Paint/body work needed -- any clue about price?

[Cactuar]

Hi all, my 525i has a lot of "spots" in the front area, I guess due to rocks chipping in the paint or salt in winter. Here's a pic (don't mind the bugs splattered all over and the unwashed state)

http://www.jf3d.com/dots.jpg

Thing is, I've no idea what is involved to fix those spots. I don't know much about body work and paint so I was wondering if you have any idea how much fixing this would cost? And if you could give me a rundown of the process(es) involved that would be great, I'd love to know what's needed to restore my front to a clean state.

Thanks for your time! :)

[Alexlind123]

This is a perfect time to do a narrow grill conversion!

[tgrandahl]

i had the exact same problem and used it to get a narrow grille because its a lot of bodywork otherwise and well i wanted it. I got it all for $500 and that includes a the new hood and grille. The grille was used and the hood new.

[Qube]

Sand and repaint. You know... I was touching up the spots on the car today and thought MINE was bad... but I have a white car and now I know I'm lucky! Heh.

[BillionPa]

your fog light is filled with water.... and what the hell is that rusty thing in the lower grill?

[Cactuar]

Ah-ha, sand and repaint. How much would that cost approx? I don't really want to do the narrow grill conversion because I prefer the wide grill on a five serires. IMO narrow grill looks best on an e30.

Heh I know about the wet foglights and the rusty bit. I'm slowly fixing everything...

[Tiger]

Just buy touchup paint... $20.

[Cactuar]

Touch up paint sounds reasonable, thanks for the suggestion.

[CharlesAFerg]

I had more dots than that on a silver car. But imagine this, the PO used the wrong color touch up paint with a shitty paintbrush and no levelling out the paint on.. ALL OF THE DOTS.

God damnit, so I hadthese big-ass freckles on my front end. I sanded and painted it black.
Yeah I know, my picture is outdated.

[blackpawn5]

Getting your car or parts of your car, does not come cheap, dont listen to the $300 paint job ads. I got my car repainted and body work included for $7,000, and that was because I was best friends with the guy who owned the place, It normally would have cost me $10,000. An overall ok paint job with bodywork cost around 4,000-6,000, just doesnt include as many coats and paint sanding. But for your hood, front fenders and front end, I would approximate around 2,500 to 3,000.

[Alexlind123]

Getting your car or parts of your car, does not come cheap, dont listen to the $300 paint job ads. I got my car repainted and body work included for $7,000, and that was because I was best friends with the guy who owned the place, It normally would have cost me $10,000. An overall ok paint job with bodywork cost around 4,000-6,000, just doesnt include as many coats and paint sanding. But for your hood, front fenders and front end, I would approximate around 2,500 to 3,000.

I disagree, its just a matter of how good the paint is and how skilled the body man is. The price has little or nothing to do with those two things, it is possible to get a good paint job for less than your prices.

[632 Regal]

I should just get a good spary gun and do mine myself, just afraid of the paint not matching other than that I painted dozens of cars...the only one I didnt paint is the bimmer.
I disagree, its just a matter of how good the paint is and how skilled the body man is. The price has little or nothing to do with those two things, it is possible to get a good paint job for less than your prices.

[Jay 535i]

Only the grille surround needs work. Maaco will do it for ~$200, and it'll look good for about two years. IMHO that's long enough. You can always paint it again in two years.

Proper, 'good' paintword is very expensive. I would never use Maaco for a big job, but I've used them before for little jobs like this when I wanted to save money. I've been happy with the results.

[Jon K]

Getting your car or parts of your car, does not come cheap, dont listen to the $300 paint job ads. I got my car repainted and body work included for $7,000, and that was because I was best friends with the guy who owned the place, It normally would have cost me $10,000. An overall ok paint job with bodywork cost around 4,000-6,000, just doesnt include as many coats and paint sanding. But for your hood, front fenders and front end, I would approximate around 2,500 to 3,000.


I got my car fully painted for $2000 blocked and primered. If you want hi-res pics let me know - it's sure to ruin your day :p

[CharlesAFerg]

I got my car fully painted for $2000 blocked and primered. If you want hi-res pics let me know - it's sure to ruin your day :p

Not bad
Send me a pic via Email
charlesaferg at hotmail

[Jon K]

http://e34.digital7.com/Cars/1234.jpg

Big pic - you can see, it's quite nice :)

[Russell]

Check with Dent Wizard or detailers
My local Dent wizard has access to other services. For example, He told me of a local mobile detail specialist who uses an air brush to touch up scratches and chips. Just a thought

[rob101]

Big pic - you can see, it's quite nice :)
No thats crap:p
did you use a bmw colour for that? The other day i was looking at dupont's site and found that they supply the amounts of tints to mix etc. for all the BMW colours.
Might get the friendly painter a work to do mine, he's quite good and no shop overheads to pay for!

