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Hi guys,

I've never had body work or paint jobs done to a car before, and I'm looking to get some done in the spring.

Basically I've done 80% of the performance upgrades I want to do (still doing turbo in the spring), and now I want it to look nice.

So, I know this is vague, but for anyone who's done this a number of times, or knows body work specialists and the business, does anyone have any idea roughly how much I should expect to spend to get a decent paint job, with some rust work, and a few dents pulled out?

I have a nice big ugly dent on a rear pillar (non-replaceable) that the previous owner did. I also have crash damage at the front, and need a new bumper assembly and bumper. But I can source these myself.

Should I be mentally preparing for like.. $1500? $2500? $5000? I honestly have no idea what this kind of repair work goes for. I would love it to last another 5 years or so, with no new rust forming during that period (if that's possible.. i honestly don't know).

Is there really expensive work that's easy to do, so I could do it myself? I suck with paint, sanding, etc.. basically anything that doesn't involve an impact wrench, soldering iron, or grinder.

Well speaking as a body man that I was.... you can't give an estimate without any clean pics or seeing the car.

So with saying this I will give you an estimate with a range of

$600-$3000
Depending on hours of labour, materials, paint, Prep, If you want a whole re-paint or just blended, basecoat/clearcoat, it all depends.

colinsmx3 wrote:Well speaking as a body man that I was.... you can't give an estimate without any clean pics or seeing the car.

So with saying this I will give you an estimate with a range of

$600-$3000
Depending on hours of labour, materials, paint, Prep, If you want a whole re-paint or just blended, basecoat/clearcoat, it all depends.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figured people would say. I guess I'll just have to bring it in for an estimate. I was hoping to have a general idea so if it was way higher or lower, I'd know something isn't right. :/

Yep, I agree. The more you pay, the better paint and prepwork you'll get, and if you dont' want the rust to come back, it's all about the prep work. I would say too $1000-$4000. Mine cost me $2000, but I also knew them as well, and the paintjob was very well done, no rust, just need a respray from all the rock chips, and the 2 scuffs i put on my rear bumper

my car for the price i think the guy did a goos job... he fitted my bumpers and hood and painted the whole car(inside the doors, hatch) but not the engina bay i wish i had told him to do it but anyways he charged me 1000$ but i payed the paint and clear... he payed the primer and all the other prep stuff... but it all depens if you know the guy or not... and if you have rust whitch take more labour and stuff... but i would say 1000$ to 3000$ for something that looks good...

Hmmm.... ok, does anyone know roughly what it costs to get a dent taken out? Another vague question.

Say, 6" in diameter, 0.5-1cm deep in places.. kinda cratered.. no rust except in one small spot.

Is it worth learning how to do it myself with a dent puller and putty?