Ask the Car People.SM


Paint and Body Maintenance & Repair

1089 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2012 at 2:06 PM

You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Auto Body, Paint, Coupe, Convertible, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, Wagon, SUV, Van

Messages Page 108 of 109

#1070 of 1089 Re: removing inside door panel [httoby] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 10, 2011 (12:46 pm)

Replying to: httoby (Apr 10, 2011 11:40 am)
You might consider having one of those mobile dent repair guys come take a look. It really depends on the dent you have. If the metal has been stretched out in any way, you won't be able to push it back out from the inside.
 
so I'd suggest that before you take the panel off and maybe even make it look worse (unless you are prepared to do bodywork and paint the door), have a "dent pro" look at it, and for a lot less than a bodyshop, he might be able to make it look a lot better.

#1071 of 1089 Re: old beater question [bigfur] by bhill2

Jun 27, 2011 (2:37 pm)

Replying to: bigfur (Nov 14, 2010 10:37 am)
This a timely post stream. I have an old but beloved Mercedes ('85 380SE). It very much needs a paint job. I live in a place fairly remote from a major city. Could I trust Maaco to do a reasonable job if I choose their best one? The car is a driver, but it is one of the iconic body styles and I want it to look good.

#1072 of 1089 Re: old beater question [bhill2] by tallman1

Jun 27, 2011 (6:44 pm)

Replying to: bhill2 (Jun 27, 2011 2:37 pm)
I'm not sure how "timely" this is since the post you are replying to is 7 months old but I don't think Maaco has a very good reputation for quality. You might want to do a bit of research before taking your car there.
 
You get what you pay for.

#1073 of 1089 Re: old beater question [bhill2] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 28, 2011 (8:35 am)

Replying to: bhill2 (Jun 27, 2011 2:37 pm)
No I wouldn't use that kind of paint on a car. To give you an idea, just the cans of quality paint you should use on the car would cost more than the entire Maaco paint job. I suppose if you regard the car as basically worth nothing, and you're going to dispose of it soon, , then maybe from 10 feet away it would look okay for 6 months.

#1074 of 1089 Re: old beater question [Mr_Shiftright] by bhill2

Jun 29, 2011 (11:44 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 28, 2011 8:35 am)
I suppose if you regard the car as basically worth nothing, and you're going to dispose of it soon, , then maybe from 10 feet away it would look okay for 6 months.
 
That is so not what I had in mind. I plan to be buried in that car. It looks like I need to do further research. Shifty, I live in Santa Rosa, so if you can recommend anyone nearby it would be muchly appreciated.

#1075 of 1089 Re: old beater question [bhill2] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 30, 2011 (8:52 am)

Replying to: bhill2 (Jun 29, 2011 11:44 pm)
Gee this is such a tough question, because painting a car is SOOOOOO labor intensive, and labor rates so high in California, that it is difficult to find a paint job that is reasonably priced vis a vis the car. If I were in Santa Rosa (which is better, labor wise, than the SF Bay Area), I'd snoop around hot rod shops and see if anyone wants a side job or if their shop is slow. These guys know how to use a spray gun. I'm thinking that a really decent job has got to cost you at least $3,000 bucks, and most of that is in the masking and prepping, with only maybe $500--$600 in materials. Where I live, $12000 is not unusual to strip and paint a classic car PROFESSIONALLY, and that's to "look real good", (no overspray, no peel, no drips, no tape lines, with engine bay, jambs, trunk, etc) but not for Pebble Beach. If you want Pebble, you're looking at $20,000 easy.

#1077 of 1089 bent frame by earthchild57

Sep 02, 2011 (8:31 pm)

Hello. I wrecked my car and now I'm told the frame can't be straightened. I just ran off the road. It didn't seem to hit that hard. I didn't get hurt and the airbag didn't activate. I just can't believe it can't be fixed. I love that car. I'm heartbroken.
 
Do I have any options? Can the frame be replaced? It's the front passenger side. They originally said it was the suspension but found the bent frame when they went to fix the suspension.
 
It's a 2001 Olds Bravada. I've only had it two years.
 
Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
Vicki

#1078 of 1089 Re: bent frame [earthchild57] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 04, 2011 (7:15 pm)

Replying to: earthchild57 (Sep 02, 2011 8:31 pm)
What they mean is either that it's not worth fixing or they don't know how to fix it...but any frame can be straightened using the modern equipment they have now. It's possible that it's way too much work and the advice you're getting is good. It wouldn't take much to total this car, as it doesn't have too much value anymore.
 
in any event you have the option of trying another body shop.

#1079 of 1089 Re: bent frame [Mr_Shiftright] by bigfur

Oct 29, 2011 (8:17 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 04, 2011 7:15 pm)
If you bend the frame on just about ANY 10 year old car its gonna be totalled. Keeping in mind to total a vehical the repairs must reach 75% of the value of the vehical. After a quick search and seeing that the top value of the car would be about 4grand...it does not take alot of time in a body shop especially on a frame rack to push that up to the totalled point.

Messages Page 108 of 109

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement