I think I know what the verdict will be, but I'm curious to hear your feedback. How bad is it for resale to have the front bumper and/or hood repainted?

I have 11k mi. now on my C2 its just over a year old. There are a few small nicks on the bumper and even fewer on the hood. I could have the film installed now for $1,000.00 and essentially preserve the paint in its present shape, or simply have the bumper and hood repainted at some point. I have a client who does excellent paint work and never charges me full boat. I'm certain it would be the same price if not less to paint than to do the film.

I had the film on a BMW years ago (which really needed it with very high average highway speeds and 18k miles a year). Its good for a year or 2 then yellows. The 911 sees far fewer highway miles BUT.... I will be tracking it for DE days soon, maybe 3-4 events annually.

What would you do - film now, or paint later? Also, if you haven't had body work done recently, today's water based paints don't even smell - you can't smell that the car was in the paint shop.

Thanks,
DRP

 

I've seen repaints in the Porsche showrooms that were beautiful... When I bought the new car I decided to drive the car "as is" and if it required painting the front of the car a few years down the road then that's what I'd do.
It's a thousand dollars either way. Actually, painting would be the cheaper of the two routes to take.

 

I'm in a similar situation except I bought my car with 25k miles on it - the usual (but minor) road rash on the front bumper and hood was there, but I've decided to just live with it until it gets to the point I have to do something. I'll probably get it resprayed in a couple years then consider the film at that time. (From what I hear though, you have to wait about a month between repainting and filming. And for it to be done right, not drive the car during that time.)

 

Killer price on the wrap...I was pondering a wrap last year but in California the wrappers want an arm and leg for a full frontal wrap. I stopped down at a custom car paint shop (they did a motorcycle for me)...excellent work/quality and they were $1000 cheaper then getting it wrapped. So I'm just going to continue driving it and when its time to sell I'll have to decide if its worth painting or not...easier decision then pulling off a yellowing and beat-up clear wrap...

 

+1 Looked into wraps and after seeing the prices decided not to do it. Plus, most insurance will allow you to file a rock chip claim if it's that bad and all you're out is deductible.

 

Just shield it to prevent further damage and paint later if you need to.

 

Nobody has said anything about resale value?

Clearly painting is the better choice ascetically, because the headlights and even the hood don't look the same with the film. With the respray you can have your cake and eat it too.

I thought a bunch of people would have chimed in about any bodywork hurting resale. Of course, if there is no insurance claim, there would be no carfox

 

Somewhere on the forums re-paints were discussed.......it was said THAT for every panel repainted that it would translate into a $1,500 discount to the asking price of the car!
I for one...DISAGREE with this!
So much so THAT I actually peeled the clear bra OFF of my car because the lines/edges were disgusting,especially on black!People kept thinking my car was keyed!


So I decided THAT when the time comes a PROFESSIONAL paint job will happen!


Stacy

 

A repaint (if done well) for road rash is different than a repaint for accident damage imo, in fact doing the next owner a favor by having it done.

 

I for one would vote for the invisashield. When I bought my car it had 18k miles and no marks so i went with the shield...it wasn't close to $1000 (try half that) in my area so i must have lucked out there. But the Cayman S I traded was definitely knocked down in resale for all of the rock chips it had. Considering you're going to track it, I would vote for the shield. Just my $.02.

Regardless, good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

Clear bra...front bumper $1200, $600 for the full Hood, $750 for each fender....I think they wanted like $200 for the head lights, and $200 for the mirrors....stupid money. The painter wanted $400-$500 per panel...

 

SCREW CARFAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can find out what I need to know about a car by having it put on a lift and checked.. Next I like to wash it and then drive it.... I couldn't even imagine taking Carfax's word for anything...
Did I mention to SCREW CARFAX!!!!

 

the track is hard on paint. put the clear bra on it or plan to use a lot of painter's tape.
my bumper is a mess from the track. i plan to repaint it soon and then put clear bra on so i don't make it worse.

 

...one should wait at least 90 days after painting... to apply a quality film.

Paint needs time to cure... water-base or not (good things come to those who wait).

If you paint & apply film too soon it will pull the paint off when removed.

Xpel - only film to use. Won't turn yellow unless you use the wrong wax*.

*no petroleum distillates ! They'll ruin Xpel film... or any film for that matter.

 

I would do nothing to repair it unless it were so bad that it ruins your enjoyment of the car.

In terms of resale the painted panel may look better but will raise a lot more doubts than if the next owner actually sees the issue and has the choice to fix it himself.

The wrap -- If it wasn't done when the car was new with no scratches --then --IMO it's wasting money . It will leave "the line" and the scratches. I see no real benefit .