Rustoleum Flat black paint job

[rippin'av]

Had some dings and a few little dents, etc. and I wanted to play around with some body work on the S4. I was hoping to just plastidip the car but F'in California EPA says the paint is illegal due to VOC and can't ship it to me. I didn't want to deal with trying to ship to another state and send it over that way so I thought I'd try Rustoleum. Read up online about many other paint jobs and was impressed with the results I found. I love the flat black look so wanted to give it a go. I ended up sanding the paint down and to the metal where I had the issues. Was a little scary to jump in and do it but once I got started it wasn't that bad. Started having fun cleaning up all the scratches and finding the tiny imperfections. I used bondo in some of the dents. First time using the stuff and after a little practice was feeling pretty confident. The sanding was so tiring. Applying, waiting, sanding...and then sanding some more. I spent weeks sanding the car multiple times. I then shot it with a coat of primer. Wetsanded that down with 400, then 800 grit. I took off the trim and taped up the windows. I purchased flat black oil based paint. Thinned it with mineral spirits and used my spray gun. I wetsanded with 800 grit between coats. I ended up doing 6 coats total. It actually turned out pretty good. I'm not done, still need to do the door jams and engine bay somehow but for now its decent and I'm just happy to get her out of the garage. Here are some shots...sorry, didn't get any of the bodywork but this is the finished job.



This was the first coat...still fresh. After 24 hours I did the next coats...it looks shitty at first but as it dries it starts to look better and better. The more coats the better I thought.

Now I'm debating on color and style of wheels and what to do with the mirrors. I was trying to go for the contrast look but it would really look better if they were the sport mirror caps in polished metal or something in my opinion.

What do you guys think?

[JKnight41]

Not my style, but I approve of going off the beaten path. Also commend you for doing your own work. Nice job. Sport mirrors would look very nice. I personally like white wheels on black cars. But would never do it because of keeping them clean. But my vote is gunmetal. Again, nice work.

[Meow]

Had some dings and a few little dents, etc. and I wanted to play around with some body work on the S4. I was hoping to just plastidip the car but F'in California EPA says the paint is illegal due to VOC and can't ship it to me. I didn't want to deal with trying to ship to another state and send it over that way?

wow that sucks :/ what a hassle.

[S4 00 2.7]

I like how it came out. stealthy look.

[MikeyB3]

Patience +500

I'm impressed. I probably wouldnt ever have the guts to go this route. Nice work. Though good luck with the heat in CA with flat black paint.

[SilverBulletS5]

Looks Clean

[james 408]

I see tons of plastidipped cars in the hills. My understanding is they just picked it up from a local autozone or something, along with structural zip ties.

Not sure where you're getting the CA illegal blurb.

[christianb5s4]

Yeah, you can buy Plasti-dip or many alternatives everywhere from Pep-boys to Home Depot

[Tjtalan]

I've had plasti dip sent to my house. Car looks good in the pics, congratulate you on doing it yourself.

[StephenCox]

I've seen this done before on other forums and they've made it turn out decent, even with a glossy coat. subbed for the final pics,

[nawfside]

Weld some bars to the windows, lift + all terrain wheels and tires, add a flamethrower on the grill, add a turret on the roof, go mad max style.

fuck it.

[HighPsi(NorCal)]

California will not allow the gallon containers to be sold here. When we did my buddy's Santorin in Matte Clear, we had to send them to his brothers place in Vegas and then sent here.

Anyways, OP, your car looks awesome, some dark wheels (like a metallic Anthracite) would be my choice

[rippin'av]

Weld some bars to the windows, lift + all terrain wheels and tires, add a flamethrower on the grill, add a turret on the roof, go mad max style.

fuck it.

LOL

[getslideways]

Congrats on trying something yourself. Those orange reflectors have to go now

[CELison]

The whole matte/flat color thing is kinda played out. Not a big fan

[jpurre]

+1 for originality and guts. Next, how about primer grey for that Air Force F35 look.. that might be cool.

[Emaso919]

Turned out really good. I like the flat black look are the mirrors flat as well?

[Audi9]

Damn, that's a lot of work. What made you go with the paint versus a wrap?

[rippin'av]

The whole matte/flat color thing is kinda played out. Not a big fan

I guess it depends where you live. I've never seen another flat black car on the road out here. Only time I did see one was at a Robb Reort car show and it was the Lambo Aventador in flat black. Looked line a stealth bomber!

I'm enjoying the look at least.

[oppositelock]

You can get rattle cans in Cali but nothing larger. They won't ship quart+ sized cans here. You can find guys who bring it in from Nevada though.

[Yesmar]

I painted an old work truck with the "30$ paint job" was impressed. Truck was originally green the rear wheel wells were rusted all the way up to the bed rails, filled it with spray foam and trimmed it and painted the whole truck. Looked awesome for what it was, applied the paint with paint rollers, about 6 coats.
wish i took before and after pics but heres a pic of the truck a few months later :P


first and only american piece of shit ill ever own

[rippin'av]

You can get rattle cans in Cali but nothing larger. They won't ship quart+ sized cans here. You can find guys who bring it in from Nevada though.

Yup. I've had plenty of spraycans shipped just couldn't get the gallon for their "whole car kits" shipped. I have a friend in Reno, NV but didn't want to deal with the hassle. I'm loving it so far in the matte black.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've started painting the mirror covers and wheels in plastidip's "anthrocite grey metallic". Once I finish that I'll post up the finished pictures. I'm thinking that I'll go ahead and also do the RS4 grill surround and the window trim in the anthrocite as well to continue the look. I won't touch the Audi rings...I love them in the chrome and never like the look when they are plastidipped. I need to figure out the front headlights and rear taillights now. Might try to find some e-codes for the front and some type of tint spray for the rears. They are screaming in your face now that the rest of the car is flat black.

[rippin'av]

Here is how she looks now with the Anthrocite plastidip on the wheels and mirror caps. I did the frame around the RS4 grill too. I still need to touch up some details but work is pretty crazy right now so it will be a while. I think I'll also do the window trim in the same color. Next to the matte black its just barely lighter so it doesn't pop out at you. I like the stealth look. Get compliments all the time. Next on my "refresh" list is to install the sick OCarbon trim I just bought for her!! ...then find my misfire at WOT issue, LOL.

[CELison]

Based on the car$ in your signature, why not just get a real paint job? Looks like you can afford it.

Edit: since posting this OP took the AMG merc. out of his sig.

[hotshot32890]

Wow looks like it came out pretty good. Any close ups?

[dubzackvr6]

I'd focus on the misfire over paint.

Just saying..