Detailing my smart, advise please.

[AlexS]

Hi guys, im currently running about in a Smart car and the paintwork could do with some attention, although nothing too serious as its only a runabout.
I was going to crack the pc out on the metal bits to get the swirls out but can I use the pc on the plastic bits, i.e most of it!?
I was planning on claying it and giving it a coat of srp and some megs wax just to seal it but it would be good if I could get a few of the light marks out first.
Im guessing the plastic panels aren't painted, is it still ok to crack the Menz out on them?

Cheers guys,

 

[AlexG]

do you mean like the headlights for the plastic bits? if so yes i think

 

[AlexS]

Nah the doors are plastic, as is the boot and bumpers and bonnet..

 

[philthy]

depends what colour they are, your blue is painted plastic. the colours like black arent

 

[mattjk]

Are you sure they arn't painted alex? I thought they were

 

[AlexG]

they must be painted like the front wings on the clios. even if they have a lacquer finish on them then u can go at it with the pc but if it doesn't then id just do it by hand it will be much safer.

 

[AlexS]

The panels are red, maybe they are painted then I will have a closer look tonight. Cheers for the advice.

 

[rosssei]

the panels are plastic coloured the entire way through with laquer on top!

So some marks may be on the plastic itself - however normal polish will work for the top laquer level!

Only thing to be careful of is the fact you cannot use a PTG as they are plastic panels - so you do not know how much laquer you have to play with!

also the tridon cell is powder coated and from past experience is VERY VERY soft paint - normally only requiring a finishing police where the panels need a intensive polish!

let us know how it goes!

Ross

 

[mattjk]

Josh has some Menz final finish Alex I'm sure he will lend it ya lol, I have no idea what a Tridon cell is though!

Just did a google
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=tridon+cell&gbv=2
for anyone else thats confused!

 

[philthy]

hes talking abotu the tridion which is the metal part, which is painted not powdercoated... lol

the red is plastic all the way through,

some other metallic colours are painted

 

[rosssei]

hes talking abotu the tridion which is the metal part, which is painted not powdercoated... lol

pretty sure its powdercoated TBH?!

the red is plastic all the way through,

with laquer on top

 

[rosssei]

http://climatechange.pacificpeoplespartnership.org/transportation

right hand side of that page!

 

[Peperami]

Pics of the smart!

The cell just looks like normal paint to me, same as on the clio's metal parts.

 

[mattjk]

Do people honestly care what they are made of? The only reason I'd buy one would be for cheap tax insurance & petrol

 

[AlexS]

Cheers for the advise guys I will get some pics up over the weekend, Im aware that you treat the Tridion cell like normal paint, it is very soft though I can see that. I just wanted to check that you could polish the plastic bits safely without going through the colour.

275 miles to £20 FTFW!

 

[Peperami]

Cheers for the advise guys I will get some pics up over the weekend, Im aware that you treat the Tridion cell like normal paint, it is very soft though I can see that. I just wanted to check that you could polish the plastic bits safely without going through the colour.

275 miles to £20 FTFW!

Mine doesnt get that much! But its all stop start in traffic for the most part.

 

[AlexS]

Stage 2 remap on mine improves it apparently, mixture of round town and abit of d/c on the way to work, I don't really open it up much tbh.

 

[mattjk]

Stage 2 remap lol, I wonder how tunable these are.... I know if its mine id get some ducting made up put a larger IC on and then wind the boost up!

 

[philthy]

I had my old fortwo at 1.6bar, with lots of oher bits it was around 105 bhp. twas a good laugh, had my roadster at 122bhp with breathing mods and a special remap.