I wouldn’t have a problem with replacing my timing belt, or replacing the water pump on my car, but when it comes to body work I’m completely in the dark. To be honest I’ve been doing as much reading as I can on the subject. But I still have some questions. I’m in the process of having a local shop here in Austin completely repaint my car and pull two dents off the side and fix a rust spot the size of a quarter on the passenger back window.
I found out a way to remove the rear trim above the bumper, but I haven’t found a way to remove the MB badges on the truck without damaging them. And how do I go about removing the door handles, without damaging anything inside the door or the door handles themselves. I’m planning on removing the front and rear lights and the front grill. But how do I removing the front MB badge that is on front hood. I’m also going to remove the rubber gasket on the back drivers side that holds the radio antenna and the silver trim on top of the two side doors. How do I removing the side mirrors. And am I forgetting anything else that I need to remove so they can do a better job at painting the car. I’m wanting to do some of the work myself because I want to learn, and they are giving me a great deal on the job so I’m wanting to make it easy for them. Over all they are going to pull two dents, fix the rust and paint the complete car with a clear coat sprayed on for around $1,400. I know I’m not expecting the car to have a factory look for $1,400. I’m just wanting the car to look better then what it looks like today.

The body shop stated: "Prep Roof and Right Door For Paint and Scuff Rest of Car (No
Sanding"


Should I grind down some of the spots that are really bad or will that not help at all.
How do I:
1. remove the MB badges front and back
2. remove door handles
3. remove side mirrors
Any help you can give me on paint / clear coat types and brands would be helpful or anything else I do not know about.
Thanks



Estemate from Shop:

LABOR
Description
Qty
Each Amount
Prep Roof and Right Door For Paint and Scuff Rest of Car (No Sanding)
$132.00 DT

prep
$44.00

Base Coat, Clear Coat
$682.00
15.5
$44.00

Grind and Bondo Rust, Right Lower Rear Glass, Customer
$88.00 DT

Repair Major Dent in Right Quarter
$88.00 DT

Repair Major Dent In Right Rear Door
$132.00 DT

Paint and Supplies
$190.00 DT


Customer understands that no items will be removed from his car
prior to painting. He also understands that denibing, color
sanding, and polishing will not be performed. Any item that the
customer wants removed before painting should be removed
prior to deliver to shop. Customer also understands that paint job
is not up to "$^%)(# Auto Repair's normal standard of quality and
will only come with a 5 year paint warranty.
$1,312.00
Fees
$91.84

Tax
$0.00
$1,403.84
X _____________________________________


So what is denibing, color sanding?

And what else should I be looking out for.

__________________
Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

IMO the price is too high.

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Really, I'm not that knowledge when it comes to body work. How is it too much money? I’m going to do the prep work, by sanding the complete car with some 600 grit wet sand and then finishing up with 800grit wet sand paper. I’m having them pull those two large dents, the rust problem, paint the car and clear coat it. What else should they do for that price? Is there a step that I’m not seeing?

Thanks Again

__________________
Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

Need more data.
Could you post some pictures of the dents?




Door LOCK issues, link thread.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/158363-door-lock-issues-link-thread.html#post1214456

Inner Door Panel Removal DIY Links
Inner Door Panel Removal DIY Links

Damage to door:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13377331@N00/3922281948/

Rust damage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13377331@N00/3921498113/

Rear panal:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13377331@N00/3921497891/in/photostream/

Roof to be sanded down:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13377331@N00/3914036628/in/photostream/

__________________
Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

Upon review of the damage, their price is good.

Looking at the rust pictures, it looks like this car may have been repainted before. There may be some hidden damage on the vehicle.

To get the paint to stick, you will need to remove all of the rust and reprime. POR-15 is popular on the website. I would search for info on this product.

Carefully look for more hidden rust or damage. Nothing worse than finding surprises once the job has been started.

__________________
___________________________________________
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