denniswynott

Hi All,

Took my Saph to a couple of local bodyshops to get some quotes:

Front Bumper and bonnet to be re-sprayed due to stonechips - no other damage.
Roof panel to be resprayed due to random small rust spot.
Two or three pin dents to be taken out by PDR dent man on rear door and quarter panel.

All prep work etc as expected - they're proper body shops not back street jobbies - best quote I've had is £380 plus vat.

Sounded sensible to me to be honest but just wondered what you guys thought ?

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Thats cheap imo.

stevecfrst1

As a bodyshop owner that sounds too cheap to be any good to me

lerd

I would say at least a starting point of £ 600 + vat
Your price seems too cheap
Recommendation is what you want, try to find someone who has had work done a while ago so you can see that it's lasted and no da marks under the paint
Good luck

Mr RS500

iTrader: (6)

I wouldnt be expecting a good job at that money

i had 2 bumpers painted and a grille at £450 and that was mates rates

mint job tho

Rod-Tarry

If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.
Double that at the place i use.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Im sure I paid 650 to get both bumpers, bonnet roof boot and spoiler done.

strada84

I'd be quoting £650+VAT for that work based on obviously not seeing it.

People vastly underestimate the amount of time that goes into doing body and paintwork the right way and the fact that there's cowboys out there doing bodge work without the correct equipment for less than half the price!

You get what you pay for...

furry

far too cheap, paint an materials alone should be more than that!!!!

oh and i audit and authorise 0000's of repairs a year.

costina

iTrader: (1)

This is very true you will get a quick job and the colour wont match.

cossynut2

Sounds way to cheap if you are after a top quality job, I recently had rear bumper mounting brackets repaired and respray of both bumpers and both mirrors, superb job but it was £600.

studabear

I'm getting our focus ST (orange) entire nearside painted for £300+vat, will be done in a booth etc, the bodyshop is always busy, 5-6 weeks wait to get in for anything.

doga-ot

iTrader: (1)

That's far too cheap a bonnet spray alone is usually £150+, bumper £150+ that's roughly £300 all ready

denniswynott

Thanks for the input chaps. Certainly given me food for thought.
Like I say, it's a proper bodyshop who have given me this quote and I've seen some of the work they've done which looks of a very high standard to me. I've seen their premises and all looks proper too - there's a three week wait before they can start any work so may well use this time to seek some other quotes !

Guinnless

Funny but if the body shop had added an extra 300 quid to the price everybody would have said "go for it"

I'd simply ask to see some of the work that they have done and gauge for yourself. If your're happy with colour matching and finish then it's fine whatever the price. Personally I'd do this anyway whether they were charging 100 quid or 1000 quid. £450 sounds a good price though if you have checked their work.

Sometime you don't get what you pay for even if it's expensive!

I've seen brand new cars in the showroom with appalling orange peel.

costina

iTrader: (1)

Still too cheap factor in the hours to strip, prep, and mask then the material cost, rebuild polish etc.

My boss painted his fiat coupe in RS green materials alone was over £900 and that's trade.

slammedorion

Just imagine what these jobs are gonna look like after...
Paint all over the seals, nothing removed, everything masked up with tape edges.
6 months down the line lacquer lifting...
Then someone's gonna have to put someone else's s**t right at great cost...

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Be a bit careful that they don't farm some of the prep work out too a cheaper place and just shove the topcoat on themselves which I've seen done elsewhere.
One point is though that it's not really a lot of work on the car as simply sanding down the bumper and bonnet will remove most of the chips,doubt it would need much more than red stopper/high build primer after that.
Both bumper and bonnet come off very easily and could be worked on off the car (big saving as regards masking etc) but my main concern would be the roof. Most likely the rust has come from the inside out so it should have a proper strip down to source the problem and see what's going on which would be very labour intensive and cost the initial quote alone.
He may see it as just covering it up for you for a few years/months but if it's rust it will come back unless treated at source which of course then is an easy enough job for the price.
A sign the place is busy is not always a good one in many cases, when I was running the bodyshop I knew fine well how long things took to do and was honest and realistic about timescales which sadly most clients didn't want to hear, they wanted a 3 day job done in a morning yet a person across the way had a full carpark all the time but his work was shocking, honestly some of the worst I've ever seen, yet he was cheap and the one or two good jobs he did for the local chav boys got him a rep and everyone went there hence always busy.
Often as well bodyshops will stall you for work as there's perhaps a big insurance job on etc or regular trade work booked in meaning paydays due and regulars too look after as frankly the public come in once in a blue moon and most likely never come back unless something happens again. Believe me in that game you need to keep regulars happy as it's amazing how fickle people can be if someone offers it cheaper or quicker.

cris

Is it a metallic or straight colour ?

I can't see the pricing structure, how's the chap got to that number I also have a small bodyshop.
What's the labour rate and hours quoted? And is that 380 plus materials & VAT

cossynut2

Have you decided on who is going to do your paintwork yet? There has been a lot of input for you on this which has hopefully helped you make the right choice. Give us an update please.
Cheers Richard.

denniswynott

Well chaps, the Saph has gone in this morning for it's paint. Guy reckons it'll be ready by the weekend so really looking forward to seeing the results !

I went with the original company that first quoted me in the end - I looked at two other places locally but decided on the first one. I've seen some of his work and it looks really good to me, seems a decent chap and bunch of lads that work for him and a proper place too. He came recommended locally as well so fingers crossed, hope all goes well !

Will update when it comes back and I'll post up some pics !

gingeRS

seems a great price
look forward to the critique after the works done