Somebody hit my car! I need constructive opinions.

[J.HIDALGO]

It is a very minor dent in the driver's front fender but, it is big enough to repair and paint the fender.
Talking to an auto body shop they can matched the paint to the side of the panel but since the top (throughout the car) is starting to show the age of the vehicle (weathered paint) there would be a noticeable difference. If I paint just the fender (about $800). How would this affect the value of the vehicle? or should I paint the whole vehicle for 3 times the amount of the repair? Keep in mind this is a 1986 vehicle which I plan to keep for another 1-2 years. By the way, the insurance is only paying for the repair and paint of the fender.
Opinions?

[BobK]

I'd probably talk to another shop. It's amazing how some shops can match paint even to the point of making it look faded like the rest of a car. What color? Metallic? is there really a bit difference now between the color of the right fender and the top?

[GermanStar]

Painting body panels to match the rest of the car is what body shops do. Perhaps the one you visited would fare better in the restaurant business... In any case, run for cover to a different shop.

Ron
http://germanstar.net

[cbdo]

Even though you'd want another shop's ideas, you're still facing the basic question you posed. I'm certainly no expert, but I'd work from these assumptions:
1) You'll never get out all the money you spend on a total respray.
2) The car will sell faster and for a better price if it looks fresh.
3) The car-literate buyer will be reassured to see photos of what damage there was that led to the job, so he can tell it wasn't a complete Bondo-over-the-rust-powder situation.

[TX76513]

All good advice on previous posts but..........what are your plans with the car? Is it a keeper, or a temporary driver? The wallet is the dictator here. If you love the car and plan on keeping the car for a few years and have the MB pride in ownership then have the entire car repainted. Shop around for a repaint - you may be amazed at how little a "decent" repaint will cost.

[J.HIDALGO]

Picture of the damage is a good selling idea. I will do that.
As far as the paint matching, let me clarify that point.
My car has a mild case of "clear coat pealing" as the auto body shop told me., due to the hot weather here in Florida. My car has the original factory paint, as far as I can tell, since I am not the original owner. The "pealing" is worse on all the surfaces facing up, such as the trunk, hood, roof and top of the fenders. The paint looks very good on all the side panels of the car. In other words, the side panels look darker than the panels facing up. I have seen that in other older MB's so I know it is not an isolated case. Besides, it is a 17 year old car and I hear the durability of the paint job on the newer MB's is not as good as the old ones.
Bottom line, I can not see matching the color from top and bottom without noticing the difference. Am I wrong?
P.S. Color is silver or light gray. Any other alternatives for the "pealing" other than repainting the entire car?

[pfphipps]

If the paint is not broken or there is not a crease, small dents can be removed by the "paintless dent removal" methods. Since there is no painting, it is much, much cheaper than traditional body shop methods.

It also eliminates any worry about paint match. I have found even if the paint match is perfect after a repair, the two different paints age differently and after a few years, they look different., especially metallics.

A friend of mine bought a 89 300E that had about 20 door dings. For about $200 at the "paintless" place, the car looked new. I could not believe it. You might look into it.

[J.HIDALGO]

Unfortunately, fender needs repair and paint. I am also amazed of what "paintless dent removal" can do. I have seen it done but, in my case, it will not work.
Thank you!