TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Dec 16, 2021 3:13 pm

I'm still some time away from getting my bug mechanically sound, to then tackle the cosmetics..

Hence the question :
What is the average cost of getting a beetle repainted, in the same color ?

I realize that the answer will vary quite a bit depending on location, ,but just want to get an idea.
also, I would bring the car disassembled to the paint shop, they would have to do only the actual painting job.

Thu Dec 16, 2021 3:51 pm

Here's some points to ponder-

Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:36 pm

So many ask the same question, here's some recent discussions on the same topic for you to consider: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?searc..._chars=200

Bottom line, it's not the "good old days" anymore, rev up your wallet if you want something decent afterwards, time and materials cost big now.

Thu Dec 16, 2021 4:54 pm

In general, for a pro to do it with minimal (less than 10 hours) body correction and prep: Daily driver 10ft car? $2500. (This would be considered an OEM paint job). Driveway queen, only in good weather 5ft car? $5000. Show car, well that's got more zeros than I can count.
If you do the work then you may be able to do it considerably cheaper but you'll have to buy all the gear that you may use once. If you have to go out and buy everything and you want to own it, that's one thing. But if you're only shooting this car, your going to be really disappointed in how much stuff is and what you have to do to get a good paint job. Nearly everyone I know who's shot their own car, that bought all the gear and went through a couple of redos because of the experience level, would have come out cheaper if they'd taken it somewhere.

Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:06 pm

Maaco: $1500

Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:50 pm

I like your pictures but they don’t show me anything. Only a close up visual inspection done outside in sunlight reveals the fit and finish. As an option seldom mentioned it is possible to enroll in vocation technical school that teaches auto body and paint. I did it here and got a real education, then I got to prep and paint my car using a state of the art paint booth and all the tools belonging to the school.

What did all this teach me ? I don’t want to paint another car. It is possible however to get good results painting at home in your garage, but don’t tell anyone and you’d be skirting some laws.

Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:55 pm

So, at least in terms of assessing value, a picture is worth a good bit less than a thousand words.

Thu Dec 16, 2021 6:44 pm

That was a great video on why paint jobs cost so much.

He said a "good" paint job will cost around 10k today to get it looking show-car quality. Not everyone wants or needs show-car quality paint jobs, and Maaco will do the job for 2k for most people.

How much is your car worth it to you? Are you getting your car painted so it'll look decent enough to sell in a few years, or are you looking for a paint job that you'll appreciate 10-15 years down the line since you are keeping your beloved Beetle?

Thu Dec 16, 2021 9:15 pm

It all depends on definition of quality, labor, and materials.

Can you get a solid color paint job at a place like Maaco, bringing them a vehicle that you did the bodywork on, and using inexpensive materials? Sure. Would most be happy with how the final product turned out? Maybe.

Show winning paint jobs will go into modifying panels to line up perfectly with paid labor from a professional, and prep/materials for the paint job to still impress decades from now. The final product will be wet sanded/buffed to a glass like reflection.

Material costs for various primers, body fillers, and base/clear paints on show quality paint jobs can easily exceed $5k. That’s simply the materials. An article I saw on Dean Kirsten’s Orange Beetle mentioned there were over 400 hours in the paint job. At shop rates of $75-$125 an hour coming in to 2022, you can do the math.

Paint jobs don’t take any consideration of the value of the vehicle. Proper labor/materials aren’t much different if you are painting a Ferrari, or a Beetle.

I would think you would be hard pressed to find a shop that would create a final product that most would consider a decent job for less than $5k. Most would have their mind’s blown at the cost of the work done to HotVW’s feature cars, or what most would consider an excellent job.

Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:02 pm

Maaco paint job, from Clementine Orange, Feb. 1978. Top from 1980.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:18 am

Finding a shop to even touch the paint on old cars in another problem.

