[M Smurf]

Love, love my EB f30!

Hate, hate the numerous paint chips all over the front end of the hood prompting me to begin thinking about a paint job.

Has anyone gone this route? How close of a match? I assume the paint would have to be blended.

[Tommy-G]

As a manager of an Autobody here is what I'll tell you use a base line of $600 per panel for a repaint on average. So if your hood and bumper are chipped up you're likely looking at:
Bumper $600
Hood $600
2 fender blends for a metallic match $300/each.
$1800 to respray the whole nose. This number changes drastically depending on the shop you choose and the area you live in.
Does it bother you that much?
Are you going to keep the car for a while?
You will not recover that on a trade in or resell so it has to be a wise economic decision for you.

Hope that gives you a basic guide to help your decision but ANY reputable shop will have no problem matching the color and the texture. Make sure you tell the shop you want all the chips handled and you want flex additive in the bumper paint AND the hood paint to give it some elasticity against further chipping. Very unlikely a shop will add flex to the hood clear coat unless specified. Most paint lines have a minimal amount already but additional will assist with limiting chips in the future.

[PK2348]

Repainted front end will lead potential future buyers to a conclusion that the car has been in an accident.

[M Smurf]

Originally Posted by TommyG-inFlaNow

As a manager of an Autobody here is what I'll tell you use a base line of $600 per panel for a repaint on average. So if your hood and bumper are chipped up you're likely looking at:
Bumper $600
Hood $600
2 fender blends for a metallic match $300/each.
$1800 to respray the whole nose. This number changes drastically depending on the shop you choose and the area you live in.
Does it bother you that much?
Are you going to keep the car for a while?
You will not recover that on a trade in or resell so it has to be a wise economic decision for you.

Hope that gives you a basic guide to help your decision but ANY reputable shop will have no problem matching the color and the texture. Make sure you tell the shop you want all the chips handled and you want flex additive in the bumper paint AND the hood paint to give it some elasticity against further chipping. Very unlikely a shop will add flex to the hood clear coat unless specified. Most paint lines have a minimal amount already but additional will assist with limiting chips in the future.

Very helpful info, thank you!

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by PK2348

Repainted front end will lead potential future buyers to a conclusion that the car has been in an accident.

Good point as well. To protect yourself in a situation like that, I always tell customers to take photos or insist on photos from the shop along the process

Originally Posted by M Smurf

Very helpful info, thank you!

You're welcome

[M Smurf]

Originally Posted by TommyG-inFlaNow

As a manager of an Autobody here is what I'll tell you use a base line of $600 per panel for a repaint on average. So if your hood and bumper are chipped up you're likely looking at:
Bumper $600
Hood $600
2 fender blends for a metallic match $300/each.
$1800 to respray the whole nose. This number changes drastically depending on the shop you choose and the area you live in.
Does it bother you that much?
Are you going to keep the car for a while?
You will not recover that on a trade in or resell so it has to be a wise economic decision for you.

Hope that gives you a basic guide to help your decision but ANY reputable shop will have no problem matching the color and the texture. Make sure you tell the shop you want all the chips handled and you want flex additive in the bumper paint AND the hood paint to give it some elasticity against further chipping. Very unlikely a shop will add flex to the hood clear coat unless specified. Most paint lines have a minimal amount already but additional will assist with limiting chips in the future.

I went ahead and approached a local shop for an estimate.

Just shy of $2k for hood and fender blend with 3M Clear Bra added. Because I have Parking Assist, $325 just for ADAS calibration.

Seem reasonable?

[Gen13 F36]

Unless you have a change on driving routine... I won't bother repainting the front end of the car because the same thing will happen after the repaint. Unless you have a change of job or the commute is totally different.

I use to drive the 710 fwy of southern California... it is the busiest truck route, the fwy is pack of 18 wheelers and my new car look so bad with paint chips only under 2 yrs old. It's crazy for me to repaint that.

[M Smurf]

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

Unless you have a change on driving routine... I won't bother repainting the front end of the car because the same thing will happen after the repaint.

I would agree with you here except for the PPF that I plan on adding after the repaint

[jared21927]

For that price, have you considered a wrap instead?

[Korvo]

Originally Posted by jared21927

For that price, have you considered a wrap instead?

Would a wrap have issues over existing paint chips?

I'm asking because I don't know the answer.

[M Smurf]

Originally Posted by jared21927

For that price, have you considered a wrap instead?

Instead of Paint + Clear Bra? no, not really. I dont want to change the color in any way

[davidr3]

OP maybe buy some touch up paint and see if that fixes these feelings.

[M Smurf]

Originally Posted by davidr3

OP maybe buy some touch up paint and see if that fixes these feelings.

I did that but the front end, hood primarily, has been peppered over the course of her 100k mile lifetime. It would look worse if i tried to dab every little spot since touch-up paint is close in color but not that close.

The rest of the car is in great shape cosmetically which is why I am exploring this option.

If I can get an estimate of <$1500 for paint + PPF, I may pull the trigger.

[jared21927]

Originally Posted by pdegene

Would a wrap have issues over existing paint chips?

I'm asking because I don't know the answer.

Good question, I have no idea. I'm told as long as it's clean, they can wrap over it, but i honestly don't know. If they could, that would be another feasible option if you wanted to change the color.

[328iX]

My last BMW was hit in the front, I was actually kind of happy because I got a whole front end respray and fresh new headlights on the other persons dime.