Just been to bodyshop - what to do?

Hey,

Well I have a bit of a dilema, just been to my local bodyshop who I know quite well (did everything to my old polo) and been speaking to them about my MK1 and here is the basics…

I need the rear valance replacing, both rear ends of the sills replaced, got some bubbling around the windscreen that needs sorting and the sunroof is, well, shot!

I've been quoted ?500 for the rear valance, didn't get a quote for the rest yet but going by that price I'm gunna be spending alot of dosh to get the rest done.

The other problem is that the car was resprayed about 3 years ago by the previous owner to the guy I bought it off and we have no idea what paint name / code has been used and no way of finding out so trying to match the paint up to blend the new bits in is going to be near impossible.

The sunroof he said there's nothing that can be done with it other than to cut it out and replace or make it a non sun roof model.

If I were to strip everything out the car, take it apart as much as I can and give them the naked shell I'd be talking 6-7k to get it all sorted and resprayed in a new colour.

Now, I know some of you will think their prices are high but you do get what you pay for and I trust them 100% they are seriously good.

Add in the equation that in my garage I have almost everything need for a 2.0 16v conversion inc. ?700 of exhaust. and sat next to me now I have brand new coilovers that arrived yesterday and also various other bits and bobs not to mention what I've spent on the car already.

So do I…

A) Cut my losses and flog everything, inc. the car

B) Do the bodywork in stages as and when money permits (could take a long long time)

C) Just do what has to be done and live with the rest

D) Think about re-shelling her

Thing is what am I going to do about the sunroof? it is beyond repair (will get pics) apparently so is going to be a big job regardless what I do and still run the risk of the paint not matching exactly

So, what do you recon?

Depends if the paintwork is poor condition or the corrosion around the sills is an MoT/safety issue.

You could buy an already sorted minter for way less than the respray cost! 8O  8O

As good as they may be, 6-7k is MENTAL MONEY!

The paintwork is very good really, not the best spray job but solid. One of the sills has been repaired already though not great could probably clean up alright, the other sill is ok for now will probably need doing for next mot (may time next year).

The valance is through choice theres not a lot wrong with it but the previous owner cut it about to fit a different exhaust.

I think I might have to shop around for some prices, anyone know a decent bodyshop in the South West (from Somerset) you think 6-7k is too much for a restore? (not including parts, just taking out the rust and spraying)

I've just replaced my rear valence, its getting sprayed tomorrow. While its not a perfect job, its not cost me that much - around ?25 for the panel, and maybe ?10 for other materials. It takes a while, but this is the standard fare with having to apply primer, filler, knifing putty etc. Its not especially hard to get to either, just the bumper to remove and raise the rear end of the car to help with access (comfy working height and makes it easy to remove the wheels, so they don't get oversprayed).

So, ?500 is way too much for a rear valence repair.

I'd honstly just keep it running until the paintwork is faded/chipped/dented enough to justify a 'whole body' renovation.

Just have a good think mate, is the car really worth 6-7k plus parts and other bits you have bought? Or is it worth spending that much?

Just think you could get a top job a LOT cheaper.

On my old mk1 gti, i got a place to weld 2 new rear arch's in, repair rear valance, weld some new metal in bottom of a door and remove a few scabs, paint all bumpers and arch's to original look, roll all four arch's, fit delocked front handles, then a full spray outside for ?620 all in, parts the paint the lot.

Now it wasnt a show winning finish but if im being hoinest it was WAY better than a lot of mk1 job's i'd seen and a lot of other people thought that aswell.




Think you may have seen it on ed38.


just trying to be realistic, i dont think the extra 6k would have been reasonable to gain a "better" finish.

get another quote - 6 large is way toooooooooooo much

crikey! I'm not going for a show winning car, only one that is reliable and isn't going to fall to pieces so I don't really need a massively expensive paint job. If it were say ?1500 to do everything then I'd be happy and I don't really want to get rid of the car not with the plans I've got for her.

Where did you get your bodywork done to biggaz? again, lovely car

Sometimes firms quote a deliberately high price because they have more than enough work already (good reputation body shop?) or simply don't want to take on the work, for other reasons. So instead of saying they don't want to do it, they'll quote a high price - after all, anyone would do anything for the right money??

So I think its best you ask around and obtain lots of different quotes, especially if you have that kind of money available to spend.

I would source the panels you need, maybe even a new non sunroof roof panel from another car? and get a few more quotes, a decent welder would fit the panels up much cheaper than any body shop, and then get some other seperate qoutes for paint, if you get a complete respray it shouldnt cost more than around 1k-1500, my mate sean has his own body shop and he turns your normal accident repairs day in day out which are all top paint and repair jobs, its his lively hood so he does it right first time, he has just qouted my other mate 1k to completely paint his G60 corrado, and hes done loads of jobs for me over the years that have been spot on, you being qouted 6-7k for a job is way too steep mate even with the repairs, look elsewhere

I have just had a 3/4 respray and it cost me ?500 in total everything but the bonnet and the front o/side wing was sprayed.

I think you might be right Paul. The bodyshop I use has a huge reputation for restoring cars, they've had some seriously important cars from millionaires old ferraris to wiston churchills old car (they also recently built 6 Model T's from the ground up for Ford). They also work in conjunction with BMW doing accident repairs and they have never been interested in modding cars, but they for the right money like you say.

Just need to try and find some other bodyshops to get some quotes now..

So what would you all expect to pay for the following from your local bodyshops..

fit / spray rear valance
repair both rear sills (rear quaters and arches are fine, just the sills) and spray

For now, I might just do the best I can with the sunroof then seal it up stop any more water getting in, it's not as if I need it for the winter then I can save up some money and do it next year.

Honestly the work your wanting done is pretty standard stuff. Get out there look at some previous work from bodyshops and get some quotes. I'd say ?1500 is more like it for a good job.

The place who done mine wasnt a friend or doing it for a favour, that was just a standard price, wasnt a big place but it helped as he really loved mk1's, had 4 of his own. He therefore also knew what he was doing.

UNFORTUNATLY, he won the lottery a year or so ago and stopped working. LUCKY LUCKY man. He was based in the north east. 8O