How much does a paint job run?

[AudiSnawb]

Im totally hooked on that burnt orange color... How much would a paintjob run? anyone had one? Obviously not one from the dealer. can yall post prices from your local shops, if youve had it done. thanks everyone.

[SoleMate]

Can range from $300-3000, all depends on how good you want it of course. Color changes aren't worth it IMO. To get a good color change you'll probably be spending at least $1200. You also probbaly want any imperfections in the body worked out at the same time so that's more $ if you have any.

[ASandman44]

Mine is in the shop right now for a paint color change and it is $2600. That includes all body work and complete strip and repaint, 5 coats of paint and 3 clear coats, door jams, engine compartment, trunk all of it.I know the shop really well also and they do excellent work.

[Burntaudi]

$1200 for a color change lol maybe for a hack job. If you want a good quality job done it's gonna be big bucks. To do it properly the hood, trunk glass and all the doors need to be pulled and paint the engine bay. I was automotive painter for 10 years and wouldn't even paint a car the same color for $1200. For a good job that's as good quaility like the original paint your looking at more like $3000-$5000

[Rieger_RS4]

my frind had his eclipse painted house of color candy red and it cost him almost 7k!

[Audi18tAWD]

house of color candy red is almost $1k just for the paint!

[A4 in SC]

Yeah, I paid $1400 for a respray on my Mk2 10 years ago. I'm sure it'll cost at least $1800-2000 + for a good job. That's just my opinion though. Just remember, in most cases, you get what you pay for.

[SoleMate]

Well, I guess it's who you know. If you just go into a shop it will run you a lot more than if you know a good independant body man that's doing it under the table. My dad had a car of his he was restoring color changed from green to black (and you know how good it has to be for black) for $1200 cash, came out perfect.

[I am armed]

Painting is tooooooooooo damn much for po' folk like me, but needs one really bad!

[Daft]

Important things to remember about paint jobs:

#1 - Materials are only a small part of the price.

#2 - Prep work is always the largest part of the bill.

#3 - You pay labor to remove and re-attach the parts. No free labor, ever.

#4 - If the body isn't prepped by a skilled professional who uses quality materials, the paint will never look right or for that matter, stay on the car. It doesn't matter what paint you use, bad body + good paint = crappy paint job.

With paint jobs you get what you pay for. You want cheap? You get cheap. Unless you own the body shop personally, you aren't getting a good deal even when they tell you that you are. Good body work is hard to find. The guys who are good, know they are and they surely know what they can get for their time.

Expect a re-spray from a good shop with skilled people to charge $2-3K with OEM paint on a good day. When they're booked up, they'll ask for more because they can. If you're gonna cut corners to save $$, cut corners on parts like that new bumper or sideskirts. Why spend a cool grand on a bumper just to ruin it with lumpy paint or peeling edges?

[Burntaudi]

Originally posted by turbo90awd
Important things to remember about paint jobs:

#1 - Materials are only a small part of the price.

#2 - Prep work is always the largest part of the bill.

#3 - You pay labor to remove and re-attach the parts. No free labor, ever.

#4 - If the body isn't prepped by a skilled professional who uses quality materials, the paint will never look right or for that matter, stay on the car. It doesn't matter what paint you use, bad body + good paint = crappy paint job.

With paint jobs you get what you pay for. You want cheap? You get cheap. Unless you own the body shop personally, you aren't getting a good deal even when they tell you that you are. Good body work is hard to find. The guys who are good, know they are and they surely know what they can get for their time.

Expect a re-spray from a good shop with skilled people to charge $2-3K with OEM paint on a good day. When they're booked up, they'll ask for more because they can. If you're gonna cut corners to save $$, cut corners on parts like that new bumper or sideskirts. Why spend a cool grand on a bumper just to ruin it with lumpy paint or peeling edges?

Well said...there's just no convincing some people though. It flat out boils down to you get what you pay for.

[///s50]

4k + for great show paint done very very well..

[A4 in SC]

I agree 100%. You guys know I live in the South, and things are usually cheaper down here (but not always), and it still cost me $1400 on my Mk2, and that was 10 years ago. I'm sure it would cost at least $1800-+ for a good job. Prep work is EVERYTHING. You can save a little money by removing things that you don't want painted though. Also, don't think you can save money by 'prepping' it yourself. In most cases, unless you're very good at it, you'll end up paying the same price. Most painters don't trust a customer's work, so he'll do it over anyway...

Don't get me wrong, my paint is FAR from great. In fact, it has alot of chips, but I'm OK with that. It makes me 'not quite so anal' about it anymore. The PO used it for what it is - a wagon.

BUT, when I get a car painted, I will spend as much as it takes. Sure, I might pay more, but the paint on my Mk2 speaks for itself. Even though it's paint is 10 years old, it looks 10x better than my Avant.

Mike