Paint Job Cost

Body parts, seats, dash, headlining, windows and stuff!

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rbgosling
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Paint Job Cost

Post by rbgosling »

I've been driving around a number of different paint shops around Northamptonshire last and this week, to find someone to give Lilith a respray who:
  • seems trustworthy and like they know what they are doing
  • Is a reasonable price (i.e. within the money I have available from last year's bonus!)
  • Can do it soon-ish, ideally before I return to working at the factory rather than home
So far I've visited 8 places. I looked at classic specialists, those who advertise specifically that they have experience with fibreglass, and normal bodyshops both big and small. Inevitably there was going to be some compromise, and I was expecting some variation, but the range was far bigger than I expected - cheapest was £2,000, most expensive was £6953! Two have promised to email quotes but still not arrived after a week or so. Some said they could start in a couple of weeks, some said they were booked up until autumn. Everyone I visited claimed to have experience with fibreglass, but you could tell by talking with them those that really knew what they were doing. I even found a place called "Excel Body Repairs", but they didn't have fibreglass experience - oh the irony!

I think I've narrowed it down to a couple; one I prefer, but maybe I'll try and haggle him down to the price of the other and see how that goes...
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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MetBlue
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by MetBlue »

Richard
Did you ask each how long they'd need the car?
I wouldn't mind betting the £2000 quote would have had the car back to you in a matter of days - maybe even same day!! . The £6k probably several weeks.
You don't need me to point out this is all about how much labour they intend to spend on the prep.
Other time factor ( but not necessarily added cost) is HOW and HOW LONG they give it to dry and between coats.
Are your quotes assuming you take the bling off first, or are they doing everything?

Interesting quotes though. Was one from Daventry?
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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rbgosling
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by rbgosling »

Yes, the duration of the car being away varied, but even the cheapest was 2 weeks minimum they reckoned, others were 4 weeks or longer. They all planned to take most if not all the old paint off.

I did discuss doing some dismantling first, although the flip side is that most of what I'd save on the cost would be offset by having to have the car trailered to the paint shop rather than driven. Only one quoted on the basis of me dismantling, and they were the most expensive.

Yes, I did speak to one shop in Daventry, they were the most expensive (by a considerable margin), wonder if you are thinking of the same place...?
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Alan_M
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Alan_M »

Richard there are a myriad of things that will affect the price. How much will they remove vs how much will they mask? Remove doors or not - we all have an idea of what a pain that can be.
How much prep they are going to put into getting perfect flat panels?
I seem to recall yours is metallic. If so will need to be done clear over base. If a flat colour could be done in direct gloss which will save cost.
What quality paint are they using. There can be a big difference in quality and price. Make sure it’s good quality paint if you want it to last.
Are you having door shuts, under bonnet, inside boot done etc
If you have any previous micro blistering then all the paint needs to be removed. If not could just be sanded which will reduce cost and should be fine if no defects in the current paint.
Will you be happy with the gun finish or want it flatted and polished to perfection?

Look at their previous work, get a detailed quote on what they will be doing and level of finish expected and what warranty they give.

Tony has mentioned how long between coats could be a factor - once car is primed and prepped ready for base coat it should all be done quite quickly with modern paints - most manufacturers will specify only 10-15 mins between coats. Problems arise when too much time is left between coats as they will not bond and you will get issues later on. So you don’t want somewhere that will be fitting it in between other jobs and may leave too long and not complete the actual respray in the correct time.

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rbgosling
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by rbgosling »

Cheers Alan,

I'm just getting an exterior respray in the original colour - cheaper and more straightforward and engine bay, door shuts etc. will still match. The consensus between most/all of the places I tried is removing trim (door handles, lamps, badges, rubber perimeter strip etc.), some included bumper removal, only one insisted on removing and refitting the bonded glass front and rear screens.

The colour is Lotus A51 - Midnight Blue, which isn't metallic. The original is clear over base, I think that's what my preferred option plans to do but I'll confirm, thanks for reminding me.

The existing finish is in a poor shape:
  • clear lacquer blistered and peeling in a number of places
  • Some microblisters in a few small locations
  • An odd one - on the rear half of the roof only, loads of small (1" - 1.5" long) cracks, aligned more-or-less front-to-rear
  • Spider-web cracks on front and rear bumper from small knocks
So really it needs all the old paint coming off, which to be fair all the candidates were planning to do, even the £2,000 option.

The car will remain very much a daily driver, so I'm after a finish that is tidy rather than concours-worthy, although my preferred option assures me that what he'll deliver will be show-worthy anyway.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

Pete Boole
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Pete Boole »

The paint is also the last bit to be "fixed" - all those gel coat cracks will reappear if not sorted properly. Who's going to do that?

Pete

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rbgosling
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by rbgosling »

Pete Boole wrote:
Thu Mar 04, 2021 14:50
The paint is also the last bit to be "fixed" - all those gel coat cracks will reappear if not sorted properly. Who's going to do that?

Pete
That's definitely part of their scope, and why I vet carefully to see if they do actually have experience with fibreglass. Fortunately it's only the bumpers that show any likelihood of this being a problem, so there's not too much of that.
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

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Lotus-e-Clan
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Lotus-e-Clan »

rbgosling wrote:
Thu Mar 04, 2021 14:18

[*]An odd one - on the rear half of the roof only, loads of small (1" - 1.5" long) cracks, aligned more-or-less front-to-rear
Could that be related to the weight of the glass sunroof flexing the hardened paint on the rear half of the panel? I had a glass sunroof in the Clan for a few years and it weighed about 5% of the kerb weight! Massively heavy! Took it out and replaced it with a carbon panel.
Peter K

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rbgosling
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by rbgosling »

Lotus-e-Clan wrote:
Fri Mar 05, 2021 13:32
Could that be related to the weight of the glass sunroof flexing the hardened paint on the rear half of the panel? I had a glass sunroof in the Clan for a few years and it weighed about 5% of the kerb weight! Massively heavy! Took it out and replaced it with a carbon panel.
An interesting thought - but if that were the case I'd have thought it more likely the cracks would be orientated across the car rather than front-to-rear. A couple of the paint shops I talked to reckoned it may be due to too-thick paint, maybe if the car has been resprayed in the past (not in my 10 years of ownership, but who knows about before that?).

I'd be happy enough to see the sunroof go - it doesn't help headroom for a 6'3" driver, and a little water has been known to collect then spill into my lap when parked in the rain. The catch doesn't even hold it open properly when I do try to use it. Equally, can I be bothered with the trouble and cost of having a new panel glassed in to where the hole is? I suppose if I ever do, now is the time!
"Farmer" Richard

1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)

richardw
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by richardw »

rbgosling wrote:
Fri Mar 05, 2021 15:43
I'd be happy enough to see the sunroof go - it doesn't help headroom for a 6'3" driver, and a little water has been known to collect then spill into my lap when parked in the rain. The catch doesn't even hold it open properly when I do try to use it. Equally, can I be bothered with the trouble and cost of having a new panel glassed in to where the hole is? I suppose if I ever do, now is the time!
Definitely the time to do it! That sunroof may actually detract from the value of the car as well. My car had the hole from a pop top glassed over when it was resprayed and it has lasted well - just a slight ripple where the hole used to be.

Cheers, Richard
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Lotus-e-Clan
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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Lotus-e-Clan »

rbgosling wrote:
Fri Mar 05, 2021 15:43
Lotus-e-Clan wrote:
Fri Mar 05, 2021 13:32
Could that be related to the weight of the glass sunroof flexing the hardened paint on the rear half of the panel?
An interesting thought - but if that were the case I'd have thought it more likely the cracks would be orientated across the car rather than front-to-rear. A couple of the paint shops I talked to reckoned it may be due to too-thick paint, maybe if the car has been resprayed in the past (not in my 10 years of ownership, but who knows about before that?).
In my thinking I imagined the 'bounce' induced by the mass of the sunroof could stretch/flex \and dip the rear panel across the wider section rear roof (left to right) so the cracks might then be longitudinal (like yours) and not not transverse? But yes thick paint and natural shrinkage could well be it (or maybe a combo of sunroof and thick paint?). A lot depends on the sunroof frame stiffness/tightness too I guess. ..and if heat expansion in the frame adds something to the mix......crikey! ...now I'm REALLY over-thinking it! :lol:

Got to say I really like the convenience of sunroofs for regulating comfort small in a non A/C car like the Clan. The original standard fitment of cloth Webasto in Clans are my favorite ... they don't weight much ... but proper Britax /Webasto cloth sunroof replacements are now very expensive sadly. :(
Peter K

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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Dcplug »

My car has the same problem on the roof - no sunroof. Just buying it so dealer agreed to fix it pre sale.

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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by MetBlue »

Welcome to the forum Dcplug.
Start a new thread and tell us more about your new acquisition. First Lotus or life long addict?
You'll find the forum members a helpful and innovative bunch.
Tony
What goes together.... Must come apart.

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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Ray-s »

Welcome Dcplug. Just getting front end done on mine usual Lacquer peel costing me just over £500..

Being done by RSI in Grantham they've done one before for me on an MR2 brilliant job ..
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Ray...
Why is there always bits left over ?

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Re: Paint Job Cost

Post by Johnwindwood »

As always, paint costs depend on a few factors.

1. How much of a perfectionist you are

2. How well prepared the body needs to be (Cracks etc)

3. Whether you want to go to the extent of glass removal and major strip down.

I have a painter who has done several steel bodied cars for me over the years. The quality of his external paintwork is excellent-almost show quality, but he doesn't do edges, door shuts etc particularly well. On an Excel this isn't stunningly important as lots of it is black anyway.

Thus far the most I have paid for a full respray was £800. Although I haven't yet asked him for a full quote on the Lotus, I'm certain that it will not be more than that. He has already painted the front and rear bumpers for me to an excellent standard for £100.
Kind regards

John

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