Lets talk paint // automobile

HMP

HMP

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So I had started a thread a month or so ago asking about car wraps. I got some good information from you guys, and I really appreciate it.
But lets shift gears a bit and ask about car painting - If one were looking for a daily driver quality paint job, not 300$ Maaco, but not exotic car show quality, what would be expected in terms of cost?
Have anyone that you recommend?
Ive read some folks on various forums talk about how they've 'worked' with paint shops and removed many parts ahead of time to try to save some labor costs, is that a common thing?
ie: if I removed the headlight panels (pop ups), engine lid (no, not hood lol), spoiler, bumpers myself etc etc, would that help reduce cost a tad?

Ive got a bit of a hangup with this MR2 that I bought, it's ugly. No, not the bodylines, those are sexy as sin, but the paint. And I was talking to someone yesterday, about how I wanted to hit up a Cars and Coffee, but just felt like it'd be silly in it's present state of paint condition.
Plus, seeing his, in Super Red...Yeah, I miss my red MR2.

Just looking for suggestions and comments.
And, as always, I appreciate any constructive comments and help yall give
 
A full color change is ALOT of work to do correctly.

It's been years since I've painted or done any body work but I'd expect to pay 3-4,000 for a full color change if not more. That is unless you know someone that will REALLY work with you. Prep is everything.

Some college autobody shops will take in cars as projects for the kids taking classes. The outcome of that work however, is a direct reflection of how dedicated those students are. I've seen some really good paint jobs and some botched ones come out of the school I went to.
 
The college deal might be something you can do. Not sure if your school is still sending kids to community college for automotive but they did when I went there.
 
DCGallim said:
The college deal might be something you can do. Not sure if your school is still sending kids to community college for automotive but they did when I went there.
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They arent, but DCCC does still have their automotive program.

3 grand is more than I can spend on a paint job, and I realize that doing it properly would be a TON of work, pretty much stripping the entire car down to the chassis.
I really dont want to do that much, I really dont want to spend that much. I dont know that I want to keep the metallic green paint color either.
Blah.


Thanks yall for the replies
 
From an operating body shop I'd say $18-2500 for anything worthwhile that will hold up past 6 months. It's not as cheap as it used to be! I love painting cars but can't do it anymore.
 
Ben Jefferson said:
From an operating body shop I'd say $18-2500 for anything worthwhile that will hold up past 6 months. It's not as cheap as it used to be! I love painting cars but can't do it anymore.
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For anything you'd actually be happy with, double that. Been there, done that.
 
oh that's so much lol bummer news yall
 
What would yall assume/guess a reasonable price on keeping color the same?
 
$2K to $2500 for the same color.

$3500 to $4k for a color change

A friend of mine that runs a body shop was telling me not long ago, how much paint has gone up in the last 10 years.
 
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LeeMajors said:
$2K to $2500 for the same color.

$3500 to $4k for a color change

A friend of mine that runs a body shop was telling me not long ago, how much paint has gone up in the last 10 years.
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out of curiosity, what area is your friend?


And why the steep increase in the past decade?
 
LeeMajors said:
20 minutes west of Huntersville

He said it was the EPA bs for the increase. low voc and all that crap.
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thank you

I had a local guy do my previous MR2. He did quite a bit of body work plus the paint job and it was like a grand
So when Im hearing MUCH more money Im shocked, like 150% higher in 13 years is, to me, wild.
 
LeeMajors said:
20 minutes west of Huntersville

He said it was the EPA bs for the increase. low voc and all that crap.
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Three cheers for government regulation, er i mean, saving the environment :rolleyes:

HMP said:
thank you

I had a local guy do my previous MR2. He did quite a bit of body work plus the paint job and it was like a grand
So when Im hearing MUCH more money Im shocked, like 150% higher in 13 years is, to me, wild.
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Last body work I had done, a simple dent in a door. Work required the dent be repaired/door painted, and blended into the back door. $700 and was quoted that (+/- ~$25) from three different places. It was done correctly, door handles/trim r&r as you would do if you were painting your MR2. I had sticker shock as well.
 
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If I lived closer I'd help with the bodywork I worked in a body shop in hs and a while after.
 
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A reputable shop will not allow you to do some of the work yourself. Impossible to warranty that.

A complete color change 15 years ago, and done right, was a minimum of $3500 with quality paints. Not sure how much prices have changed since then, but I'm considering a color change on a new Supra and will budget $5k for the job.
 
