I have just bought a new Mk2 flare set. They are black plastic. I was wondering what prep work is required before painting the body colour. They have not been fitted yet.

I cleaned mine with oil and grease remover, then sprayed with plastic primer, then colour coat. Been perfect for the last 5 years on the car.....

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Cooper S Mk2
Cooper S Mk1
ex Cooper S Mk2, various Morris 1100s, 1300s, 1500s, Leyland Sherpa!

I have painted a multiple sets over the past few years, using acrylic paint. I follow a locked thread HowTo by Phat Kat. A very helpful guide to car painting.
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=63720
As the flares are not required to flex I treat them like a metal body part and have had no issues. I have painted non-Mini plastic bumpers and have added a flex aid due to the pliable nature of the bumpers, the paint shop where I buy paint gave this advice.

As new flares come in good condition, I initially scuff them with a very fine sanding sponge, then basically follow Phat Kat's HowTo. I dry sand where I can and use foam backed sanding sponges where possible. I haven't used guide coat lately, but have used a product by Bodyworx - Imperfection Sanding Guide.

If you are using 2K paint, you'd have to modify some steps. If this is the case, hopefully an expert can provide some guidance.
Good luck.

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Clive G
1969 Mk II Cooper S
1970 MK II Cooper S
1963 Triumph Spitfire
1982 RX-7 Series 2

When I got mine, I spoke to a cousin who was a spray painter amd he suggested degreasing then scrub with scotchbrite pad then plastic primer, colour and clear coat. Mine have been fine for years.

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Cheers Dave.

Trial fit first, to check if they need any cleanup where they sit over the seams mouldings.

As cgo said - treat them like a metal part as they don't flex I have never bothered with plastic primer. Light scuff with Scotchbrite or P400 wet/dry. Then primer - flatten - topcoats as normal.
The flares are more likely to stress crack around the seam mounding cut-outs and the cut-outs for hooking them over the trim buttons, that you don't need to fit anyway.

Those cutouts are not made in current flare manufacture since no-one uses them.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

That is a definite improvement! But there will be many earlier or original flares with the cutouts.
I have had to reinforce almost every cutout with fibreglass before repainting them.