paint scratch

[poker13]

Hi all

My first post, sorry if I have put this topic in the wrong section. I have a nasty paint scratch across my R8, after a coming together with a bloody bus. I have included some pictures of the damage hope they are clear. I have been giving a repair estimate of £480 + vat, seems very expensive to me. Can anyone recommend a good repairer in the central London area, I live near Wandsworth.

Any help would be much great.

[Ironman]

My guy in Ware wanted £150.00 for a similar problem on the Spyder, he did some paint on my RAM dealer quoted £12000 plus materials plus VAT, he charged £520 including VAT.

I can give you his details or advise you to find a small bodyshop, if they have an oven and do a paint mix then the job should be good.

[M3R8]

It's very hard to say with those pictures, but maybe just some polish would do if the scratches are not deep.

In general I'd avoid painting the *whole* part like many shops would advise and just try to do the small damaged area. A good paint shop should have no trouble making this like new again.

[willyjp]

A while back, I posted this thread (and an earlier comment is referenced which gives more detail of my experience with this)
Damage, dent and repair, to repaint the whole part or not?

I cannot overstate how impressed I was by the results of this technique (in the hands of a real expert I fortunately stumbled on) when my '98 A6 was "keyed."

M3R8, in that thread, said he'd found a firm, "Chipsaway," locally that MIGHT be a similar resource. How did that turn out? Maybe not good, since you don't mention it in your post.

Before I gave up on finding a local craftsman for "micro" repaint, I'd ask around amongst detailers and perhaps classic car restorers. The guy I used here locally has told me he gets a lot of referrals from detailers of expensive cars.

[M3R8]

willy, it turned out that they write they can do a lot on the site, but when you come there and show them what you want done, they can't do it. I had it then repainted, but managed to convince the shop to only repaint a small part then clear coat the entire part, the end result is good.

[poker13]

Thanks for the replies, I managed to find a guy down in Poole, who came recommended by a family friend. He did a very good job and would use him again, he was very cheap no vat etc. If any one needs his details I would be happy to pass them on.

[AJR8]

Summer holidays gift from some yellow bastard! 600 EURO...the bodyshop did a perfect job...

[ptaylor_9849]

Can't really tell by the photos but those look like paint transfers from the pictures shown. My first suggestion would have been to rub some "Enamel Reducer" on them and see if they were just imbedded paint. Next I would have tried a compound and rotary. Everybody working with cars should have some enamel reducer on hand. The stuff makes jobs like tree sap and paint transfer removal like wiping spilled milk off the kitchen table. The stuff is amazing.

[randombloke]

willy, it turned out that they write they can do a lot on the site, but when you come there and show them what you want done, they can't do it. I had it then repainted, but managed to convince the shop to only repaint a small part then clear coat the entire part, the end result is good.

had the same experience with them myself and so have other people I know. it's a franchise operation - I'm sure there are some experts in their network, but there also appear to be a number of "easy way out" operators too.