Quote:
Originally Posted by scho63
Question about custom paint jobs and body work:
PREFACE TO QUESTION:
I have an older 2003 Cadillac Seville SLS that I just love and paid only $2795 for it plus tax and dealer fees.
I've been sinking some money into it as I like no payments, the perfect interior with not a single cracked leather or split leather or cracked wood, plus the ride is great. EVERYTHING on it still works down to the fog lights and heated seats and it's got 159,XXX miles with a 32 valve Northstar engine.
Just had the A/C discharge hose done with a complete A/C system recharge that blows out ice cubes it's so cold, the expansion tank for my radiator, my tensioner and belt, front brakes and rotors, oil pressure sensor line and prior to purchase early last year the dealer had the torque converter replaced, coolant line replaced and transmission evaluated.
MY QUESTION:
I am really thinking about going all in and spending money to have the entire body worked on so every door ding, scratch and bumper scrap is gone. Additionally I want to CHANGE the color from a light tan/metallic to one in the green family, like a greenish gray that I had with my Jaguar.
How much are paint jobs these days along with body work prep?
There is no major body damage and probably around 12-15 dings. I don't want the cheapest and get shitty work but this ain't no 2020 Lamborghini either.
Any help appreciated.
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I wouldn't change the color of the car. The only way to do that right is to dismantle the car, take the doors off, fenders off, windows out, hood off, trunk lid off, remove all the rubber gaskets and seals etc, pull everything off the firewall, drop the engine etc.
Then strip it down, prime it and then paint it. You'll be $25K into that sort of project in no time.
And if you don't do it like that, in 1-2 years you'll be wishing you never changed the color. Rock chips, chips on the door, the elements, etc will cause the new paint to peel and chip off, revealing the original color underneath. You'll likely get over spray underneath the car and when the car gets on a lift, or if someone opens the hood etc it's going to be different colors. If the body shop didn't do a good job prepping the car, your new paint WILL start to flake off in a few years.
Keep the car its original color and yeah, expect to pay in the $4K-$6K range for a decent refreshed paint job.
If you got a hard-on for changing the color of the car, maybe consider a vinyl wrap.