Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: Camhi on June 02, 2023, 20:14:03
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Hey all, looking for some guidance from those who have gotten new paint jobs. Ball park price? Also anyone know what color this might be?
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It will depend whether you just want new paint in the same color as the car is currently, whether there will be some bodywork, whether you want the windshield removed or not and whether you want to participate at all in the process, e.g. removing and refitting all chrome, lights, bumpers, trim and so on yourself.
Over the past two years, I repainted four cars myself. The paint, primers and consumables such as sandpaper, polish etc cost me less than $500 per car. There are (much) more expensive paints available and of course the labor is where it all adds up. I've heard of jobs that were as little as $3,000 to wild stories of over $40,000 for just a paint job (although from my own experience I struggle to understand how one car can take so much time to do even perfectly).
My advice would be to go visit a few places, get impressions and cost estimates. Amounts quoted here will likely be 'all over the map' and probably locale also makes a difference.
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Paint is one of the biggest items that is true to the saying "You get what you pay for"
High quality paint jobs around me range from $20-30k if no surprises are found underneath. Materials alone are $3-4k. And this is very high quality work
To show you 2 ends of the spectrum...
I know a guy in Georgia that gets mediocre paint jobs done for around $3,000 labor and materials, then I know a couple of Mercedes restoration shops that get $80,000 (I won't mention their names).
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Where in Long Island do you live?
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Thanks for the feedback.
I’m in East Rockaway. Practically neighbors!
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It' hard to tell from the photo, but is the current paint job that bad ? The car looks pretty neat.
Why do you want to repaint ?
Also are those front bumper guards original ? Or is the rubber just missing ?
jz
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The bumper guards are 63-69 MGB. On a "B" there would have been a black rubber packing between the bumper and the guards, which is available from Moss Motors:
https://mossmotors.com/400-418-packing-set-for-4-overriders
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Sorry I am confused. Can you please domain further? Not original bumper? Supposed to be black rubber?
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I think this is a better picture. The paint is def faded and dull
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Is it better to paint the car back to the original color or a different color entirely? I'm assuming it's all based on the owners preference but does it make a difference in the value of the car?
I'm trying to decide this now...my car is originally signal red but have been considering painting gray sometime in the future.
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Your car is a 1969 280SL, correct? I believe that before 1970 that the bumper overriders were optional. There were a few different styles but I don't recall seeing any like what your car has so they might be aftermarket.
I have a 68/69 280sl and the bumper overriders look like this:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=34476.msg252235#msg252235
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It’s a 1969. I believe there were no bumpers
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Before you spend reams of money on new paint I would suggest taking your car to a professional detailer. It is amazing what these guys can do to paint that looks dull. It may just be oxidized. A good detailer can get rid of the oxidation and all those tiny scratches.
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Sorry I am confused. Can you please domain further? Not original bumper? Supposed to be black rubber?
The bumpers on your car are original style Mercedes-Benz Pagoda bumpers. While not the same shape, it just so happens that MGB bumpers happen to have a similar profile.
The two vertical bumper guards on your front bumper are from a 63-69 MGB.
https://mossmotors.com/454-310-overrider-front-bumper
The curved tubular bar running from the right to left overrider is an aftermarket item (originally sold by Amco back in the day) offered as a grille guard/badge bar for the MGB.
I have to admit that they do look pretty darned good on a Pagoda!
Original Mercedes-Benz and MGB over riders did not lay directly on their respective bumpers metal to metal. There is supposed to be a rubber packing between the over riders and the bumpers. On a Mercedes it is silver-gray; on an MGB it is black.
https://www.authenticclassics.com/Silver-Grey-Rubber-Liner-Strip-Pad-p/auth-003798.htm
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Before you spend reams of money on new paint I would suggest taking your car to a professional detailer. It is amazing what these guys can do to paint that looks dull. It may just be oxidized. A good detailer can get rid of the oxidation and all those tiny scratches.
Excellent advice. Why spend minimum $20k for a decent paintjob when you don't need to. Especially since it may sit in their shop for 1-2 years.
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I agree.
These paint threads are becoming like the 'what's the best oil' since many have strong but divergent opinions!
I maintain it is possible to get a near-perfect paintjob in your own garage, doing it yourself, for less than $1,000. I know because I've done it multiple times, and will be doing it again in the coming year on my '61 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.
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I maintain it is possible to get a near-perfect paintjob in your own garage, doing it yourself, for less than $1,000. I know because I've done it multiple times, and will be doing it again in the coming year on my '61 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.
I agree with Cees, with some prior experience or guidance and a boat load of good will one shall be able to pull it off. Heck if I knew my neighbours not going to complain I would have started already. From what I hear most painter are not keen on the sending and all the prep mambo jumbo. No problem, I would be happy to do it, with some instructions of course.
After visiting several paint and restoration shops I’m more confused than I ever was.
It feels like most shops just want a blank cheque. I’m now at the stage where having the painted shell would be beneficial to the project. If anyone got any leads on a good and reasonable paint shop in Ontario Canada, please post it here or contact me through PM.