Modern Vespa

Hi all!

I'm a scooter noob and just bought a 2007 cherry red 250ie with 219 miles on it for $4400. It was tipped in the driveway by the previous owner and is a bit scratched. Think I can buff it out (if so, with what) or should I just get the panel replaced?

replacing the panel will be expensive, but the scratches look too deep to buff out...

i would get a vinyl graphic you like to place over it...10 to 20 bucks could get you a kick ass graphic...

g

According to Athens Scooter, the part is $221.31 for part #2 (that is if i did my research correctly). Does that seem accurate? I'm not sure if it's part #2 or #21 that I should be looking at on the diagram...

You can't buff that out. Those scratches are through the clear, color, primer and into plastic it looks like. Replace panel, cover with graphics, or see if a local body shop will color match paint it.

Or you can sand it and paint it with the original Piaggio dark cherry spray paint. I just happen to have two cans which I will be happy to sell you for what I paid for them.

I had to order them from the Netherlands to paint scrapes similar to yours but, before I could get to it, the bike got damaged far beyond what paint could fix.

Let me know if you are interested (You can PM me) and I'll find my receipt.

Hey I think I just saw this on craigslist. Great deal on the scoot. Welcome and good luck. Me - I would just order the part and be done with it. For for $4600 you get a scoot with a couple hundred miles on it - awesome deal.

Dale

vinyl graphics or get the 2 cans of paint from mpfrank. it ain't bad enough to spend $200 + on a NEW panel.

BTW...welcome to our forum macaid! Love that color MP! As far as your boo-boos, I'd buy the paint from mpfrank....you can always change-out the panel or cover it with Ca.....RaZy graphics

Thanks so much for the offer. Let's do it. I will PM you...

Yah, I saw the post on craigslist - Bay Area last week. Picked up the scoot on Sat and drove it another 129 miles back to my place over the weekend. Got 300 miles on it now!

After sanding, what kind of light bondo type filler and primer should I use prior to spray paining?

You should check with an auto paint supply store. Since it is plastic the filler, primer, and paint should be for a flexible application. I say 'should', you might get by without, but up to you what corners your happy with cutting. Otherwise any department store with an auto section should have what you need.

I would't worry about the flex agent on a side panel. Not enough "flex" to worry about. Sand with 220 and a SMALL amount of filler. When filler is set, sand with 220, 320, 400, wipe, prime, then paint. The ony time you need flex agent is when you paint a panel that moves alot.

Just my two cents.

Try the paint FIRST, you may have a talent to take care of these scratches. Then you can use the newly discovered talent for the rest of your life on the rest of the scratches you will acquire.

Now, if it doesnt work out, or if you dont like the way it comes out, just go ahead and buy the panel.

Remember, always try the cheapest route first.

Welcome...I know you're going to have the time of your life.
About that little ole scratch...don't worry too much about that...after you've had it awhile, you'll drop it too.

Here's the thing, the MP3 is a marvelous piece of machinery to ride when it's going, but when you're slowly easing it along, that bad baby will start to lean and if you're feet aren't planted just right it's going all the way. If it goes to the left, you're forced to hold it by the throttle handle and that's when it can get really interesting....
Let yourself learn it's quirkiness. Let yourself have the same experiences we've had time and again. Then, get the panels replaced.

I have extra black plastic protector fenders in my arsenal at around $18-$20 a piece, but not the major $200 painted pieces, because I know I'll scratch that too ...again......But when the black plastic pieces get broken, then I replace and reorder....It'a an MP3 fact of life with me...and, I suspect, others, too..

Cheers....Welcome...Please post all your experiences and questions. We all learn and enjoy....and always...pics pics pics...cheers..jacquie

I ordered two cans of spray paint from "mpfrank" yesterday. If I remember to, I will post pix of the rehab process in action. Love projects! Can't wait to get on it. I've had a Triumph Speed Triple for 2 years now (my first bike). Haven't dropped that one yet, so I hope I don't drop the MP3, I'd be sooo sad!