[blackpawn5]

I got my car fully painted for $2000 blocked and primered. If you want hi-res pics let me know - it's sure to ruin your day :p


Please dont tell me you primered right over the old paint, and then repainted. Was the old paint stripped then the body primered sanded, then painted sanded, and again painted sanded. If you painted over the entire car you will have some serious problems when the paint starts bubbling up. Im interested to know, post some more picks either here or via email to 9282tangle@msn.com

[Jon K]

the car was scuffed up, dents pulled and filled, primed and painted. I've had it now for 2.5 years.

Do you have experience painting? Because every painter I know (quite a few) firmly believes that factory paint makes the best primer. No one acid baths/media blasts an entire car down to the sheet metal except for full $250,000+ hot rod frame off builds... Unibodies are not done this way. I hvae no issues with the paint - I don't really think it necessary to post any more pics though, that shows the quality fairly well. But, here are some more.

http://e34.digital7.com/Latest%20E34/2.jpg

http://e34.digital7.com/Latest%20E34/6.jpg

and one from the old school:

http://e34.digital7.com/Cars/IMG_1719a.jpg

[blackpawn5]

well frankly and im not just saying this, im not all that impressed with the paint job on your car. And to answer your question I dont have any personal expierence with painting, but I have several friends in the field, and they all have given the same response to what i previsiouly wrote.

[kick7ca]

I'm having mine painted shortly.
They are replacing 3 doors that I bought, then sanding / repairing / correcting the whole car, primed, bumpers off, then urathane paint (brilliantrot) for $3800 CDN. I got quotes from $2000 to $5000, and to my surprise the best shop in the city quoted me $3800.

$10,000 to paint a daily driver is rediculous unless it's an old Porsche or something you want to make "as new".

[mancini_mark]

Hi everyone,

$3,800 Canadian sounds about right for a decent job. Curious which shop you chose. I have a few in mind in the GTA for when I'm ready (427 Auto), but I think they're in the $5k range.

Thanks,

Mark

[Jay 535i]

Hi everyone,

$3,800 Canadian sounds about right for a decent job. Curious which shop you chose. I have a few in mind in the GTA for when I'm ready (427 Auto), but I think they're in the $5k range.

Thanks,

Mark

I have not used these guys, but I've seen their shop and was very impressed at the quality of their work. They work on mostly pricey imports. They're at HWY 400 and Steeles:

http://www.hwy7.net/

[Jay 535i]

well frankly and im not just saying this, im not all that impressed with the paint job on your car.

I am. If I had $2000 I'd be asking Jon for his guy's phone number.

[Qube]

I'm having mine painted shortly.
They are replacing 3 doors that I bought, then sanding / repairing / correcting the whole car, primed, bumpers off, then urathane paint (brilliantrot) for $3800 CDN. I got quotes from $2000 to $5000, and to my surprise the best shop in the city quoted me $3800.

$10,000 to paint a daily driver is rediculous unless it's an old Porsche or something you want to make "as new".

Where to get it done?!

Actually you know what... it's not that much of a deal. European charges $3500 and they're the best. I'm all excited for nothing :(

[kick7ca]

I'm in Windsor not Toronto, but it's called Dominion Collision. This is a big shop that's been around for a long time. They paint alot of exotics and European cars.
I am saving a bit because it's not going to be base/clear, but the factory finish wasn't either so that's OK.
I'll post pics when it's done. (About a month).

[blackpawn5]

Let me apologize, you may think I was overcharged or just ridiculous with my money. What ever your opinion Im happy with my car. And if your happy with my car im happy with it as well. Didnt mean to offend any fellow e34's

[blackpawn5]

Let me apologize, you may think I was overcharged or just ridiculous with my money. What ever your opinion Im happy with my car. And if your happy with my car im happy with it as well. Didnt mean to offend any fellow e34's. let me personally apologize to Jon K, it is a good paint job, dont get me wrong for your money its one hell of a deal

[Gayle]

I got my car fully painted for $2000 blocked and primered. If you want hi-res pics let me know - it's sure to ruin your day :p

Jon How did you find someone to do it for that price? Knowing how picky you are I am not even going to question the quality.

[saj3n]

I'm gonna have to get that number. I want to do a few spots on my car, a few dents (no paint) popped out, and the hood (dents + paint), front air dam, and rear bumper, and trunk lid. Hopefully I can get something around $800-900 for that job... If not, I'll just have to saave for the $2000