^ just grab a bucket of hot water and softly rinse out the dirt and salt

 

Yea I think that's what I will do here for sure

 

Thank's for everyone's help, Im pretty new to modding vehicles I know you guys don't like noobs haha but I appreciate it, Next I will need help with some NEW WHEELS!!!!! And offsets and all that fun stuff!!! im pumped that will be pretty quick here when I get my bounse haha

 

im suprised at how many body shops say that "it will just chip off"

 

some will say that about the window trim... but I don't know of it being common about the side skirts...

 

oh nice,
ill be waiting for the pic

 

No need to pressure wash. Just hand wash, and make sure the cloth stays clean. Also, if your water has minerals, spray with quick detailer and use an "Absorber" synthetic chamois to dry.

 

I rattle-canned my wheels and grill (did good prep though mind you) and I'm surprised how well it's holding up. If a shop paints a part and they chip really quick, the shop sucks and they don't know how to paint.

A friend of mine manages a paint&body shop. They did my rear bumper and lower sills at the same time. He didn't even mention anything about the sills, just painted them. No complaining, no telling me they would chip or paint wouldn't stick... no stupid bullcrap. And you know what? They're holding up really well

 

what kind of rattle-can paint did you use? thinking about doing some work on my side markers and/or taillights.. any paint suggestions?

 

VHT niteshades is good cuz is translucent and you can control the darkness but is not that glossy. You risk loosing a lot of light output by using regular black paint.

 

surprisingly, i want it to be really dark (for the corners at least).. maybe not for the tails, but that is my secondary concern. just want some good, easy paint that will hold up in winter and is dark enough to block light. will that paint work if i do multiple layers? any other suggestions? thanks for the response regardless

 

^ Yep. + 1000 on the VHT Niteshades. It's what I used on my markers. You can make it glossy if you wetsand the final layer with like 1000-2000 grit and then clear coat it, or do an overlay.
On my markerlights, I just used a headlight restore kit on them and they're still glossy.

 

Here are pics. They're old my car is stock in these but you get the idea.







Just do thin layers of the niteshades until they're as dark as you want them. If you want a glossy finish, do one extra coat and then wetsand very lightly with 1500 (be careful on the 'corner' or you'll take it all off there) let dry then clear coat.
Later on, I'm going to do this same process with some clear ones because if the sun hits them just right, the amber still shows through slightly. It is much better looking than stock though.

 

aright sweet thanks for the info, so VHT Niteshades for the color, but what should i use for the clear coat then? thanks again

 

^IDK. Like I said, I used a headlight restore kit, and MyGi$Gangsta used an overlay, so we're not much help on that
I think any quality clear coat should do.