My 2001 M3 has quite a bit of small rock chips on the front bumper, hood, and side wheel wells. Mechanically and interior condition wise, it's in excellent shape.

It has 85000 miles and I would not be looking for super high price since it is not a garage queen.

With a total repaint quoted as $6-7K by a local BMW guru of a shop that will match the original color, am I going to lose money if I repaint and immediately try to sell it (I will document before and after so no one would think this as covering up an accident)? If the bumper needs replacing, it may be more.

On the other hand, if I repaint, am I going to have an easier time selling the car in general if the paint is pristine, and the price offers would likely be higher, so those advantages outweigh the upfront cost?

Your input is much appreciated Thanks!

At the risk of sounding daft, why not just have the affected body panels repainted instead of a total repsray? Any respected bodyshop should be able to handle that and the associated blending without issue and with good results. Surely that would save you a bundle.

you dont have to repaint the whole car.

if the rock chips dont match the mileage of the car then i would get it fixed, if the wear is average for 85,000 miles leave it as is..

I saw a demo of this system at one of our local BMW club's tech sessions and it made an old E36 hood look almost new. Works on the whole car for a couple hundred $$

http://www.drcolorchip.com/

Check the site and see if there is a tech doing this in your area.

At the risk of sounding daft, why not just have the affected body panels repainted instead of a total repsray?

I did think of that, and I guess the chips are mostly up front but there are also ones in the rear quarter panel wheel well flares.

I think the respray of the front panels and hood would cost $2000 to 3000. I suppose I can also do that first and then see if that's spruced up enough.

I did think of that, and I guess the chips are mostly up front but there are also ones in the rear quarter panel wheel well flares.

I think the respray of the front panels and hood would cost $2000 to 3000. I suppose I can also do that first and then see if that's spruced up enough.

This is a bit of a personal choice BUT I would suggest only touch-up and keep the original paint else where the same. There are DIY methods that do a fabulous job of it...and you cannot even spot it once done.

I was in the same situation recently, and I decided to leave the car alone. The buyer ended up appreciating my decision.

I felt that if I were buying the car, that I would prefer to have that type of work done myself, rather than relying on a stranger to tell me what was done.

Unless the paint is really really bad then I would try to sell it as is and see if you get a taker.

Maaco!!!!!! Fact-o-bake!!!!!!!! To the OP, $6-7k for a paint job is a rip off unless you are going to show the car at SEMA this fall. @ 6-7k, you are getting bent over, without lube, and not even the courtesy of a reach around.

My friend got his front bumper repainted looks great and matches w/ the body panels perfectly. If it really has that many rock chips just do the front bumper nothing else.

sell it as is. your paint job probably won't be more than a 1000 bargaining factor on the sale... which means you're out 5k.

I'd bring it to a shop and get a really nice detailing done on it. They should be enough without breaking the bank.

appreciate all your input. I might sell the car as is, see what happens, and if no takers suggest that my wife needs a hot car to take to work and keep it a little longer..... once I get another car that is.

sell it as is. your paint job probably won't be more than a 1000 bargaining factor on the sale... which means you're out 5k.

+1000