gump

Hi. I'm planning on getting my car repainted it's original color, probably holding off until spring to do it. I never have had a car painted before, and I'm curious as to how much (ballpark) I would be spending on a nice thorough paint job (non-Maaco). For those of you out there who are familiar with paint job's, how much will I be looking at? $500? $1000?
Also, is there anything extra I should ask for when I have it done like, extra clear coat or rustproofing?? Thanks.

purple82

My first paint job was $2000 eleven years ago. It had drips and looked crappy in general. A year later, my second paint job was $8000 and now I have a true show piece. That included dent and ding removal without any bondo and removal of any trace of orange-peel even in the door jams and the engine bay.

In general, I'd say you need to spend at least $2500-$3000 to get a paint job with a quality paint that will last.

bouis

Surely you mean 2000 pesos? A $2000 paint job shouldn't have any drips.

purple82

It was crap, $2000 from Sam's in Denver and it had drips, huge ugly metal flakes in the paint and alot of overspray to remove.

$8000 from an artist at Hennepin Auto Body in Minneapolis and I RARELY run across any car with a mirror finish like mine.

851stgen12a

$3000 should get you a pretty damn good paint job. you can get it alot less if you do all the prep work though.

82streetracer

iTrader: (1)

what would prep work involve.

My car is almost free of any dents, and is very strait.

would the prep just involve, sanding and priming.

thats easy.

I do alot of work with spraypaint (not planning to paint whole car with spraypaint) but Im sure that I could prime and smooth it myself. then just have it sprayed.

If I prep the whole car and supply my own paint(HoK). what am I looking at for cost??

bouis

Hell, I say if you can prime and sand the car yourself, you should be able to paint it as well. You can buy or rent all the equipment you need for not too much. It'll take you forever, but you could probably get real good results if you're patient and careful.

Mr. ImportGuy

If you prime it your self talk to your painter about what he recomends for primer. If there is a paint failure and he has to waranty his work the blame will fall on your "X" brand primer. When he calls his paint company they are going to also point finger at the primer. It's best to work within a system but on certian things you can get by.

Manntis

My insurance co. paid $3,500 for paint on the front half of the car. Assuming a bit for setup and prep, that would be $6,000 for the whole shebang, or $4,500 greenbacks.

Wait - greenbacks aren't green anymore.

Mr. ImportGuy

Also if it is not the factory finish you are spraying over you most likly have much more sanding to do. Painters do not want to spray over an aftermarket job or over a damaged factory finish. This is because the paint will most likly have the same problems as the old paint underneath.

HadaGSL-SE

iTrader: (6)

Ive worked at bodyshops since i was 16, Im still just under 20 but have worked at 3 bodyshops since then, I currently work at one part time in college in addition Ive worked at a speedshop.

On my first car I paid about $400 dollars for good materials, preped the car myself and did everthing but spray it myself came out very nice besides were I screwed up on taking out some little runs and dirt (my first attempt) 4 coats of clear and a pearl coat fading from front to back.

A good paint job WILL cost you at least 2 grand if you just drop the car off at the shop and have them do all the work. If your willing to drop the cash I would look at a restoration shop thats used to putting show car finishes on Corvettes, Muscle Cars, Hot Rods ect. but this will probably cost you around 5k

Its all what you want from the car, if you read a book, take your time or have a freind who knows his ****, you can prep it, and have a reputable shop spray a good looking finish on it and keep it under a grand.

Well now thats that done
-Greg

Makenzie71

Good lord I paid $200 the last time I got a car painted and it lasted forever...

Junia

If doing it yourself is an option, I would go that route. If anything, learning how to do your own bodywork is something valuble that you'll gain from the experience.

purple82

Great advice.

LongDuck

I paid a little less than 1500 about 2 months ago for my paintjob at a local autobody joint, and they did a good-enough job. It's not show quality, but it is Mazda BZ/21T (Chrome Yellow Clearcoat) same as the 2004 Mazda 6, and the lines are straight, all door dings gone and back to smooth finish.

This car has never been in an accident, is very straight, and only required minor prime filling and wet sand prior to paint. The basecoat/clearcoat combination is what comes on new cars these days, and while the paint is much softer than the factory finish, I'm hoping that several 120 degree summers here in AZ will help to dehydrate the paint and harden it up. This is one reason why I waited until summer this year for the work to be done.

I was quoted over $4k at another shop less than a mile away, so was satisfied with the overall appearance. The shop charged a bit more to do door jams and underhood, but threw in gas tank filler door (inside), all fenderwells, all black trim around doors and bumper strips, and disassembly of the ground effects and wing prior to paint. This allows me to remove any parts and still have the matching yellow underneath.

If I were to do it again, I would do it this same way, spend about the same, and understand that you can pay a lot more and it will look alot better. I am satisfied with the paintjob, workmanship, and prep that went into the car, and would recommend this shop to anyone - as long as they saw my car first.

Paint won't make your car go faster, won't help your reaction times, or increase cornering ability - but it will make you look at your car differently - it is money well spent, IMO.

luiml73

iTrader: (1)

I paid $750 for mine. I don't like the Idea of paying so much for paintjob on a daily driven car. My friend paid $4000.00 for his when he got the RE-amemiya front 1year ago, and the car is already all fucked up. People in parking lots putting dent's on your doors. little rocks on the highway, all kinds off ****.

I got home one Sat. night and I found my front spoiler on the floor in three pieces. The only reason I did'nt break down in tears was cause i did'nt pay much for the paintjob and it was fixed and painted for $150.

I guess if you don't drive your car much, than it's worth it.

My car still shines after 1year and a half.







BTW: My friends t2 does'nt look like this anymore
he's saving up to fix it again

purple82

I like the color, is it Miata blue?

Metallic_rock

I paid 289 at Maaco. I did ALL the prep work. Here's what it turned out like!!



I know, crappy pic, but it looked really good in real life.

EDIT- actually, check out the reflection on the fender of the 2nd gen next to it.

nickj

I couldn't see spending even two grand on a car I paid $1200 for. The paint was really bad, a crummy aftermarket job that was peeling all over the place, so I just painted it myself. It's back to the original color, and I took the time to pull stuff off and paint under everything. I'm not a pro, and it's obvious on close inspection, but it looks great from a few feet away. About $500 for everything -- paint, equipment rental, sandpaper, tape, and all.

gump

Hmmm... thanks for everyones input so far. I really dont want to drop more then about a $1000 into a paint job, but that might be unrealistic being that I would want the little door dings to be taken out as well. It use to be my daily driver when I first got it, but now it's just one of my weekend cars, so a good paint job would be more beneficial. I would not be able to do the prep work myself. I can turn wreches all day but sanding, whew, no thanks.

luiml73

iTrader: (1)

2000 audi s4 nogaro blue

Makenzie71

I think my next paint job will be about $15. It's going to be flat black...or an industrial gloss black...either way black and it'll be cheap and duarble. I want the flat black so I can take colordy chalks to it and decorate from time to time!!!weeeeeeeeeee

FB II

if you chalk on it, be prepared to sand it off and repaint. the chalk will not come off. i know from experience. :P:

Makenzie71

well damnit...lol...I had big hopes of that...lol...maybe black chalkboard paint...

bliffle

I had my Sable painted at Earl Shieb for $300 in the same midnight blue and it came out pretty good. The vertical surfaces were fine, no drips, but the hood was sorta unsmooth, wavy. It looked great! Even my wife liked it.

B