OK, I have time to tackle is project this weekend so here is my plan if I understand everyone correctly:

1. throw tarp over scooter in driveway and cut hole in tarp to isolate damaged area on side panel then secure tarp to scoot with with painters tape
2. apply small amount of filler and wait for filler to set
3. sand with 220, 320, 400
4. wipe, prime, spray paint

Sound good? I will take photos of the repair just for kicks. What brand filler and primer do people recommend? How long do i have to wait for filler to set? How long do I have to wait for paint to dry?

just remove the side panel an work on it. but if you want to play doctor --OK.

You left out step 1a.

Sand the scratches FIRST, then use filler.

Those scratches will most likel have curled up some plastic above the surface of the panel. Using filler with those raised surfaces will mean that your filled area will now be as high as any burrs.

I'd take the panel off, it isn't too difficult once you figure a few things out. I'm not doing much today so I'll try and get photos up on how to get that panel off.

That would be awesome! I will start on the project once I see your pix!

OK, I'm trying to get the side panel off so I don't have to sand it on the scooter. I've decided to remove the whole thing, sand all of it and repaint.

How in the heck do I get the backrest off so that I can remove the side grip and the panel? From the "trunk" i've removed the four screws that look like they are responsible for holding the back rest in place. The backrest still won't budge...

I took some pictures today of the process, I'll get them uploaded tonight. There are 3 screws holding the backrest on, two are hidden behind rubber plugs on either side of the trunk light and the other is accessed by removing the trunk light from it's holder.

Ok here goes,



Looking into the trunk you can see two rubber covers, you need to remove them to get to the screws underneath.



Here I'm prying off one of the covers, I recommend you use a screwdriver with a magnatic tip for these screws, if you drop one it is hard to recover it.



Now I'm prying the cover off the trunk light, you can also see the rubber covers have been removed as discussed in the eariler steps.



Once the cover is off you can then remove the screw hidden behind said cover. You may notice that I don't have a bulb in my light, I removed it so it wouldn't drain the battery if I left the seat or trunk open overnight.



The cover will now be able to be removed.



Unbolt the grab handle (13mm socket)



Unscrew the front of the grab handle



Remove the handle

Ok we need to go back to the rear of the bike for the next bit



Remove this tail piece by removing the four screws holding it on, I have the screwdriver on one of the bottom screws, there are two on top you may be able to see in this shot, I've started to remove them before I took the photo.



Pulling the tail piece off

Next steps involve removing the plastic skirt below the side panel



Unscrew the back of the skirt



My screwdriver is pointing at the screw that holds the front of the skirt on, remove this screw.



Once the two screws (front and back) have been removed you can remove the skirt by sliding it TO THE BACK of the bike ( I put all caps in there because you don't want to break the plastic clips that hold this piece on to the side panel, you can see the clips in the photo above and perhaps you can see how they are shaped)

On to the side panel itself;



Remove this screw at the back of the panel



Remove the 4 screws that are on top of the side panel, my screwdrive is on the larger screw, the other 3 are the smaller type screws next to the seat opening.



Remove the panel by sliding it TO THE FRONT of the bike. Again you can see some plastic clips, how they are shaped and why you need to go the right direction.

Hope this helps.

awsome pics of the panel removal,

don't forget to remove the MP3 emblem, easy just warm it with a hair dryer then gently lift an edge with a finger nail and ease it off

Oh my gosh, great photo tutorial - Thanks a million!!!

Zifan that is an excellent tutorial that will remove fear to get at things under the panels. Apparently the west coast has someone to rival Luthorhuss in stripping the panels off a MP3.

so what are you saying there Fuzzy a modern vespa mp3 strip off??

Thread resurrection indeed! I'm undertaking Voltage Regulator replacement on my MP3 250 which wouldn't have happened without Stickyfrog and Zinfan's pictures. Thank you both. Zinfan, this is an excellent pictorial and should be added to the sticky on Voltage Regulator Replacement. Pay special heed to the part about having a magnetic screwdriver when removing the backrest screws, they would fall into an abyss if dropped. I was puzzled where the long wire harness went to, damn thing loops back onto itself. Now to remove both harnesses without buggering the wire tie...