Replacement panel paint quality

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I've just received panels from Walloth and Nesch, a mixture of genuine BMW painted black and some Walloth repair panels painted a light grey. Should i strip off this paint and then epoxy primer, or scuff and epoxy primer over the supplied panel paint? In other words is the quality of the BMW/Walloth paint good enough to retain or is it poor quality and will compromise the subsequent paint coatings?

[Tommy]

Semigloss BMW parts are good for paint. When I bought sheetmetal parts couple years ago rockers and one of rear quarters had this. But even some BMW parts have poor matte black paint, like other one of my quarter panels. Those and all aftermarket parts I would strip.

Tommy

[Tommy]

And when I think more I remember trunk floor which was something between previous ones. It was more gloss but flaking at some points so I stripped it too.

Tommy

[Cyclone101]

scratch them on a small unseen corner and see how easily it comes off. But TBH, the little hassle of taking the paint off is nothing to having to redo your cars paint cause it flakes off... I wouldn't take the risk.

Regards

Jacques

[roadhog0]

A buddy of mine who restores cars as a hobby sand blasts it all off on every part. Do it once the right way.

[TobyB]

And there's your answer- it varies!

I've gotten MT panels that were shot with a very durable epoxy.

I've also gotten MT panels that you could clean shiny with only a razor blade.

I do it this way- if it comes off easily, it all goes. If it's really tough and

durable, I scuff the bejezuz out of it, and seal over it.

When I have any doubts, it comes off. But if it won't come off,

then I don't have any doubts, and it stays on.

There you go.

t

[stymee]

If it is the gray/greenish stuff on the aftermarket W&N panels, TAKE IT OFF! I think it is only there to prevent flash rusting. It comes off way easy, even with a fingernail. I would not paint over it.

[fourtii]

I love Auckland...G'day mate. Strip the outside with chemical stripper and then treat the bare metal with zinc metal prep, epoxy primer and then base/clearcoat. Leave the crappy primer on the inside but sand it and epoxy prior to hanging the sheetmetal.

Can I stay with you when I visit NZ next time? I'll help you with the 02.

Bruce

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Thanks for all the replies, i scratch tested both paints, the BMW genuine panels were hard to scrach off and the Walloth panels scratched very easily, so ill be stripping the Walloth panels completly and applying epoxy primer, the BMW panels ill leave and apply an additional coat of epoxy primer.

BTW apart from the indifferent paint quality the Walloth panels look good, decent gauge steel and nice stampings - happy with them