would then shave the emblems and have it repainted. I doubt it will ever come to that.

It would be worth a shot if you just had to have the Pearl back in. The base coat blends in really well with it being just a chip. You have to really look to find it or be the one washing and polishing the car.

Another company to look at is Applied Colors. I am not sure if they put Pearl in their touch up kits though. They do give you 3M putty to fill in the chip/scratch for a more smooth finish. Like I said I would need another coat after the first one dried to get it back close to smooth as is with the Dr. Colorchip kit.