paintjob advice

[amdnivram]

well someone reversed into my car this past weekend and my hood is slightly dented and i replaced the broken lights. I did what i could to the hood and its not so noticeable. The pain on the hood is cracking where it bent, and a bit on the hood along with scrape marks on the bumper. I'm just wondering if i should pay to fix the rest of the hood and pain the hood/bumper/grill, or leave it as and only get the dent out? The pain i currently have is nice, but the job itself isn't clean and im not sure if the paint has a clear coat. It's a metallic dark blueish green.

- how can i find out if my pain has a clear coat
- if i do get the hood/bumper/grill painted( there will be a slight difference in paint since it will be new, not that noticeable though) and i dont have clear coat on the previously painted areas it will fade due to the sun. I'm thinking withing the next 2 years or so. Will it still be worth painting the 3 areas?
- Should i just save up and eventually repaint the whole car. This might take a few years since i just was laid off and i started my winter quarter at school.
- should i just fix the dent and use the 500 i had saved up for something more performance based.


I typed alot but i cant seem to decide on my own for this. i'll post pics of the damage tomorrow morning if that helps.

[CrimsonRockett]

By the sound of it, it seems like your car has already been repainted.

Typically, color matching isn't all that hard on newer cars because the paint is still pretty fresh.

S13's are 20 years old at this point. The colors are faded to hell.

So, color matching isn't happening.

If you're really concerned about having it all match, I'd say get the entire car repainted.

If you really don't mind having slightly mismatched panels, give it a try and see how close they can match the color.

If you really want the entire car to match and don't want to spend a lot of money, take it to a 1-day paint place.

A lot of friends have taken their track cars to them and have gotten decent results.

It's not perfect, but it beats having a 5-tone S13.

[LA_phantom_240]

By the sound of it, it seems like your car has already been repainted.

Typically, color matching isn't all that hard on newer cars because the paint is still pretty fresh.

S13's are 20 years old at this point. The colors are faded to hell.

So, color matching isn't happening.

If you're really concerned about having it all match, I'd say get the entire car repainted.

If you really don't mind having slightly mismatched panels, give it a try and see how close they can match the color.

If you really want the entire car to match and don't want to spend a lot of money, take it to a 1-day paint place.

A lot of friends have taken their track cars to them and have gotten decent results.

It's not perfect, but it beats having a 5-tone S13.
Then again, the car is 20 fuckin years old almost... It doesn't have that much time left anyways. It doesn't need to be perfect unless it REALLY matters. Maaco is more than fine for our old cars.

[amdnivram]

how much do they charge at 1 day paint places? do you have any pics of results? yeah im just deciding on save and repaint the whole car, paint the damaged areas, or leave it as is and use the 500 for something else.

[ESmorz]

One day paint places are typically around $500.

Or you could find a friend with a gun and compressor and get a paint kit for a little less.

[CrimsonRockett]

Then again, the car is 20 fuckin years old almost... It doesn't have that much time left anyways. It doesn't need to be perfect unless it REALLY matters. Maaco is more than fine for our old cars.

People have different mindsets.

My car has loads of new parts, not to mention low mileage.

So, I'm not one to cheap out on anything...not even paint.

Sure, it's a 20 year old car(17 actually), but I love mine and refuse to cheap out on it just because it's an old car. Look at hot rods, 60's mustangs, etc.

Those are really old cars. Some people just prefer to have quality work done to their cars. Others just see it as a car that takes them from point A to B.(which is the difference between us).

OP, One day paint places usually charge anywhere from $300 to $900+.

If you need something basic, single stage finish with minor prep, it should be around $350.

Call them and ask.

[amdnivram]

yeah, i fell in love with my car, if i didnt like it i wouldnt bother spending money, since the damage isnt really noticeable, yet its killing me.

[amdnivram]

do you know anyone who has tried the plus 3 one day paint? it sounds decent


PLUS 3
The Paint:
The best urethane paint that DuPont has to offer. This paint job contains Tinuvin, an ultraviolet absorber designed to protect your paint from the harsh rays of the sun. This product is so durable, you don't even have to wax your car for 3 years. It is extremely resistant to acid rain, gasoline, bird droppings (http://www.onedaypaint.com/1daypaintsystems-new.html#birddroppings) and other harmful chemicals.
Choice of Colors
You can choose from over 15,000 beautiful, colors including metallics, pearls and micas. We also offer free color matching in this system
Warranty:
A Full 5 Year warranty against Peeling, Wrinkling and Fading. Our warranty is NOT prorated.
$619.00
Plus $19.00 environmental compliance charge








thats what it says. sorry if copying that is against tos. yea it doesnt sound too bad, but i guess it doesnt cover the painter's work.

[CrimsonRockett]

This is the thing about one day paint places...since they shoot cars all day long, they have TONS of experience when it comes to shooting them.

Show up early and check out the cars they've painted.

If you like them, go ahead and do it.

5 year warranty against peeling, wrinkling, and fading is pretty good.

[silpena]

its pretty much a single stage paint. Most single stage paints last longer two stage paints becuase the clear integrated inside with the paint pigment. Never heard of tinuven but i bet it just another harsh chemical made to increase the durability of the clear inside the paint pigment. Probably also helps with adheasion too.

to me i just say save up and get a new hood. Hood are not meant to be fixed. Most realy body shops wont touch a hood unless its just a slight dimple or ding. Hoods are meant to be hit once in its life time. Paint the whole car at once. I doubt it will match. You dont even have to paint the whole car. Just blend and clear. The rest will blend in after being cleared. As far as the whole one a day paint things. If i remember they just charge for the prep and paint. They dont fix any dents or damage. additional labor is extra. I think 10-20.00 a ding they charge.

[amdnivram]

i'll post a pic tomorrow, i might be over stressing the damage, and i'll also go to 1 day paint to check out their work.

[NISMO_tuner]

I love my car to death and even though its so old, I would save up for a nice paint job. I got myself a compressor and learned through trial and error with some beat up projects and it came out pretty good. Listen to everything CrimsonRockett says, Johnny knows wat he is talking about. Like i said, I wouldve sanded and primed my car prior to taking it to a one day paint shop. If its a shop that would take its time and sand every square feet on my car then i'd trust them. But im a perfectionist, I want every lil detail to be perfect so thats only my opinion. Last time i had one of my cars painted, they didnt sand it all down and it started peeling. But the 5 year warranty is pretty good considering that price. I took it back and they gladly repainted my car. Not the best work, but its a nice budget paint job. Better than painting your car with an old spray gun out of your friends garage.

[LA_phantom_240]

YEah, proper prep work is KEY to a good job.

[amdnivram]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1038/3175602270_acc215c0db.jpg?v=0
looks decent from far away but up close you can see the shitty pain job, and the newly made cracks. and the passenger side is dented. it makes a squeaking noise now lol.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/3173616063_96caaf5133.jpg?v=0that's pretty much the crack on the hood, but its a bit more obvious when up close, dirty ass headlights, dont know how to clean them and they are the only ones i had without a broken tab

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/3173614081_a70dce63b0.jpg?v=0
scratch bumper, same dirty headlights but you cant see the dirt from far away =/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1323/3173612087_b1143c3942.jpg?v=0

paint thats scratched on the bumper small, but i know its there lol

[CrimsonRockett]

That's it?

Holy shit, you made a big deal about that.

Don't worry about it.

You drive a car in California. The state known for some stupid drivers.

I wouldn't repaint something like that over something so minor.

[amdnivram]

hahaha i know its nothing huge, but eh sadly im a perfectionist which made buying a 17-20 year old car a bad idea hahaha, but i decided to get this instead of a 2009 rx8 lol. The other reason is that the previous paint job that was done, was not done well and you can see that when close to the car. you can see the poor sanding.

[amdnivram]

actually mine is 20 years lol since its a 1989 240, i found someone to paint it for 900, with a base coat/clear coat. this would include full prep, fixing the dent in the hood and any the car may have. I can alwyas just fix the bumper/hood/grill for 300.The bumper/hood arent that bad, but the reason why i want to paint it is because of the quality that was put in the paint that it has now. I'm just not sure if its worth it. maybe i should just fix the dent.any ideas where i could spend the rest of my money on? i want the 600 i have to go into the car either way.

