Re-painting Cost?

[X~FACTOR]

I currently have "GrandMa" Prairy Tan color. I want to turn it to a "Sinister" Black. All of it... top to bottom with all the trimmings.

Does anyone know how much it cost to re-paint a 4-door X? Is it worth it, since I'll be loosing the quality of a factory paint?

 

[huskyfan23]

If you want a different color, do it. Mine was 'Strawberry' and I got it black. $700something at Maaco half-off. I'm not too happy with the job but it was cheap. Expect to pay around that for an OK job.

 

[taxx]

if you pay the money and get a good job done you aren't gonna lose the quality of a factory paint job.

 

[Jason_25]

If you are changing the color of the paint, it will be very expensive to paint under the hood and inside the doors to match the new paint-job. Expect to pay at least 1500 for a good paint job.

 

[hornz2000]

at least 3G's for a great job.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Originally posted by huskyfan23
I'm not too happy with the job but it was cheap.

Which part are you unhappy with?

 

[huskyfan23]

Well there has been some chipping and they didn't bother removing anything to paint the outside, so if it gets moved, some red shows. They also painted the whole inside of my gas door and the cap, and painted my liftgate shocks. It's just little things but I think it was pretty good when you consider the price.

 

[matey]

if you want to paint a car black you would be better off looking at who can do the best job not the cheapest its really hard to paint a car black any idiot could paint one white

 

[BradE.]

I agree a total repaint, a quality one, will run $3k at least. Can go higher depending on how nice you want it.

 

[Glacier991]

Your question is not an easy one to answer. Let's start with types of paint. A single stage (eg one coat covers ... color and gloss) will be relatively cheap (under $100 material wise). A top of the line basecoat/clearcoat (bc/cc and urethane) will probably be closer to $250 just for the materials. Which will it be?

Next, since you are changing colors, you will want jambs and other areas not normally painted, painted. Will they be well prepped to accept paint? Will the paint be carefully aplied. READ LABOR HOURS here for a top job. Paint is 99% prep work.

A really good job will remove as much as possible from the car, and any crevices will be really cleaned and the entire car scuffed and smoothed and carefully degreased.

This kind of job in bc/cc will be $3k on up and gorgeous.

You can have some shop "kinda" clean the car, "kinda" mask it and shoot it with a single stage. It won't look bad, but it won;t look "good" either. Cost ? Maybe $500 to $750 I'd guess.

It's all in what you want and what you will spend. Color changes are expensive. the $3-4K job will be better than factory. (With the proviso that a color change will never be absolutely perfect, unless it's done frame off.)

Happy exploring

Chris

ps. preparing to shoot my black explorer in black bc/cc myself and it's still gonna cost me nearly $400.

 

[emon]

Sounding like a paint expert there, Glacier. Cool!

 

[Glacier991]

Expert? Naw... just learned a lot through the school of hard knocks, and by doing. There is an awesome website outthere for painting and body issues. It's run by a guy named Len Stuart and he's generous with knowledge and suggestions. Taught ME a ton. Little things often, but cumulatively - awesome. Take a look:

http://www.autobodystore.com


Painting too, can be done at home, but the good equipment isn't cheap, and for urethane bc/cc you need (or really OUGHT to have) supplied air breathing to be really safe from some ugly chemical gasses. Visit Len's site, you will go back over and over. Check out the forum especially. He also has a videotape "Spray Painting 101" that is pretty good.


Happy exploring

Chris

ps. the forum on that website has about 5 or 6 actual pros who give generously of their time to answer questions, from newbie to pro type questions.

 

[X~FACTOR]

I too have somewhat an experince in painting... well, more like prep work before painting. But I'll save that for another thread.

 

[Nate1]

What if someone like me has some really chipped up scratched normal solid black paint and wants to get a fresh paintjob and clearcoat? How much would that run them?

 

[Glacier991]

First question I'd ask myself is whether the entire car needs repainting. Your explorer is what? 4 years old? You might consider just doing the door(r) or panel(s) affected, in which case the total cost could be $200 to $400. (I'm guessing). The link I posted earlier is a killer link, try going there and posting your question and let the pros have at it. Bottom line is when you redo base/clear, you do entire panels, spot repairs, while doable, are tough, and once you have the material to do a spot, why not do the entire surface of a door, fender, etc? I am using PPG products, and a quart of black (smallest size) is $55 in black. Add the reducer and it is about $75 a quart. Clear is a little less. Hope that helps.

Happy exploring


Chris

 

[MONMIX]

My shop STARTS at $3,500.00 for an all over paint job.
An Ex is bigger so $4,000.00 That is with zero body work. That is just de-trim, prep, wet sand and buff.

 

[Glacier991]

Monmix... delighted we have a resident pro here. Guess I was a little low on my costings. People just need to understand that in auto paint, you often DO get what you pay for (and never get what you don't!). The notion you can pay $500 and have your car painted compentently is fueled by those come on ads from the cut rate places. Must make life tough for those of you in the real world business. As a knowledgeable auto paint guy says... They come in talking price, they leave when the job is done talking quality. Hope you can fill in the missing pieces for some folks...

Happy exploring

Chris

 

[MONMIX]

You know what you are talking about Galicer.
Every thing you said is correct, just your numbers were a bit off.

Macco gets away with $400.00 paint jobs by this.
Poor quality paint, cheap labor ( ie. inexperianced painters ) and like husky said. They just shoot damn near every thing. Over spray every place imaginable.

It is simple economics. If you pay Macco $400.00 to paint a car. It must not cost them any more than $200.00 in materials, labor, rent, expenceses.
Do the math.

 

[DaHeinah]

Mine costed about 3K, turned out very well. I know a guy who just had his Stang painted red for 1400, I think it turned out just as good as mine. All jambs, under the hood, everything was done on both jobs...I think he got a better deal
Greg

 

[Glacier991]

Greg...

I cannot speak to the specifics, but I highly doubt anyone could make any money using top grade materials, excellent prep, and doing what you have described for $1400. I dunno, I'm no expert, but have painted a few myself, and know what it takes. Give it a couple years and see how they compare then. Fresh paint always looks good, even if it's not long lived. IF you got a good $3000 job, you won't regret the difference.

Happy exploring


Chris