Back from Maaco w/ prices

[Mastrcruse]

I just went to maaco and got some prices for things that need to be repainted on my car. Prices include labor/paint/clear/ everything

Mirrors: 35.00 each
Rear IS spoiler : 75.00
Front IS Air Dam: 125.00

Not to bad but the he said the the front air dam needs a lot of prepping and some bondo so he said it would be almost 300.00 for everything. But he said that I can prep it myself and I happen to have someone in my house that has prepped a whole car minus the bondo for painting.

[Mastrcruse]

Is there any threads that show how to prep well, maybe I will start it myself before he gets back from carry/conceal class?

[trent]

go
and read on

https://www.autobodystore.com

best autobody forums around

[mrsleeve]

dude I doubt that will be base clear, it will likely be enamel single stage shit paint that will be all orange peeled have a bunch of shit in the paint. At least thats what I have seen form macco.

As far as prep goes, get your self a couple of spray cans of self etching primer some 80 grit paper and some 500 wet/dry paper.
1st sand everything very well with 80 so everything is roughed up really good. then wipe off with some laquer thinner or PPG DX300 (wax and grease remover) wipe with a clean cloth till you stop getting shit on the rag. Let the it dry then spray several light coats of primer on them with a few mins between each coat. let dry over night then mist lightly with black spay paint or other contrasting color as a guide coat (not cover it just so its lightly spotted) this will show you high and low spots. Take a pice of 500 get it wet and wet the surface of what you are working on and go to town. Dont push hard let the paper do the work keep the work picce wet and clean paper often. once all the black is gone its flat. Repeat the DX330 and prime and sand agin. My car has 2 coats of metal self etching all hand blocked between coats and 3 coats of PPG K36 epoxy primer also hand blocked out between coats. Now I am just waiting on booth time and my painter to put some color on it

[mtechnik]

Not discouraging you and so on (cause i know how it is when ur looking for budget prices), but don't Maaco paint jobs have a unfavourable rep?

[Mastrcruse]

Well I thought if they could do something nice it might be as little as mirrors. Then I will judge on that and go from there.

[mtechnik]

oh ok understood. Never know could be that just your local shop may do a darn good job.

[Mastrcruse]

Trent, This is the closet I could find to what I probably have to do to my spoiler. Does anything change, if you know, because they are working with body panels and aren't I working with plastic?

http://www.autobodystore.com/strip_&_paint.htm

Also is there any special "automotive" 80 grit paper or any will do? I dont' think I am going to spend all that money on a sanding/buffing wheel

[Mastrcruse]

oh ok understood. Never know could be that just your local shop may do a darn good job.

To tell you the truth I havne't even looked at local shops around here. I am guessing there has to be some but not sure. I just don't want to pay $300 for mirrors and things you know. If I am going to spend that much I will do the full suspension before I put this IS spoiler on or anything gets painted.

[mtechnik]

by local shop i meant your local Maaco

[Mastrcruse]

Gotcha, yea I dont know I might as well give them a try with the mirrors and if they turn out bad they will be the same "badness" as they are faded to shit now.

[doucy2]

DJ, I vote you do the work yourself and save yourself the $$, since you are planning on doing all the prep work, why not just paint it yourselft too. Just get a local paint shop to color match the paint and take you time and apply nice even coats. If you still really hate it in the end you can always throw the parts on your car and Maaco them when you have the expendable $$, I would rather see functionality and preformance over looks out of a car any day. Mechanics 1st then cosmetics. Just my $0.02 for the day, have a good one bro.

[Mastrcruse]

My dad has an automotive paint gun, that we have never used. I am probably going to do most of the work myself and my bro just imformed me that CAR (ohio states automotive research facility) might let us use their paint booth if it gets approved by the treasurer. And guess who is the treasurer? My brother...haha.

I would do more with the mechanical side of things but I want to do things that are out of my range minus the suspension. Is is really necessary to do anything maybe exept a chip/exhaust/other little things to a vert. If I could I would turbo it but I could almost buy another e30 for what I am going to spend on it. Alex so since you want me to do it myself, I will be down next weekend with 2 pieces of 80 grit paper..haha

[trent]

Trent, This is the closet I could find to what I probably have to do to my spoiler. Does anything change, if you know, because they are working with body panels and aren't I working with plastic?

http://www.autobodystore.com/strip_&_paint.htm

Also is there any special "automotive" 80 grit paper or any will do? I dont' think I am going to spend all that money on a sanding/buffing wheel

THat is exactly what I would for everything but the plastic. I honestly don't know how to go about that.

[mtechnik]

You my freind got connections... Nice