The bumper cover on my new toy needs a repaint. I've got two estimates. One is three times more money than the other. What questions should I be asking or what should I look for to decide what may be missing from my cheaper estimate?
Both are independent shops. I've seen work from both shops -- and both are better than acceptable.
First, I'd be curious why one is three times more than the other. What's on the one that's not on the other? One shop may have things on it that aren't really needed, but "pad" the estimate as a lot of shops hate doing tiny jobs so they add things in. Are the labor rates different? What about their painting equipment? What type of booth do they have? What type of paint do they use? If the answer is Rustoleum, I'd walk away... 
A quickie single stage paint touch up will be cheap.
A properly prepared Base/Clear paint job could easily cost 3 times more.
Ever see a car with the paint peeling off the bumpers? Guess which one that was. :)
Oh, and the muffler over-spray painted to match the car colour. I hate that.
The cost of the paint and primer can vary widely. Ask what brand each is using. First thing I tell a bodyshop is whether or not its an insurance job.
the biggest problem with painting urethane bumpers is most shops just spray them with the same paint as the rest of car there should be a flexing agent added. this will allow the paint to shrink and expand plus it is more resistant to hits to it
cutter67 wrote: the biggest problem with painting urethane bumpers is most shops just spray them with the same paint as the rest of car there should be a flexing agent added. this will allow the paint to shrink and expand plus it is more resistant to hits to it
Yep. That's usually why you see paint peeling from a bumper, lack of/improper use of flex additive.
Even that depends on the paint system they use, as some paint manufacturers say that no flex agent is needed, even on bumpers.
Speaking as a body shop owner and former Paint Rep for Sherwin Williams: Why does the bumper need a re-paint? If it is damaged or a replacemnet (new or used) there will be different steps neded to properly prep it. Most 2 stage uretane paints need no flex additive. Provide more info and I can give you the right questions to ask.
I think they adjust the price if they don't want to do the job. I went to three shops for quotes on cab corners and some paintwork on my truck...the first two wouldn't touch it. The third said ~$4000. When I seemed to consider it for a second, they upped it to $6800.
Insurance collision work seems to be all they want to do.
Don49 wrote: Speaking as a body shop owner and former Paint Rep for Sherwin Williams: Why does the bumper need a re-paint? If it is damaged or a replacemnet (new or used) there will be different steps neded to properly prep it. Most 2 stage uretane paints need no flex additive. Provide more info and I can give you the right questions to ask.
ok i agree with you that they tell you that it is not needed on most stage 2 paint systems but i am also told it does not hurt to use them. i use mostly PPG paints and always use a flexing additive. you being a SW rep and owning your own shop i really want to hear does it help using a flexing addiitive or not. i just painted this Fiero and used a lot of flexing additive
before
after
Don49 wrote: Speaking as a body shop owner and former Paint Rep for Sherwin Williams: Why does the bumper need a re-paint? If it is damaged or a replacemnet (new or used) there will be different steps neded to properly prep it. Most 2 stage uretane paints need no flex additive. Provide more info and I can give you the right questions to ask.
The bumper needs a repaint due to paint chips, scuffing, and some cracking of the paint -- 10 years of wear and tear have taken their toll. No real "damage" -- perhaps a few areas that could be filled and sanded, but nothing dramatic.
Tyler H wrote: I think they adjust the price if they don't want to do the job. I went to three shops for quotes on cab corners and some paintwork on my truck...the first two wouldn't touch it. The third said ~$4000. When I seemed to consider it for a second, they upped it to $6800. Insurance collision work seems to be all they want to do.
This is true. I had the front 1/3 of my truck fixed and painted on someone else's dime. I asked for a price to do the remainder of the truck and the guy said "we don't do total resprays". If I had pushed it, I felt I would have gotten a rediculous price.
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