Full respray, or not?
Discussion
My car has finally made it up to Blackpool to Surface & Design to have its front-end damage repaired, after a van rolled across the office car-park into it a couple of months ago.
I've been in email contact with David Martin, who seems a really friendly chap, and hopefully I'll be talking to him later today.
The repair work will involve a complete respray of the bonnet, at least one of the front wings, and the whole of the front valence. My employer will be paying for this because it was one of their vans!
What I'm pondering is whether to go the whole hog and opt for a total respray of the whole car, paying the difference myself. The paintwork isn't in bad condition, but it has a few faults:
So, typically how much would a full respray cost? If I deduct about a third for the spraying they'll be doing at my employer's expense, that'll give me a good idea.
And based on my description above, is it...
I've been in email contact with David Martin, who seems a really friendly chap, and hopefully I'll be talking to him later today.
The repair work will involve a complete respray of the bonnet, at least one of the front wings, and the whole of the front valence. My employer will be paying for this because it was one of their vans!
What I'm pondering is whether to go the whole hog and opt for a total respray of the whole car, paying the difference myself. The paintwork isn't in bad condition, but it has a few faults:
- Slight scuff down left hand side where a car scraped it in the office car-park. Not very noticeable because it polished out surprisingly well, but visible if you look at the right angle.
- Two "spider's web" craze patterns on the near side rear quarter - possibly internal boot impact?
- The usual chips at the side edge of the boot from inserting the roof carelessly.
- Small number of stone chips on the flanks, some of which have been touched-up by Stevie Wonder.
So, typically how much would a full respray cost? If I deduct about a third for the spraying they'll be doing at my employer's expense, that'll give me a good idea.
And based on my description above, is it...
- Not really worth the money, or
- Something I'll regret not doing while I've got the opportunity?
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Friday 23 May 06:36
The extra cost is a big pill to swallow. I know as i had to stump up half a respray fee to get mine fully painted.
I picked it up last week and it looked like this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I am very happy with it but nervous about getting that first chip or scratch. I use my car a lot. Covering 850 miles and 3 drag strips this weekend.
If your paint is quite good as you say then maybe just let them do the repairs at the cost of your employer then have a full detail polish done at a later date. Its amazing what can be done with the older paint.
I picked it up last week and it looked like this.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I am very happy with it but nervous about getting that first chip or scratch. I use my car a lot. Covering 850 miles and 3 drag strips this weekend.
If your paint is quite good as you say then maybe just let them do the repairs at the cost of your employer then have a full detail polish done at a later date. Its amazing what can be done with the older paint.
db484bhpv8 said:
I am very happy with it but nervous about getting that first chip or scratch. I use my car a lot. Covering 850 miles and 3 drag strips this weekend.
Mine was chipped on the way home from Blackpool to Newcastle on day one, it is inevitable, don't worry because it WILL happen just embrace the shine!Hmmm...
Don't know why I didn't think of doing this before, but the S&D website has a list of prices for resprays. A same-colour full respray is 2750 + vat + paint, and the front-end respray is 880 + vat + paint.
So subtracting one from the other gives 1870 + vat + paint.
Does anyone know roughly what the paint would cost (Starmist Blue) for a full respray?
I'm beginning to think that this cost is more than I could get approval for from "The Boss". A lifetime of regret, versus a lifetime of sleeping in the shed...
So I think it's quite likely I'll tell David to just proceed with the repairs and the previously-agreed respraying. With all that front-end work it's going to look absolutely amazing anyway - until the stone chips start to accumulate. And I like the idea of spending a lot less money on a professional detailing job.
Supplementary question: I've been advised by Str8Six (who have sub-contracted the repair work to S&D) that I shouldn't consider having film protection, because in Chas' words "it looks merde". Do folks agree?
Don't know why I didn't think of doing this before, but the S&D website has a list of prices for resprays. A same-colour full respray is 2750 + vat + paint, and the front-end respray is 880 + vat + paint.
