to repaint an '04 or not?

[mslim]

I've got an '04 V8 4Runner that has been parked outdoors in Southern California all it's life. I bought it new but I had a '57 Corvette I needed to garage so the poor 4R got the short end of the stick.

Next month I'm moving to a place with a three car garage and the 4R will have a roof over it's head for the rest of its natural life.

Just recently the paint has started to erode enough to show what I guess is an undercoat. It looks kind of silvery. It is worse of course on the roof and the hood.

What's involved in a proper repaint with modern paint? The last time I painted a car it was in 1969 and we were using nitrocellulose lacquer so I don't know squat about modern paints.

Would you take a DA and go over the roof and hood and take it down a coat or two? What about the clearcoat on the fenders and doors? It hasn't eroded yet but there are bird$*t and tree sap acid stains down in the clearcoat.

The car is straight and rustfree and I keep it meticulously maintained.

Even though it's reasonably low mileage (118K) I know I'll probably be upside down on it after paying for a paint job, but I really like the car and aren't lusting for anything to replace it.

What does a quality paint job cost these days based on my parameters? I'm not looking for Junior the Painter/Pebble Beach job but I'm not looking for a Maaco either. Is $3-4 grand realistic for a job like this?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[Timberland]

Can you post some pics of the damage you're talking about? If your clear coat is failing it will usually start to bubble up and flake off. At that point repainting is the only option. However if the clear coat is still intact (and there's enough left), you may be able to save it with a paint correction.

 

[grave]

Have you looked into wrapping it? I think even a high quality wrap job is more affordable than a nice paint job.

 

[86mcss]

Find reputable painters in your area and call around for pricing. I would imagine the cost for a magnificent paint job of the exterior so it looks like it came off the factory line would cost around $1800.

I use to work for a high quality paint shop when I was in college.

 

[V8Man]

$3 to $4 k is on the light end. Dupli-color has a nice custom wrap removable paint now. Think plastic dip, it comes in quarts and gallons requires, no thinning or hardners. Requires no special equipment.
Custom Wrap Automotive Removable Paint - Aerosol | Dupli-Color

If you can paint laquer this would be about the same.

 

[ExCabSwap]

Have it wrapped with an actual car wrap. Lasts a lot longer, and you don't have to worry about thin spots flaking off in the paint

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[Ventil8]

I'm in the same boat you are. The fenders, grill, part of hood scoop. I got a quote from Toyota body shop for $1200. I bought it new and kept it in the garage for the 1st 5 years then I got married and kept the 4runner in the driveway. I'm also planning to keep it around 20 years. We've been together almost 13 years.

 

[jsmith21]

I'm in the same boat you are. The fenders, grill, part of hood scoop. I got a quote from Toyota body shop for $1200. I bought it new and kept it in the garage for the 1st 5 years then I got married and kept the 4runner in the driveway. I'm also planning to keep it around 20 years. We've been together almost 13 years.

1200 bucks for a brand new oem quality paint job from toyota?! That seems like a steal


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[mslim]

Can you post some pics of the damage you're talking about? If your clear coat is failing it will usually start to bubble up and flake off. At that point repainting is the only option. However if the clear coat is still intact (and there's enough left), you may be able to save it with a paint correction.

I took some pix today but the pins bent on my cheap-a$$ CF card reader and I've already packed the camera to USB cable. May be a while before I can post them.

 

[mslim]

1200 bucks for a brand new oem quality paint job from toyota?! That seems like a steal


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Yeah that sounds low to me too. Most of the dealerships in my area no longer do their own paint and body. Maybe they are subbing it out to a lower end shop and marking it up? Look around and see if there's any bondo dust or paint booth at the dealership.

Like I said, I'm looking for something better than an "auto collision" job.

 

[shahsmerdis]

if the clear coat hasn't failed yet you would be surprised what you can do with some compound. and maybe a bit of wet sanding.

edit post pictures or we can't help

 

[jsmith21]

Yeah that sounds low to me too. Most of the dealerships in my area no longer do their own paint and body. Maybe they are subbing it out to a lower end shop and marking it up? Look around and see if there's any bondo dust or paint booth at the dealership.



Like I said, I'm looking for something better than an "auto collision" job.

I haven't really gotten any quotes because I wouldn't have it done for another few years or so but I was fully expecting around 3k for a quality oem looking paint job


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[amalik]

if the clear coat hasn't failed yet you would be surprised what you can do with some compound. and maybe a bit of wet sanding.

edit post pictures or we can't help

i've always wondered about wet sanding.

do you also use a random orbital or whatever but just wet the paint first?

 

[RedSled]

I haven't really gotten any quotes because I wouldn't have it done for another few years or so but I was fully expecting around 3k for a quality oem looking paint job


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I got 3 quotes last year for my 02, they all came in at $7000.00 to $10,000.

 

[zonianbrat]

I didn't think these 4 runners even had clear coat. I thought it was just a single stage paint and that was why it shows age more quickly. Before I painted it I would have a quality detail shop check it out and see if maybe they can buff and clay bar it. It's amazing what can be done.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I didn't think these 4 runners even had clear coat. I thought it was just a single stage paint and that was why it shows age more quickly. Before I painted it I would have a quality detail shop check it out and see if maybe they can buff and clay bar it. It's amazing what can be done.

White 056 is the single stage paint/ no clear. The rest have clear.

 

[mslim]

I will have a detail shop look at it. Anybody here from Northwest Arkansas?

Here's some pix of the paint.

 

[Porqupine82]

I will have a detail shop look at it. Anybody here from Northwest Arkansas?

Here's some pix of the paint.

Every time I see threads like this, I am astounded at the costs these guys say they're quoted. A beautiful (no fish eyes, no orange peel) multi stage Dupont paint job here is around 2,000. BASF paint 3500... I guess it's just a cost of living thing but 7k for paint, hell even 5k for a paint job here would shut a business down in short order. NOBODY here would pay that. It would be thousands cheaper to travel cross country to have your car painted than to get it painted by someone charging 10k. That paint better make my dinner and rub my feet for 10k. I really hate to tell yall but a 10k paint job is a ripoff, and if you charge 10k for painting someone's car an OEM quality color, you should be ashamed, then smacked in the face with a white glove.

 

[86mcss]

Every time I see threads like this, I am astounded at the costs these guys say they're quoted. A beautiful (no fish eyes, no orange peel) multi stage Dupont paint job here is around 2,000. BASF paint 3500... I guess it's just a cost of living thing but 7k for paint, hell even 5k for a paint job here would shut a business down in short order. NOBODY here would pay that. It would be thousands cheaper to travel cross country to have your car painted than to get it painted by someone charging 10k. That paint better make my dinner and rub my feet for 10k. I really hate to tell yall but a 10k paint job is a ripoff, and if you charge 10k for painting someone's car an OEM quality color, you should be ashamed, then smacked in the face with a white glove.

I usually never reply to anything online but am trying to participate in this community and when I read certain things I want to call people out but I just say never mind and chalk it up to the "internet life". :toilet:

 

[mslim]

No painters on this forum?