Best paint for a respray

[MJTSUB]

What is the best paint I can buy? I was looking at PPG's website and they sell the paint I need for $227 a gallon. Is there any other paint companies I should look at? Also how much paint will I need for my respray? I was recently quoted $5900 to respray my 89' 325iX. I just cant seem to justify that on a car that I paid $3200 for. I am considering doing the prep work and removing the trim, glass, bumpers, etc and taking it to Macco or something along those lines. Any one else have any budget recommendations? Thanks.

[Dave]

Your Maaco idea is a good one if you are on a budget. Another idea is to go to the local auto paint supply shop and talk to the guys there. Tell them what you want to do - get your 3000 car painted - and dont want to spend a fortune. They probably know some guys who have small shops or do side work that can help.

The son of a neighbor of mine at my old house was a paint and body man and he did side jobs and very nice work. The only hitch if you go this route is time - it will probably take longer if you are getting someone who is trying to squeeze it in after work and on weekends.

[Jordan]

Glasurit or Sikkens are factory BMW paint.

[88325isboy]

Jordan is that what you used on your car?

[Jordan]

No. My cars paint is PPG.

[88325isboy]

About how much was that a gallon?

[Jordan]

dunno

[e30vert]

Imron. Even though its illegal in many places to spray it. Its airplane paint and super strong.

[Ray Smoodiver]

Jordan, do PPG do matched BMW paints, ie: is your lach the same as glasurit's lach?

[Jordan]

Paints are mixed up by the paint code... yes it matches.

[MJTSUB]

I talked to guy a Maaco today and he said that cant use anything other than Dupont Chroma paint. He said the PPG and Glassurit are great paints but only work well when curing them to 300-350 degrees in a paint booth. He said he bakes his cars at 150-170 and the Dupont Chroma works real well. Can anyone confirm this? He quoted me $1000 for a base coat/clear coat job. Thanks.

[grapedrink]

I talked to guy a Maaco today and he said that cant use anything other than Dupont Chroma paint. He said the PPG and Glassurit are great paints but only work well when curing them to 300-350 degrees in a paint booth. He said he bakes his cars at 150-170 and the Dupont Chroma works real well. Can anyone confirm this? He quoted me $1000 for a base coat/clear coat job. Thanks.

Thats a load of bull shit. Good price though.

[808BMW]

He probably doesn't want you coming back to complain about your $1000 paint job looking like a $1k job, if you bought the good paint you'd probably expect more.

I say the best budget paintjob that looks good would be the sidejob idea. Strip as much as you can yourself (I dunno about actual body prep, might be a good idea to let someone experience do that) and become friends with a painter.

We've done 4 resprays on old cars at our mechanic's house. 1 stage urethane, minimal prep and a garage taped up with plastic.
Nothing show quality, but honestly looks alot better than we hoped for. $300 paint jobs for $200 cars, makes sense.

My personal car will be done as a sidejob, but good paint, alot more prep, and done in a booth. I plan on spending 1.5k-2k, it better come out as nice as I hope.

[SilentRavens]

I was looking at getting my car painted this spring and from the experienced painters I talked to they said glasurit was the way to go.

Then again, the cheapest price I was quoted was $5000 for a complete strip, basecoat/clearcoat, and finish job.

[mikeedler]

depends what color you are spraying. if it is a non metallic, it should be a one stage(no clear coat). alot cheaper. glassurit is the paint of choice for most places here in germany.