Mini. Now in red oxide.

Two months later the Mini’s been stripped and primed in red oxide etch primer. It looks gorgeous, inside and out.

Now all we have to do is consult with car painters and get quotes for the paint job; and this is where it all goes a bit wrong.

It turns out that, while etch primer is a fine base for a DIY paint job and is even compatible with modern 2-pack paints, it’s not the best any more. Any residual acid in the paint can interfere with the adhesion of epoxy primer, and every painter we spoke to said they would do the job, but wouldn’t guarantee it. It’s going to have to come off, at least on any exterior surfaces. Ugh.

This is why you consult with a painter first- this was not an inexpensive mistake.