Looking for a very very good body shop...

Looking for a very very good body shop...

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Discussion

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

132 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
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I have a 2011 SL2 in Giallo Midas. The car is stunning in every way. However, since prior to my ownership, a very small bit of paintwork next to the bonnet edge that runs along the offside wing has chipped. It is a flake area less than the size of an old half penny coin (10mm diameter max). The paint is still there and it is held in place by the PPF so hardly noticeable, save for a hair line crack around the flake but I have always known it is there and is an imperfection, however slight.

I am researching a Body Shop that might be able to undertake the respray of the bonnet area to a very high standard and given that Midas is Pearlescent, will know how many other panels need to be “blown in” to produce a showroom finish. I really don’t want it bodged.

Of course, I will then need new PPF applied to the bonnet and any other panels that formed part of the repair process.

Can anyone recommend somewhere, I am near Norwich, ideally with first hand experience. Many Thanks...

z3stu

161 posts

238 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
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Ax Welwyn Hertfordshire 01707 375 914 very very good does all my work and main dealers. Has an Aventador in now being painted in the Matt paint finnish. Speak to Mark

SeeFive

8,280 posts

232 months

Sunday 13th January 2019
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If you don’t mind travelling, Mech Spray in Rochester are very, very good with paint. Not the most glamorous looking premises from the outside but their kit is superb and produces very high quality results from skilled personnel.

I did a quick painting open day with them some years ago, no other connection. They do not seem to have a website but some examples of their work can be found here.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/category/Automoti...

Pete Darwell, the proprietor was a highly regarded and award winning painter of custom cars back in the 70’s. They seem to still do some wacky and technical colours today. Looking at the Facebook pictures of projects, he also did the batmobile it appears as well as some stuff for Red Bull racing among a lot of high quality work (there is even a Lambo on there having a windscreen frame repair).

Worth a chat or even a visit to get acquainted I would say.

sardis

305 posts

175 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Whilst applauding your well developed OCD, and being a fellow sufferer, indeed my Giallo Midas SL II came with the perfect number plate BX11 OCD, I would urge caution. The downside is that the work is not to your liking and then where do you go? Good luck with whichever way you choose and of course a gratuitous photo of these wonderful cars never goes amiss!

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

132 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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There you go! smile

redback911

2,702 posts

265 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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I can highly recommend Road and Race Restorations (R&R) in Manchester - www.road-and-race.com. John Bradshaw (MD) is an absolutely petrol head, his son races, and they live and breathe cars.Their attention to detail on my GT2 (damaged in delivery transit) was excellent.



sardis

305 posts

175 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Grazie!

Spindoctor

781 posts

199 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Finishline in Graveley, Herts - just off the A1 near Stevenage. Chris there has worked on various Lambos as well as other interesting stuff. I've used them, very happy. Worth a call.

Scooters5678

19 posts

191 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Shorade in Cannock, Staffs - just off Jct 11 of the M6 - approved by all the prestige manufacturers including Lamborghini and do an amazing job !

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

132 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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Thank you all for your suggestions. Very much appreciated.

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

132 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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I thought I might share the offending imperfection with you...


jakesmith

9,461 posts

170 months

Wednesday 16th January 2019
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If that is bothering you, surely a plethora of resprayed panels no longer on their original paint would be a nightmare.
It's your car & your choice but that's minor to go to all that expense and hassle for, with an unknown result at the end
I'm sure there are many excellent shops that can do it well for you but as someone else said if you get bothered about a blend or match, surely that is worse

MarkM3Evoplus

804 posts

199 months

Thursday 17th January 2019
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I has an issue on my Vanquish, so took it to the bodyshop.

They obtained the paint from 4 manufacturers and advised all were no where near a match for them to start tinting.

Boot was removed and went off to a paint specialist to be spectral analysed or some similar name! It took them over a week to match it and the car still had paintwork/blending to bonnet, wing, a-pillar to bootline, bootlid, door and rear 3/4...….ended up very expensive albeit you can't see any paint mismatch....

Make sure you're prepared for the above in order to not see any mismatch.

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

132 months

Friday 18th January 2019
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MarkM3Evoplus said:
I has an issue on my Vanquish, so took it to the bodyshop.

They obtained the paint from 4 manufacturers and advised all were no where near a match for them to start tinting.

Boot was removed and went off to a paint specialist to be spectral analysed or some similar name! It took them over a week to match it and the car still had paintwork/blending to bonnet, wing, a-pillar to bootline, bootlid, door and rear 3/4...….ended up very expensive albeit you can't see any paint mismatch....

Make sure you're prepared for the above in order to not see any mismatch.
Yes, I am being advised that it will be bonnet, both front wings and nose cone that will need to be done to ensure a good blend. So, fully aware.

_Superleggera_

2,003 posts

196 months

Friday 18th January 2019
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Only two places I trust.

Acton Coachworks and RS Automotive in Southend.

Never you mind

1,507 posts

111 months

Friday 18th January 2019
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Superleg48 said:
MarkM3Evoplus said:
I has an issue on my Vanquish, so took it to the bodyshop.

They obtained the paint from 4 manufacturers and advised all were no where near a match for them to start tinting.

Boot was removed and went off to a paint specialist to be spectral analysed or some similar name! It took them over a week to match it and the car still had paintwork/blending to bonnet, wing, a-pillar to bootline, bootlid, door and rear 3/4...….ended up very expensive albeit you can't see any paint mismatch....

Make sure you're prepared for the above in order to not see any mismatch.
Yes, I am being advised that it will be bonnet, both front wings and nose cone that will need to be done to ensure a good blend. So, fully aware.
Mine had those done prior to collection due to a few stone chips and general road rash (bianco opalis), cost was about 10K.

Personally, I wouldn't bother just for that.

TimSS

20 posts

74 months

Saturday 19th January 2019
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Chartwells in Derby.

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

132 months

Saturday 23rd March 2019
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So, the car has been to the body shop and has been fettled. Chip gone. Little chips on the corners of the door handles gone. Annoying imperfection on the front splitter gone. (Previously painted by Main Dealer) PPF reapplied to entire front end. Full ceramic coating, including wheels and calipers. The car is now absolutely perfect.

The quality of the work done is outstanding, 4 stage paint process to the entire front end, flatted and machine polished and blended in so well, you simply cannot tell the difference with the rest of the car. Absolute dedication and the finest attention to the most minutia of detail to the whole job, including fully tailor made and exactly matched decals to both sides of the car.

Absolutely delighted with the end result. The company that performed this outstanding level of work...The Body Centre Norwich. These guys are astonishingly good at their craft and I would absolutely recommend them. Sam Elwin and the entire team there that were involved are at the top of their game. Passionate does not describe them adequately. Looking forward now to getting out and driving again!








kindai

48 posts

63 months

Wednesday 27th March 2019
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+1 for Shorade. Absolutely A+++++ establishment.

ElanS

87 posts

70 months

Thursday 28th March 2019
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The car looks lovely and ready for spring/summer!