Matte Metallic Blue - dipped again in a new color

**Liquid Smoke** · 07-31-2016 08:28 PM

Another one!

Finally got around to re-dipping my car, in a matte metallic blue. I've had the red for 2 years now and it was nice but needed to change it up and get a fresh look on it. I wasn't really trying to emulate one of the OEM blues, but I'd say it came out close to a matte version of Sprint Blue-ish, maybe a hint of Sepang to it, but we'll see in the daytime. Here are just some quick cell phone pics for you guys because I couldn't wait to post :D

Custom blue mix, I was just experimenting with a few diff blue pearls, has a hint of some teal in it, and I put what's called a gold "ghost pearl" on the last few coats so it should have a subtle gold glow where the light hits. I'm waiting to see how it looks in the daytime, might look pretty different than here as it should have a subtle slight shift to it. But here's what I got for now.

I still need to re-do my wheels as they are a little worn, and re-do the side mirrors as well, side mirrors and wheels in a satin gunmetal type color. I also have a set of the gloss black honeycomb fog grilles which I'll be swapping in soon. I plan to put a gloss black RS4 replica grille soon as well, so got a few details to finish up for the complete look but I'm liking this so far. Wasn't sure what exactly the final result was going to look like but so far I'm liking it, can't wait till the morning. What do you guys think?

**moai** · 07-31-2016 08:39 PM

I'm a fan. Good job.

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**nycaudi** · 08-01-2016 02:35 AM

That loos dope. What part of my are u in

**Project Quattro** · 08-01-2016 03:29 AM

Looks good man! More Sprint than Sepang, to my eye.

Sent from the Pedal Responce boardroom

**poweredbyaudi7** · 08-01-2016 05:29 AM

Looking good homie...looking good.

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-01-2016 06:57 AM

thanks guys!

@nycaudi: i'm in the Bronx
@Project Quattro: yea i agree, not dark enough for Sepang, i mainly got to see it in the dark last night but it's like Sprint with a hint of ice/baby blue to it. at times it reminds me of BMW's M Estoril Blue color.

here's a new daytime shot for you guys, just some quick pics at work. has this ice blue look to it. i do miss the red but this feels like a new car now. i see a slight hint of the teal popping through on one of the corners in person, but waiting to see it in direct sunlight and other lightings to get the full look but i'm happy with how it turned out.

**nycaudi** · 08-01-2016 07:07 AM

Thats some a1 work!

**jmeenach** · 08-01-2016 08:32 AM

Looks great!

**JeriQo** · 08-01-2016 09:24 AM

and here i am still cant do my wheels even tho i have the graphite kit already lol

**burg3ngold** · 08-01-2016 03:32 PM

How much do these run if you don't mind me asking?

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**Liquid Smoke** · 08-01-2016 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by burg3ngold

How much do these run if you don't mind me asking?

i do it myself so for me just materials only, about $350 in the materials. depends on shops around your area, or you can find diy guys like me around that may do it for you, usually for something like this it would be like $800-$1000 starting (will vary depending on if you get solid matte colors, or a bit more for pearl/metallic/glossy finishes), could be more depending on the shop and their quality of work.

**burg3ngold** · 08-01-2016 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Liquid Smoke

i do it myself so for me just materials only, about $350 in the materials. depends on shops around your area, or you can find diy guys like me around that may do it for you, usually for something like this it would be like $800-$1000 starting (will vary depending on if you get solid matte colors, or a bit more for pearl/metallic/glossy finishes), could be more depending on the shop and their quality of work.

Wow I need to find a diyer who wants to make some money

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**Liquid Smoke** · 08-02-2016 07:45 AM

few more shots, still waiting to redo my wheels so i can make a full post, but couldn't resist a few pics for now.

**nycaudi** · 08-02-2016 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Liquid Smoke

few more shots, still waiting to redo my wheels so i can make a full post, but couldn't resist a few pics for now.

how long does this process take you?

