i am planning on buying a stillen kit but im not sure if i should buy a pint from napa or go around to shops and just have them get the paint. im not sure which one will be cheaper. i also might get a type x wing and maybe some z3 fenders down the line so extra paint might come in handy. but i know when i get the kit i will want it on asap and i will choose the cheapest option since i spent all my money on the kit. i also know that if i let the body shop choose the paint it will be a closer match but i also want to go the cheaper route.

what do you guys think i should do buy the paint or just let the body shop get teh paint and paint it for me.

 

Well if you want to save money that bad then just primer and sand down the body parts yourself. That will save the real money. As for the paint I would let them do it to match it up.

Proph

 

Let the bodyshop paint it, but if you want to do it yourself try...

http://www.paintscratch.com

 

That is what I have heard about maaco....NO NO!

They are right, the way that you are going to save the most money is by doing all the primer and sanding and prep yourself. That labor is what is the really expensive part. The paint is not all that bad.

You could try the paint from www.paintscratch.com, but I would just have the body shop paint the final thing on there for you. It will look a lot better.

 

how much should i expect to pay if i let them do all the labor?????

 

I just installed my stillen lip and payed the painter $40 cash, that included the clear coat. (painting only, no prep labour)

 

was the painter a body shop???? did you primer the lip your self????

 

Yes he was and no

 

I would also suggest painting the lip off of the body of the car. True, you have to be more careful when putting it on to not scratch it, but it will look better and get all the corners better.
When I got a new bumper, the guys that I had so it didn't listen to me and they put the bumpers on the car before they painted it. Because of this, some of my radiator is painted. Also,k the underside of the front bumper is not painted.

 

If you plan to buy more parts in the future I think its better if you do it yourself (Im assuming you have a spray gun, compressor and some knowledge as far as painting). I bought one quart of primer, one quart of base paint, one quart clear coat, the necessary activator(helps clear coat dry) for the clear coat and thinning solution for base paint, all for About $130.00. It was sufficient to paint my front bumper, two front fenders, one door, and my hood. Its a lot of work but if I had choosen a body shop to do it I would have paid a fortune for all the parts I just mention. The paint matched perfectly all I did was give the paint shop my paint code and ofcourse I had to prime and sand but in the end it was worht it. Plus I can brag that I did myself!
Good luck. I can give you a hand if you live in Norwalk, CT.

 

bump how much do you guys think it will be if i just let them prep and paint for me.

i have little experience with painting but i am pretty familiar with the prep work. my friend has spray gun and he will most likely help me primer it if i decide to do the prep work.

right now i am leaning to let the shop do all the work because i know i will want it on asap. i am just wondering if i do decide to let them do it how much it will cost.

 

why dont you just go get a quote from a paint shop?

 

2 days after i get the kit i am goin out of the country for a month so i wont really have time. i have been really busy all this week trying to prepare for the trip. im just trying to get some general ideas about what im looking at to spend and how long it will take before i can get it on.

hopefully when i get back i will have it painted within a month. all depends how funds are and how much i have to spend