Painting plastic panels?

[DCoplin]

Hi there,

Some smarta**e decided to nick one of the plastic side panels on my bike a few months ago. I've picked up a second hand replacement panel from Motoworks but it is the wrong colour, (PD Red vs PD Blue)

Anyone know what is the best way to convert the Red to Blue? (Please, no Tony Blair jokes...)

I assumed I would have to sand the red off, but then what? Do I need to put on some kind of plastic primer? Also I have ordered a tin of the official BMW spray paint in the right blue of course, once that is on do I need to bung on some lacquer as well?

Any insight you could offer would be welcomed.

Cheers for now

Dave
1993 R100GSPD

 

[TaffyScouser]

PANELS

If you know the panel has a good keyed primer specific to plastic on it ,then just rub it down with some 600 grit wet and dry then use a good quality contact cleaner or thinners eg cellulose to wipe the panel off. Do not touch the panel with bare hnds during this process as the greae in your skin might cause a bloom in the final colour. Prime as normal and you could use a flexible primer if the panel is flexed during use. if it is going to stay there without much bending then a good plastic primer will do. Spray base coat and then a clear lacquer to colour fast the finish. Halfords do the plastic primer. If you want to remove all the paint then wet and dry it and start with the plastic primer.