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-02-2016 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by nycaudi

how long does this process take you?

on average maybe 8-10 hours or so, this one took me just about 8. depends on the finish and all that. solid colors are a bit quicker, pearls require more topcoats so takes a bit longer. avg 2-3 hours for prep and masking and like 4-5 hrs to spray and finish up. i also didn't do the roof so that did save a little bit of time as well.

**JeriQo** · 08-02-2016 10:29 AM

off topic here.. do you have a custom quad exhaust?

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-02-2016 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by JeriQo

off topic here.. do you have a custom quad exhaust?

booty! it's actually an OEM S4 quad exhaust i bought from someone locally, used just the rear part of it, tips/mufflers and the piping to the center muffler or whatever it is, had a local shop fab it in with a y-pipe. so i still have the normal downpipes and resonators and all that from the middle forward, just the rear muffler areas from the S4 quad, and got the heatshield, hanger, etc for the other side from the dealer.

i like it, but i plan to get some slightly bigger tips i feel these are kind of undersized, especially with this diffuser it has the larger openings. the diffuser is one of those cheap ebay ones i got for like $90, it's decent for the price so i cant complain, was unpainted black and had some imperfections, fitment is like 80% but it's not too noticable from afar. but i need to smooth down the surface in some areas and plan to paint it gloss black, and will redo that middle piece in a gloss silver/gunmetal too. it's the abt replica one i believe, i've seen a few people with a nice finished one, i guess mine was cheaper price and was the unpainted and rough one, so i dont know maybe it differs which seller and condition you buy it in.

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-02-2016 08:01 PM

**Poodini** · 08-03-2016 11:19 AM

^^
Looks GREAT!! Props to you for doing the work! I'd definitely have to have a pro do mine...

I've seriously considered it since I just had my front end repainted and literally within a week/2, it's peppered with rock chips! How does this stuff hold up compared to conventional paint? I'm a newb to this technology so just thinking aloud.

peace

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-03-2016 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Poodini

^^
Looks GREAT!! Props to you for doing the work! I'd definitely have to have a pro do mine...

I've seriously considered it since I just had my front end repainted and literally within a week/2, it's peppered with rock chips! How does this stuff hold up compared to conventional paint? I'm a newb to this technology so just thinking aloud.

peace

thanks! yea i loved the matte look since i first saw it and im glad i was brave enough to give it a go my first time around and now im hooked, cant drive without a custom color done, and it definitely protects your oem paint, i have like 0 rock chips (obviously on this one, but even my previous red and grey colors, been 3 years ive been dipped total and my front bumper looked perfectly fine, no wear from rock chips or any of the usual road waer). the material is flexible and doesn't get chipped easily, i'll try to find a close up pic of my red color, had it for 2 years and it looks smooth. obviously it's not as hard and strong as normal clearcoat paint, but it's definitely more forgiving with daily wear and tear, i don't have to worry about swirl marks from automatic car washes, no rock chips, even if i get some kind of damage or scratch its not as stressful because the factory paint isnt damaged, and this stuff is meant to be temporary anyway so i dont even worry i can always touch it up or just wait till my next color so i dont stress any of that.

my original color was black and that is a B to take care of, i think the air even causes swirl marks on black lol. but yea it's definitely great stuff, can protect your paint from minor scuffs, door dings, someone scraping or trying to key it (unless they go crazy), etc. but i love it, it's like a big screen protector for your car, with color of course, but just assuring to know it's easily repaired and replaced, and not like having to repair actual paint.

edit: here are 2 pics i could find that clearly show the front. you can see it's pretty spotless as far as rock chips or tears or anything like that. also my side mirrors have been dipped for 3 years now and they are in pretty good shape, other than being dirty. the front of the hood area is fine as well, no chips at all. but i'm sure if you hit a big enough rock it may leave a slight mark or something of course, but like the usual 99% of rock chip wear is not there. 2nd pic is larger res you can kind of zoom into it and see