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Plastidip it.
dipyourcar.com
 
Two years ago my father had his truck roof and hood repainted (due to sun damage) and the rest of the paint blended to match. It cost $3000.

The shop he used said a gallon of automotive paint that complies with all the latest and greatest regulations might cost near $1000.

I will say that with all that work they invested that 20 year old truck that spent its whole life outside looks like brand new.
 
GoWolfpack said:
Two years ago my father had his truck roof and hood repainted (due to sun damage) and the rest of the paint blended to match. It cost $3000.

The shop he used said a gallon of automotive paint that complies with all the latest and greatest regulations might cost near $1000.

I will say that with all that work they invested that 20 year old truck that spent its whole life outside looks like brand new.
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What color was the truck and do you know what brand paint it was?

My car was painted about 14 years ago and I bought a gallon of PPG paint for $1100 just for the base coat, no clear, no primer or anything else.
 
The cost of paint and body work is a real bummer.

I've got an 03 mustang that has a dented fender from a chunk of steel that fell off an 18 wheeler, and a lot of sun fading. I love the car, but the cost of having it painted to look good again is honestly as much as the car is worth.

I've considered having Maaco do one of their jobs on it, but I've heard the quality of the work is very iffy.
 
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Grim said:
What color was the truck and do you know what brand paint it was?

My car was painted about 14 years ago and I bought a gallon of PPG paint for $1100 just for the base coat, no clear, no primer or anything else.
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No idea on the brand of paint. The shop could have meant that $1000 of the price my dad paid was for paint. But the truck is dark red/almost brown GM. Don't know what chevy calls the color because their site won't open for me.
 
HMP said:
thank you

I had a local guy do my previous MR2. He did quite a bit of body work plus the paint job and it was like a grand
So when Im hearing MUCH more money Im shocked, like 150% higher in 13 years is, to me, wild.
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And that was still a budget price even 13 years ago
 
...and he doesnt. lol.
 
I did my paint job on my 2000 Celica mostly myself and paid cost for many of the materials. A complete, all over paint job, including door jams and under the hood and hatch with all glass removed, like it should be will run at least $5k in today's prices.
 
Just for grins...

MAACO is offering a half price sale on complete paint jobs for $350.I

Probably a scuff job, same color, acrylic enamel, no jambs - but might be able to get a color change for about 1k.
 
Ben Jefferson said:
Just for grins...

MAACO is offering a half price sale on complete paint jobs for $350.I

Probably a scuff job, same color, acrylic enamel, no jambs - but might be able to get a color change for about 1k.
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I worry about them, Ive known some folks to get great jobs there, and some that look horrible. I dont want to risk it
 
HMP said:
I worry about them, Ive known some folks to get great jobs there, and some that look horrible. I dont want to risk it
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I would too, you get what you pay for in these circumstances.

Just trying to keep his cost down.

Either way, the more prep work he can do himself would help.
 
Ben Jefferson said:
I would too, you get what you pay for in these circumstances.

Just trying to keep his cost down.

Either way, the more prep work he can do himself would help.
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..."his" is me lol
 
J R Green said:
Here's an excellent video showing all the work that goes into a quality paint job.
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really cool video, I actually watched it all over the course of several days
Surprised this was one day of work! Seems like it would have taken much much longer, especially when there was 45-60 minutes of wait time between some coats, the body work etc

I'd love that guy to do my car, but Im thinking my mortgage a year is probably what he charges these day ha
 
HMP said:
really cool video, I actually watched it all over the course of several days
Surprised this was one day of work! Seems like it would have taken much much longer, especially when there was 45-60 minutes of wait time between some coats, the body work etc

I'd love that guy to do my car, but Im thinking my mortgage a year is probably what he charges these day ha
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Actually at the end they said they had the car for ten days. They said that some of the stages were let dry 18 hours or more in between.

But yeah, there were so many steps that I hadn't considered and I'm sure that lesser body men would skip.
 
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J R Green said:
Actually at the end they said they had the car for ten days. They said that some of the stages were let dry 18 hours or more in between.

But yeah, there were so many steps that I hadn't considered and I'm sure that lesser body men would skip.
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it seems like the last stages are what took all the time. An hour or so in he says one day.
But, yes, one drying/curing stage was two days, iirc
 
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