Full Paint Job

[jrodpikap]

I'm looking into the possibility of getting the B5 re-painted Brilliant Black again...tons of nicks and fresh key marks from some motherf$cker last week while I was parked on the street...so I decided it's time. I'm just curious what I should expect to pay for a complete job from a decent body shop (not Midas or anything like that)...any help will be greatly appreciated as I prepare to write a check that i'm sure will make my balls cringe.

[Ewok_Fetus]

$2500-$5000 depending on HOW nice you want it...

[tdn]

You can do some of the labor yourself. It's what I'm going to do with my s4 bumper, so all the painter has to so is paint. I'm thinking I might even provide the paint.

I hate paying ANY labor rate when I can do the work.. albeit it'll take a lot longer, but it's not like I'm always busy with important things to do.

but then again, i'm a low income college student at the moment. if i had a decent income, i might find an excuse to be lazy.

[kjgarreau]

Budget $3500-$4500, and shop around and get advice from locals. The guy with the highest price is not always the best job.

[SFexBOY]

midas does brakes & exhaust not paint. lol

[kjgarreau]

Maaco baby. Ambassador paint job!

[A4Rob]

You can do some of the labor yourself. It's what I'm going to do with my s4 bumper, so all the painter has to so is paint. I'm thinking I might even provide the paint.

I hate paying ANY labor rate when I can do the work.. albeit it'll take a lot longer, but it's not like I'm always busy with important things to do.

but then again, i'm a low income college student at the moment. if i had a decent income, i might find an excuse to be lazy.

Be careful doing it yourself. Most painters will charge you more if you don't do everything right. Some painters will not even touch someone elses work because if the work looks like shit, their name is on the paintjob.

In the case of a complete body n00b, I would say leave it to the pros. You will spend a few hundred in sandpaper 120, 220, 320 and guide coat. (120 220 320 is if no body work is needed)

To fix dents and scratch marks, you will need body filler and primer. PPG K36 is awesome for fixing small inperfections and scratches. Look to spend another $300 for buildable primer and filler.

For supplies you will also need sanding blocks, brillo pads, tape ect. Look to spend aroud $700 just to properly prep a car for paint. This does NOT include any labor. Assuming there is no body work to be done, look to spend 8 hours JUST SANDING. K36 the car, then sand it again with 120, 220 with a guide coat.

Just some thoughts.

[sixfiveoh]

Your car got keyed? How much is your deductible for comprehensive insurance? Vandalism is usually covered under your policy...

[audinutt]

I got a vandalism repaint $4500 for $150 deductible!
Sweet deal since the paint was subpar.

-richard

[B518T]

the two quotes I got recently....which included pulling door dings and painting lowers

one was for $2800 cash all said and done (same people that resprayed my bumper a while back...they do fairly decent work)

for the best european paint job in my town...they wanted 700 to pull dents and do the tiny bit of bodywork I needed and another 3500 for paint....soo...$4200

I plan on doing the $4200 deal, when I free the $ up from some investments that are currently not looking soo hot....

make sure they use a euro black...it makes american black look brown....lol

brilliant black is such a PITA that I have been considering changing the color all together to a dark titanium, or graphite....

my girlfriend says that blackdizzle must stay black.....

gl!

[UN-PIMP-Z-A4]

I would never spend over $2500 for a paint job unless i were entering shows n stuff. the car is too old and i live in the city where people park like pricks

[jrodpikap]

Haha...right, definately meant Maaco. Yeah, no comprehensive insurance...so that option is out. Thanks guys.

[zrowcool]

a4rob, i dont know if the prices where u live are that extreme but they are insanely high for here. i just paid like 230ish for all the required sandpaper including the polishing grits, high build primer, body filler and putty, thinner, some misc. tools such as a longboard, spreader, cheese grater etc. and tape.

All i really have left to buy would be paint, clear, and reducer and that runs about 250 ish.

so 500-600 in materials. and these are not shop prices, but regular walk-in type stuff.

[01Audi1.8T]

I've heard at least $3000 for an OEM quality paint job. It all goes up from there.

[Just Quaff]

Maaco actually does really good work when it comes to the painting part. You just have to make sure that you prep the car yourself. Because well...they either don't do that or they do a crappy job. And they are cheap!

[gotaudi]

Make sure when they paint they take off the panels of the car. imo that is the only way to paint a car right, anything less than this type of service you are gambling for a crappy paint job.

[leon]

Spend $1000,- more and skip painting the lowers, take the S4 skirts and doorsills..