Might Paint my LS

tristangoesham

tristangoesham

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Okay so my car has 3 dings in it that have been pulled out. 2 came when I bought it 1 from my small ass garage that I don't use anymore. They aren't that noticeable but I know they are there so it bothers me LOL. I've been wanting to get the car bondo'd and repainted.

It's currently Silver on which is a very forgiving color but I'm thinking of getting it painted white (interior is black.) I wanted black but it's too hot and dusty here for black. Is white an easier to maintain color than black?

Also has anyone used Macco? I've heard good and bad things about them.
 
White is for sure easier to maintain, than black is. Just consider how in depth you want to go with changing the color of your car. Door jams, under hood, edging out the trunk. All stuff to consider when you do this.

Macco, you get what you pay for. Cheap ass paintjobs mean cheap ass materials and labor.
 
Black is the worst color to maintain and maaco sucks.

Keep in mind that what you want will run $5K or more unless you have some connections. And also the LS body panels are aluminum...not sure if it can just be bondoed.
 
Damn 5k. I've been trying to do research and couldn't find any real numbers. I knew it wouldn't be cheap but 5k is almost what I paid for my car LOL. Looks like the dings are going to continue to bug me then.
 
Just a bumper cover cost $400 to prep and spray.
 
You could take that 5k and start going to autobody school, and learn how to do it yourself :D
 
It's probably just me. But I find black easier then white these days. It might just be because I've only had black. And over the past 6 years I've really learned how to maintain one. But my brother moved cross country and left
Me his white car. And I had it for a few weeks then sold it. The white shows just as much dirt as the black. Maybe you can't see the dust as
Much. But that screws you over because when it rains then all the dust shows when it dries. At least on the black you can see it and Cali duster it off day by day. I also found the washin process more difficult on white. I don't know why. And I do eventually want a white ls. But right now I'm at a point where keeping my black car clean is easy as hell for me.
 
You can buy an new LS in the color you want cheaper than paying for a complete swap. Also your dents/dings can probably be pulled out using the PDR method.
 
get a touch up pen, scratch removal (polish) and work through what you can... It may not look perfect, but im sure you can make it better!
 
1. The dings probably can be taken out with a paintless dent removal shop. Before you start worrying about paintig the entire car. I recommend that first.

2. Most scratches can be buffed out. IF they are deep, take it to a body shop and have them blend/paint the area.

3. First, I suggest a good clay-bar detailling and wax. You will find ALL the imperfections. Then you will know exactly where your trouble areas are.

There is a lot of labor in a complete color change. If you really want to paint your LS, keep the silver and do a two-tone. Black on silver or white on silver. You get a new look without all the labor intense chargers for a complete color change. Just my $.02.:rolleyes:
 
5000? I'm getting full paint done in 2 months, same color though. I'm getting all panels removed. hood, bumpers, and trunk stripped. LSE front going in, 3 to 4 coats of paint, with wet sand in between and 2 coats of clear with wet sand in between, with a full final buff to make sure all paint work is even throughout for $2500. This is from a very reputable shop in my area that does tons of dealership work. Their finished product is absolutely flawless. $5000 is a little steep.
 
centason said:
5000? I'm getting full paint done in 2 months, same color though. I'm getting all panels removed. hood, bumpers, and trunk stripped. LSE front going in, 3 to 4 coats of paint, with wet sand in between and 2 coats of clear with wet sand in between, with a full final buff to make sure all paint work is even throughout for $2500. This is from a very reputable shop in my area that does tons of dealership work. Their finished product is absolutely flawless. $5000 is a little steep.
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i dont think you have a clue what your talking about. 3-4 coats of paint with wet sand in between? what? why? then 2 coats of clear with wet sand inbetween? for real? how do you wet sand something thats wet? and i cant beleave that a reputable shop would quote 2500 for what you just said hell i wont even get out of bed for that. id charge 4-6k for what you have listed.


but back on topic color changes are cool but when you can buy the same car in the color you want stock why bother? other wise go with a 2 tone or custom color. and stay away from maaco if your upset with 3 little dents you will be livid when you get your car back and its just :q:q:q:q stacked on :q:q:q:q.
 
They get so much work that their prices are not bad. That's great that you would charge 4-6. And yes that was what the quote was for. Why would I lie? No need to grow a big E-Penis here. $2500 is still expensive for me and also prices change from state to state. The day I went there they had a brand new 2012 135i that got hit in the door bad in the parking lot while for sale and the paint was better than factory. I hate being made to felt low, even though I've lived my whole life around cars, but yet I know nothing because I'm new here.
 
centason said:
5000? I'm getting full paint done in 2 months, same color though. I'm getting all panels removed. hood, bumpers, and trunk stripped. LSE front going in, 3 to 4 coats of paint, with wet sand in between and 2 coats of clear with wet sand in between, with a full final buff to make sure all paint work is even throughout for $2500. This is from a very reputable shop in my area that does tons of dealership work. Their finished product is absolutely flawless. $5000 is a little steep.
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This is California..... Special paints, special booths, special regulations.... The CARB is worse than the EPA!!
 
centason said:
They get so much work that their prices are not bad. That's great that you would charge 4-6. And yes that was what the quote was for. Why would I lie? No need to grow a big E-Penis here. $2500 is still expensive for me and also prices change from state to state. The day I went there they had a brand new 2012 135i that got hit in the door bad in the parking lot while for sale and the paint was better than factory. I hate being made to felt low, even though I've lived my whole life around cars, but yet I know nothing because I'm new here.
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wait so the more work you do the cheaper it gets? not tryig to make you feel low but i feel you know nothing of painting cars and what it takes. and im in kansas probably one of the cheapest places to get work done in the country by the way.
 
LS4me said:
This is California..... Special paints, special booths, special regulations.... The CARB is worse than the EPA!!
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im not looking forward to the rest of the country following the rules and guidlines that cali is doing now.
 
That's why I would go elsewhere outside of Cali for paint if needed, if I were stationed out there. $3000 out here would get you companies on their knees begging for work with the economy. Their work is tremendous, and I suggest them to anyone I the NE US.
 
Just a silly question on your quote. Did they tell you "cash"? If so, its an off the books job. They don't report it. You get a "huge" discount and they get a nice piece of change that they don't plan to report to "Big Brother".;) Just an idea to justify the "lowball" quote.

I know the "right" people.;) I can't get an entire car painted for under $3000. But the people I know. Won't do it. Unless its done right. Their shop and name will be attach to the work. Only as good as your last job.
 
mikeskustomfab said:
im not looking forward to the rest of the country following the rules and guidlines that cali is doing now.
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Ain't that the truth. But i live out in the boonies, they will catch you before they catch me :D I would be in real deep crap though if they did catch me. I'm sure you at least have a booth. Not this guy, but its not my daily job either
 
Sorry I was MIA, thanks for the insight guys. The dings I have were pulled out but you can still see a mark/dent from the initial impact. Is that normal?
 
tristangoesham said:
Sorry I was MIA, thanks for the insight guys. The dings I have were pulled out but you can still see a mark/dent from the initial impact. Is that normal?
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Sometimes. I have seen dents removed that looked impossible. I have also seen dents that you think are easy be a PITA to remove.
 
Going to look further into the painless dent removal tomorrow. I think whoever pulled the dents out used one of those 3M suction cups you can get at any auto store.
 
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