[CrimsonRockett]

S14 seats?

MB Battles?

[ESmorz]

but i decided to get this instead of a 2009 rx8 lol.

Kill yourself.

[amdnivram]

lol yeah i know. I still dont regret getting my 240. this has been my choice car for a long time.

[ESmorz]

You will.

You gave up a brand new car, better yet a brand new sports coupe, for an S13 that doesn't even have perfect paint?

I somehow find that hard to believe.

[amdnivram]

well if i was to get the rx8, i would have to have my parent co sign it which means they'd be riding my ass until it was paid off, or i paid them back if that's what they wanted. the paint wasnt bad until someone hit me.

[vodka2]

just sell your car and get the rx8
its newer anyway.

[ixfxi]

well if i was to get the rx8, i would have to have my parent co sign it which means they'd be riding my ass until it was paid off, or i paid them back if that's what they wanted. the paint wasnt bad until someone hit me.

RX8 is a piece of garbage, good choice on the S13 - at least its an old piece of garbage thats paid off and isnt rotary.

If you're the type of person who takes care of your stuff, then do the job right when you've got more money to spare. If you're in a financial pinch, then dont spend your money on ANYTHING (paint or performance) and just save it. Most of the idiots on this forum dont know how to save, let alone understand the reasons why you should STAY THE FUCK AWAY from any 1-day paint shop.

If you feel like de-valuing your car, then 1 day MAACO jobs are great. If you want to cherish your car and appreciate it for what its worth, then get a good paint job when the time is right.

Save your money.

[amdnivram]

yeah lol, i guess i need new springs. so i'll use my cash for either coil overs or paint lol. being an indecisive person sucks.

[steve_o1989]

Haha look at most of the cars on here, mismatched panels, cracked bumpers, old paint...That my friend is nothing to worry about. If anything, just save up for a whole paintjob and go that route. I don't think that it would be really worth it to toss $500 to get that fixed, when for another $500 you could possibly have the whole car resprayed. And seeing that you are sort of a perfectionist, the rest of the paintjob will start bothering you when the clear starts fading/peeling. I was so pissed when the clear on my old s13 started to peel, but dealing with cars this old, it's just sort of the way it goes.

[ixfxi]

Haha look at most of the cars on here, mismatched panels, cracked bumpers, old paint...That my friend is nothing to worry about. If anything, just save up for a whole paintjob and go that route. I don't think that it would be really worth it to toss $500 to get that fixed, when for another $500 you could possibly have the whole car resprayed. And seeing that you are sort of a perfectionist, the rest of the paintjob will start bothering you when the clear starts fading/peeling. I was so pissed when the clear on my old s13 started to peel, but dealing with cars this old, it's just sort of the way it goes.

1000 for a full paint job? suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure

i paid over 2k just in MATERIALS, wholesale cost.

[VROOOM]

one of the shops i got a car painted at had a sign next to the register that said "good paint jobs aint cheap and cheap paint jobs aint good" its pretty much true.

700 dollar paint job
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/nismothecat/car0052.jpg


4k paint job
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k79/nismothecat/ocjeff1-4.jpg


pictures may not do the paint justice but you can get what im saying

[SuperSam]

amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SuperSam]

Me and my bro both have 240's. When we took his to "One Day Paint N' Body" in Santa Ana(i kno, i kno)... He paid 1200 for his paint job and it looked awsome. The thing is its true when it comes to paint: You do get what you paid for.. Just like in buying a car.. Never think you came up when it comes to busniess like that.. You may think you came up on them. But, they'll come up on u.. Paint aint cheep anyway (if u want a near factory job).. Even 1200 price tage on the job made the car look nice but still made u think: "it still COULD be better" and then when some off duty oficer hit the car (cuz she wasn't paying attention) We repainted it(with the money she gave us not to sue) we went to earlschibe just to save most of the settlement money. we paid 600 and it showed the difference right away!!... Trust me or anybody here when we say you DO get what u paid for... Take no short cuts you'll regret it later if you plan to keep the car for a loooooooong time...Sorry so long but had to say my peace..thx