anyone know how much it costs to professionaly repaint the cars front bumper... the bumper is black so it shoudn't be a problem matching color.

model 325i

it should be a few hundred dollars. matching the color is important. not all black paints are the same.

if you REALLY want to know how much it will cost you, call a body shop and ask. You could also go to several different body shops and get a free estimate from each. Then compare prices.

thanks palomino

Do all bodyshops generally repaint. Also, how would I know the paint is the right color until after the job is done? The car is just straight black (not metalic)... Seems like something I would need to see the finished product before I could tell?

thanks palomino

Do all bodyshops generally repaint. Also, how would I know the paint is the right color until after the job is done? The car is just straight black (not metalic)... Seems like something I would need to see the finished product before I could tell?
thats what body shops do. their business is body work. painting is included in body work. you would have to trust them to match the color correctly, metallic or not. that is why it is important for you to find a reputable body shop.

search up sn: "paintpro" he just made a thread outlining pretty much all possible costs on paint jobs.

house paint FTW

thanks palomino

Do all bodyshops generally repaint. Also, how would I know the paint is the right color until after the job is done? The car is just straight black (not metalic)... Seems like something I would need to see the finished product before I could tell?
To be a little more exact, there is a panel inside your engine compartment (the usual place) that tells much info about your car, including a paint code. The professionals look in their paint books and find out how to mix up the perfect paint according to your paint code. A real expert will look at your paint and see how old it is and how much it has faded over the years and match his paint mixture to your bumper.
If the shop is really good you won't be able to tell the difference. Not so good shops will just use the paint code and not add a compensation factor so the bumper would look new and the rest of the car will look a bit older.
There must be hundreds of blacks and each one would be subtly different but noticeable. Yours will be perfect.
Palomino gave you good advice about getting estimates and ask to see their work.
-John C.

thanks for the advice guys.

I know each body shop will say their the best in Southern california...What should I look for to try a find a reputable shop (websites etc?)

again, thanks for the help.

A couple of things to look for are the cars hanging around the parking lot waiting to be picked up. Take a big magnifying glass and go over them very carefully and just look at the bodies. Do crazy things like get down on the ground and look up at the fenders and trunk area to see if there is overspray where it shouldn't be.
Also, look into the shop and see who is working on the cars. You want experienced guys working on your car in this business, sometimes that means older guys.
There used to be a shop here that had a wonderful reputation. All the hot rod guys would take their cars there and the body work, paint and finishing was exemplary, but eventually, the guys who did the work got too old and started working in the office. Young apprentices learning the trade now do most of the work and lack the 'eye' and experience of the old guys. What once was a great shop because of the old guys is now just an average shop and the guys that demand perfection take their cars elsewhere. The moral? Look and see who actually does the work.
Remember the Monster Garage episode when Jesse James had all the really old guys working on the car and the respect he showed them? Jesse knows.
-John C.

I'm going to need my front bumper repainted in the near future. There are quite a few nicks from stones, cats and road debris. Can these be sanded decently or should I look at getting a new bumper?

I'm going to need my front bumper repainted in the near future. There are quite a few nicks from stones, cats and road debris. Can these be sanded decently or should I look at getting a new bumper?
post pics so we can see how bad they are. or even better, take it to a body shop and ask them. they would be able to give a better answer since they can see the damage in person.

If you have it repainted ...might want to ask them to strip the old paint off. I learned that some shops will simply spray over the existing paint. How lame is that?

If you have it repainted ...might want to ask them to strip the old paint off. I learned that some shops will simply spray over the existing paint. How lame is that?
If it is a single stage paint, I don't think its a problem as long as it is prepped properly. Like anything else, more steps = more $. In the case of stripping the old paint to primer, alot more money!

If you have it repainted ...might want to ask them to strip the old paint off. I learned that some shops will simply spray over the existing paint. How lame is that?

Paint bonds very well to other paint. Like casebrius said, as long as it has been prepped correctly, there should be no problems with that.

$400-$600 Quality Job With The Prep And All. Just To Lay The Paint And Buff It To Shine-$250-300

it depends on the shop and the area, but i'd expect anywhere from $300-$700 for a quality job.

Also there is nothing wrong with painting over the old paint. If its a one stage paint and similar in composition to the original one, it bonds really great. If its got some clear then I would remove the clear with 600 grit right to the paint and maybe some 800grit (takes a lot of time thoug), and sparay some base coat and finish with clear.I dont like the idea of destroying the factory primer. (the only problem with this is solvent mixing between the old layers and new ones)

The rest basically depends on the paint choice and mixing. (and conditions)
I prep everything myself. And the shop sprays it. Even a monkey can shoot paint thats properly mixed for this monkey. And I buff myself too.

I would do a bumper like this for $200 if you were my friend.

i have a quote for $450 for paint on a front bumper, mirrors, and sideskirts. thats a pretty good hookup from what ive seen, so i would imagine anywhere around $200-$300 to be a decent price.