So I decided to try my hand painting my bumperettes, the overall process wasn't too hard but was time consuming. The end results came out well, just need to take your time.

1) Sand down the finish with 120grit to get rid of the pebble finish.
2) Primer with high solids or high hiding primer, 2-3 coats. Sand with 600.
3) Primer with normal sandable primer. Sand with 600 grit again. Don't go too far and rub through to the original finish.
4) Paint with color of your choice, 3 coats. I ordered a 16oz spray can from an online site. Was way more than enough to cover.
5) Clear coat, 5 layers 15 mins apart. Two choices here, Enamel or Lacquer. People are split on what to use. Enamel is harder but less flexible, since the bumperettes are flexible I used Lacquer which is less prone to cracking I'm told. Start with a light layer, then spray more with each coat. Don't get too crazy or it will run. Let cure for 48 hours.
6) Wet sand with 2000grit using water and soap. Let sand paper soak in water for 10 mins before sanding, help keep hard edges from accidently scratching. Will remove orange peel (where clear coat looks like surface of an orange) and smooth out nicely.
7) Polish with a compound to bring back shine. Parts will be dull looking after wet sanding. Compound will make them super shiny again.
8) Wait 1 week before waxing. Paint and clear is still off gassing for 7 days, do not wax until after that time. You can install before waxing, no big deal once clear is cured.

Cost about $70 in paint and supplies to do, was very easy. Just take your time and don't get too excited with paint in any one coat. Much better off to spray multiple light coats. I bought a paint can handle to paint with (pic 3) makes painting with cans so much easier and highly recommended. Running paint or clear is bad bad bad...

[edit] Quick note, ignore the pink dot on the pictures, something happened to the camera in my iphone5 and I need to take it back to Apple.

 

on my never ending *list*. i was gonna order some from bumperplugs as i'm short on time and skill .. but nice job.

 

And a few shots of them on the car. Color matches perfectly and looks how the car should have came

 

agreed. looks weird, the black ones, but all my stuff/bits are black against silver.. so blk bumperettes are a lil less weird. i'm gonna paint then black splitters

 

Looks good!

 

Looks great, luckly for me mine were already done other wise I would have done this. It makes such a difference!

 

This gives the car a cleaner look. Nice job; a worthwhile DIY project.

 

I wish I had read this before I ordered mine from Bumperplugs.com a few weeks ago but I will definitely adapt the DIY to my center console because I don't want to pay close to $600 to get a painted one.
Nice job!

 

nice DIY project
thanks for posting!

 

Nice!!!

 

Thanks for posting. I love DIY projects. It puts the owners heart and soul, sweat into the car.

I heard you can wipe down the parts with acetone to remove the pebbled finish. I might try my rocker panels and front spoiler lip.

 

Very nice, thanks for the write up

 

I tried acetone but it didn't even touch it. Not sure if you have to bathe them in it but wiping from a rag didn't do anything at all.

The initial sanding isn't that big a deal, was about 30 mins a bumperette. Just smooth em down with 120 then 200 to take the coarse lines out. From there it's just painting and light sanding. Pretty easy job and fun too.

 

From the photos, the quality of your paint job really looks good! Nice job!

 

I was just about to say that the bumperettes came out so good you can now repair that chip on your bumper till I realized it was on each picture in the same frame place then I saw you edit note at the bottom...LOL

either way good job on the painting, make a huge diffrence, the black bumperettes look outdated