PITA thread, F8 Grille touch up paint...

Looking to touch up the front grille of my F8. It's matte black I believe.
What would be best or nearest colour match? Looking for the best method / type to use.
Is there a special colour code? Any recommendations / hints / tips would be great. I'm UK based.
pen type? touch up brush may be messy? I don't mind having to do it repeatedly to build up layers.

Sorry for my silly question.

 

Great, toothpick method sounds good and thanks for the rustoleum recommendation. Will be ordering that asap.

 

Got the rustoleum and did a quick touch up... it worked perfectly. like wow. I will keep doing this over the next few days to build up a few layers and touch up the much smaller marks... It was perfect as I showed up to a Porsche club meet in a sparkling F8!!!! The grille was literally the only thing that stood out as it had a number of chips revealing the metal.
This was indeed fun, but now... another PITA question. Apologies... again, in advance. Thank you for all the advice I have had though. I am indebted to the Ferrari Chat community. So...

How can I clean the area behind the grille? Ha yes, mine is a fair bit dirty after driving the car in the national weather of the UK - rain.
I will take a pic and upload here if it helps.
Is it possible to easily clean this area? Maybe stuff a small damp cloth into one of the holes, then work it around with a small plastic rod of some kind, in and out of the various holes? Then attempt to fish it out? This will take some time and will likely be annoying but the only thing I can think of.
Is it possible to jack up the car, remove the grille then clean from the front? I know this is a lot but once every month or two for the 6 months I will drive the car may make it worth while.

I've done all kinds including using a hairdryer (on cold) to shift specs of dirt out of nooks and crannies in the frunk, front splitter and rear diffuser.
I use a dremel for certain intricate parts that I cannot otherwise reach and to clean the tyre walls and wheels.

 

Interesting, is this for the Milwaukee M18VC2 18V wet / dry vacuum?
The tips alone are douible the price in the UK, Milwaukee is not a popular brand here therefore difficult to source.
however, if I know what it is exactly I can find a similar product here.
thanks for the great advice.
What method do you use? pour water on the area then use the vacuum tips to suck it dry?

 

I just told a few people about our friendship, it works two ways you advise me and I indeed accept and cherish your advice. I would no doubt do the same for you, Chris. We are even on first name terms! It's often myself who gives gifts but not often I receive them! If a gift came my way I would never forget and make sure to tell everyone I know, even random people I meet!!! Ah, you need my address, check your inbox!

Your dear friend!
Bobby

 

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This was the grille that had a number of chips down to metal, after the rustoleum as you can see it is perfect. After this picture I gave it a good clean and went over it again with the rustoleum even touching up small marks. I cannot tell you how impressed I am. It will take time as there are always marks that I miss but they are very difficult to see also, the larger marks are covered and seeing as I have so much rustoleum i'll just keep touching it up.

Now the water marks in the second picture are bugging me! I cannot see how to access this area except through the grille. Using water would be pointless as it would dry leaving water marks. I do have filtered water used for drinking so maybe I could try that with my karcher K7 and reduce the pressure then see how that drys but I don't use the pressure washer on the car otherwise. Maybe a cloth soaked in some g techniq quick detailer and some type of rod to move it around. Not sure the vacuum bits will work but will still get something like the milwaukee bits I was recommended as they will come in useful for various other parts of the car in any case.

 

You are such a hero you don't understand, well you can see though! That stuff is impressive. I will be going over and over it just to make sure it's well layered and even tiny spots are gone, after all I have 250ml. Got it just in time for a Porsche club meet and those guys went over and over it to try to spot problems. Some walked away with a piece of rope and others praised the car. I was asked by so many people who I use to detail my car!! ha. left and right hand!
But credit where it is due and you sir are my new superhero!! There were around 8 large chips down to metal that you could easily see, all gone.

Now then, I will indeed look at those brushes, I have plenty of IPA and other cleaning solutions such as a variety of g techniq stuff. Then we get to ceramic coating, looks like I am the same level of nuts as yourself. Has to be done, no doubt. Rain is our national weather in the UK so this will only keep happening. Ceramic coating sounds like the perfect solution. Did you ceramic coat it through the grille? Using such brushes? I don't mind taking it apart once if that's the best way and it's not so hard to do. I believe this will be the perfect solution. I am on it now, will order a variety of brushes to clean and some ceramic coating.

I cannot thank you enough for your help, advice and understanding.

 

So this PITA thread turned out not to be a PITA thread. Dearest friend Chris... Adam's Master Blaster Revolution you say!!! as a gift!!! Friends for life!
Not sure about the Turbo Dryer, it says 220mph, there is no way I can purchase such an item that blows air faster than my car! I have a great variable digital heat gun, 50 degrees to 600 degrees and variable speed so that should be great for the grille for now. Adam's Master Blaster looks amazing, I will try to find some equivalent here in the UK as I can see a number of uses for that, it's a shame it does not suck air like a vacuum also. Worst case scenario I have a friend in Seattle who visits the EU regularly and sometimes the UK. Even those milwaukee attachments become double the price in the UK. It would literally be cheaper for me to meet my friend anywhere in Europe just to collect some items from him. I will try to find a UK equivalent but I find the US has more product availability and the quality is better. I also like the idea of having products from the US, it's just different.

Those brushes and long cotton buds are brilliant. just need to find the equivalent ones in the UK which is easy.

Thank you for your time and efforts to help me, it is a big deal to me and really means a lot.

 

Great, in a few days i'm going round to a friend who has many tools, good knowledge and another pair of eyes and brain always helps, as well as his hands!
We are going over some details and will have a look at disassembling this part to clean and apply a ceramic coat. I am sure this is the best method and will put an end to this problem.

If you or anyone can point me in the right direction to disassemble the front to access behind the grille please let me know. I will have a good look myself but another persons input is always helpful. I never would have thought of ceramic coating this part for example so that was perfect and will just end this issue. I did spend some time thinking about this and even those cleaning brushes have given me better thought going forward.

 

I have just noticed a slight touch up is needed on the left hand grill on the passenger side rear quarter panel. Would this be the same rustoleum but satin black? Want to get it right.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rust-Oleum-400ml-Painters-Touch-Spray/dp/B001W03PHM/ref=sr_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NXafOPZhjEujUJSu_VDtkF5rkuK0F5al9WC-5yIH5fERZXXwlzRBVraHurbtEkE2xlnyqUH6jlY2tfajUjkmuN9Vv8TintMYlSd09Dwfxp9Z5D5WCCblC4LZhTKmgrK3d-lwXmHKcufJjJzSFDWCEp_7Hbgrp7fyiq06IWTeUJNL2ni674dZvRDznibgu7x7t3I9xvTItlr1noW4ruZiQ1xrpYw8ONLUssMAgWgBnmUT_wgxNB9j_-bJMVIDTQIs7AhK9MCHn0CU4RZzh05AoaAYGnTdWBVLtWoarqk_1vE.P2lQ9i71l21OpPtJfsktbx0DBzqXAyW6_yZT3wi2rKA&dib_tag=se&keywords=rustoleum+satin+black&qid=1753385803&sr=8-6

Like this? If not can you give me a link.

Very much appreciated, no rush at all.
Still working on the front watermarks, but the car is being booked in for new ppf and ceramic coat, so at this time I will get the pro guys who do the ppf and ceramic coat to do this section for me. Seems car will be perfect for winter when I lock her away! Ready for next year! ha.

 

No, the ones on the top of the rear quarter panel just in front of the spoiler.

 

They are flat, like you could put a drink on it, not that I would be that stupid to put a can of drink on the top of this grill just because it's the best flat section of the car. In any case it's the passenger side that is slightly discoloured and i did not put the drink on the driver side grille, this afternoon.

 

I'll have another look and get a picture, I don't think it's chipped but it looked worn down in a few areas, then there was some slight discoloration. It wasn't easy to see and the first time i've seen it. I will have a look in the morning, get a picture and post to show. The other thing is if I do touch it up then it may make it even more obvious. I'll have a better look in the morning.
I have an event on Saturday so i've spent the week cleaning and going over the car. It needs a few bits but I will get there eventually.