Who's had their front bumper repainted?
 

So I posted a thread a couple weeks back about getting my front bumper repainted due to some rock chips from a couple recent road trips. I found a couple really good deals at some reputable places. After talking with 2 or 3 different shops, they all basically said that I should not repaint the bumper. They agreed that I would have worse rock chips in a year than I do now because the paint will be more susceptable to damage...plus it will devalue the car. I've almost been talked out of having this done now, but I HATE these rock chips! Any comments? Can anyone give me some feedback as to how your nose held up after being repainted?

Thank you

devalue the car? as long as the paint matches, a new buyer would never even know. Even if you told them, who cares--it would probably look better than comparable Zs due to the repaint. In short, that's ridiculous.

As for the "worse rock chips because of repaint" story, AFAIK that sounds like BS too...they probably told you that because it's more work to repaint a bumper than it is to just paint a new one.

So all that being said, I would have the bumper repainted and immediately install a clearbra to protect it.

you must be talking to some awfully crappy body shops...or guys who just don't want your business

How much were you quoted to get your front painted anyways?

Thanks for the quick replys. The shops I was considering quoted me between $350-$400. They were pretty nice people, but just made me feel crazy for wanting to repaint it. I know it will eventually get chips in it again, but I don't want it to look worse in a few months. I was thinking about going with a clear bra, but I haven't found anyone here who will do the install. I recently moved here and don't really know who to call.

thats a weird business...they basically talked you out of it lol
I'm bout to get mine repainted due to rock chips...but its only a 100 bucks for me tho :)

$350-$400 is standard by the book IIRC; check with your local dealerships concerning the clearbra, many dealers will install these on their inventory (be sure to check higher-end dealerships like MB too). Also, I think ClearBra has a list of dealers on their website.

If you have a zillion rock chips then go for it. I had millions of rock chips in the bumper and the hood and painted the whole front of the car. I think you should paint at least the hood too along with the bumper.

I paid $600 for the bumper, hood, and sides. One month later I already had a couple of chips lol.

the factory paint will hold up better than if its been repainted.

we restored a jeep and got it repainted and it scratches ALOT easier than my z

its all about the paint process and quality of the paint though

Thanks for the info. I'll check with the dealer out here and see if they have any recommendations

paint it and throw a clear bra on it...its a good investment and will save you money in the long run

The factory paint is ok (more specifically the clear) ....that's about it...just ok

There are FAR better quality clears out there in the aftermarket, and a proper job can net you a much deeper shine with significantly more depth, as well as significant increase in durability and resistance to chipping.

Like anything else, from painting a car, to building a deck for a house, to making a computer, there is a wide range of materials that a shop can use when doing similar work. The quality of the materials, combined with the quality of the labor, determines the final outcome

+1

If you're ready to spend the money to repaint from chips, get a clear bra and help prevent some of those chips from happening again. The initial investment is about 800, but you shouldn't have to worry about getting it painted / blended (and also worry about it actually matching well).

+1000 find some better shops

yeah but the painting process is different when a car is being built and when its in a body shop, but at the same time its somewhat the same.

in the factory the car is painted with no other parts on the car. its just the metal, so after the car gets painted it goes into a big ole easy bake oven with the temp cranked way up. but in a shop its the same type process, except most of the time the car is somewhat a finished prodouct(has tires, interior, drivetrain, engine, etc) and there for they cant turn the heat up as much

Broken down, the fact of the matter is you should repaint and get a clear bra. On any long road trips just tape up problem areas of your front bumper so the clear bra doesn't take an unnecessary beating and be done with it. Get a decent shop to do the paint so you won't have any problems later on with cracking or chipping.

the only thing i dont like about the clear bra's is they start to peel off and will get dirt trapped at the edges no matter how well maintained it is

If you're going to a decent shop, they're going to remove the bumper and paint it separately. It's more work trying to mask up the car than removing a bumper.

Thought I'd chime in as I've been in and out of the body shop
constantly - not b/c of damage necessarily, but aftermarket parts
and upgrades/refinishing. I have an '03 and have been through
two bumpers and +/- 5 paintjobs b/t them. I have had my fenders
damaged at bodyshops, and replaced my hood too. My car is as
brilliant as it has ever been, and imo looks 100x better than the
day I took her home (bought it in '05 used w/ 22K miles). The
shades of repaint don't perfectly match, and frankly I have only
seen one Z (& a few other high-enders) paint matched with aftermarket
parts done PERFECTLY (Jes-z gets the win). I am obzessed with
with my car looking as good as it can, but once you start upgrading
(and getting rear-ended), the paint might not look perfect unless
you find a highly skilled artisinal painter (and potentially spend bonkers
money). Most shops never assure paint matching b/c its nearly impossible
to do on both used and new cars - mostly due to factory/aftermarket
process. I fully agree with clearbra and costs as discussed above. Always
agree on an exact price and quality level prior to the start of work, and
inspect the shop and other cars there before you drop your baby off.

Consult with other Z drivers at meets and shows to find out who rocks and
who sucks. Most importantly, make yourself happy. If you hate the rock
chips, get a respray and bra. Adjust your expectations based on your
fellow drivers vehicles and advice, and you'll be good to go.

...

Repaint the bumper and then use Armorcoat
http://armorcoat.armorauto.com/
I have used it on my bumpers ... yes bumpers and have held up great