colour change quote - 9k

I've gotten a quote for a respray with a color change which amounts to 9k. I feel like it's on the high side - is it because of the colour change? or is it what a car like this costs to respray currently?

A true colour change, if done correctly requires a full vehicle strip down to the bare shell to ensure that anything on the car that has visible colour, even if just factory overspray and mist is changed to the new colour so that if ever stripped down again in the future, there would be zero evidence that it was ever a different colour, anywhere. It is enormously labour intensive and I think £9k is actually reasonable for what is effectively a full rebuild. If by colour change they just mean removing glass and pulling rubber seals to ensure that with doors, bonnet and engine lid open it all appears the same colour, then that would feel a bit on the high side - it all depends on how they and I guess you define colour change. Curious from what colour to what colour?

All depends on what's been done. Local lad to me was knocking out full resprays for £2k. Other places well over £10k.

To put this into perspective, i've just had some bodywork done on my Arctic silver 99 C4. Rear offside arch, front nearside arch, both rocker panel ends and adjoining front wings and nearside arch as all were showing early signs of corrosion and it was more preventative and paid £2000 all in at Summerhouse in Stafford and they've done a superb job of blending.....!!! Got a decent report on the state of the underside etc and all solid. I'd suggest that £9k was a good rate if involves all the stripping and rebuilding. Si.

So it's a colour change from silver to forest green metallic. It includes remove/refit screen, side windows, doors/fittings, bootlid/fittings, scuttle pannels, roof gutter rails, repair and align all the exterior body panels. Also refinish all exterior body panels, door shuts, under bonnet panel / bootlid, cut back and polish. It's a well recommended plac, so perhaps I had my expectations wrong ;D

Quotes source post: 2697349

Effectively that's a standard generic full body respray, (irrespective of colour or colour change) which depending on the amount of repair or rectification work required could be a reasonable price or perhaps on the expensive side depending on who and where in the country. A lot will depend on the standard of finish expected or requested. For example, if it's just a gun finish, de-nib and polish to get what would effectively be a finish similar to a new car (with hopefully less orange peel), that is a lot less work than a top class repaint where every panel is thoroughly block sanded multiple times with all gaps and alignment of panels adjusted to fine tolerances so that the panel gaps looks like sharpie lines drawn on a mirror, that is weeks more work and obviously cost. A full colour change job (in my view) is removing the dash, all the wiring loom, all the suspension, brake lines, seat belts, carpets, etc - a full and complete strip down as if it were a fresh shell on the production line just out of the welding phase. But that is just my perception which might be very much in the minority. Probably doesn't help answer your question as there are so many variables. But.... if I had a brand new car with zero damage or rectification work required, to repaint the full car to the spec you pointed to, I'd think that was maybe a little steep. If however any dents, welding, panel replacement, rubber seals, gaskets, grommets etc need replacing which they almost always do, you can very quickly get back to the figure you quoted. Keep us posted, would love to see pics!

Thanks, that helps, food for thought. No it's not a new car, it's 21 years old and it shows.

...No mention of engine bay either so assume it's not an engine drop job...?

no, it's not.

I was recently quote a similar price to for a full re-spray, all glass out and trim removed. Any body repairs required (dents, corrosion etc) included. It was in the same colour and would have stopped at door and bonnet shuts etc. I was quoted just shy of £9k. Judging by the standard of work I ended going with in the end, which wasn’t a full re-spray, it would be a well executed job. I would say £9k for a colour change done properly is cheap.

Quotes source post: 2697360

If they're not removing the engine on a colour change, that is a little bit of a red flag if I'm honest, unless they gave you an either/or price and that is your preference. Otherwise as soon as you open the deck lid you'll spot the colour change, rendering the 'colour change' element of the price quoted somewhat moot. Although I'd give them a pass if they do a partial engine bay strip down and remove all and any wiring, plumbing and hardware to get full access to the painted body elements. Body work and paint, (when done properly), is a horrible and hugely labour intensive job, the raw materials and consumables alone including primers, sealers, base coats and clears will be best part of £1k for a full car. Then again, some paint shops will do little more than DA your existing top coat, putty-fill any stone chips and spot prime any areas of break through, whizz it through the booth and put a fork in it. That would NOT be a £9k job. As a very quick litmus test, if I were to turn up on paint day, I'd expect to see every panel - doors, bonnet, lids, hinges, bumpers, spoilers, grills, trimms etc removed and on stands and dollies. Otherwise, what you'll end up with is a scenario where at some point the bonnet or a door etc may be removed and under the green hinge you'll see original silver - not a good look in my honest opinion, but I'm a fussy old sod so maybe at one extreme of the spectrum in terms of expectation. There's also the car to consider - track car, rough daily driver, dry use only minter, show car etc - each have their place and carry an appropriate approach.

And just to add, for the avoidance of doubt, if your colour choice was Speed Yellow, Peppermint or Rubystone, then just pay whatever they want, as you'll have already won at the game of 'Porsche'.

try a backstreet body shop and compare prices you can also save money doing strip and prep yourself

I was just over £5k for mine from Zenith to Cobalt so not too much of a change. I stripped the interior and carpets out of mine, engine left if.

Just posting this as I feel it's relevant and very insightful.