The paint name is found on a sticker on the right passenger's side
near radiator under hood on most MINI vehicles.
Q. How do I find my MINI Cooper Paint Name? A. MINI has made paint color matching easy by using the name
of the paint color as the "code". This OEM paint name is easily found
under the hood. The paint color name label is located adjacent to the headlight
washer reservoir filler on the right shock tower (see picture above.) Click
Here for a full list of AutoSharp Paint Pen Colors available by vehicle model
and year.
Q. How can I obtain the best results with my AutoSharp Pen™?
A. Always start with a clean car. Paint will not stick to dirt
or wax. If you are washing your car yourself, use a natural sponge or chamois
for best results. Make sure the car is dry. Wipe the area you are going to touch
up with a cotton swab dampened with alcohol.
Click Play for Video Below to Watch Demonstartion
and Get Tips on Using Paint Pens.
Q. Why does paint sometimes flow out of the sides of the AutoSharp
Pen when I depress the tip? A. This may happen if you press the tip too hard on a surface.
Remove excess from the side with a shop towel or paper towel.
Q. Does the temperature make a difference when I touch up my car? A. Yes. Never touch up your car in the direct sunlight. The
ideal temperatures are between 65 and 80 degrees.
Q. What if I don't like what I've just done? A. Place a small amount of paint thinner on a cotton swab.
Gently wipe it over the area you just touched up. You can shine up any dulled
areas later on with a little wax.
Q. How do I get a high gloss finish? A. Make sure every coat is dry prior to applying another coat
of paint. For an even higher gloss, you may purchase one of our clear coat pens
from us.
Q. How long before I can wash my car? A. Wait at least 1 day.
Q. How should I store my AutoSharp Pen? A. Store the pen on its side and keep it in a cool, dry place.
Never keep it in your car.
Q. What is the difference between solid paint, metallic and tri-coats
paint? A.
Solids: Solid colors were the first colors to be used on
cars, and are still widely used today. They have no metallic or pearl flakes
added to the color. Solid colors look the same from any angle.
Metallics: Metallic colors contain very fine, sparkling
metallic flakes. This makes the paint glitter and sparkle. Metallic colors
are very popular in all makes and models today.
Tri-Coats or 3 Stage Paints: A tri-coat or 3-stage paint
has three different layers: base coat, pearl coat and clear coat. The base
coat can be a solid color or a metallic color. The pearl coat is a translucent
paint with pearl flakes mixed in. The last coat is the clear coat, which is
a shiny see through paint. This is also a protective coat from the sun. Tri-Coats
show slight highlights of diverse colors when you look at your car from different
angles.
Q. I have a metallic green car. Will the AutoSharp Pen match the
color of my car? A. Metallic and Tri-Coat paints will always look different
touched up versus sprayed on. When spraying these paints, the metallic flakes
will spread out and lay down differently. If you touch up these paints, the
metallic and pearls will look more condensed, since there is no air behind the
painting process. AutoVisuals makes your paint to the manufactures specifications,
so the color match will always be consistently good.
Q. What is a Paint Code? Can't I just give you the name of the
color? A. The paint code is a combination of numbers and sometimes
letters assigned by the manufacturer of the car. To get the exact paint color
for your car, the paint code is necessary to have. Some of today's metallic
and pearl colors have multiple variances of the same color. The only difference
in the paint code could be a dash and a letter. It is also necessary to have
the paint code and not the paint color because the factory may call the color
Mint Green Metallic for example, and the actual specification color will be
called wintergreen metallic.
Q. What elements can have a negative effect on my paint job? A. The worst adversary of your car's paint include the following
three classes:
Rust: The catalysts for rust on your car are water and
salt.
Sunlight: The sun's UV rays are the lead cause of sun
damage to your car.
Acid Rain: This means airborne contaminants caused by
industrial fall out. These are dissolved in rainfall or in overnight condensation.
Natural Hazards: Examples of natural hazards are dead
bugs, wet leaves, water from your sprinklers and bird droppings. All of these
have elements in them to eat right through your paint job.
Q. How can I protect the finish of my car? A. There are many things you can do to take care of your car.
Below are a few basic things to do.
Always park your car in the shade.
Do not park your car under or near trees or factories if possible. Sap or
industrial fallout can make marks in your paint finish.
Avoid driving on gravel roads; this will chip the finish quickly.
While at the gas station, be very careful not to spill gasoline or any other
fluids that may damage the paints finish.
Wash your car at least once per week with a natural sponge and dry with
a chamois to avoid scratching the paint.
Put a coat of wax on your car at least every 6 months. For best results,
always use Carnauba wax and apply with a cloth diaper or 100% cotton T-Shirt.
Either one of these will not scratch your paints surface. Always apply wax
in a shady area.
Keep your car covered as much as possible, either in a garage or with a
Mini Cooper car cover.
As soon as you see a paint chip or scratch that is through to the primer
or metal, address it immediately. Do this by first cleaning the damaged area
with a cotton swab dampened with alcohol. Then touch up the area.