(on this pic, there is a little scuff right above that front wheel, that was caused by some idiot in a minivan coming up too close to me while trying to double park and he lightly scraped it, luckily no panel damage and it just barely scuffed off the red, and exposed by matte grey dip underneath, but it's smooth to the touch and you can barely feel anything there. also that spot you see above the headlight there, that's the only noticeable chip i've gotten, i don't know what it was if it was someone picking at it, if someone bumped it with a bicycle handle or something, or could have been a big ass rock hit it on the highway, but that basically cause a very minor chip there, but it was still barely noticeable until you got right up close. here in the pic it's just bigger and darker because i thinned down the edges of that area and that's the old grey dip showing underneath, it covered smoothly over it when i did the blue. but you can see the rest of the front bumper like below the headlights and below the fog grille area, it's perfectly smooth there no chipping or pitting or anything at all like that)

http://i.imgur.com/NN7WPVi.jpg

**JeriQo** · 08-03-2016 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Liquid Smoke

jaw dropping work man...

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-03-2016 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by JeriQo

jaw dropping work man...

thanks man, the pic surprised me too. first time seeing it in the overcast and the led lights at the gas pump made that metallic effect pop alot more.

**Audi 4 Life** · 08-03-2016 08:51 PM

That looks sweet. Great color choice. IMO though with a color like that it would look better with a contrast of a lighter color wheel like a hyper silver. But overall looks great. I'm just curious how does the dip hold up on the body? I did my wheels and its already been nicked a little. I know its easy to touch up on the wheels but how about on the car. I've seena videos where they use a little paint thinner to smooth the edge and then spray over the damaged area. I'd be a little worried putting paint thinner on the body of my car. How does it hold up as far as pitting especially on the front bumper?

Also its hard to tell but is the bottom center of the bumper black? kinda like a sline bumper would be where the lip goes? I was thining of doing this on my car but its white so it would stand out a lot more. whatever you did it looks great.

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-03-2016 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by A4QuattroV6

That looks sweet. Great color choice. IMO though with a color like that it would look better with a contrast of a lighter color wheel like a hyper silver. But overall looks great. I'm just curious how does the dip hold up on the body? I did my wheels and its already been nicked a little. I know its easy to touch up on the wheels but how about on the car. I've seena videos where they use a little paint thinner to smooth the edge and then spray over the damaged area. I'd be a little worried putting paint thinner on the body of my car. How does it hold up as far as pitting especially on the front bumper?

thanks. i do think silver will work well, but i personally like the gunmetal more, also will show dirt less the darker it is. but these wheels IMO look better in that gunmetal/anthracite shade than bright silver. but i'll prob mockup a few photoshopped wheel colors and see what i go with, wouldnt mind a silver too, my wheels have always been the gunmetal shade.

as for holding up, it holds up great. i barely had any nicks or damage on my previous dip, and i had that for 2 years and plenty of daily driving, i drive mostly highway and almost 20k miles a year. and yes that touch up method works great, dont worry about thinner on the original paint it wont do any damage, use V&M Naptha and that will be fine, it's not as harsh as other paint thinners/strippers. Xylene is ok too, but it's stronger so it may not be as good for a minor touch up as it will liquify the dip more, Naptha is more gentle and will slowly thin away the dip so you can correct it easier. but either are fine and the plastidip actually has those in it's ingredients so no worries about your clearcoat, it's meant to be resistant to that type of stuff.

and i have almost 0 pitting, rock chips, etc. on my front bumper, hood. check post #20 above regarding that.

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-10-2016 01:28 PM

few more outdoor pics. the more i see it, it looks more like something in between Aruba Blue and Sprint Blue.

**tromero00** · 08-12-2016 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Liquid Smoke

few more outdoor pics. the more i see it, it looks more like something in between Aruba Blue and Sprint Blue.

That blue looks amazing. Wow!!