So subtracting one from the other gives 1870 + vat + paint.
Does anyone know roughly what the paint would cost (Starmist Blue) for a full respray?
I'm beginning to think that this cost is more than I could get approval for from "The Boss". A lifetime of regret, versus a lifetime of sleeping in the shed...
So I think it's quite likely I'll tell David to just proceed with the repairs and the previously-agreed respraying. With all that front-end work it's going to look absolutely amazing anyway - until the stone chips start to accumulate. And I like the idea of spending a lot less money on a professional detailing job.
Supplementary question: I've been advised by Str8Six (who have sub-contracted the repair work to S&D) that I shouldn't consider having film protection, because in Chas' words "it looks merde". Do folks agree?
fog66 said:
Mine was chipped on the way home from Blackpool to Newcastle on day one, it is inevitable, don't worry because it WILL happen just embrace the shine!
I chipped mine before i set off!Shut the door on my harness. Nervous excitement. A very embarrassing moment in front of David and Mal the painter. They very kindly said the would touch it up when i return for my windscreen replacement. Top guys.
Personally I would have the car fuly repainted, for many reasons
- Better colour match, especially as I assume the original paint is now getting quite old?
- Avoiding a car thats gleaming on a few panels and jaded on others ( those star cracks etc will only get worse)
- plus practical things like, it you have to be without the car for a while, it may as well come back perfect
- Better colour match, especially as I assume the original paint is now getting quite old?
- Avoiding a car thats gleaming on a few panels and jaded on others ( those star cracks etc will only get worse)
- plus practical things like, it you have to be without the car for a while, it may as well come back perfect
I had a front end respray just over a year ago (complete front plus whole of bonnet and front wings), and although the rest of the car had it's fair share of battle scars overall it still looked amazing.... except..... the bloody wing mirrors weren't part of the respray, and were particularly gravel scarred... With the benefit of hindsight, I'd say if you only get the front end done, DO get the wing mirrors included because if badly chipped they'll stick out like a sore thumb against the new paint...
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
For a full respray, do they have to remove and refit the doors and boot lid? That might account for quite a bit of extra labour compared to a front-end spray. Also, I assume they have to remove the hood.
Well they have to remove the bonnet so i can`t see why removing the doors ans painting them to cost another 3000I've got mixed feelings, I had a full re spray and yes doors Bonnet and boot off the car.
Amazing results but 18 months down the road, chipped everywhere, the plastic is so susceptible to anything touching it!
I'd have just blowed it in and spent the money on more important issues like Chassis. It depends on how often you use the car and the condition of other parts!
I can't deny it looks great in the sun but I need 100 yards to the car in front, have to be carefull who parks next to it, every time there's another stone chip I'm mortified. I'd rather have a few scratches already and not worry so much.
I admire anyone who can keep a car looking mint but by the time you've driven home the car will have a chip!
Think very carfully if money is tight.
I'm learning the hard way but I'd prefere to fix something you can't see but fundamentally sorts the car out.
Amazing results but 18 months down the road, chipped everywhere, the plastic is so susceptible to anything touching it!
I'd have just blowed it in and spent the money on more important issues like Chassis. It depends on how often you use the car and the condition of other parts!
I can't deny it looks great in the sun but I need 100 yards to the car in front, have to be carefull who parks next to it, every time there's another stone chip I'm mortified. I'd rather have a few scratches already and not worry so much.
I admire anyone who can keep a car looking mint but by the time you've driven home the car will have a chip!
Think very carfully if money is tight.
I'm learning the hard way but I'd prefere to fix something you can't see but fundamentally sorts the car out.
SILICONEKID346HP said:
Well they have to remove the bonnet so i can`t see why removing the doors ans painting them to cost another 3000
Hmm I hope people check the bills you give them. It's an extra 1900ish and there is a lot more work involved than a front end respray, doors, boot lid, mirrors, trim removal, masking, labour for 2/3rds more work, re-assembly etc etc.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff