Hi all,

I'm replacing the passenger-side sideview mirror on my 98 A4 B5 with a unit I bought off eBay. The problem is that the mirror housing is casablanca white, instead of pearl white.

However, I do have three cans of touch-up spray that came with the car. One can is magenta, one is white, and the other is clearcoat.

Question: How do I do the three-stage pearl paint process? I think the magenta is primer, then spray white, then obviously spray clear. Is this correct, or do you lay down white, then a little magenta, then white before the clear?

Thanks,
-RE

The multi stage pearl paint is not a DIY and I don't think you would be happy with the results. Is takes a lot of prep and skill to do this job without training. The mirror is small and you might be able to pull it off but I would take it to a good shop. They wont charge too much for painting just a mirror.

my dad used to own a body shop and he once told me that it is almost impossible to match a pearl white paint. you will almost always see the difference in the color.

Matching pearl is almost impossible. I know people who have been doing it 20+years and it's real real hard! You can try it but I doubt you'll be happy with it. That said a shop might get it a little closer but it won't be a perfect match so I say try it see if you like it!

Thanks -- sounds like I should skip the paint attempt and wait for a pearl mirror to show up on eBay.

Thats not a bad idea. Maybe paint the mirror you have now an off-white so that it doesn't look too bad and then keep your eyes pealed on ebay and the junk yards.

i would suggest getting chrome or brushed aluminum mirror covers :P that way you dont have to do any painting...

^^ +1

yep and the audi s4's had them so its almost a upgrade!

So I painted my eBay casablanca white mirror with pearl white and it looks pretty damn good. Matches the rest of the car pretty well. I wouldn't do this for a new car, but a 13-year-old car? Sure.

Turns out casablanca white is the base color for pearl white, so I just sprayed a couple coats of Audi "magnolia pearl effect" top coat followed by a couple coats of Audi "clear varnish" and wet sanded/polished.

For pearl white:

Stage 1: Plain white paint

Stage 2: Magnolia pearl effect paint

Stage 3: Clear coat