2013 Audi A4 2.0 Quattro (Ibis White)

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-18-2016 12:28 PM

thanks! added a quick walkaround video.

**burg3ngold** · 08-18-2016 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Liquid Smoke

thanks! added a quick walkaround video.

Dip my carrrrr

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**acidvoodoo** · 08-18-2016 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Liquid Smoke

WOW amazing job! The lines and curves of the car really pop showing the beauty of the audi design!

**Liquid Smoke** · 08-19-2016 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by acidvoodoo

WOW amazing job! The lines and curves of the car really pop showing the beauty of the audi design!

thanks! and yea definitely, i love the matte/satin finishes with the pearl/metallic in it because it really brings out the lines best, and yeah Audis have beautiful lines, it really completes the overall look when you have the highlights and shadows being more prominent.
some lines on my car i didn't ever really notice before i started dipping it, and my original color is black so that definitely hid alot of the lines and curves.

**J4EZ** · 09-29-2016 12:29 AM

Looks amazing. how much did this run you

**Liquid Smoke** · 09-29-2016 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by J4EZ

Looks amazing. how much did this run you

thanks, see post #11 above. about $350 in materials (not counting the sprayer and misc supplies, just the paint itself)

havent updated in this thread but i changed my wheels recently. loving the look, gives it a much more aggressive sporty look. ill be dipping the wheels in a satin anthracite type color soon.

**alienz** · 09-29-2016 07:33 AM

still looks amazing after two months. very nice!

**nycaudi** · 09-29-2016 08:41 AM

Still looking sick as fuck

**Liquid Smoke** · 09-29-2016 08:47 AM

thanks guys, yea it holds up just fine, havent washed in like 2-3 weeks either but looks good and holds up great, 2 months is nothing. cant wait to get my RS grille installed soon and my wheels dipped and i can finally get a proper photoshoot going.

**neveret** · 09-29-2016 05:06 PM

How's the dip hold up through the winter? Do you garage it or keep it outside?

**Liquid Smoke** · 09-29-2016 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by neveret

How's the dip hold up through the winter? Do you garage it or keep it outside?

holds up just fine, i've had it thru 3 winters already, 1 with the matte grey and 2 winters with the matte red. never had any tearing or lifting or anything like that, not even any rock chips, no deterioration or fading or anything like that from snow, salt, debris, being unwashed thru winter, etc. and always outside, never been garaged inside. been thru a lot snow, had a sheet of ice all over the car, and alot more but it's very durable and washes easy again.

**eclaytor** · 09-30-2016 05:04 AM

Do you just paint over the previous coats or peal back to the original paint? If you paint over previous coats, does it start getting too thick? Sweet ride. I have been itching to get into dipping but havent pulled the trigger.

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**Liquid Smoke** · 09-30-2016 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by eclaytor

Do you just paint over the previous coats or peal back to the original paint? If you paint over previous coats, does it start getting too thick? Sweet ride. I have been itching to get into dipping but havent pulled the trigger.

i painted over my previous red, i put black on top of the red to create a new base, then the blue on top of that. and actually under the red i have my first matte grey color. but yeah you can do either, just need to properly clean and degrease the existing layer so that the new coats can adhere to it and bond together. and nope does not get too thick, the overall layer is still really thin, i've seen people stack 3-5 colors at a time with no issues, you won't see it build up in the gaps or anything like that.

and thanks, it's definitely worth it, a good learning experience and once you get it right you'll want to keep doing it, and it's fully reversible so that's always a plus. i don't think i can have a car undipped now, mainly because i love the matte/satin look, but also i like the idea of the temporary coating i can change up colors any time and also protect my original paint.

**gt854t5** · 12-21-2016 03:17 PM

@liquid smoke- Bro, I love the look of your car!!
I want to do this to my Avant in the spring. I will PM you to get in touch and discuss. I hope you're still in the tri-state area, so we can meet up.

Happy Holidays to Everybody!!!!!!!

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