So I've had my Maxima now since August 2002 (coming up on the 5 year mark) and it has had its fair share of poor paint experiences, as well as several dings, dents, etc from the unknown assailants (basically people swinging their door open on my car, etc -- since my last one, about 2 years ago, i've been parking as far away in the parking lot as possible to avoid these). Anyway, I've always wanted a Majestic Blue Maxima, but went with my Glacier Pearl due to some great deals I got on the car originally. Anyway, I decided to have all of the body damage fixed and have the car completely repainted, etc. This is my chance to go with as close to that majestic blue as possible, or even go with some other color. The shop that will be doing the work is pretty reliable and will get as much of the current chassis repainted as possible, however I know there will be areas of the chassis that I'll see that is still white. Is it a good idea to get your car repainted not by Nissan? I just don't trust Nissan's paint work, since from the factory it was in such bad shape (I've read the 1980809823 page long thread on the topic and can sympathize). If you had this opportunity would you go with another color?

Thanks for reading. I'm just excited and nervous about it at the same time. My car is currently bone stock save for the audio setup, so I will also be doing all of the lighting mods, as well as researching and doing the spring/strut mods. Right now I have a basic K&N drop in, but will be upgrading to a CAI setup soon enough too. Not to mention the wheel/tire upgrade soon to follow. I can't believe I waited this long to put some money into the performance/handling mods. Anyway, thanks for reading and for your suggestions.

(sorry for the long winded, and probably boring lead-in)

 

http://www.i-car.com/

 

IMO Painting a car and not painting everything (door jambs, trunk, engine bay etc...) is just half-a$$.

How bad is the damage to the car?

 

If you really have your heart set on changing the color....I would have a shop do it right....ie- pull out motor and trans and paint whole engine bay and doors and trunk.

Good luck with it.

 

It would probably be cheaper to sell the car and get one in Majestic Blue. Repainting your car like that will kill the resale too, especially if any of the old paint shows or the buyer looks at the title.

And just for reference, I don't think Nissan (dealership) would repaint your car. They'd just contract it out or refer you to a local place.

 

Super black with bits of red metallic mixed in really looks sweet, like maximagirl's baby nismo (i think that's the one).

 

You know, I've done that, it's so cliche to say, but no matter where, you could park in the furthest, most obscure recess of a parking lot, and when you come back, there is some damn escallade or big ford POS right next to you. Then, when you wash your car again, you notice a new scratch or ding. I always check my car in parking lots, if someone has parked next to me. Many times I thought there was a new ding, but never a paint swap on it so I am never sure.....

Anyway, back to your question. I'm gonna be getting my car painted a bright ferrari-red or a darker maroon red, with the trunk,roof, and hood painted black. I'm also going to get the door jambs black too. I cant wait to find out how much that is going to cost....

 

thanks a ton for the advice fellas. i've been giving it a lot of thought, and really i've grown so used to the glacier pearl white, that i don't necessarily mind it anymore, my biggest thing was just getting all of the body damage fixed; some of it is pretty bad. i want to also invest in a clear 3m bra, but want to start with a clean slate before i did that. with the lighting mods and a drop with maybe those infinity wheels would make it look pretty good. too bad i already invested in michelin pilot a/s for my current 17" wheels.

i go get an estimate tomorrow, so maybe what i'll do is just get an estimate to repaint the pearl white (UNLESS they do the full engine bay/trunk/door jambs at a reasonable price then i will go with as close to stock majestic blue as possible). i don't know, i really am pissed that id idn't do all of these mods closer to when i first had the car, then i had those minor wrecks and those stupid parking lot drive-bys happen to me. after the body damage i lost my interest int he car, but now that i've had renewed interest in her, especially since its paid for (since 2005), i don't want to get a new car and have another car payment; i'd rather make this car better; that is, if it's not too late.

anyway, thanks again and i'll post the prices and what i decide on doing tomorrow when i get back from the shop.

 

Look at paying between 2k / 2500 for the paint job including all the jams. As far taking the engine out to paint the firewall you are looking at another grand or so. IMO I would get them to mask off as much of the engine as possible and have them paint out what they can. I know you can hit most of it with no problem. Just take out your intake completely and remove your battery/battery tray. This will expose a lot of the visible white.

