To go with the Dupont shop or pricer shop? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

forat2 · #1 03-10-2010, 02:45 AM

I am looking to get my 300SD painted. Has some rust, mainly in the rear panel and front crossmember, its pretty bad in those areas. I have narrowed it down to 2 shops. I need help deciding...
I. Shop 1 will do it for $3,000, but they are going to just treat the rust all over and weld some metal in the bad areas. They use Dupont paint and a Dupont rust treatment. These guys do really great work, I have seen what they have done for a few of my buddies cars and its impressive.
II. Shop 2 will do it for $5,500, they are using top quality paint and are spending $1,000 in parts on replacing the rear panel and front crossmember rather than patch it like Shop 1. These guys do great restoration work as well.

So my dilemma is should I do shop 1 or 2? I am pretty broke but at the same time I do not want to have to do this job twice. So what say you all? Also if I do shop 1 I can buy the paint if I want something better than Dupont, what would you all recommend?
Thanks!

thorsen · #2 03-12-2010, 12:10 PM

Does either shop offer a warranty on their work?

jmk · #3 03-12-2010, 05:57 PM

I would do neither. I would look for another car.

#1 won't work for the long haul. Paint will not stick to rust. Rust expands 10x when it starts. Rust is an unstable surface that will not stay coated for much more that a year.

#2 may fix the problem areas, but your car is 30 years old. If it is rusted that bad, there will be more areas. It will be next to impossible to keep up with the rust. You'd be better off looking for a car from a rust free climate.

BTW, paint brand does not tell you much about the paint. Most manufacturers (DuPont is one of them) have a whole line of paint from economy to high quality. You can have an excellent Dupont with a mediocre BASF, or visa versa.