madoka

I've got a 95 Maxima. I was rear-ended about a decade ago so the rear bumper was repainted, but now that paint is peeling off. I took it to an auto body shop and they said $150 to repaint it.

Then I started thinking that the rest of the car is kinda beat up. There's a bunch of chips in the front, large key marks down the side, etc. The body shop said $600 if I want the whole car painted, but it wouldn't be OEM quality.

Is it better to keep the original paint job in this case and just do the rear bumper? Or should I have the entire car repainted?

If I went the first route, I would get a detail job on the rest of the car. If I got the entire car repainted, I would like to get the car Opti-Coated afterwards.

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

$600 paint job seems too cheap IMO.

styliztik

Yeah $600 for the whole car.. You'll probably be in the same boat a year later..

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

never used opticoat before. good luck

deloa84

iTrader: (5)

600 seems a bit low from a shop considering the amount of labor it takes JUST to take out the dings here and there and prep work. Tell them to show you pictures of their previous work??

Im guessing for 600 they are just going to do a quick sand down(if any), primer and then some paint.

max ride 41

iTrader: (4)

cmon man, let an expert help ya, post up a couple of pics..ics: ps, hell no on the whole car, and the front bumper should'nt be more than 400.00 tops.

madoka

Thanks for the responses!

Here's what the rear bumper looks like:

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

$600 to paint the entire car? Walk away, no run away.

madoka

So $150 sounds like a fair price to repaint the rear bumper?

deloa84

iTrader: (5)

I would say that is fair for just the bumper...

max ride 41

iTrader: (4)

i would'nt trust someone to repaint the bumper that cheap. there's a million little clips holding it on and it takes awhile to remount it after painting. if you know someone thats had it done that cheap, look at it real close. i bet there's no way they took it off the car to repaint for that unless you know them and trust them. mine cost 350.00 2 years ago and they did a good job so i'd be hard pressed to believe they prepped and primed and cleared for that. my .02c

Quickywd01

iTrader: (16)

It's probably one of those places that'll just paint the piece while it's still on the car.

max ride 41

iTrader: (4)

dude, seriously? i think i just said that

madoka

So, I won't get the whole car painted, but this discussion has got me thinking that I might as well get the front bumper redone. Now since the front bumper is pretty beat up now from rocks, I was thinking that I should just buy this part:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-...1897_1898.html

Maxima FASCIA KIT-FRONT BUMPER for $268 and replace the one I have. Any thoughts on this plan?

jholley

iTrader: (13)

If you have the money then go for it. When I repainted my MAX last year I got a new front bumper and both fenders for only $223 at www.stylintrucks.com. I could afford OEM parts but for a 13 year old car I felt aftermarket body parts were good enough.

madoka

How did those bumpers compare to OEM?

jholley

iTrader: (13)

In material and size they were no different than the originals I replaced. The bumper is plastic and the fenders are steel. The front bumper and fenders were an exact fit with the bolts lining up and fitting snug.

cashoit

both prices are fair if you are going to get it painted by a "good ole boy" shop.

Just be warned, after a yr or so the paint WILL start to chip away especially the hood as thats the air flow path. OEM paint quality is just that: quality!

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

why is it garunteed that the paint will start chippin away in a year? that is NOT something anyone should pay for. if your paints chipping in a year you need to take that **** back.

madoka

Sounds great. I checked the prices. Seems I can buy replacement bumpers for front and back for around $160.

The body shop said that they will paint and install both pieces for $405 (single coat) or $490 (double coat). The lady told me that she recommends the single coat as it looks better on a black car. What is the difference between the single and the double?

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

i think she means singe stage paint, or base/clear combo. i always do a base clear combo but im newschool so....
oldschool painters will swear by single stage

jholley

iTrader: (13)

Search for that sites coupon code before you order. I got free S/H using one.

cashoit

WHen i got into a lil fender bender (mostly body damage) last year, i got the car fixed and repainted.

I knew what it was and i knew the ppl doing the work. And they did good work. Insurance sd it would cost over 7k to fix and paint. My guy did it for 2500.

The re-work paint started chipping on the hood maybe six months after getting it fixed. I repainted the the chipping areas with autozone paint.

IMO, for 600, you get what u pay for, which is a new color that will starting chipping after a few months. Just touch up the chipping areas ever so often and screw, its not a new car so why spend lots of money on it.

Of course its up to the OP, but thats what i would do if i was tryin to paint if for the cheap.

EDIT:

OP,

Im not saying to paint it for the cheap. Spend some money, do it right do it once. But there are incentives for cheaping out and i understand that.