Repainting in Kent

[BlueC2]

Who would you recommend to visit for a good body shop in Kent that does an excellent standard of paint work but at reasonable rates?

Would a BMW workshop be the surest way of getting a decent job done, or you just pay lots extra for not much more in return?

My wife has treated the front bumper to some go faster stripes and I would like to put it back to as good as new.

[paoloh]

If you can make it down to Sussex, I can get it done for £100.

[kds keltec]

Bmw only sub the work out too a indy paintshop and put their cut on top !!

The guy i use for some of my customers cars only works for trade people , but so far has not had a problem when i have sent then direct and he is based near me in the medway towns if that helps !!

Just picked up a 53plate 535d from him tonight which was the complete front respray !

There are a few cars on my website with some sort of paint work carried out by him and he is a reasonable price!

Kelly

[BlueC2]

kds keltec said:

Bmw only sub the work out too a indy paintshop and put their cut on top !!

The guy i use for some of my customers cars only works for trade people , but so far has not had a problem when i have sent then direct and he is based near me in the medway towns if that helps !!

Just picked up a 53plate 535d from him tonight which was the complete front respray !

There are a few cars on my website with some sort of paint work carried out by him and he is a reasonable price!

Kelly

Thanks for the very prompt reply. Funny enough I was looking over the KDS web site only last night. I was impressed.

Would your man be able to give a quote based on a photo in the first instance? I would like to know if I would best off with a localised repair, or to just do the whole front bumper to freshen it right up. I might even consider some work to the front of the bonnet to remove some light stone chips, but I would get an opinion in person for that.

Perhaps I could mail you?

[BlueC2]

paoloh said:

If you can make it down to Sussex, I can get it done for £100.

I'm pretty sure that I'll be needing to travel. The important thing for me is to get a decent job done. I don't want to be looking at the obvious repair and wishing I'd done something else! I hate that.

Would £100 cover a localised repair? Is the repairer a person you have trusted with your own cars?

I'm just weighing up my options at the moment as I'm at work at the moment and can't do much about it for a short while.

I can mail you if you like?

[belleair302]

Townley Body and Panel in Dartford are the business regarding BMW bodywork.

[paoloh]

BlueC2 said:

paoloh said:

If you can make it down to Sussex, I can get it done for £100.

I'm pretty sure that I'll be needing to travel. The important thing for me is to get a decent job done. I don't want to be looking at the obvious repair and wishing I'd done something else! I hate that.

Would £100 cover a localised repair? Is the repairer a person you have trusted with your own cars?

I'm just weighing up my options at the moment as I'm at work at the moment and can't do much about it for a short while.

I can mail you if you like?

£100 is for the whole panel.

I use this workshop all the time, they specialise in prestige cars.

[kds keltec]

BlueC2 said:

kds keltec said:

Bmw only sub the work out too a indy paintshop and put their cut on top !!

The guy i use for some of my customers cars only works for trade people , but so far has not had a problem when i have sent then direct and he is based near me in the medway towns if that helps !!

Just picked up a 53plate 535d from him tonight which was the complete front respray !

There are a few cars on my website with some sort of paint work carried out by him and he is a reasonable price!

Kelly

Thanks for the very prompt reply. Funny enough I was looking over the KDS web site only last night. I was impressed.

Would your man be able to give a quote based on a photo in the first instance? I would like to know if I would best off with a localised repair, or to just do the whole front bumper to freshen it right up. I might even consider some work to the front of the bonnet to remove some light stone chips, but I would get an opinion in person for that.

Perhaps I could mail you?

Either post some pics on here or email direct to me my friend !

It does make sense to have the bumper , bonnet and front wings painted at the same time and works out cheaper in the long run and you have a car free of stone chips etc!
Thats the classic car dealer job to freshen up the front of the car!!

I have been thinking of painting cars again as i did for many years.

It seems there are less and less quality paint shops around now , but more and more cheap detailers around after the 5th gear £5000 car detail stunt a few years back!

I seem to be spending longer rectifing bad repaints through sanding, touch ins, machine polishing etc than if i just repainted the problem area in the first place.

A Bodyshop just would not mix with high end detailing in the same workshop and would be a complete nightmare to stop cross comtamination between the two processes

[andye30m3]

If you can travel to Sussex I'd recommend

www.sprcoachworks.co.uk

Reasonable prices and a very good job, they've just done a bare metal respray on my E30 M3 but will do anything from small repairs

[BlueC2]

Thanks for all of the replies. I’ll look into them all.

I much prefer to use people of good reputation rather than trust the car to someone unknown. I have seen some pretty bad paint jobs on cars for sale and I don’t want to see that on mine!

I'll get some pictures and will look to get some estimates done based on that.

Kelly:
Out of interest what would a front end re-spray cost?

I’m not so sure that the whole front needs doing and it may just be that something can be done with what is there now. I’d have to get an opinion in person I think. Might just drop by for your thoughts when I’m back in the UK.

[DamienCBR]

There is a place in Sutton Valance next to a BMW mechanic that i always use, he is very good. Will get the name when i get home if you want it.

D

[BlueC2]

DamienCBR said:

There is a place in Sutton Valance next to a BMW mechanic that i always use, he is very good. Will get the name when i get home if you want it.

D

Yes please.

That's just a short drive from me, so certainly worth looking into. Have you used them yourself?

[DamienCBR]

BlueC2 said:

DamienCBR said:

There is a place in Sutton Valance next to a BMW mechanic that i always use, he is very good. Will get the name when i get home if you want it.

D

Yes please.

That's just a short drive from me, so certainly worth looking into. Have you used them yourself?

YHM

[kds keltec]

BlueC2 said:

Thanks for all of the replies. I’ll look into them all.

I much prefer to use people of good reputation rather than trust the car to someone unknown. I have seen some pretty bad paint jobs on cars for sale and I don’t want to see that on mine!

I'll get some pictures and will look to get some estimates done based on that.

Kelly:
Out of interest what would a front end re-spray cost?

I’m not so sure that the whole front needs doing and it may just be that something can be done with what is there now. I’d have to get an opinion in person I think. Might just drop by for your thoughts when I’m back in the UK.

You can drop by when ever you like i am nearly always at work seven days a week! Best to confirm we me first as i can be very busy and would not want you to come to my workshop and did not have time for you!!!
Got a lotus owner and RS6 owner coming this sunday one to leave the car here and one to price for paint and detail!

I am nearly fully booked myself for detailing and paint this year with just normal servicing and mechanical work spaces still which my staff can handle!

I am also considering attending and displaying at the pistonhead show inconjuction with lepsons which i am going decide the next couple of days and if it goes ahead then i will be full until after the show just trying to plan everything!

Back on subject depends on the damage to the front of the car and slightly the colour as this can effect the amount of prep work , size and how much is to be masked or removed etc
A front blend which is the classic car dealer trick to tidy up the front of the car is between £250-£400 !

Had a 330ci (black) in for front bumper was scuffed on low wall BMW dealer quoted £750 + vat

Got the job done for £150 and ended detailing the whole car as well and it still was miles less than the stealers quote!

Kelly

[BlueC2]

£750+VAT - WOW. I would still expect a little change from that for a new front bumper and paint!

Mine is Black (I think Sapphire Black) and the damage was done on entering the garage. The Wife tells me the damage is about 1.5Cm in width and 11.5Cm long with no cracks or deformation. I'll guess that it will be very similar to the 330Ci you mention. Perhaps she has been to visit and had it done already???? I wish.

When I get home off shift, I'll look to drop by (will call or e-mail first). I've been toying with the idea of getting the car cleaned up some and would be interested to see what you could do.