what should I pay for a paint job and minor body work?

[ToppedOut525i]

My dad recommended that for a graduation gift he would send my E34 to have all the dents removed, roughly 3-4, and repainted for about $1000. I thought that was a great idea but i mentioned to him that it would be really expensive. He thinks that the whole shabang will cost no more than $1000 (new paint and dent removal). i was under the impression that a "nice" paintjob would be at least $1000 by itself. So i guess the question is as stated in the title. What should my dad expect to pay for a quality paint job and the repair of about 3-4 dents? If he cant do it right i dont want it done at all.

[E34N]

Are you talking about repainting just the repaired areas (ie hood or fender)? Or the whole car plus the dent removals?

Cuz a whole car respray.. that will be decent, is going to easily cost you $3000+. And seriously, the $3K is on the low side.

Do a search... this has been discussed. some key words "respray" "maaco"

EDIT: I went to my normal repair guy (fixed my other BMW and my Toyota after accidents) to see about repainting my hood and one of my doors.. that was going to run me ~$1000.. DISCOUNTED!!!

[slocar]

I know a guy that retired after working 20+ years at a body shop specializing in BMWs and MBs, that now does work on the side in his garage, and he charges around 1600 for a respray (and that is just a respray ... that's if you bring him a prepped car) ... take it to a body shop, and including the dent removal and all, you probably wont end up with less than 3500.

[ToppedOut525i]

Are you talking about repainting just the repaired areas (ie hood or fender)? Or the whole car plus the dent removals?

Cuz a whole car respray.. that will be decent, is going to easily cost you $3000+. And seriously, the $3K is on the low side.

Do a search... this has been discussed. some key words "respray" "maaco"

EDIT: I went to my normal repair guy (fixed my other BMW and my Toyota after accidents) to see about repainting my hood and one of my doors.. that was going to run me ~$1000.. DISCOUNTED!!!

were talking a respray of the whole car and dent removal.. i knew it would cost way more that 1000 but my dumb ass dad wont listen to me

[PorscheH6]

About $4-5K will get you in the "good" ballpark, with some body repair.

[tonyroc14]

your dad isn't a dumbass, he's offering to re-paint your car :D

[ToppedOut525i]

would you let someone buy you a shit paint job for your e34 just because its gonna be free for you?

[slocar]

would you let someone buy you a shit paint job for your e34 just because its gonna be free for you?

I sure as hell wouldn't.

Actually, I wouldn't let anyone buy me any kind of paint job. Especially not my father ... I don't really like presents anyway, and someone spending 3-4 grand on me ... I don't think I could fall asleep for a year because I'd feel guilty.

IMO, tell your dad to save his money ... your car is 13 years old, it's not really worth spending that much money on ... and honestly, how bad are the dents and paint anyway? my 18 year old car still looks alright. Tell him to buy you something cheaper if he really feels like buying you something ... like a nice exhaust or chip or something.

[tonyroc14]

would you let someone buy you a shit paint job for your e34 just because its gonna be free for you?

no, lol, just ask for the 1000 dollars

[daflameking]

hmm. judging by everyones responses $1000 for an entire respray isnt bad but does anyone know a range on how much it would be for like to spray just a fender or sunroof top?

[4500 RPM]

hmm. judging by everyones responses $1000 for an entire respray isnt bad but does anyone know a range on how much it would be for like to spray just a fender or sunroof top?

You don't get it. :confused

$1000 for an entire respray is bad because the paint/prep work/etc. will be total crap.

[MacR]

You don't get it. :confused

$1000 for an entire respray is bad because the paint/prep work/etc. will be total crap.

+1
Go to a restoration shop and ask what their average bill is. Most, including where I work, have prep bill of more than $1k. The only thing worse than a $200 Maaco paint job is a $1000 Maaco paint job.

[jfranke]

I worked at a body shop for 3 years, the cost of a good paint job with limited body work would be about $5k, a little more or less depending on color actually (red is expensive!) Rock chips play a huge roll too, if there are many of those in the hood, bumper, or fenders, those panels would need to be sanded to bare metal to get rid of the chip.

For $1000 you could get the dents smoothed out by an independent dent repair guy (usually a mobile person) and have the big chips professionally filled for about 50 bucks each. depending on the current state of your paint, you may have some money left to have someone professionally buff and wax your current paint to make it look like new.

Good luck getting more money and cheers to proving your dad wrong! that's always fun ha ha

[jtsao]

your dad isn't a dumbass, he's offering to re-paint your car :D

bump-to think that a son would refer to his father as a dumbass for offering him a graduation present, regardless of whether the cost estimate is accurate or not. you've just shown yourself to everyone on this forum to be an ungrateful, unappreciative and undeserving son. and one of these days your boy's going to refer to his father the same way and you're going to say, "uuuuuh, what did I ever do to deserve THIS?"

go apologize to your father and then sit in the corner for an hour.

[daflameking]

You don't get it. :confused

$1000 for an entire respray is bad because the paint/prep work/etc. will be total crap.

read it over and i get it now :stickoutt

[E34Mekanik]

bump-to think that a son would refer to his father as a dumbass for offering him a graduation present, regardless of whether the cost estimate is accurate or not. you've just shown yourself to everyone on this forum to be an ungrateful, unappreciative and undeserving son. and one of these days your boy's going to refer to his father the same way and you're going to say, "uuuuuh, what did I ever do to deserve THIS?"

go apologize to your father and then sit in the corner for an hour.

Whoa whoa, he wasn't seriously calling his dad a dumbass. Don't take people so seriously. It's just a phrase, you know like, my dumbass waiter gave me the wrong check. I wouldn't want anyone to buy me a $1000 paint job either. I wouldn't be happy, and they just wasted money so who wins that one? Simply ask him to spend his $1000 on a different upgrade for your E34.
I however CAN call my dad a dumbass. I've never met him, but I've heard stories :rofl:

[ThoreauHD]

I full paint job and dent repair will cost $6000.00. A respray over the old paint with dent removal may go for $3000.00. $1000.00 might cover dent removal and a touch-up job.

[skylinergtr]

i just got my car fully painted except for the bumpers and it costs the insurance company $4500. i paid 300 for the deductable and 200 to get every dent out, and it looks awesome. but i miss the original paint thought. soo smooth... nothing beats original.

[ToppedOut525i]

thanks for the replies.. ill probably just ask him for something else because i know hes not gonna fund more than about a grand into it.. which is still an awesome amount and im really proud that he would put up that much for me, but since its not gonna cut it for the job at hand ill just hold off on the paint. Im not being unnapreciative its just im looking out for the E34 cause i love it.

[bradhouser]

thanks for the replies.. ill probably just ask him for something else because i know hes not gonna fund more than about a grand into it.. which is still an awesome amount and im really proud that he would put up that much for me, but since its not gonna cut it for the job at hand ill just hold off on the paint. Im not being unnapreciative its just im looking out for the E34 cause i love it.

Before you do that, go to Maaco (maybe one recently opened) and tell them to quote the work using there "Better" paint (1 below the "BEST" or whatever they call it). When it comes in at $1800 or more, say there is no way I can spend that. Keep talking like you are going to leave, until they get down to $1000. Some of them are really desperate for business. He may not make much on you, but he has overhead to cover, and that may be good enough.

I had my car stripped, dings fixed, and repainted at a new Maaco shop for $900. He wanted $1800 at first. It isn't perfect, but for an 18 yo car, it looks great. Others have said so too.

Brad Houser