Decision Time: To paint or not to paint? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #31 02-19-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobodaclown

Keep it as is for another 6 months then re-evaluate the situation. Bobo

The car has to look pretty if its going to meet Zeke next month.

herring · #32 02-20-2008, 03:42 PM

So how bad is my paint job going to be if I just "take it to Maaco" and get their best paint job (which includes clearcoat)? I assume the paint itself is pretty good but I mean the details. Also, where does a standard paint job end--will the door openings and door frames be painted? The underside of the hood?

Hatterasguy · #33 02-20-2008, 04:03 PM

It will probably be a good 10-15 foot job. Good enough for a solid daily driver.

TimFreeh · #34 02-20-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huck

I have a guy in SC that will prep the car including fixing a few dents and paint the car with dupont paint using base and clear for $600. It's $100 more for wet sand and buff.Huck

That's quite a deal.

About six months ago I finished some bodywork on my 91 300D and decided that I would re-paint it. My son-in-law is an experienced professional auto painter and donated paint booth time and labor, my only expenses were going to be the price of the materials (Dupont base and clear-coat).

The wholesale cost for the paint was just a shade over $700.

Huck · #35 02-20-2008, 07:07 PM

I thought is was a bait and switch ad on craigslist. I called the guy and talked to him for about an hour. He painted my friends VW and it came out nice. It is better than any Maaco paint job. It was taped around the windshield seals but my friend removed all the trim. It came out really nice. I am very picky and could live with it. I would not be happy with it on my Porsche but on an older Benz I would have no problem. If I find a 300CD with bad paint he will be the one to do it.

Huck

TylerH860 · #36 02-20-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herring

So how bad is my paint job going to be if I just "take it to Maaco" and get their best paint job (which includes clearcoat)? I assume the paint itself is pretty good but I mean the details. Also, where does a standard paint job end--will the door openings and door frames be painted? The underside of the hood?

I assume you're changing the color? Not a good idea, unless your doing a full frame off resto. If you take care of it it will look good for a few years, Maaco even says that.

Cr from Texas · #37 02-20-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

just posted the ad.

http://wichita.craigslist.org/trd/578848761.html

Got any responses yet? If you get a bite from the DFW, Texas area let me know.

TylerH860 · #38 02-21-2008, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cr from Texas

Got any responses yet? If you get a bite from the DFW, Texas area let me know.

nada... except about 3 emails and a phone call trying to get me to use a employment agency or website to find someone.

I just moved into a new place, and changing my cable service has also invited 8 phone calls from the cable company trying to get me to buy more service. If they didn't have a monopoly in Wichita, I'd switch.

herring · #39 02-21-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

I assume you're changing the color? Not a good idea, unless your doing a full frame off resto. If you take care of it it will look good for a few years, Maaco even says that.

Yes, I don't particularly like my color (yellow). I didn't worry about it too much because of the rust on the rear fenders and I know it's hard to match paint.

I was thinking about a sort of tan, which would have a similar "hue" (if that's the right word) to the yellow--perhaps not too far off from the palomino interior. That way it doesn't jump out at you if you see some yellow on the door frame that it's a different color than the tan exterior.

TylerH860 · #40 02-28-2008, 11:05 PM

Paint day is on March 10!!! With a twist

I'm going with the body shop that quoted me $2500 for the whole job, minus the windows. Not only am I confident the work will be done right, but the owner is a friend of the family. Now the twist.

I got a response from my CL add, a qualified guy who worked in body shops for 20 years, then went solo doing mobile PDR. When I called Scott at the body shop informing him I may have someone else do the prep work, he told me not to bother; his shop is going to do the job and only charge the cost of materials!!! I was shocked, to say the least. This guy is a friend, but not that good of a friend. Then I remembered I told my father about the situation.

I phoned my Dad to see if he knew anything about this. A long story followed.

A few years back Dad was selling his 03 Escalade and Scott, a struggling car dealer at the time, had a buyer lined up for him. The new owner was not picking up the vehicle for a few weeks so, in the interim, Scott volunteered to keep the Cadi at his garage. Somehow in the three week period, Scott not only managed to put 5,000 on the truck, but left it outside of a shady bar overnight, where it got vandalized and broken in to. Well over $3,000 of damage was done, not to mention the mileage, and Dad footed the bill to sell the car in time.

I never knew this story until now; needless to say this guy owes dad a lot of money (which he doesn’t have) or a lot of favors. I do have to write my dad a check for $1,000 after, but I’m still saving over a grand for an excellent paint job. I’m a bit worried about my car now, but doubt he’ll want to take a work in progress 300d barhopping to Oklahoma.

TylerH860 · #41 02-28-2008, 11:24 PM

Here are a few before pictures. I refinished some bundts I had lying around, which go on tomorrow.

Looks great from 15 feet. That's my new house, by the way. Just moved in 3 weeks ago.

but look closer. random dings, scratches, chips, and oxidation throughout the car.

The roof. Your try looking better after spending 20 years unprotected under the Texas Sun.

and the liberty bell crack; the main factor forcing the repaint. Its not as bad as it looks. Its Probably why I got the car so cheap

Finally the Bundts I refinshed myself. 3 coats of paint, 3 coats of clear. I'm know I should have gotten the powdercoated or annodized, but I'm happy with the results. Two of them have brake dust covers on them, whoohoo!

Bio300TDTdriver · #42 02-28-2008, 11:27 PM

That's a good story. I hope he doesn't go out to a bar on Sunday, March 9th.

TylerH860 · #43 03-10-2008, 04:25 PM

Dropped the car off today. I will take pictures later in the week after the car gets prepped. I should get it back Friday or Monday... WISH ME LUCK!

TylerH860 · #44 03-11-2008, 11:16 PM

Stopped by the shop this afternoon... WOW!!! All the trim and bits are off and 3 body workers were sanding on her at the same time. She looked alot like a Volvo!

The problem area proves to be the trunk seal area; the rubber seal itself came out in pieces. Underneath, rust was starting to form. The PO appeared to have fixed a bad trunk seal with some kind of glue, blocking the water flow. I'm so glad this was caught early.

The car will be fully prepped tomorrow; I will be sure to take some pictures and post them on this thread when I visit. Paint day is Thursday.

TylerH860 · #45 03-13-2008, 12:32 AM

Some pictures of the car around 1:00 today. A final round of full body sandind and cleaning followed later in the afternoon. The green primer freaked me out a bit. I thought primer was usually grey, oh well. The Bundts I refinished are on the car, too.

I know the door handles are still on, and most of the window trim, but I do think it will come out looking fantastic. I'm not planning to have a concours show car, so I'm not concerned.