Lots of autobody shops only work on newer cars (2000+) since they do a lot of insurance claims and can order parts and fit them then paint them and snap them on. I guess it is all in your business model.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:56 am

The money I paid for the paint job I got from Maaco most likely would not have paid for the materials if I did it myself and I could have. I have twelve years experience in paint and bodywork but I didn't have the time to put into it. I more than got my monies' worth @ Maaco. It's not for everybody.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:18 am

Considering what can be accomplished with 20 hours of prep and $600 in materials, it totally escapes me why anyone who really drives their bus/ Bug etc.would consider a 5k or more paintjob.
If I wasn't getting older and stiffer, I would definitely consider being the 2k to 2 .5k paint guy for those who want shiny but not 5k or more spent on a 7k car! I have had the good fortune in the past of having "some -guy" repaint my truck after an accident (involving a barb wire fence stretched across a road) and his paint looked better than the dealer's paint repair on the rear 6 years later! Maybe contacting a few clubs could lead to a good deal if somebody wants a fast 1500 - 2000 bucks.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:49 am

The OP indicated he has already disassembled the body. If he removed the old paint and primered with Eastwood spray cans, then take it to Maaco for color and clear, it would be a decent paint job for cheap. The issue with Maaco is spraying color over your existing paint with no clear coat - that's their cheapest paint job.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 6:55 am

Maaco would spray over whatever substrate you have on your car. They wouldn't warrenty just any whatever, but they would tell you that upfront.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:37 am

74 Thing wrote: Finding a shop to even touch the paint on old cars in another problem.

Lots of autobody shops only work on newer cars (2000+) since they do a lot of insurance claims and can order parts and fit them then paint them and snap them on. I guess it is all in your business model.

Exactly....

Most collision shops are set up for replacing/repainting a fender, and finishing the job in days. It’s not necessarily about the age of the vehicle. A lot aren’t interested in overall paint jobs because they make less, or even loose money on the time it ties up their shop.

2type2 wrote: Maybe contacting a few clubs could lead to a good deal if somebody wants a fast 1500 - 2000 bucks.

For anyone getting a “club” reference, or a job done on the side, get the entire scope of work with a time frame in writing with progress reports. Some of the jobs we get at work are from someone taking their car to a shop or individual for a paint job, only to have them bring their vehicle to us because the vehicle sat in the corner for 6 months, a year, or 5 years at the other place with NOTHING being done to it.

Another thing to think about is, few will ask what the work cost, but everyone will ask where it was done. The completed job is a reflection of the person/shop that did the work. Shops that have done higher end paint jobs aren’t going to do lesser quality work to save someone some money if their name is associated with the job.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 8:59 am

Remember - for any paint shop - look at vehicles that have just been painted.

In addition to that Maaco paint job in 1978, I had Scheib paint the hood on my 1988 Mazda truck about a decade ago, and that has been fine.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:15 am

Earl Schieb , haven’t heard that name in a long time. Roll your windows down, and we will paint the inside for free.

Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:02 pm

My dad got a $99 Econo paint job done on our bug somewhere around 1986-87... it was an amazing deep burgundy color that looked fantastic & we got a ton of compliments on it. After we had an engine fire my dad took it back to them to have it repainted and it was the $99 job you'd expect- paint all over the inside and a horrid almost purple color. Thanks ENGINE FIRE!!!! :evil:

Sat Dec 18, 2021 11:05 am

My MAACO paint job cost around $1500 including some minor body work and is just over 7 years old. Granted I wax it regularly and keep it garaged but during the summer its driven regularly back and forth to work about 65 miles each way. As you can see I brought it to them stripped and partially sanded so I made their job as easy as possible and I think that helped improve the quality of their job. I know their quality can be hit or miss but for my purposes this was the only way to go. By the way I tried numerous body shops for a "better" job but none wanted to touch it, more money to be made on insurance claims.

Note: Although I really like the Pearl I regret not staying with the green, Live and Learn!

Before

During

After