The question is how long will your Maaco paint last. I've read numerous reports about peeling after some time and Maaco's unwillingness to honor its warranty. I plan on repainting the roof on one of my cars and when I have more time I'll investigate what it takes to do it myself. I already had my hood professionally repainted, with clear coat and perfect color match, but it cost me $600.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

My car is in the same boat: Texas car, no garage, horrible paint (though wonderful everything else, and good interior thanks to tinted windows).

From what I've seen it looks like a Maaco job is going to be what I do this spring... I'll do the bodywork and pull trim myself, and then shop around at the few Maaco's in town. A friend of mine had a pretty good paint job done on her quantum at one, so I'll ask her which she went to.

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

My SD went into the paint shop on monday, ought to get it back by friday. I had no clearcoat left on the hood or trunk, and the roof was peeling badly. I sanded all the roof clear coat first with a RO machine 220 until the clear was gone then 320. Then 320 on the whole rest of the car. Filled in most of the door dings with bondo. Spent about 2-3 hours 4 days a week for 3 weeks plus two sundays of longer hours in prep for the paint shop. I went to a local shop- quoted me $328 all told for the wipe/mask/shoot. No Maaco's close and this shop is right down the street. Will post pics soon. Also added the matching rear seats to the fronts I had pulled and installed already- now I have rear headrests.....

For $199 I ain't too worried about it. Like I posted earlier, I can afford to get it painted once, maybe twice a year for that. I have no car payments so $199 a year on a paint job is alright!

Kevin

I'm curious about what the quote would've been if the shop did all the work that you did. Double? Triple?

And a general question: If one were to do all of the prep work, what kind of quote could one expect from a high end/fancy shmancy place? What would it get you? Better paint? Better shooter? Better warranty?

My paint is looking pretty ragged these days, and this thread has got me all worked up!

The price would be the same. A good paint job is all in the prep- that's what every glassman/painter at my work has said, and I believe them. A very expensive paint job cost's major expense is because of the time spent in prep. I spent alot of time on every little pebble chip and paint nick. One trick was in the primer- my pro said to get two colors of primer- after you think the surface is flat, mist it with the darker primer and sand it with a long board lightly. Any darker paint left after a couple passes is lower. So, gotta do it again. Cant do that with a one color primer job.

Mine looks pretty trashy, I'd be a candidate for up near the top I'm sure. mplafleur's looks good compared to mine.

Some jackass spilled paint thinner/acid on the FR fender so it's got permanent water marks. All over the hood, roof, and truck and even the doors looks like the lil areas he shows. Somehow the body is still pretty much straight as an arrow minus the dent in the trunk lid (again previous owner ).

At least it runs great and no one will consider stealing it.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

What would a good MB quality paint job run?

Mine won't be a daily driver for much longer, I am slowly turning it into a resto/weekend car.

When I get mine painted I will pull every peice of trim off and have the dents knocked out, no bondo. The front fenders are shoot, I will get new OE fenders for it also.

But what will a high quality paint job run? $2k $3k? $4k?

One of my Uncles does a lot of body work I can probably do a lot with him. He has restored the bodys to new on a few cars.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

With wet sanding and such? The car would look better than it ever would have from MB. That price doesn't seem out of the question, that's just all labor in making the paint surface flat. If you can do it for next to nothing, and plan to keep the car for "once in a while", go for it.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Yes I would want it wet sanded. I am kind of crazy about my paint. It gets 2 coats of Gold class wax every two months and a complete detail with a clay bar ect once a year.

After I get another car later this year my SDL would be a nice day summer/spring/fall car and sit in the garage or under a cover on wet days. In the winter she will be in the garage away from salt and sand.

So putting money into a nice paint job is the last part of my very long term goal. I have wanted a mint W126 since I was 15.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

oilslick,

That is one nice looking SD. Well done!!!!

For $199, you cannot even buy the automotive paint yourself.

People have always said that a great paint job is mostly prep work. Maaco says that they use the same paint as other body shops. Would it be worth it to spend a lot of time yourself preping the car (removing chrome, sanding, body filling) and taking it to Maaco for painting?

Is a two stage paint job worth it?

What about pin stripes?

You have me jealous!

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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I was given a rough estimate a couple years ago. About $5K for the whole car with all the prep work.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Thats about what I expected. But I will try to do a lot of the prep my self. I have been told a good paint job is 90% prep. Ie pull all the trim off, hang new front fenders, and maybe do some sanding and fairing. I can fair a boat so a car shouldn't be to much different.

The shop will have to bang the dents out and finish the prep, spray, and then wet sand.


Want I have a red pin strip on mine, at first I didn't like it but now it is growing on me.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

My F150 needs a quality paint job, it's got a poor no-prep job that was done before I purchased it. I just keep it washed weekly. My Z and WRX both get monthly waxing. I use Meguairs stuff, it's top notch (they have a higher end line you can get that works great, the bottles are beige). Check out their site too.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]