Paint it before selling?

[nazrat]

My W123 had it's hood and fenders donated from another vehicle right before I started driving it. It was rattle can'd to get close to the same color to save embarrassment. The paint is not anywhere near MB quality. It has a few chips and isn't the same shade of blue.

I'm pretty sure that doing a really nice paint job isn't going to have a positive ROI. Doing a $300 Maaco paint job might reduce it's value to someone who appreciates a Mercedes.

What's the consensus?

-Tad

[vstech]

you can reduce the maaco price by getting the rattle can paint buffed off, and orbital prep the fender's paint with some rubbing compound then mask off the entire car and deliver it ready for paint, then reinstall the trim yourself... quite time intensive, but relatively free, and you will knock 100 or more off the maaco price and get a far superior paint job.

[TX76513]

Maaco also has a 1/2 off coupon on their web site.

Chances are good that you won't be able to make back what you spend on the paint.

If its really bad it might be worth it, but I'd see what kind of offers you get as-is first.

I don't think there is any such thing as a $300 paint job. Do some pricing, I suspect the "real cheap" paint jobs are more like $1000.

[Stevo]

I am very leery if I go too look at a car to potentially buy and its been repainted, epically if its a cheepo job.

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by Craig

I don't think there is any such thing as a $300 paint job. Do some pricing, I suspect the "real cheap" paint jobs are more like $1000.

You cannot even buy the cheap paint for less than $350, and quality paint and materials will go over $1k.

Factor that into your paint job quote.

Fresh paint jobs are generally a turn off, but if you do decide to have her painted, document the condition with lots of pictures, especially around the rust prone areas of the car. That, and the obvious collision damage repair, would do a lot to ease the buyer's mind. Of course, the fact that it was in a collision, isn't going to help you much, either.

Jim

[nazrat]

First off, I have no intention of hiding the accident (would be silly for me to post here if I was). I also don't expect to make a mint on this car. It's got 300k miles and while mechanically excellent it doesn't show well because of the paint.

It's too bad it was wrecked (not even the driver's fault either) because it does have the features that I see as desirable on ebay.

When I was going to keep it I even considered:
http://rollyourcar.com/default.aspx
http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master.htm?http://www.rickwrench.com/50dollarpaint.html

-Tad

[Jeremy5848]

I agree that the car will show better and sell faster if it is painted first. To answer the inevitable "what are you hiding?" questions, document the paint job before and after. You may not get any more money for the car but at least people will call, email, or come look at it. This is called "marketing."

Jeremy

[t walgamuth]

I go to the local automotive body supply place and order custom mixed paint by the numbers to match the original mercedes paint. They will mix a pint and fill four spray cans for me for less than $60.

I do any body work required to make it smooth, sand it so the new paint will stick and very carefully paint it myslef, masking off all other areas. I buff the rest of the car and it looks pretty great. It works like a charm with any non metallic color. I have not tried it with a metallic yet.

On my 240/300d (1983) it had some body damage and a lot of dings and scrapes. I sanded and filled, primed and painted with my special cans all the body under the trim line. The balance of the car I buffed. The upper car is all original paint.

It looks very good and when I go to sell it I can advertise that most of it is original paint.

Tom W

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I do any body work required to make it smooth, sand it so the new paint will stick and very carefully paint it myslef, masking off all other areas. I buff the rest of the car and it looks pretty great. It works like a charm with any non metallic color. I have not tried it with a metallic yet.

Tom W

Good for you Tom, when ever I try body work it usually looks worse when I'm done

[nazrat]

FWIW I decided not to paint it before I sold it and I did well.

-Tad