If you do get a color change don't go from one stock color to another. Set it off with something unique. I went to the body shop and had them mix up a color until I found something I liked. Afterall if your going to spend this kind of money you may as well be able to tell your **** out of everyone else's.

 

you do make a good point about the custom color. i'll definitely see what i can find in terms of colors. these guys seem pretty cool, like they wouldn't mind helping me make the right choice in colors. yeah i also thought that masking off most everything for the enginebay/trunk would work. anyway, i'll definitely post the update on stuff tomorrow when ig et back fromt he shop.

thanks again

 

The Glacier Pearl is multi-step paint process. It is going to cost more than standard paint. I just had my passenger side doors redone and it cost $813, 1 big ding and 2 very small dings.

If I were you I would talk to as many shops as possible and take a good look at their work and their shop. If they don't have a really nice paint booth, you are NOT going to get a really nice paint job.

 

Keep it the same color. If you want to change it up, then do a white with a LOT of pearl, or huge flakes.

 

Its possible to get a good finish out of a ghetto spray booth.It mostly depends on the painters skill and mood.You get a better idea of their work by looking at cars that they've sprayed and finished already.

 

its not worth it like someone said earlier due to resale. i have a majestic blue maxima it collects alot of dust and shows dings real bad. the light colors are better. i would just save up and maybe buy another car in the color u want.

 

yeah i have kinda the same question, i wann Debadge my car and was thinking about just having a body shop go over the trunk with a two stage, keep it the same color, Black. Anyone have an idea how much it would cost? its just the rear of the trunk, i tried it myself, bad outcome

 

Owning my car to me is like having a wife, sure she's getting a little older, makes funny noises, sometimes incessant chattering, a few dings and dents, but you still love her. I could buy a new car, but I'm attached to my car already and I would get her painted..... Plus, cars treat you better if you treat them better, change the oil, give her a wash and wax etc lol.

 

well, i just got back from the paint/body shop. they had a really nice facility, they were certified by i-car, nase, and a bunch of other certifications, etc, etc. they offer a lifetime warranty on the paint and their work.

so, to have all of the body work done (dents, dings, scratches, chips, small rust spots, etc fixed/repaired); all of the paint-work to match the current glacier pearl white, that includes the layers of pearl, multiple layers of clear, etc (if i wanted to change colors and do it right it was going to be SIGNIFICANTLY more money, WAY more than i wanted to pay); they were also going to replae the busted fog light enclosure, fix a plastic piece on the under belly of the car; AND they were going to repair my wheels and repaint them any color i wanted; AND repaint my stock front grille any color i wanted; AND sand/buff the headlight housing to make it clear again (its gotten really hazy/fogy).

so the estimated cost came to, without the extras, around $4500 based on national average estimates, but they were cutting me a deal (friend prices) and doing all of that for a little over $3000.

i was going to get a couple other estimates, but i think $3000~ is going to be tough to beat based on what i've heard from other people's experiences.

Does that sound reasonable for all of the work to be done?

Thanks again guys for the suggestions with all of this.

 

Oh I meant to ask, what color would you have the stock grill painted? I thought about just color matching it to the body color, but I don't really care for everything to be completely white. I could just get it painted pearl black and just have the nissan symbol be nice and shiny against the black grill color. Your thoughts on that? I'm goign to look through some of the picture threads tonight and also check out cardomain to see if I see any glacier pearl's with different colored (stock) grills.

I'm pretty pumped about getting all of this done. Definitely should make the car look brand new again, now I just need to detail the interior really well.

 

Make the grille gunmetal with a pearl.

 

I personally love the color of the Ti edition grille on the 03. only thing i would do is some brightwork behind it like some satin silver mesh, oh, and go for that Black Pearl Nissan emblem. I've seen them once or twice and If someone was selling them I'd jump on one.

 

If you had the money to do everything, i would say nighthawk black pearl. The color of acura RSX type S and honda civic Si's. Its a black color that almost looks bluish purple in the light. Very nice.

 

oooh black pearl nissan emblem? so maybe completely paint the stock grill and the nissan emblem black pearl? i was definitely leaning towards the grill at least being black. i saw a couple forumer's car pics with color matched stock grills (even found some glacier pearl folks), but didn't really dig on the look.

i'm taking the car in next week, pretty pumped about starting the car off with a clean slate on the outside.

 

keep it same color, or sell urs and get another maxima