How hard IS it to paint your own car?

[Dave]

Scott,

See if there is anywhere up there like this place near me in Cincinnati - they have the facilities, equipment and offer classes.

http://www.painterslane.com/

[AndrewBird]

Here is a basic write-up:

http://www.theautoist.com/body_repairs.htm

Should help a lot.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Hey guys, thanks for the positive advice here.

I was definitely planning on doing the parts seperately - I've got 9 e30's and more parts than I know what to do with, so I can take a trunk lid and practice on it - if it comes out good, I can use it, if it doesn't - who cares? I've got 8 more ;)

The only parts I have to go easy on are the fenders - I only have the pair on the vert, and the passenger door (I have an extra driver's door.)

You've all seen the car in Dave's many posts - it looks great in pics but we'll both agree that in person, it needs some...polishing ;) I just can't come up with a couple grand to have someone else do it, not to mention be worried every time I park it if the paint's gonna get scratched.

I'll do some reading, start practicing on some parts, see what happens I guess.

[erik325i]

2.Put it on a flatbed, send it to a bodyshopp you have already arranged with. Most shops will not do an "all-over", there is no money in it. Find a "Miracle Paint" or "Maaco" and drop it off.

So, you accually recomend taking it to a Maaco? From what I have heard, they use crappy paint, and it won't last more than a couple years. Is that true, or do they use decent paint?

When I have my car painted, I am definately going to strip every piece of trim/moulding/lights/glass... I just don't know whether to take it to an expensive bodyshop, or a "budget" body shop like Maaco.

-Erik

[mikeedler]

you get what you pay for! you dont prep correctly, within a year, the "repairs will start showing back through the paint, and if it isnt "sanded correctly, the paint will start to peel back off.
best recommendation is to find someone who has painted before, and help them out- you will learn so much. there are some things you can "skimp on" and others that you will need to do. just remember, cheap or not, it will cost a fist full of cash, even to do it yourself, and if it doesnt turn out good, i can guarantee that you will kick yourself in the ass for not taking that extra day to fix those little things you said" ahh its ok, its only my daily" In the end, you will have wanted it that nice! I have painted alot, and it is one of those things that you have to keep in practice. there are so many tips, and tricks, that i couldnt even begin to start telling here. get a BOOK and read!!!! and practice practice practice! it isnt that hard, once you have the knowledge, and the grasp on it.

[StereoInstaller1]

Call a body shop supplies company...ask them for a name or three of guys who do sidework. They know who buys paint and supplies from them.

Maaco for 2 years...I thought that was the goal?

Luke

[Digitalwave]

Let me say first that I am all for doing work yourself, and learning new skills and all.

But realistically, Scott just wants a decent looking cheap paint job for his car. Paint and supplies are going to cost you $500 or more. The time you invest in prep and practice is going to be countless. In the end, you could just drop your car off at a 'decent' shop and have a finished paint job for $1,000-1,500. It's not going to be show worthy, and to be honest I don't think Jordan's paint is show worthy either, but he only paid like $1,500 for it.

[Dave]

[JRowe]

The proper forum for these questions is found at www.autobodystore.com The forum is populated by both DIYers and professional painters. They can answer any question you have. They also have some good instructional videos. Many people I know who have painted their own cars for the first time started at that forum. Good luck. You can do it.

[1991 318is]

Where you go.

There are a lot of shops that cater to used car dealers, fleets, salvage yards, racers, ricers, low riders, bikers, etc. They don't do insurance work or cater to new car dealers.
Don't change colors, and skip door jambs, etc. Just pull the trim and glass, sand it with 320 wet, and turn it over to them for final prep and paint. The discount chains will use quality paint for $500 plus paint. Right now I'm paying $1500 for Diamondschwarz ($300 a gallon for the paint not including primer and clear) I prepped it as above.
A shop that does insurance work at inflated prices in collusion with other shops has no reason to charge less.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Let me say first that I am all for doing work yourself, and learning new skills and all.

But realistically, Scott just wants a decent looking cheap paint job for his car. Paint and supplies are going to cost you $500 or more. The time you invest in prep and practice is going to be countless. In the end, you could just drop your car off at a 'decent' shop and have a finished paint job for $1,000-1,500. It's not going to be show worthy, and to be honest I don't think Jordan's paint is show worthy either, but he only paid like $1,500 for it.

You may be right TJ - if it's going to cost me between $500-1000 to do it myself, when I could man up and come up with the extra 5 bills and save myself the hassle of doing it, finding a clean, dust free place to do it, learning on a car I actually care about, etc - maybe I just need to find the right shop. And like you said, I don't need show car status - just something that looks good.

[wastedincome]

You may be right TJ - if it's going to cost me between $500-1000 to do it myself, when I could man up and come up with the extra 5 bills and save myself the hassle of doing it, finding a clean, dust free place to do it, learning on a car I actually care about, etc - maybe I just need to find the right shop. And like you said, I don't need show car status - just something that looks good.

I agree Scott theres no doubt youd spend atleast $500-800 on paint, primer, etc. I think the biggest part to cut cost is prep by pulling all windows, trim, etc to save them from doing it.

[Bimmerfanatik]

I agree Scott theres no doubt youd spend atleast $500-800 on paint, primer, etc. I think the biggest part to cut cost is prep by pulling all windows, trim, etc to save them from doing it.

That I can handle - it can only help the process, right?

[trashcop 80s 80s]

It is not very difficult to paint your car yourself and get a pretty good finish. I helped a friend paint his Detomaso Mangusta at his house. We set up a little shed in his driveway made out of pvc pipe. Then we draped a large tarp over the top and sides. And then had some fans blowing out the back through a mosquito net type deal layered twice.

You don't have to have a gigantic air compressor, with an HVLP gun you should need from 7-9 cfm around 40psi. Which can be done with a pretty small compressor in the 4hp, 25gallon range. Just spray a body panel at a time and you won't run out of air. Borrow a compressor or buy one. You won't regret having it later when you can use things like an impact wrench or air ratchet.

Just buy an hvlp gravity feed gun from Harbor Freight. That is what we used, costs about $50 and worked great.

You will also want an air sander, around $30 at harbor freight.

I will take a pic of his Mangusta the next time I'm at his house. The car looks insane and the paint is damn good quality. He spent a lot of time on the prep work. I think he did 2 bases and 2 clears with colorsanding and such. It looks seriously bad ass and you would never know it was painted in a driveway.